Thinking of Changing Strategy...

[BethR9]

So, we've always been rope drop people, especially at MK.

But now for our next trip in March, 2017, I'm thinking we may do rope drop a few mornings at MK but on our other MK days, we may sleep in, use the pool, relax, and do MK in late afternoon through evening.

I've been monitoring the wait times on the Lines app and notice for later afternoon and evening, the line times drop quite a bit. This is even for higher crowd times (7-8 usually). So I'm thinking, why get up to an alarm while on vacation and just take our time in the morning and do MK later in the day? As long as we can hang for later hours, why not! And plan our FP+ for that.

So has anyone switched their game plan to something like this (rope droppers before and now going to the parks later)?? How did it work out? I'm especially curious for higher crowded times...

Would love some input on this! Our daughter will be 9 at time of trip and is a pretty flexible child.

 

[mom2rtk]

I guess it depends on how many later nights would be followed by rope drop mornings. I can see doing mornings or doing evenings, but I don't think I could mix them.

We almost always do rope drop. But when we're there during party season and do a couple late nights at those events, I do find myself dragging and not able to do rope drop the next day.

 

[BethR9]

I guess it depends on how many later nights would be followed by rope drop mornings. I can see doing mornings or doing evenings, but I don't think I could mix them.

We almost always do rope drop. But when we're there during party season and do a couple late nights at those events, I do find myself dragging and not able to do rope drop the next day.

Yes, we wouldn't do a late evening followed by a rope drop. So it would be hard to mix up our days, that's for sure!

I also like to use the pools later in the day when it's the warmest part of the day.

Hmmmm, guess I'll have to do some thinking of our days and what might work best.

Thanks for your input!

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

We did that on one day our last trip. We had planned a resort day but got an extra day of tickets free so went in the late afternoon for dinner and after dinner rides. I still think RD is more effective if you want to ride headliners. Teenagers don't get up for RD unless someone forces them but do stay in the park late. So if you're looking at rides little kids like then yes, the times in the evening are comparable to RD. But it seemed to us that the thrill rides had longer lines in the evening than at RD. That said, if it works for you, give it a try. It is certainly less crowded than mid afternoon so I think it's a reasonably strategy. And it was really nice to have a resort morning.

 

[cmsb]

So, we've always been rope drop people, especially at MK.

But now for our next trip in March, 2017, I'm thinking we may do rope drop a few mornings at MK but on our other MK days, we may sleep in, use the pool, relax, and do MK in late afternoon through evening.

I've been monitoring the wait times on the Lines app and notice for later afternoon and evening, the line times drop quite a bit. This is even for higher crowd times (7-8 usually). So I'm thinking, why get up to an alarm while on vacation and just take our time in the morning and do MK later in the day? As long as we can hang for later hours, why not! And plan our FP+ for that.

So has anyone switched their game plan to something like this (rope droppers before and now going to the parks later)?? How did it work out? I'm especially curious for higher crowded times...

Would love some input on this! Our daughter will be 9 at time of trip and is a pretty flexible child.

This happened to us last year! About halfway through our trip (we go in July), we realized that the kids, who were 6 & 8 at the time, were no longer rope drop kids. They wanted to stay out until midnight, sleep in, and enjoy the pool in the morning. My husband and I actually found this to be a lot less stressful and are planning this year's trip accordingly. With the FP+ system, we are able to get the rides we definitely want to ride in the afternoon and the kids are rested enough to make it through fireworks. We will have one rope drop at HS to sign up for Jedi Training, but will have an early park night the night before. I think that if you have been to Disney before and don't feel the pressure to fit everything in, this strategy can make for a really nice vacation. Have fun!

 

[SaintsManiac]

On our last trip we did RD Mon-Tue-Wed, slept in on Thurs-Fri and then RD on Saturday again. Our only late night was Thurs because we went to MVMCP.

We felt like this was a good balance.

 

[nilla]

We did! We still try to hit RD on our MK days and at AK, which we only spend one day in. We slept in on several days - well, the wife and kids slept in. I was up pacing

We also started recently taking mid-day breaks back at the resort on days we do hit rope drop. It all makes for a much more relaxing trip. Of course, we've visited 10 times in the last 10 years, so we don't feel like we're missing out by not spending every waking moment inside the parks.

 

[Accident]

So has anyone switched their game plan to something like this (rope droppers before and now going to the parks later)?? How did it work out? I'm especially curious for higher crowded times...

I love the nights and rarely do rope drop. (aka never do rope drop). time to time I do jump in at rope just to see how it's changed and if I prefer night and I always go back to nights...

after 4pm, there is area of the park that just get empty, and it just increases as night entertainment finishes and many leave for the day. Sometimes it backfires but 95% of the time, it's a wonderful time to be in the park. Now if your family is not night owls rope drop might line up for your home schedule better.

My suggestion is try it. turn off the alarm and just go with the flow a couple days.. It's vacation, sleep in.

 

[matthewhavens]

This happened to us last year! About halfway through our trip (we go in July), we realized that the kids, who were 6 & 8 at the time, were no longer rope drop kids. They wanted to stay out until midnight, sleep in, and enjoy the pool in the morning. My husband and I actually found this to be a lot less stressful and are planning this year's trip accordingly. With the FP+ system, we are able to get the rides we definitely want to ride in the afternoon and the kids are rested enough to make it through fireworks. We will have one rope drop at HS to sign up for Jedi Training, but will have an early park night the night before. I think that if you have been to Disney before and don't feel the pressure to fit everything in, this strategy can make for a really nice vacation. Have fun!

What time do your kids go to bed at home? Our last trip to WDW my kids were 5 & 3 and we did RD every day. This time around they will be 8 & 6. I just read your post and am now wondering if I need to change my strategy for our upcoming trip.

 

[skateshome]

Just got back. We have an 8 and 9 year old. Week long stay. Slept in til 9:00 - 9:30 every day except one (Jedi training). However, we did not swim in the mornings. I set our FP's for late morning.
We would go and ride those and maybe a couple of other walk on's. Then go back to room for 3-5 hours and go back to the parks in the evening. Wife would nap, me and kids would hit the pool for about an hour or so.
We could make an extra evening FP+ now that they are allowing you to make a 4th from your phone at any park. Also the lines are alot shorter in the late evening. If you've seen Wishes or Fantasmic or the other shows once or twice already
use that time to hit the main attractions. Little to no wait on Space Mountain. We rode Rock and Roll Rollercoaster 6 times in a row during Fantasmic with no lines at all. Evenings are where it's at.

 

[BethR9]

Just got back. We have an 8 and 9 year old. Week long stay. Slept in til 9:00 - 9:30 every day except one (Jedi training). However, we did not swim in the mornings. I set our FP's for late morning.
We would go and ride those and maybe a couple of other walk on's. Then go back to room for 3-5 hours and go back in the evening. Wife would nap, me and kids would hit the pool for about an hour or so.
We could make an extra evening FP+ now that they are allowing you to make a 4th from your phone at any park. Also the lines are alot shorter in the late evening. If you've seen Wishes or Fantasmic or the other shows once or twice already
use that time to hit the main attractions. Little to no wait on Space Mountain. We rode Rock and Roll Rollercoaster 6 times in a row during Fantasmic with no lines at all. Evenings are where it's at.

This is what I was hoping to hear! Thank you for reporting back on that!!

I know a lot of time is spent leaving the park and then heading back but sounds like it is worth it!

 

[PrincessV]

My strategy changed when my son hit the teen years - we used to do RD; now he sleeps until noon and we don't get to a park until late afternoon/early evening. Yep, turns out the crowds go down substantially at night! As does the heat. I like this much better than I ever did RD

 

[skateshome]

Will you be relying on Disney Transporation or rental car? Where will you be staying?

 

[BethR9]

Will you be relying on Disney Transporation or rental car? Where will you be staying?

Relying on Disney busses. We'll have our own car but don't think it's worthwhile to drive to MK. Probably staying at Pop.

 

[AngiTN]

We tour like that more often than we do rope drop. My DH has a dire allergy to early mornings, especially on vacation. So to appease him I usually book our FP for afternoon and let him sleep in.
The only time I don't do this is our trip that hits in the summer when it's just too hot. For that one, since he's more allergic to heat than mornings we do rope drop, leave and return for the evening.

 

[skateshome]

Relying on Disney busses. We'll have our own car but don't think it's worthwhile to drive to MK. Probably staying at Pop.

MK I would agree. I think it's a lot quicker however to drive yourself to the other parks.
If you don't like driving....don't forget about Uber. Especially going from your resort to the park. Easy pick up. Will cost about $5-10 per trip. For MK you could always have them drop you off
at Bay Lake Towers and then it's a 10minute walk to the MK. Just some other suggestions.

 

[BethR9]

MK I would agree. I think it's a lot quicker however to drive yourself to the other parks.
If you don't like driving....don't forget about Uber. Especially going from your resort to the park. Easy pick up. Will cost about $5-10 per trip. For MK you could always have them drop you off
at Bay Lake Towers and then it's a 10minute walk to the MK. Just some other suggestions.

Thanks for these suggestions!

 

[Momtwofour]

Your plan sounds good to me while I am sitting here in my living room but when I get there I am go-go-go lol! I always say we are going to tour more relaxed but I can never quite get there. We are making a quick trip in October and only visiting parks four days so not sure that will be the vacation to try it for me. Maybe on our next longer trip

 

[BethR9]

I'm excited to try this!

 

[cmsb]

What time do your kids go to bed at home? Our last trip to WDW my kids were 5 & 3 and we did RD every day. This time around they will be 8 & 6. I just read your post and am now wondering if I need to change my strategy for our upcoming trip.

At home, the kids are asleep by 8:30 and up at 7am every day. I figured it would continue at Disney, but they switched to vacation time.