Slinky Dog Rope Drop is a Living Hell

[MomOTwins]

I just need to rant. We were the good guys. We showed up at 7:45 for a 9am park opem. We were literally the first in line at the turnstiles. Right at the front of the rope drop crowd. We started walking when they said to and then the chaos began. People were running all around us, shoving the side of the stroller with my baby in it, cutting between me and my husband with the other stroller so I had to slow down to find him. Now we are at the end of a 90 minute line, hundreds if people in front of us when we have already waited 90 minutes. I want to cry. People are awful. I thought rope drop cast members were supposed to make people walk.

 

[mom2rtk]

Ugh. Disney needs to find a better way. I can't even imagine what the Star Wars rope drops will be like.

 

[dreiwhit]

I can't even imagine what the Star Wars rope drops will be like.

I can - it will be much worse!

 

[DisArmyWife215]

People are awful.

I'd like to second this. But also say other people are great. **HUGS**

Don't let those few awful people ruin your day. I've heard evening hours are pretty good for SDD and the lights at TSL look nice. Maybe try back later? Hope the rest of the day goes more smoothly! Enjoy your babies, hubby and have a great vacation!!

 

[KenHutch]

When they start letting people into Hollywood this past June to sign up for Jedi Training they has a woman outside telling people ahead of time not to run. Well one man grabbed a kid under each arm and start running almost ran into several people. For all of his get out of my way and running we were just 10-15 people behind him. I think they do notice village idiots because we got into the 1st Jedi Training and I heard him complaining about hits 15:30 time. For everything else I adopt this rule. We are always park openers but whatever direction the mob goes we go in the opposite direction. At AK while everyone else was running to FoP we went in the opposite direction and got 3-5 rides on everything else with little lines.

 

[Disneylvr1971]

I agree I wish there was a better way, but when there are mobs of people, it's pretty hard for a few CM's to control. Reminds you of Black Friday, I always feel bad for those workers too. Hope you enjoy the rest of your vacation and agree with DisArmyWife218, TSL is pretty cool at night.

 

[EdnaMarieMode]

Everyone is supposed to walk, and yes the CMs are supposed to remind them. But the chaos does reach a point where there's nothing the CM's can do without getting themselves into the fray.

If you're still in line waiting, TSMM is currently down which is not helping the situation (the available attractions are reduced by 1/3). I would consider re-visiting at night and taking advantage of the shorter waits at other areas now. Good luck, I hope your day gets way better from here!

 

[Tink_83]

I’m sorry to hear this happened. Yes people are awful.

 

[mom2rtk]

it's pretty hard for a few CM's to control. Reminds you of Black Friday,

It's Disney's job to add more CMs if needed. It sounds like they are needed.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'd like to second this. But also say other people are great. **HUGS**

Don't let those few awful people ruin your day. I've heard evening hours are pretty good for SDD and the lights at TSL look nice. Maybe try back later? Hope the rest of the day goes more smoothly! Enjoy your babies, hubby and have a great vacation!!

I understand the sentiment. But she could stay home and enjoy her babies and hubby for free. She came to Disney and lined up 75 minutes before park open to ride an attraction. Disney needs to handle this better.

OP, I hope you'll email guest services with your concerns about how this was handled.

 

[snappy]

It's Disney's job to add more CMs if needed. It sounds like they are needed.

I agree! Someone is going to get hurt.

 

[DisArmyWife215]

Disney needs to handle this better.

OP, I hope you'll email guest services with your concerns about how this was handled.

Oh, I totally agree! But I avoid rope drops for just this reason. I'd rather stay late and avoid a mad rush of people all hopped up on caffeine and the idea of being first on a ride.

 

[123SA]

It really truly is awful. My sympathies.

 

[pens4821]

When they start letting people into Hollywood this past June to sign up for Jedi Training they has a woman outside telling people ahead of time not to run. Well one man grabbed a kid under each arm and start running almost ran into several people. For all of his get out of my way and running we were just 10-15 people behind him. I think they do notice village idiots because we got into the 1st Jedi Training and I heard him complaining about hits 15:30 time. For everything else I adopt this rule. We are always park openers but whatever direction the mob goes we go in the opposite direction. At AK while everyone else was running to FoP we went in the opposite direction and got 3-5 rides on everything else with little lines.

We are the same way. I know that sometimes it doesn't work, but we try our hardest to get FP for the really big wait rides (ie SDD, FOP, 7D) and then go elsewhere at opening. MLK week we were done with RNRC and TOT by 8:20, took 2 rides on EE with the second time waiting 10 minutes and that was just because they were still brining trains out, rode Buzz 3 times then Pooh at IASW and were walking into Frontierland a few minutes after it opened at 9.

We were walking into HS as they were already allowing people through the taps. We thought we would be far back, but most people went left, we went right. We weren't far back from the rope at all (maybe 4 rows in front of us).

 

[L_MD]

I just need to rant. We were the good guys. We showed up at 7:45 for a 9am park opem. We were literally the first in line at the turnstiles. Right at the front of the rope drop crowd. We started walking when they said to and then the chaos began. People were running all around us, shoving the side of the stroller with my baby in it, cutting between me and my husband with the other stroller so I had to slow down to find him. Now we are at the end of a 90 minute line, hundreds if people in front of us when we have already waited 90 minutes. I want to cry. People are awful. I thought rope drop cast members were supposed to make people walk.

I'm sorry and I hope your day gets better! I've never had a bad RD crowd (usually because I miss it) but I have had other crappy experiences with guests. Luckily, those people are usually the worst part of a Disney vacation. I'm not very good at "moving on" from those incidents (and I do usually have a few frustrated tears) but I do my best to just hang in there and have fun with the rest of my day. I'm sending positive thoughts to you!

 

[snappy]

We avoid rope drop as well, not really because of the madness but because we value leisurely waking up, having breakfast, and drinking coffee on the balcony we book at the BWV. We have been able to book FP at 60 days for slinky. Also found you can ride it near the end of the park hours although there is still a wait. My husband stands in line while I do the tamer toy story mania 2-3 times during the last hour. I will say I do NOT think this strategy will work when Star Wars opens and the skyline cattle call begins. If the powers that be at Disney don’t figure out a better plan before that land opens, the madness will escalate to your worst nightmare. Hello president’s Day, Christmas, etc., instead of caffeine they will need to dispense alcohol.

 

[mom2rtk]

We are early risers so always do rope drop. But we do what @KenHutch does and go the opposite direction. That said, we've been doing DLR of late and have never been closed out of a FP we wanted. We're considering returning to WDW next (when SW breaks DL) and I honestly don't know what we'll do if we can't get FP for what we want. Being early risers, staying late really isn't the best plan for us.

 

[SarahC97]

I'm so sorry. I just don't understand why people feel the need to run. I mean, you're going to get there -- why do you have to run and be rude to others int he process? It's ridiculous.

I always say that the most difficult part of any Disney vacation is dealing with other people. They can be awful.

 

[jess20k]

I agree with you. It was awful. For all the aggravation, it was not worth it imo. I just overall do not like the new Toy Storyland area layout. They could have done better. While the Slinky Dog Coaster was fun, I would never go at rope drop again. It was not that good.

 

[holden]

It’s a shame that some people have to ruin other’s day like that. I just let those idiots go. If riding a certain ride is their “end all/be all” then they are pathetic. A family vacation is about so much more than that.

I hope the rest of your trip is pleasant and “idiot free!”