Running at the rope drop -- why I hate it

[YukonMommy]

Back in 2011, our first family Disney trip I insisted we be rope drop people.....never again! I am surprised more people are not hurt. Now we still arrive before the gates open but hang to the back, we adults sip our coffee and people watch the craziness! I've seen parents hollering at their kids to run faster, adults hollering at their aging parents to hurry up. Nope, no thank you.

 

[northshoremama]

we've never run at RD either. we've always been passed by folks running though. we could have run in the past when both DDs were in a double stroller, but we never did. we walked briskly! now that the 2 older DDs are on foot and we have DD3 in a stroller, we still walk fairly briskly and i'm proud that my 2 older girls have been able to keep up with us! it is not easy for littles to keep up with long adult legs! LOL!

 

[Jason2015]

Wow, that's really unsafe! People will not change their behavior unless there are consequences (you know something like a warning from a CM, and CMs should be backed up by some uniformed security first thing in the morning for dealing with guests who ignore CM's warnings). I have heard CMs yelling don't run before. Disney should enforce their own rules for the safety of all guests. @WonkaKid , I would write to guest services because you seem genuinely upset about this (and I believe you are upset with good reason, guest safety should not be an after thought). CMs do as management says, if the right person in management finds out things are getting out of hand you mind find a safer rope drop experience next time. (One guest fall from running at rope drop per week is out of hand in my opinion, that is a pile up situation waiting to happen.)

Really most of these rules are unenforceable. The only true "punishment" that Disney would have would be to eject the runners from the park for the day; and that would be a bit extreme for this type of infraction. This would not be the reputation that Disney is going to work for-ejecting patrons for minor infractions of the rules.

You could have dressed security officers stop the runners and talk to them about safety, this would then allow the walkers to get by. But its kind of like the pool, the lifeguard whistles at the kid to stop running and s/he does until around the corner and then picks up the running again.

I agree that it isn't "fair" that others run to get first in line. Yet, is it fair that others walk faster than I do and beat me to the ride without violating the rules even though they got to RD 2 minutes early and I was there 10?

 

[ttig34]

i especially love when one in the party runs, gets in the front of the line, then motions the 20 people they are with who are slowly walking to push their way through the line to be at the front with them.

 

[gottalovepluto]

...The only true "punishment" that Disney would have would be to eject the runners from the park for the day; and that would be a bit extreme for this type of infraction. This would not be the reputation that Disney is going to work for-ejecting patrons for minor infractions of the rules...

It wouldn't be extreme in my book. A people pile up could be horrendous and that's what they risk. Kick 'em out. I have zero issues with this.

Sidenote- I'm on a roll today, between this thread and the GRR incident thread I'm ready to kick everyone out of the park who isn't following the rules! Let's ease that congestion!

 

[lorijohnhill]

One day, a year ago last spring, a woman and I were waiting for others in our parties to ride Space Mountain during EMH. Suddenly we heard this loud thundering noise and we looked at each other with confusion. Then this huge crowd of people came tearing into sight. It was a frightening sight. It was as if a stampeding herd had broken into Disneyland. We each looked at our phones and saw the time. Rope drop had occurred. We looked at each other again and said how glad we were to be safely out of the way of that mess. I couldn't believe nobody got hurt.

 

[tdhickey]

Smart CM's hold the rope for the walk, with everyone walking behind them.

I brisk walk, but never run

 

[LongLiveTheKing]

I will never ever run for Peter Pan.
Happy hour yes, but not Peter Pan.

MG

Seriously. You know what I run for in Disney parks? Nothing. I'm there to chill, not freaking compete against people. The closest I ever get to even fast walking is to get new fast passes.

 

[LongLiveTheKing]

Back in 2011, our first family Disney trip I insisted we be rope drop people.....never again! I am surprised more people are not hurt. Now we still arrive before the gates open but hang to the back, we adults sip our coffee and people watch the craziness! I've seen parents hollering at their kids to run faster, adults hollering at their aging parents to hurry up. Nope, no thank you.

This. Just hit the Main Street shops for a bit to avoid the rats crawling over each other for a scrap of saved time.

Then this huge crowd of people came tearing into sight. It was a frightening sight. It was as if a stampeding herd had broken into Disneyland.

Fun Disney trivia: It wasn't actually wildabeasts that trampled Mufassa.

 

[quiltymom]

Goodness. Glad the daughter saw the error in Mom's ways.

I was at DL last week at rope drop at Tomorrowland. Most people were walking; it was the peeps at the back of the herd who were running around everyone (as in most of the crowd) who was walking. My DS & I just kept walking our brisk pace to Space Mountain. The funny thing was that it wasn't open yet, and everyone who ran got there and had to turn around! This enabled us to beat the "turn-around" crowd runners to Star Tours.

 

[kelmac284]

I completely agree. I am almost 50 and my mom is 70. We usually always stay at one of the harbor hotels and walk. We purposely get up early so we can be there for rope drop and I also hate people that think they need to push their way to the front. If I come in behind you I will STAY behind you. I have gone to a few concerts lately and I hate people that do that as well. We all standing there in a huge crowd already and then there are those that just literally knock you over to SQUEEZE in past you. Dude there is no space anyway but you think it is cool to just force yourself in where there is already no room. I have seen this at the fireworks too. So rude and inconsiderate. And I agree I can't run OR walk very fast and to have people come up and push in front of me and then practically knock me over is just ridiculous. If everyone walked we would all get there eventually and someone would still be first. But alas people never change. :/

 

[5forMickey]

This whole thing is why I love the "Fantasmic! Dining", "WOC Dessert Seating" and "Paint the Night" viewings, I'd rather pay a little extra and avoid all of this. This next trip is the first time we will do WOC since it was first new because I can't stand the standing in line, pushing and then having people run over me anyway. Being able to have a seat and avoid all of that is music to my ears. There is nothing I HATE more than being pushed and shoved or sometimes trampled on. My Father (elderly at 73 and disabled) was literally knock to the ground and stepped on once leaving Fantasmic! I think it's another reason why I am such a fan of early entry, there just isn't as many people to push and shove you.

While I don't agree with it being "unfair" (life isn't fair and is what you make of it), I do find it annoying and rude. I refuse to let things like this ruin my trip. When people get bad, we go back to the room for a rest and we return when the crowds die down. Would I sometimes like to be in the park during the day, yes......is it fair that I have to leave the park because it is so crowded, no, but we do it to enjoy our trip.

I agree with the many posters that have said just let it go, they don't really get that much further ahead of you in line, and if you fret about it it tends to ruin your day. Just chuckle to yourself when they run by and think "I'm glad I don't feel the need to be first, second or third is much more of a relaxing place to be".....

 

[jojomojo]

Really most of these rules are unenforceable. The only true "punishment" that Disney would have would be to eject the runners from the park for the day; and that would be a bit extreme for this type of infraction. This would not be the reputation that Disney is going to work for-ejecting patrons for minor infractions of the rules.

I'd like to see runners pulled aside for a 5 minute time-out. Probably harsh in the eyes of a runner, but definitely not extreme and even a little amusing to non-runners. And I bet it would make them think twice about ever running again.

 

[GeneralTso]

I'm gonna let you in on a little secret-----life isn't fair.
Your quest for fair is going to lead to a very frustrating life in and out of Disney.

There are going to be runners at rope drop. Just a fact of life. We don't have to like it, but it is what it is.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Moving this to our community board.

 

[LongLiveTheKing]

I'd like to see runners pulled aside for a 5 minute time-out. Probably harsh in the eyes of a runner, but definitely not extreme and even a little amusing to non-runners. And I bet it would make them think twice about ever running again.

The second people go on the news rambling about being put on time out for running in the park is the second that behavior stops on a wide scale.

 

[Kindermouse]

I completely agree. I am almost 50 and my mom is 70. We usually always stay at one of the harbor hotels and walk. We purposely get up early so we can be there for rope drop and I also hate people that think they need to push their way to the front. If I come in behind you I will STAY behind you. I have gone to a few concerts lately and I hate people that do that as well. We all standing there in a huge crowd already and then there are those that just literally knock you over to SQUEEZE in past you. Dude there is no space anyway but you think it is cool to just force yourself in where there is already no room. I have seen this at the fireworks too. So rude and inconsiderate. And I agree I can't run OR walk very fast and to have people come up and push in front of me and then practically knock me over is just ridiculous. If everyone walked we would all get there eventually and someone would still be first. But alas people never change. :/

We had a squeeze through person trying to pull that nonsense on at at WOC on our last trip...we are in the handicapped area and my kid was in a wheelchair and a very able bodied someone tried to squeeze between us to be up against the railing for that area. It was bad enough we were stuck up in that area when we had dining fast passes that couldn't use because of the wheelchair but to be squeezed out and away from my own kid. Um No! I leaned over to block her and when she tried to shove me out of the way i clung to the railing with a death grip.

 

[lorijohnhill]

t was bad enough we were stuck up in that area when we had dining fast passes that couldn't use because of the wheelchair

What do you mean you couldn't use the dining fast passes because of the wheelchair? Each dining area has a separate wheelchair section; at least they used to. Has this changed?

 

[Kindermouse]

What do you mean you couldn't use the dining fast passes because of the wheelchair? Each dining area has a separate wheelchair section; at least they used to. Has this changed?

ok that's what we thought too but when it came time for those in the WOC dining section to go into that area they had the line going down stairs. I asked where we should go to get to the area and the CM said "can he get out of the chair and go down the steps" I said no, by this time of day he is in a lot of pain (he had just had an unexpected knee surgery after a trampoline accident a couple of weeks before). she said that we would have to go to the upper wheelchair section then. since they hadn't started putting people in that section yet she did let us go first so we had the best spot in that section but let me tell you-its not front and center by any means. so when on top of that someone tried to squeeze me out-someone who hadn't just had a not very delicious 100 meal just to get a better spot for the show, well I was having none of it.

 

[lorijohnhill]

ok that's what we thought too but when it came time for those in the WOC dining section to go into that area they had the line going down stairs. I asked where we should go to get to the area and the CM said "can he get out of the chair and go down the steps" I said no, by this time of day he is in a lot of pain (he had just had an unexpected knee surgery after a trampoline accident a couple of weeks before). she said that we would have to go to the upper wheelchair section then. since they hadn't started putting people in that section yet she did let us go first so we had the best spot in that section but let me tell you-its not front and center by any means. so when on top of that someone tried to squeeze me out-someone who hadn't just had a not very delicious 100 meal just to get a better spot for the show, well I was having none of it.

Which dining package did you do? I've done both Ariel's and WCT (which was terrible) and they sent us down the side to a ramp to get to the dining wheelchair section. I think your CM just didn't know what he/she was doing. I'd write to guest services about that.