Rope dropping is becoming a worse experience

[summermac]

No. I don't do lines over 30 minutes.

Most people rd'd TSMM and went straight to RnrC, no second ride. We decided to just FP TSMM for later in the day and do rnrc at RD and then ToT. Only got to do TSMM once this trip because of that, and that's not at all normal for us. But we like RNRC better, so that's the choice we made.
We were going to do TSMM today at RD, but because it was down, and then the line was nuts after we did rnrc and tot instead, we had to skip it. All because our FPs are for tonight at Epcot.

Thank you! How was the line at RNR then? My RD strategy is RNR first as I have FP+ scheduled for TSMM & TOT already. It sounds to me like had you scheduled your FP+ in DHS you would have had a much better day. While I understand why you didn't do that the fact that TSMM was down pretty much screwed up your entire day. I'm sorry. I have seen so many ppl recommend FP+ for 2nd park but this is exactly why I have been hesitant. I scheduled all of ours for our morning park and most before 2:00ish. If the SB line is short, I will reschedule the FP. If they all end up being short, I will move them all to our evening park.

I totally screwed up AK on our 2009 trip and truthfully I still sometimes get annoyed about it. We had the WORST experience in that park, on that day. That said, I nailed it in 2012 thanks to what I learned in 2009. Here's hoping your next DHS days is great!

 

[skater]

Surely you have figured out by now that people sitting home at their computers know more about what you are experiencing than you do?

It could be a lot of things:

1) higher crowds
2) people no longer diverting to FP machines at RD
3) more people showing up for RD to compensate for the lack of FP+ when hopping

Also know that it is entirely possible for an experienced rope dropper to find it busier than normal, while a RD newbie thinks its awesome because they don't know how good it really USED to be.

Just rest assured you are in a better place this week. We had 10 inches of snow on Tuesday and are on our 4th snow day. If you have kids, they probably didn't miss as much school as they expected to!

Just want to say thank you for this positive response. Some of the first responses were unnecessarily nasty. I really don't understand why people can't disagree without going on the attack.

 

[Farps]

Rope drop worked for us on our last trip in November, and the fast pass machines were covered at TSMM.

 

[bcrook]

My only problem with RD a couple of weeks ago was my mom not getting up and ready in time! But through a combo of actually getting there early, and watching the times on MDE like a mad woman tapping my foot, I could see that waits for everything were low (10, 15, 20 min) until about 10am, 10:30 where they of course jumped significantly. That seemed pretty normal timing to me.

I will say the RD crowd outside of MK during our early CRT ADR looked pretty busy for 8:15, or at least busier than I recall seeing. The scariest line though, was for the FP machines around 10:30AM...

Ironic! A FP+ system is causing long lines to use the system to avoid lines.

Maybe they should have left DHS out of FP+? The new system is very ill-suited for that park, because there are not enough rides, and TSMM is by far the most popular. They are creating a bottleneck at that ride which is worse than ever, because people know that they can only snag one fast pass per day for that ride, so hardly anyone will go anywhere else at RD.

At least in the old days, you could grab a fast pass, then go take advantage of the short lines elsewhere. But now, everyone will be jamming that standby line, whether or not they stop at the kiosk first.

Once again, the bigger picture is ride capacity, which is what they should have spent the money on instead of IT.

More irony - TSMM is the poster child for needing FP+.

I've come to the conclusion that rope drop is very important!

Oh my, even more irony. FP+ big selling point is not rushing to enjoy all the big rides! Now it is critical to get to the parks am hour before they open to wait in line.

If you are an offsite guest, the strategy seems to be... Get to the entrance line an hour early, hit a ride, then go wait in live at a kiosk to get your three additional fastpasses.

I can see how this is going to help Disney. Adults at some point are just going to say "screw it" and wander off to get a drink. They need to make that kronenbourg more easily available at MK. Maybe Gaston's tavern will start selling it and that area along with the charging station/Rapunzel bathroom will become the hot spots.

I haven't see any final details, but DAK might be getting quite a few new drinking areas.

We can pay our $100.00 cover charge and drink our days away at $9.00 a pop.

If you have young kids, take them to legoland.

 

[crostorfer]

There are still the same amount of people rope dropping, but before, many would head straight to a fast pass machine and go ride something that may not have a long wait.

Now, you have everyone going immediately to the rides without stopping to get a fastpass. It makes something like TSMM a nightmare.

That is something I hadn't thought of before, but now that I think about it, you are totally correct. Arriving at TSMM at 9:05, if the line spills out the door and on down the street you are at about a 45 minute wait. The standby line was always that long, and often trailed down the street. The wait to get FP was about 15 minutes in the opposite direction. Taking away the FP line, unless you are in the very front of the pack you are looking at an hour wait or more if you choose to head to TSMM first thing at rope drop.

Like another poster said, instead of people running, pushing, and shoving to get to the FP machine, now you have people who will run, push, and shove to get to standby.

 

[crostorfer]

We can pay our $100.00 cover charge and drink our days away at $9.00 a pop.

Actually, this has been my EPCOT strategy for years, LOL. You need a drink to stand in line to meet Snow White in Germany on a hot day. No shade to be had. Double fisted grey goose slushes make the experience much more enjoyable.

 

[bcrook]

That is something I hadn't thought of before, but now that I think about it, you are totally correct. Arriving at TSMM at 9:05, if the line spills out the door and on down the street you are at about a 45 minute wait. The standby line was always that long, and often trailed down the street. The wait to get FP was about 15 minutes in the opposite direction. Taking away the FP line, unless you are in the very front of the pack you are looking at an hour wait or more if you choose to head to TSMM first thing at rope drop.

Like another poster said, instead of people running, pushing, and shoving to get to the FP machine, now you have people who will run, push, and shove to get to standby.

I am looking forward to the day when everyone has access to advanced FP+ scheduling and we can all run, push, shove (login, search, refresh) to get our Fp+ online 60 days in advance. And then rush to the parks earlier than rd to do it again for standby.

I am still looking for that PLUS.

Tom Staggs said this last January "Like most people who visit Walt Disney World Resort, my family and I have our “must-do” attractions, and as the father of three boys, those attractions often end with the word “mountain.” Now, rather than dashing as a group, or even splitting up to gather FastPasses, imagine booking guaranteed ride times for your favorite shows and attractions even before setting foot in the park. With MyMagic+, guests will be able to do that and more, enabling them to spend more time together and creating an experience that’s better for everyone."

I'm not seeing it, unless of course the goal is to enjoy three rides, shop, look at the scenery, and catch a couple of the few remaining street performers or parades.

 

[mom2rtk]

More irony - TSMM is the poster child for needing FP+.

I've decided TSMM needs to go FP+ only. True appointment riding. Load the FP system with as many spots as it takes to fill the ride every day. To ride, you MUST have a FP+. It will prevent any rerides through abusing the standby system.




Oh.......... I'm only half kidding. I'm so TIRED of this ride being the be-all/end-all. I'm so tired of it I walked past short waits for it at DCA several times without ever riding it. I skipped short waits on Soarin as well.

 

[mom2rtk]

I am looking forward to the day when everyone has access to advanced FP+ scheduling and we can all run, push, shove (login, search, refresh) to get our Fp+ online 60 days in advance. And then rush to the parks earlier than rd to do it again for standby.

I am still looking for that PLUS.

Tom Staggs said this last January "Like most people who visit Walt Disney World Resort, my family and I have our “must-do” attractions, and as the father of three boys, those attractions often end with the word “mountain.” Now, rather than dashing as a group, or even splitting up to gather FastPasses, imagine booking guaranteed ride times for your favorite shows and attractions even before setting foot in the park. With MyMagic+, guests will be able to do that and more, enabling them to spend more time together and creating an experience that’s better for everyone."

I'm not seeing it, unless of course the goal is to enjoy three rides, shop, look at the scenery, and catch a couple of the few remaining street performers or parades.

I'm not seeing it either.

And thanks for reposting one of my least favorite Tom Staggs bits.

Do you think his boys have to choose between Soarin and TT when they go to Epcot?

 

[crostorfer]

I'm not seeing it, unless of course the goal is to enjoy three rides, shop, look at the scenery, and catch a couple of the few remaining street performers or parades.

BINGO I've come to the conclusion that this is EXACTLY what they want of us. I think it's their end game. It's the same model and the restaurant business, where they use little tricks like turning up the a/c to get out out of there faster. They want you to get in, do your thing, spend your money, then get out to make room for new guests.

I'm not sad that this will be our last WDW trip. I can get my magic in California, and Orlando will all be about Harry Potter and my FOTL at US/IoA. It's just more for my money there.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I
I'm not seeing it, unless of course the goal is to enjoy three rides, shop, look at the scenery, and catch a couple of the few remaining street performers or parades.

That is what your goal is now supposed to be. And of course, enjoy your WDW resort for the rest of the time!

 

[crostorfer]

I'm not seeing it either.

And thanks for reposting one of my least favorite Tom Staggs bits.

Do you think his boys have to choose between Soarin and TT when they go to Epcot?

I wonder what Tom Staggs tells his kids when they want to ride each mountain multiple times now?

Oh, who are we kidding? Tom Staggs's kids most likely will never have to wait in line for anything. They just get ushered through with a VIP pass.

 

[crostorfer]

That is what your goal is now supposed to be. And of course, enjoy your WDW resort for the rest of the time!

And don't forget to visit the gift shop and chow down on a Mickey head ice cream bar followed by a $5 bottle of water!

 

[ArwenMarie]

And don't forget to visit the gift shop and chow down on a Mickey head ice cream bar followed by a $5 bottle of water!

Just tap your Mickey band to the Mickey head and it can be yours, just like that!

(Except when it doesn't work, then please make sure you have cash on you or your kid will probably start crying.)

 

[Silock]

Thank you! How was the line at RNR then?

It was good. Did one walk on, then waited about fifteen when we went straight back to it. By the time we were out of the second time around, the line was about 45 minutes and stayed there.

 

[clsteve]

I am looking forward to the day when everyone has access to advanced FP+ scheduling and we can all run, push, shove (login, search, refresh) to get our Fp+ online 60 days in advance. And then rush to the parks earlier than rd to do it again for standby.

I am still looking for that PLUS.

At least the Kronenbourg is much cheaper at home....

 

[bcrook]

This got a good laugh...

At least the Kronenbourg is much cheaper at home....

 

[larryz]

DD14 is also a member and she was watching this thread and others. She said what you were doing was like cyberbullying because you're "piling on". And I agreed.

Trying hard not to be political here...but I don't believe it was "cyberbullying." And, FWIW...

The easiest and most effective solution to "cyberbullying" is "cyber-turning-off-the-computer" or "cyber-ignoring-the-other-person."

 

[larryz]

Contrary to what you might think Josh is not the end all be all on Disney World.

Is that you, Mike?

 

[mesaboy2]

Is that you, Mike?

I would've guessed Len.