Strategy for non-fast pass rides

[GusGus16]

I have gained so much information for my upcoming trip from this sub-forum, will be utilizing max pass and have read the super thread with all the infor. Given that thread I feel I have a good understanding of the best way to utilize max pass, but what is the best strategy for non-fast pass rides for DL? We will have one magic morning with our three day park tickets. I'm most concerned with peter pan as I know there is almost always a huge stand by line at DW. Would you plan to head to fantasyland with the magic morning and try to do these non-fast pass attractions or would you just head over in the afternoon when you are waiting for return times on the fast passes? Park days likely will be T, Wed, and Thurs, so we could us our magic morning on either Tues or Thursday, thinking of Tuesday given we will be fresh. Trip is a couple weeks prior to Memorial Day in May.

 

[HydroGuy]

It is so hard to say. PP is the hardest ride to do at all of DLR. You can try for first thing on MM or first thing on non-MM, but if you are not very fast walkers and near the front, it will still likely take a lot of time which is precious morning time. Some folks lately have been saying to just skip PP or bite the bullet and wait it out mid-day at some point.

Everything else non-FP is easily done at RD.

 

[GusGus16]

Thanks for the reply @HydroGuy! We are fast walkers which will help, will be our first time in DL so that will slow us down especially the first day. I think I'll plan to try and rope drop PP on Wednesday morning. I've been reading other threads and sounds like we should aim to be at the entry gates about 1 hour prior to admission.

 

[friedela]

Sorry to jump in here, we've never been to DL either, but I am curious as to whether skipping Mickey's Mix Magic and doing some of those rides when people are catching the show might also be a strategy? Perhaps HydroGuy can speak to that

 

[midnight star]

Thanks for the reply @HydroGuy! We are fast walkers which will help, will be our first time in DL so that will slow us down especially the first day. I think I'll plan to try and rope drop PP on Wednesday morning. I've been reading other threads and sounds like we should aim to be at the entry gates about 1 hour prior to admission.

Going off what Hydroguy said...make sure you are at the rope...like legit, touching the rope. And then walk as fast as you possibly can over there. I've only rope dropped it once, and that was the most intense moment I have ever experienced at DL (and we still waited about 10-15 minutes lol). Rope dropping RSR isn't even that intense, it's crazy.

 

[GusGus16]

Going off what Hydroguy said...make sure you are at the rope...like legit, touching the rope. And then walk as fast as you possibly can over there. I've only rope dropped it once, and that was the most intense moment I have ever experienced at DL (and we still waited about 10-15 minutes lol). Rope dropping RSR isn't even that intense, it's crazy.

Have you experienced Frozen rope drop at Epcot, if you have is it any comparison? Would getting to the turnstiles an hour prior to park opening be a good plan if we want to be right up by the rope? If for whatever reason we can't get that close to the front, it sounds like we should go with other rides to maximize early park time and then circle back sometime in the afternoon. Thanks for the reply!

 

[midnight star]

Have you experienced Frozen rope drop at Epcot, if you have is it any comparison? Would getting to the turnstiles an hour prior to park opening be a good plan if we want to be right up by the rope? If for whatever reason we can't get that close to the front, it sounds like we should go with other rides to maximize early park time and then circle back sometime in the afternoon. Thanks for the reply!

I haven't been to WDW since 2000, and I don't remember much about it lol. But yeah I feel like the big key for PP is to get there early enough to be at the front of the rope. The huge crowd that you will see to the right of the castle at the rope, are most likely heading to PP.

 

[friedela]

Going off what Hydroguy said...make sure you are at the rope...like legit, touching the rope. And then walk as fast as you possibly can over there. I've only rope dropped it once, and that was the most intense moment I have ever experienced at DL (and we still waited about 10-15 minutes lol). Rope dropping RSR isn't even that intense, it's crazy.

Really?? I can't understand why personally. I mean, we did Peter Pan's Flight at WDW and it was "meh".

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Really?? I can't understand why personally. I mean, we did Peter Pan's Flight at WDW and it was "meh".

PP is one of the original 1955 dark rides at DL. It is very special from a historical and sentimental perspective. Even Disney Legend Tony Baxter says that it is one of the best dark rides ever done -- simple and charming. It is a much loved ride at DL and means a lot to many fans. That's one reason why so many people wait so long for this beloved ride.
FL is closed during fireworks (closes before and after -- check with CMs), so doing dark rides during that show won't be an option. However, there is a line that forms at the back of FL during fireworks -- you can get in that line if you don't mind missing the show or viewing from behind the castle -- after the fire marshall gives the all clear, guests will be allowed to get in line for the rides. If you are at the front of that line, you can be one of the first guests back for PP.

 

[midnight star]

Really?? I can't understand why personally. I mean, we did Peter Pan's Flight at WDW and it was "meh".

It's cute and all, but the line is just too long and slow for me. And I don't want to stampede at rope drop or after fireworks. lol

 

[TikiTikiFan]

If you’re serious about Rope Dropping Peter Pan- this is what we do.

We make sure to arrive at least 30 mins prior to opening so at the gates we’re near the front of the line.

Once CMs let us in we boogie ourselves as fast as we can (while still not running) to the rope. I always go to the right to get down Main Street and go to the right of the hub to line up.

By this point we’re able to be front in line at the Rope if all has gone well.

Once CMs drop the rope we “SKIP” like crazy people.

Every single time we’ve done this (three trips in the past two years all at peak times of the season) we’ve always been the first people on the ride and have never waited longer than five minutes.

But also, keep in mind that it’s just two of us with no strollers to hold us back. Small groups can make things like this easier. And we also fast walk to the point that it could barely be called not running. We usually get in line panting and sweaty but we do this almost everyday of our trips- it has worked each time!

Guess it depends on how bad you want it. We’re crazy for PP so it’s worth it for us.

 

[HydroGuy]

Sorry to jump in here, we've never been to DL either, but I am curious as to whether skipping Mickey's Mix Magic and doing some of those rides when people are catching the show might also be a strategy? Perhaps HydroGuy can speak to that

Others have pointed out that most of FL closes during fireworks. Including PP. It used to DL had the great fireworks shows and MK was, well, just nowhere near as good. Now it is the opposite. I just saw HEA again on Saturday and it is really good.

Since DL has not had a good fireworks show for awhile, I think skipping MMM is a good strategy in general. And as others have pointed out, you can queue for PP after the fireworks. I have done that twice now and do not recommend it. The last time was last summer and they had a good system to queue people and keep it from being a madhouse (they actually used the Mr Toad outside queue). But I still had to wait over 20 minutes to ride so not sure it was that much of a gain.

 

[HydroGuy]

Have you experienced Frozen rope drop at Epcot, if you have is it any comparison? Would getting to the turnstiles an hour prior to park opening be a good plan if we want to be right up by the rope? If for whatever reason we can't get that close to the front, it sounds like we should go with other rides to maximize early park time and then circle back sometime in the afternoon. Thanks for the reply!

I have observed FEA rush at Epcot but not been in that rush myself. The difference at DL is that it is a very short walk from the rope to the ride. At Epcot is a hike as I recall. Maybe 5 minutes? And the walkways are wider.

PP at DL is actually easier when they do not let folks into Main Street early. Which is typical for like MM/EMH at 7am. Then if you are at the turnstiles you have much less competition getting to PP. Because everyone else is bottled up outside DL.

If you can be to the turnstiles 40-45 minutes early you will be at or near the front. At least until SWGE opens. Then that all will change.

 

[friedela]

Others have pointed out that most of FL closes during fireworks. Including PP.

Oops, my apologies, we've never been to DL and I am still learning the layouts of both parks.. just thought it might be an idea

 

[Winnowill]

If you're within the first 50-100 people in the PP queue, by all means get in it. If not, save it for later. The PP line usually reaches a certain size (35-50 minutes, generally) and then stays there. So keep an eye on wait times and if it shows a shorter wait (35 or less), go for it!

 

[GusGus16]

Thanks everyone for all the help!

 

[HydroGuy]

Oops, my apologies, we've never been to DL and I am still learning the layouts of both parks.. just thought it might be an idea

Sorry, I only meant to say that I was agreeing with the others and not saying something new. Did not mean to imply you should have known that.

 

[tarheelalum]

If your not waiting in the hub, at the very front before they drop the rope, or very close to it, I would not bother wasting precious time waiting for PP. Go do all of the other dark rides like Alice, which also gets busy and save Peter Pan until the last 20 or 15 minutes before the park closes. Disneyland is very sneaky and will often times grossly inflate the wait times just before the park closes to discourage you from doing this, but trust me it works. And not just for Peter Pan.

 

[GrumpyInPhilly]

If your not waiting in the hub, at the very front before they drop the rope, or very close to it, I would not bother wasting precious time waiting for PP. Go do all of the other dark rides like Alice, which also gets busy and save Peter Pan until the last 20 or 15 minutes before the park closes. Disneyland is very sneaky and will often times grossly inflate the wait times just before the park closes to discourage you from doing this, but trust me it works. And not just for Peter Pan.

Thanks for the tip!

 

[Skyegirl1999]

Thanks for the tip!

Yup, my friend and I got into the Incredicoaster line last summer just before the park closed and it said 60 minutes... we waited seven. Peter Pan really can still be long at that point because a lot of people have the same idea, but at least you can see the whole line and judge for yourself if it looks good.