The first hour is no longer golden

[redsbe]

In early April I booked my FP+ at the main gate just before RD, then entered the park as soon as it opened and was able to experience 6 major attractions within the first 90 minutes with no major waits, then had my FP+ during mid day. Glad I used RD plus mid day FP+ as the park was crowed by noon with long lines for all major attractions (and this was on a level 7 MK day). So RD is still a very productive strategy, perhaps lesser so on the most busiest days but an improvement of not using RD and relying on only FP+ plus long lines the rest of the day.

 

[LSUfan4444]

Crowds are still at their lowest during the first hour

 

[LSUfan4444]

One of the big difference now I have seen is that you need to be MUCH more direct in your trek to things like Toy Story. Previously, some people would stop off at the FP machines, but that isn't the case anymore.

Rope Drop can still be golden, just not in the same way it used to be. The attractions you hit at rope drop need to either be approached differently or changed to something else.

 

[Aurora0427]

We were there in February and I made our group get to magic kingdom by 8:40 for rope drop. We were able to do tons of rides between 9-10:30. But we stayed at wilderness lodge. We leave in 17 days for our trip, so it'll be interesting to see if it's different.

 

[elaine amj]

We've been speculating for quite some time whether human nature and the desire to sleep late on vacation would over-ride the "urgency" of arriving early to use those early (likely quick-picked) FP+ reservations. It might be attributable to other factors, but this could be an indication that having early FP+ reservations has motivated more people to arrive early.

I've admittedly been a vocal critic of FP+ so don't take this as "slamming" FP+, but I do think that from WDW's perspective, it's a success if it gets people more people to show up and start filling those queues earlier (even though WE perceive that as a negative impact on our experience). The goal has always been #1: make more money and #2: re-distribute crowds away from the most popular attractions to "even out" the lines. That desired re-distribution is almost certainly not just from ride to ride, but also ensuring there are not "dead" times during the day or throughout the year.

Disney's ultimate success with shaping guest's behavior will further limit our ability to zig when they zag, because apparently the system will create a steady stream of people both zigging and zagging!

that's what it's sounding like whenever I read reports. I remember when they first started talking about MyMagic+ - they said specifically in the interviews that this was their intention. from that measure, it has been a success.

Sure makes it hard for the rest of us with our well-honed crowd avoidance strategies!

Good points here........we visited in mid-September and found the lines at Rope Drop at the MK to be quite reasonable. In fact lines on most rides (with the exception of 7DMT) were pretty good until around 11am......and then the lines we found to be rough were Peter Pan's Flight and Winnie the Pooh..........

Because of our location at WL and several very early ADR's buses were not our primary method of morning transport........luckily. We used the boat and cabs......but that isn't always an option for bigger families.

From a business perspective Disney wants bigger crowds at slower times......because that means money to them. That's why FREE Dining works because it entices folks to WDW..........and FP+ has enticed folks to get to the parks earlier so they can get on 7DMT before the crowds. Its business..........and until there's an adverse impact to the company's bottom line its going to stay that way.

Doug

They're getting too smart *sigh*

 

[LilyWDW]

I agree with this. We were there the last week of October. While it was not "slow", early morning lines were very manageable. At MK we were able to do Space Mountain and Buzz twice each before 10. I had my first FP+ for 11 - 12 and that was for Splash. We got lots done before the 11 AM FP+
It was great

I also agree with you and, thus, disagree with the OP. While I can not speak for the last couple of weeks, I was at the World in mid October. I got to the park a minimum of 30 minutes before the park was to open (which is the same as previous trips). For that first hour (or two really) I found that I got a LOT done. The same amount as any previous trip even. It was so great that I was changing FP+ on the fly because I didn't need to use them. On a normal opening at MK my last day, I rode Haunted Mansion 4 times in a row at a 10 min or less wait. I could have done more but I had to catch Magical Express!

So it does still seem to be quite helpful to arrive BEFORE the park opens and to have full use of that time. When you travel also has an impact. But FP+ has not impacted things so obviously at all times of the year, at least in my experience and in the experience of some of the members of the October group.

 

[chelseabun76]

A good reason that I'm splitting my EP/DHS days when I go. I'm doing 2 days, morning at one park and afternoon at the other, and switch them around for the next day. I'm booking fp for Soarin' the afternoon I'm there, and riding TT @ RD the next morning. And hopefully hitting TSMM @ RD and booking fp for it the other afternoon so we hit it twice. Looks more confusing typing it out. lol Oh and EP has EMH the one morning we're there too.

 

[wisblue]

On trips in August and November this year we still had very good luck in the first 1-3 hours after park opening. We "cheated" on some days by using AM EMH, but even at regular openings at Epcot we arrived at about 8:30, were let into the park around 8:50, and did Soarin, Test Track (single rider), and Mission Space before 10 AM, all without FPs. Between 10 and 11 we waited 15 minutes for SE, and walked on Nemo and Figment on our way out to the World Showcase

 

[LSUfan4444]

A good reason that I'm splitting my EP/DHS days when I go. I'm doing 2 days, morning at one park and afternoon at the other, and switch them around for the next day. I'm booking fp for Soarin' the afternoon I'm there, and riding TT @ RD the next morning.

Sounds exactly how we do it.

We may only hit Epcot and Hollywood Studios in two days, but we do half days at both.

 

[mggeary]

Sure FP+ starting at 9am is making rope drop less beneficials. But there's always a way to adapt.

For example at MK, ride PPF with no line at rope drop. Use your first two FP+ in the 9-11am hours on A+E and 7DMT that will have ridiculous lines at any time. Use your 3rd FP on another "headliner" late AM or after lunch and grab endless extra FPs for the rest of the afternoon on the midlevel rides that now have annoying waits thanks to FP+. Sure, it will be nice when you can do this on your phone rather than find a kiosk, but the bottom line is you are still not waiting in any lines with the lemmings.

 

[Angel Ariel]

We were in MK on Monday the 10th, and this was how our morning went (timeline is based on the timestamp on my photos)

8:40 - arrived at bag check, RD show was already going
8:55 - entering MS and walking back to A&E trying to make SB work
9:10 - decide not to bother with A&E after getting there and seeing where we were in line, head to hub. Took a few PP pics, watched one of the songs from the Trolley show
9:25 - boarded on Jungle Cruise
9:55 - riding BTMRR
*should be noted that we could have walked on POTC w/no wait- we'd ridden it earlier in the trip, so we skipped it*
10:01 - photos with Chip & Dale outside Diamond Horseshoe
Got some drinks and churros from the churro cart
10:19 - in line for HM (not boarded)
10:45 - shopping in Memento Mori
Then we took a break at the Rapunzel area to sit down with our F&W passports to map out a plan for the evening @ Epcot
11:20 - riding iasw
After iasw, we had lunch at the Village Haus.

It should be noted we weren't trying to "go go go" that morning because we'd done a lot on our arrival day. We had FP+ that day for 7DMT, Space Mtn, and A&E all between 1:30-4:30. We could have ridden BTMRR a few times in a row, as there was less than a 5 min wait. We could have done JC a few times in a row, could have walked on POTC. Adventureland and Frontierland were pretty much dead through about 10:15 at least. HM had probably about a 15-20 min wait by 10:15 (and IIRC, that includes the stretch room). We also would have had a more productive first 30 mins if we hadn't attempted the A&E insanity (thankfully it didn't take us long to realize how silly that was). We had wanted to leave MK as early as possible to get over to F&W, so we were hoping to get a short SB wait for A&E and then not have to use the FP+ for it (which didn't open til 4:25).

So, overall, I think RD has become more important for us - especially if we're with our extended family who will want repeat rides on things like BTMRR (my older nephew) and Buzz (younger nephew, w/little patience to wait in lines but a desire to ride Buzz as much as possible). It's definitely still a good way to get things done, especially in MK and most especially (I think) in Adventureland/Frontierland - maybe even Tomorrowland. Pretty much everyone seems to be heading straight to A&E or 7DMT at RD these days.

 

[mggeary]

We were in MK on Monday the 10th, and this was how our morning went (timeline is based on the timestamp on my photos)

8:40 - arrived at bag check, RD show was already going
8:55 - entering MS and walking back to A&E trying to make SB work
9:10 - decide not to bother with A&E after getting there and seeing where we were in line, head to hub. Took a few PP pics, watched one of the songs from the Trolley show
9:25 - boarded on Jungle Cruise
9:55 - riding BTMRR
*should be noted that we could have walked on POTC w/no wait- we'd ridden it earlier in the trip, so we skipped it*
10:01 - photos with Chip & Dale outside Diamond Horseshoe
Got some drinks and churros from the churro cart
10:19 - in line for HM (not boarded)
10:45 - shopping in Memento Mori
Then we took a break at the Rapunzel area to sit down with our F&W passports to map out a plan for the evening @ Epcot
11:20 - riding iasw
After iasw, we had lunch at the Village Haus.

It should be noted we weren't trying to "go go go" that morning because we'd done a lot on our arrival day. We had FP+ that day for 7DMT, Space Mtn, and A&E all between 1:30-4:30. We could have ridden BTMRR a few times in a row, as there was less than a 5 min wait. We could have done JC a few times in a row, could have walked on POTC. Adventureland and Frontierland were pretty much dead through about 10:15 at least. HM had probably about a 15-20 min wait by 10:15 (and IIRC, that includes the stretch room). We also would have had a more productive first 30 mins if we hadn't attempted the A&E insanity (thankfully it didn't take us long to realize how silly that was). We had wanted to leave MK as early as possible to get over to F&W, so we were hoping to get a short SB wait for A&E and then not have to use the FP+ for it (which didn't open til 4:25).

So, overall, I think RD has become more important for us - especially if we're with our extended family who will want repeat rides on things like BTMRR (my older nephew) and Buzz (younger nephew, w/little patience to wait in lines but a desire to ride Buzz as much as possible). It's definitely still a good way to get things done, especially in MK and most especially (I think) in Adventureland/Frontierland - maybe even Tomorrowland. Pretty much everyone seems to be heading straight to A&E or 7DMT at RD these days.

Seems to me rope drop at MK is just as good if not better for Frontierland, Adventureland, and possibly Tommorrowland for as long as A&E/7DMT craze continues.

 

[jcano]

Seems to me rope drop at MK is just as good if not better for Frontierland, Adventureland, and possibly Tommorrowland for as long as A&E/7DMT craze continues.

That's what we found last week. There was no one on the left side of the park.

 

[jwboucher]

I agree . We were at MK for rope drop on an early EMH day and it was packed! It was nice to see the opening show for the first time in 12 trips!

 

[maxiesmom]

That's what we found last week. There was no one on the left side of the park.

That is what I found in October too. If you go left or right you are still golden. We would head to Space Mountain, and ride it time after time after time with no wait.

 

[EPCOTatNight]

Seems to me rope drop at MK is just as good if not better for Frontierland, Adventureland, and possibly Tommorrowland for as long as A&E/7DMT craze continues.

Exactly! We go straight to Splash and ride about 3 times in a row every trip including this past August. Also, the parks open at about 8:45, so you should be at the gate by 8:15, not getting to the bus stop.

 

[Disney Von Drake]

There are certain days of the week that MK is usually off limits for most savvy guests. Monday at the MK is asking for crowds. The same thing is true for the other WDW parks as well in that there are good days and bad days to visit.

Avoiding the crowds is easy if you follow some simple guidelines. Going with the flow of the normal park commute is a time waster. Why bother to use EMH when you know that the resort guests will be swarming like ants?

You can still beat the crowds but you've got to avoid the normal tourist behavior and strike out on your own.

 

[disneyholic family]

my daughter and her husband got back yesterday...
they were there from November 10th to the 24th and said it was PACKED the entire time..
i've gone during this time for the past 4 years and the crowds have been low, so i don't know what happened this year....except perhaps free dining...