Rope drop?

[elainesj]

we just have more fun when we're not waiting in endlessly snaking lines. We do that at Cedar Point already all summer and it's OK and we deal with it, but there's better ways to spend my time Part of the reason we love WDW is because we can plan it well enough with FPs that we DON"t wait in lines.

works for us. If it doesn't for you, that's OK too. That said, my friend went to WDW and refused to plan or do RD....and she said she didn't like it much because of all the lines. I did tell her so....but won't rub it in.

E

 

[hollygolitely93]

Four reasons for rope drop:

1. Have to get on that headliner or get FP before run out.
2. Naturally a morning person and enjoy waking up in the parks.
3. Want to avoid crowds.
4. Want to do afternoon breaks (like naps at hotel for small children).

I fit into #3 -4. I get a little claustrophobic feeling in long lines and crowds.

Once we are in the park we are far from commando tourists...we just enjoy lots of space between us and the next family of tourists

 

[starousse]

yup. I mean I don't get it you pay close to 80 bucks for a ticket and instead of enjoying the atmosphere, you spend your time trying to beat everyone to rides? Not my idea of fun. I don't care if I'm first or last it's still the same ride. I'm not missing out on anything. The irony to me is that a lot of the people who rave and go on and on about getting there for rope drop go so often that does it matter if you don't ride a couple of things.

I guess that is my viewpoint. I know I'll be back so if I didn't get to ride or see something I will next time.

I agree.

 

[DopeysGal82]

Despite my best efforts, I've never been to a RD (I have been to AM EMH, but never from the first minute). DH is NOT a morning person by ANY stretch and I can barely gt myself out of bed after a long day of touring, much less argue with him. I plan to change that on this trip. I have a few RDs scheduled on our trip. The park hours are short, and most evening EMH are only until 11, so I think we can make it. I really want to see the MK show.

I tour in the off season, so getting to RD and using a touring plan is less of a priority for me, but it can help. Most people (my sorry self included) end up getting to the parks around 10 or 11. For the first 2 hours you can get walk on rides to many headliners which will have long lines later in the day. That one our makes a lot fo difference because for example, a good percentage of park guests will head to Space Mountain first. If you get there at RD and ride it first with no wait, you'll have totally moved on 4-5 rides later before other people start arriving and crowding that line. It's a way to enjoy the parks with much shorter wait times. Going 1 hour earlier for RD can save you 2-3 hours later so you can ride more rides, or get some rest.

it isn't all about being a commando. You can be commando for 2 hours and that will allow you to relax for the rest of the day, having already ridden the headliners and collected FPs. I actually really like getting to the parks early. I love the quiet, and the feeling of the morning dew, and the day getting warmer. I really enjoy that. you can get photos on Main St with fewer people crowding the background, etc. You can go to just get an extra hour of quiet relaxation as well.

I'm hoping to get to EPCOT RD on 12/5, AK RD on 12/6, MK RD on 12/7 (this will be challenging since we have MVMCP the night before), DHS RD on 12/8, and MK RD on 12/10 for the TP meetup.

Wish me luck.!

this reminds me, I should write a PTR!

 

[MarineVet]

We made three trips last year. The first, I said "lets get up early and be there as soon as we can." My family took this as loose guidance and piddered around slowly. We didn't get to any of the parks till at least 11 am, even though I was up by 7 each morning. Frustrating!

Then I caught on to the rope drop. No more loose guidance, its a definate goal time and they get up, get ready, and we make it on time, and we are always glad we did because it does decrease standing and waiting times.

 

[ciera321]

I get there at rope drop, ride all of the headline rides with no waits, grab fastpasses, and then I am able to relax and enjoy the atmosphere, stroll around the park and take it all in while others are waiting in line for rides I experienced earlier. I DO enjoy the atmosphere because I am free to do that and not get held up in a line.

Absolutely how we feel. I would much rather get to a park at RD, ride the "star attractions" and spend the rest (majority) of my day using FPs and seeing the less populated attractions!!! Everyone has their way of touring, but this is my favorite...

 

[angierae]

Rope Drop works out perfectly for my family because my DH does not like thrill rides or getting up early. Me and the teens will get up and hit rope drop and do the thrill rides and collect fast passes, and then DH will meet up with us for lunch or slightly before, and he and I can spend the afternoon doing the smaller things while the girls go off and do whatever they want to do.

 

[jaceraden]

we are not into the rope drop ceremony... at all. but, we are early risers so this allows us to enjoy lower crowd volume and minimal wait times to the attractions. then we can move onto another park or midday swim when everyone else is just getting started.

 

[MickeyMaz]

I agree with going to rope drops to make sure we can get to the major rides and then relax while the late entries are trying to do the same. I don't think you need to get up at 5:00 am to get to a Rope Drop though. Most of the year the parks aopen up at 9:00, not counting EMH. So you need to be there at 8:30. So if your on property, you can wake up at 7:30, get a shower dressed and over to a park via bus, or by car. We've been doing the car more often. We also like to do the walking breakfast with protien granola bars and OJ.

 

[nklooz]

yup. I mean I don't get it you pay close to 80 bucks for a ticket and instead of enjoying the atmosphere, you spend your time trying to beat everyone to rides? Not my idea of fun. I don't care if I'm first or last it's still the same ride. I'm not missing out on anything. The irony to me is that a lot of the people who rave and go on and on about getting there for rope drop go so often that does it matter if you don't ride a couple of things.

I guess that is my viewpoint. I know I'll be back so if I didn't get to ride or see something I will next time.

I think the thing is that those who are into RD don't get why others wouldn't want to do it and vice versa because we all have different definitions of what our idea of fun is and what enjoying the atmosphere is. To me, by not doing RD, I miss out on things because I spend more time than I need to in lines. The benefit isn't on being first or last for a ride, the benefit is in time maximization for that $80 spent. I just think it is two different styles of touring based on what is important to you and for your family. Not a right or wrong.

 

[ChattaAlley]

I would much rather get to MK early. Ride the rides I want to ride, get fastpasses for later. I love being able to stroll down main street instead of being in a grid lock. We leave when it gts too crowded and enjoy the resorts.

 

[Praying Colonel]

I think no one should go to rope drop. Please, please, do me a favor and sleep in. Thank you.

 

[RalphinSC]

Why do I do rope drop? Because my idea of an enjoyable day does not involve looking at the back of someone else's head in a line ofr more than a few minutes.

The OP might think we're crazy, but I think the exact same thing about them while I'm waltzing right by the hour long waits in standby on BTMRR or Space Mountain with my fastpass as I ride it for the fourth or fifth time that day, all with less than a five minute wait.

And when it's hot and you are standing in the uncovered queue for Dumbo for 45 minutes, I'm sitting in the cool shade by Aloha Isle and enjoying me a Dole whip because I rode Dumbo five hours ago when it was a walk-on.

I certainly enjoy the fact that rope drop is NOT the popular thing to do. I'll just enjoy the mostly empty park with a few hundred or thousand more of my fellow nuts and then spend the afternoon people watching all the late risers sweat their way through yet another long line....

 

[HockeyMomNH]

I think no one should go to rope drop. Please, please, do me a favor and sleep in. Thank you.

 

[White_Sox_Fan]

I think no one should go to rope drop. Please, please, do me a favor and sleep in. Thank you.

I'll third that.

The value of the rope drop?? A couple of years ago we did a one day pre-cruise trip to Disneyland. It was a Saturday in August and all the Cali people on the cruise boards told me the it would be crazy busy and we would get nothing done. Since we used out DVC points to stay at GC we had early entry, 7AM instead of 8AM. We were in the park at 7:10AM and left the park at 9:15AM after having rode Peter Pan, Pinocchio, Mad Hatter, Carousel, Alice in Wonderland, Buzz Lightyear, FP for Space Mountain, BTMRR, Haunted Mansion, POC & FP for Indiana Jones. We then headed over to California Adventure after a stop at the hotel. By 9PM we had done 23 attractions, saw the Aladdin show in the Hyperion theater had lunch & dinner and spent an hour and a half at the pool. At no time did we feel like we were running around.

Aas others have mentioned, it's all about maximizing your day.

 

[aripantaloon]

We never get there for rope drop, but arrive soon enough after to enjoy the same low crowds. Yesterday MK opened at 9. We got there around 9:15, and by noon had done all our Fantasyland rides (including 2x walk-on Peter Pan), HM, Big Thunder Mountain, Jungle Cruise, Buzz, and Peoplemover. I don't think we waited more than 5 minutes for everything.

This is pretty much us as well. We've never actually been there for rope drop unless you could the couple of times we've had early morning ADR's before the park opened. We am to be there at rope drop, but honestly, I think we do much better a few minutes after because we don't have anyone getting run over or the feeling like we're going to be sooooo far back in any line because everyone is rushing in front of us. With our little ones, we wouldn't run.

 

[JennMouse32]

Rope drop, what's the big deal? I've never been to a "rope drop" so I don't understand what the big deal is. I understand that you'll be one of the first ones into the park but so what. Maybe I'm ignorant, so please explain to me what I'm missing.

each of the parks have a special little show they do for the rope drops.. they are very fun.. if you have never been, not even to one.. THATs why u dont understand it... u should go just even to one

 

[lroger01]

The only way you'll know what you've been missing is to make it to rope drop on your next trip.
I suggest you skip going into a park on your arrival day (so you won't be tempted to stay out real late). Then hit rope drop at the Magic Kingdom the next morning. Since you haven't been to a park yet, it should be easier to get up. Just force yourself to get up that one morning. Heck, you manage to do it to get to work or other things you need to do. Just make this a need-to-do-it thing.

After that one morning, you'll know if it's worth it to you or not and can plan the rest of your vacation accordingly.

For us, we do both. The first half of the week we do rope drops and spend 3/4 of the day in the parks (focusing on fast pass rides and headliners), and the evening at the resort or other places. The second half, we sleep in, hit the parks around lunch time and stay until closing (focusing on shows, shopping and non-FP rides). Everyone gets the sleep in/stay late vacation they prefer, and we have plenty of time to see everything and have fun.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Rope drop, what's the big deal? I've never been to a "rope drop" so I don't understand what the big deal is. I understand that you'll be one of the first ones into the park but so what. Maybe I'm ignorant, so please explain to me what I'm missing.

There is nothing about rope drop itself that is a big deal. None of the little shows they do, if any, are anything big. But if one gets there prior to rope drop, one starts at a zero line condition. The key is to get to rides that build long waits early and don't use fast pass early and put them behind you. Then, when the park gets crowded, one can do some of the less popular attractions and use fast pass to get on the more popular ones that use it.

Originally Posted by Queen2PrincessG View Post
yup. I mean I don't get it you pay close to 80 bucks for a ticket and instead of enjoying the atmosphere, you spend your time trying to beat everyone to rides?

Actually, I spend very little of my time trying to beat people to rides. Getting there well prior to rope drop does that for me. Once one is ahead of the surge, it is easy to stay there and use fast pass. I'm spending much more time on the attractions and having fun and less time in line. And spending less time in line actually frees me up to do much more atmosphere enjoying because we're not wasting time in line. If it's really slow, there probably isn't nearly as much need to do what we do. But many of us don't have the luxury of going while it's slow.

 

[MrRomance]

In February I'll be taking my 10th trip to WDW and I have never been there for Rope Drop at any park. This time, I'm determined to do it to see the opening show at MK and see if there is any real benefit to getting there early.

I think it's really about the type of person you are. Some people like my MIL are up at the crack of dawn regardless, so for her, being at the parks at 8am is a late start! Personally, I don't like to rush around in the morning and like to take my vacation at my own pace.

It's undoubtedly the case that the crowds are at there lowest before 10am, but not being at RD has never stopped me from getting everything done. That said, I'm looking forward to a different way of doing things this time and wonder if (as PP's have said) it will allow me to relax and take everything in more later in the day.