Rope Drop vs. Sleeping In

[pickles]

other than the holiday weekend, the rest of the dates are 4's surely commando and rope drops are not needed?

I have been on 7's and never make rope drop and still manage to do everything we wanted

I wouldnt sweat it too much. maybe point out the holiday weekend they need to have a plan, but the rest of the days you are content to try it there way

 

[KellyNY]

We don't have the time or $ this trip for Universal. That will have to be another year for Universal and Sea World. I'm hoping they "get it" once we arrive and enjoy the experience. I hate think of spending $ 5K-6K for a week of them sleeping in, complaining about standing in lines, and being disappointed in they type of rides.

That is a lot of money, I totally understand you. I'm sure they will like it, try to compromise with your wife on half late and half early days. And do not forget even without rides, you all will have a good time. Our first trip we went during spring break with no idea of how many parks there at all, needless to say we rode only few rides but still had a blast. If your wife at least a half kid inside like all of us here, she will love it, do not worry, just enjoy your family.

 

[Chkultr]

OP I had to learn to deal with the same thing. "I'm on vacation so I am sleeping in." That was my sister and brother in law's attitude. For the 1st two days it drove me NUTS! This is not a sleep in vacation type of place to me! Finally I listened to my wife... Yes I said I listened to my WIFE!.

She told me that is WAS their vacation as well and if they planned on sleeping in then let them. Leave them our plans and where we might be for the day and if they wanted to catch up when they woke up that was fine and if they didn't then so be it.

It was a bit difficult at first since we went down as a family and I wanted to do Disney as a family......I now know that it is my vacation as well. Not going to let somebody hold me back. Plus with my lonnnnggg legs no one can keep up with my "Disney Walk".

I say get up and do what you want. Enjoy it! If they want to sleep away a magical Disney vacation then let them. Go get your rope drop on!

 

[eliza61]

We will be at WDW 10/10 - 10/17. My daughter and I have been several times before, but my wife and step-children have never been. I am a planner and try to determine the least crowded park for the day, usually arrive at Rope Drop, tour until about 1 or 2, take a break, then return about 5 for the evening (may or may not be same park). My wife and step-children have said we will be on vacation and will be sleeping in and deciding on what we feel like doing when we get up and do not want any type of plan. Is this going to be a problem with crowds if we don't arrive at the parks until 11 or 12 and have no plan?

We are a family of huge non planners. We pretty much feel like your wife, if I have to get up at 6:00 am, I might as well go to work. Generally I know park hours. since I always have park hopper passes, if one park is not to my liking we simply "hop" some where else.

I find rope drop to be one collosial, over hyped event. I've always been able to "do every thing" (whatever that means) and I've always had a great vacation. Even this year in August we got to HS around 9:30ish and we snagged fast passes for TSM, which every one here swore we would never get on. Go figure.

Usually we get to the parks around 9:30'ish and have no problems.

Also, I find a lot of first timers totally changed their normal habits at disney world. They may get there and find themselves getting up a lot earlier than they anticipate.

 

[ShannonMB]

We don't have the time or $ this trip for Universal. That will have to be another year for Universal and Sea World. I'm hoping they "get it" once we arrive and enjoy the experience. I hate think of spending $ 5K-6K for a week of them sleeping in, complaining about standing in lines, and being disappointed in they type of rides.

I hope they "get it", too! I tried to explain to my DH that we are NOT going to Cedar Point before his first trip, but he still complained..."Where are the BIG rides?" He didn't get it, so we go without him now. I'm hoping to take him again next year and with different expectations, he might enjoy it. But don't be surprised if (especially the older kid) complain about it. You never know, though!

I agree about letting the sleepers sleep, to a point. My DD and I are rope-droppers, and so far, everyone we've gone with has wanted to sleep in more than we do. So we hit the parks without them and have our magical rope-drop experience. The problem with it is, when they show up at noon, they still want to hit all the stuff we already did. So it means a lot of backtracking and seeing the same stuff (not that I mind that, but with much longer lines), or wasting those FP opportunities stocking them up for when they get there. It's pretty aggravating, but the alternative is continuing on with OUR day, letting them do THEIR thing, and basically spending no time together. I would try to talk them into alternating (HS day -- rope drop, Epcot day -- sleep in a little, etc.) One of these days DD and I are going by ourselves so we don't have to keep dealing with these sleepers!!!!

 

[ShannonMB]

Usually we get to the parks around 9:30'ish and have no problems.
QUOTE]

THAT is one thing. Totally doable, no problem. Just missing the initial rush, we do this a lot, too. I still *basically* consider that rope drop.

When I think of 'sleeping in', I think of getting to the parks at 11-noon. If your family, OP, can get to the parks by 9:30am, you will be in fine shape!

 

[staceyatdisney]

We have never seen a rope drop and have always had a fantastic time. You'll be there with low crowds, you'll get on everything you want (probably several times) with getting there by mid-morning. No sense causing a family fight when there isn't a risk of missing out. Have a super, and relaxing, time.

 

[JT1962]

When I think of 'sleeping in', I think of getting to the parks at 11-noon. If your family, OP, can get to the parks by 9:30am, you will be in fine shape!

I agree 9:30 would not be an issue, since the parks open at 9:00 during our time there. My concern is those that sleep in get up at 10:00 or later and arriving at Noon. When AK closes at 5:00 or 6:00 and MK at 7o some nights, that doesn't leave much time.