Single Digit Countdown! Rope drop or late evening parks?

[Mark Thornhill]

Super excited to be in the single digits for our next WDW AKL vacation! We are taking a family of 4 boys that has never been before and CANNOT WAIT!

Most of the people on this board are planners (that's why we're here) and the absence of FastPass option is something I can live with....we will have fun no matter what. Our group will spend a fair amount of time at pools and water parks. No park hopper option.

Here's my question. If looking to take the best guess at minimizing wait times at the parks, do we rope drop or go after lunch until close? We normally don't do a park the entire day, so any feedback is greatly appreciated!

 

[marshallabney]

We’ve had a lot of luck doing a mixture of both with a longer than usual break in the middle. Seems to me, however, that late afternoon until park close is best. The lines build really quickly first thing in the morning, and if transportation fails you in the morning (which is a big possibility at AKL with no alt transportation other than bus/car) it could cost you the best hour of the park. Wait times are greatly exaggerated in the evenings in our brief experience. So, if you can shoot for both, if not an option we would choose evenings.

 

[nwandless32]

Super excited to be in the single digits for our next WDW AKL vacation! We are taking a family of 4 boys that has never been before and CANNOT WAIT!

Most of the people on this board are planners (that's why we're here) and the absence of FastPass option is something I can live with....we will have fun no matter what. Our group will spend a fair amount of time at pools and water parks. No park hopper option.

Here's my question. If looking to take the best guess at minimizing wait times at the parks, do we rope drop or go after lunch until close? We normally don't do a park the entire day, so any feedback is greatly appreciated!

What is up man. Can't believe I saw you on this post.

 

[kathi]

We arrive on Friday and I've been researching the heck out of it for a month. Our plan is to be at rope drop and do as much as possible before lunch. We will eat lunch at our park ADR and then go back to the pool and relax. We will return to a park 2 to 3 hours before close and hit up rides we may have missed or to get a jump on the next day. We have park hoppers, so there will be some flexibility (although I have ADRs for most lunches and dinners just to have a place to sit and relax). Hope you have a great trip!

 

[wilkydelts]

You can find tons of valuable advice here:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/h...g-experiences-including-park-hopping.3807247/

 

[scrappinginontario]

I would do both!! You'll find the shortest waits early in the morning and in the evening. A great touring plan we've used often is to Rope Drop, go back to resort for swim, food and rest then head back to the parks around 3-4pm. It's the best of both worlds without being in the parks in the heat of the day.

That being said, we've often planned to do that then opened and closed a park too without ever leaving!

 

[Accidental Disney Fan]

I would do both!! You'll find the shortest waits early in the morning and in the evening. A great touring plan we've used often is to Rope Drop, go back to resort for swim, food and rest then head back to the parks around 3-4pm. It's the best of both worlds without being in the parks in the heat of the day.

yup. This. It truly is the best of both worlds. Head to the parks so that you are at the gates about 45 minutes before the official opening times. Sure, you'll have some early mornings but it's early morning FUN! Then knock of a few headliners. We don't have elaborate breakfasts in the morning, so it's just caffeine and cereal in our room before we head out.

 

[glocon]

Maybe try RD early in the trip and see how the kids do with it. If they are ok with RD then you can do the split RD til lunch/resort pool/back to park option. If you find RD doesn’t make for an enjoyable trip, sleep in, do pool time then head to parks in afternoon when others are coming back for their pool time. Every family is different so see what works best for yours early in the trip and go with that.

 

[Blondie58]

Super excited to be in the single digits for our next WDW AKL vacation! We are taking a family of 4 boys that has never been before and CANNOT WAIT!

Most of the people on this board are planners (that's why we're here) and the absence of FastPass option is something I can live with....we will have fun no matter what. Our group will spend a fair amount of time at pools and water parks. No park hopper option.

Here's my question. If looking to take the best guess at minimizing wait times at the parks, do we rope drop or go after lunch until close? We normally don't do a park the entire day, so any feedback is greatly appreciated!

I think you will have fun no matter from the words you share here. You say none of the boys have been to WDW but then state you do not normally rope drop??? Thus I would guess you and significant other have gone to WDW prior to children. I would evlauate your children's personalities. Are they early morning risers? Or would a slow day start better fit their personalities. The parks are opened such a limited amount of time if you rope drop you can leave mid-afternoon for fun in the sun. If you go right after lunch you will have six or seven hours. Again, this depends on the boys ages and personalities as to how they will be overall. I think cost is also a factor. You can eat breakfast and lunch before going and then a snack and eat dinner later if that fits your family routine. If going at rope drop you would probably eat lunch out and snack more areound the dinner hour??? HAVE A GREAT TIME!!!

 

[tinkerbella16]

Just got back on Monday and we did both. We loved the early mornings at the parks - we got so much done at MK on Sunday morning, took a break and came back until park closing. The park felt empty that night! It was amazing. We ate dinner at Pecos Bills and felt like we were the only ones in there - we couldn't even find an open table there when we went in September.