Rope drop without early entry

[logandsol]

We haven’t been to Disneyland in years. Unfortunately we don’t have hoppers and are doing Disneyland and DCA on days where early entry is offered and we don’t have it.
What would be a good rope drop strategy to maximize our time?
It seems fantasyland wouldn’t be a good area to start in, as everyone with early entry would be ahead of us?
We will be there September 17-19th if that makes a difference.

Really appreciate any advice.
Thanks so much!

 

[MinnieInVA]

Well, only one park each day offers early entry. In your case, I would target your park days to start at the park that isn't doing early entry - i.e. if DCA has early entry, plan to visit DL that day. By doing this, you'll have the same rope drop advantage as everyone else. On the plus side, both parks are usually on the quiet side for the first hour or two of operation (depending on the season, of course). Hope that helps!

 

[logandsol]

That’s great idea, but we decided on our parks based on avoiding the early closure of DCA on Oogie Boogie party nights.

 

[OlliePop27]

That’s great idea, but we decided on our parks based on avoiding the early closure of DCA on Oogie Boogie party nights.

I started in July on 3 days at a park with early entry. I found it to not have an impact, except for Radiator Springs, Peter Pan, and maybe also Guardians. If you do other FL rides like Alice, the EE folks have moved on. Remember, there just simply are not that many people per day eligible for EE because there's so few rooms on site at DLR. Even less of these people are willing to get up and into the park before 8:00.

Go have fun, do FL first, and avoid Peter Pan until later.

 

[chunks]

That’s great idea, but we decided on our parks based on avoiding the early closure of DCA on Oogie Boogie party nights.

From what I have read, Oogie Boogie days are actually pretty good days to go to DCA as the crowds are VERY light (for the same reason you dont want to go). It is still open until 6.

 

[OlliePop27]

From what I have read, Oogie Boogie days are actually pretty good days to go to DCA as the crowds are VERY light (for the same reason you dont want to go). It is still open until 6.

I think that would be a great idea to start at DCA if they had hoppers, but they only have 1 park tickets. They would lose 4-5 hours of park time since DL is open much later on OBB days.

 

[wendlle]

We usually do Fantasyland first, it's so nice having that area basically to yourself while everyone heads for the mountains.