TSMM line

[kiwitravel]

In time there will soon be three rope drop attractions which should help the stampede thin out (at the moment there is just one in DCA). With LM and Carsland I think DCA at rope drop might be a more viable option...

 

[blackjackdelta]

The first couple times we did the rope drop and the mob started to run(I wonder what the learning curve is there.) another CM was about 50 -70 out further and anyone who was running they held until the rest of the group passed so wound up last. I must admit I laughed for a long time. You will not see us in line for Ariel, we have better things to do.

Jack

 

[Disney Dreams]

In reading your post, took it the same way as Love Tink....Especially the bolded parts:

Thanks for your comment in assisting with clarification.

Those of us who aren't locals might need to have a different approach to the parks. Not appreciating the gloating undertone

"Gloating undertone"??? Gloating about what??? Now I am even MORE confused... and find your comment a bit offensive.

I have never been at rope drop. That's just a simple fact. Not at DL where I am a local nor at WDW where I have been 4 times in my life and had limited time to see, do, and enjoy. Waiting for a Park to open and then walking in with the masses isn't our touring style. We don't do rope drop. I find the approach of those who do interesting. What am I gloating about? Really lost and I don't appreciate the harsh personal judgement.

...got to DCA early and waited at the rope drop for 30 minutes and walked briskly to TSMM...We found out later in our trip that the line was never more 45 minutes anyway so waiting 30 minutes at the rope drop and being part of the rush just wasn't worth it...Whether you are waiting at the rope drop or waiting at the line its still waiting... I don't think its gloating on the OPs part just questioning of the logic especially as you could spend that time in DL which is open at that time... After that first morning that's what we did...

Exactly. I just find the entire rope drop, walk in a bunch to TSMM interesting because it seems counter-intuitive to me when it doesn't really save time. Thank you for your comment.

- Dreams

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

It is interesting to see the differences in wait times between TSMM at DCA and WDW. Rope Drop is one of the only time efficient ways to ride TSMM at WDW. The line shoots to 90 minutes within a half hour of park opening on busy days. Fast passes are gone within the hour and wait times later in the day reach 180 minutes or more. Crazy! Could be many visitors are conditioned to the WDW rope drop approach while the local DL folks know how the DCA wait times for TSMM work and plan accordingly.

I'm happy to learn what the locals know!

 

[Disney Dreams]

It is interesting to see the differences in wait times between TSMM at DCA and WDW. Rope Drop is one of the only time efficient ways to ride TSMM at WDW. The line shoots to 90 minutes within a half hour of park opening on busy days. Fast passes are gone within the hour and wait times later in the day reach 180 minutes or more. Crazy! ....

So very true! We have never ridden TSMM at WDW. The line was merciless, every time we checked it. And well, we just don't do rope drop.

I'm happy to learn what the locals know!

Gotta love the DISBoards!

 

[DahliaRW]

When we were there in January, we were there for rope drop by GRR (entered via GCH - dh ran and got soarin' fps while we waited), I think we were only there 10-15 minutes early. Then we walked to TSMM (had the in-laws with us, and they are not fast walkers either) and rode it 2x in about 25 minutes total. By the time we were done with the second ride the line looked to be about 30 minutes. So, if you hit it at the right time of the year it can make sense!

 

[kiwitravel]

When we were there in January, we were there for rope drop by GRR (entered via GCH - dh ran and got soarin' fps while we waited), I think we were only there 10-15 minutes early. Then we walked to TSMM (had the in-laws with us, and they are not fast walkers either) and rode it 2x in about 25 minutes total. By the time we were done with the second ride the line looked to be about 30 minutes. So, if you hit it at the right time of the year it can make sense!

I can see the sense in rope drop in that sort of time frames... We were there in August and I can say that we walked briskly (while plenty ran) and still had a 10 to 15 minute wait, by the time we rode wait was up to 30 minutes.... Everytime we went past the ride it was consistantly 30 to 45 minutes regardless of the time of day (including during WoC)...

 

[stevejanelle]

Exactly. I just find the entire rope drop, walk in a bunch to TSMM interesting because it seems counter-intuitive to me when it doesn't really save time. Thank you for your comment.

- Dreams

I agree. I don't see how waiting for 30+ minutes, running (or walking briskly) to stand in line for 5-15 minutes more is better than latter waiting 30-45 min. Especially when you can be at DL getting FP's and riding other rides with short lines.

 

[miss.potatohead]

Wow I must have been seriously lucky then! In my three days that I was at both DCA/DL (1.5 days at DCA) my family managed to ride TSMM four times, shortest wait time being 15mins and the longest 45 which was a Friday night. Mind you we were there mid January so it was very very quiet during the day, but I don't see why people would line up for a ride for so long! We never waited for more than 45 minutes for any rides across both parks, most lines were 10mins max and many walk on! After getting off many rides I was asking myself why anyone WOULD line up for so long. The newer rides such as TSMM yes I can see why, but some of the other ones...

oh well coming from the other side of the world (Aust) we went on EVERYTHING in both parks within three days and wanted to because it is probably a once in a lifetime trip. I guess if I had an AP and lived close to the parks I might tolerate such long lines and give up time that could be spent on other rides. Yet I also can see that many people can only go to the parks during peak/busy times too so wanting to try and save as much time as possible or line up for hours for a truely awesome ride is the only option.

 

[HydroGuy]

Exactly. I just find the entire rope drop, walk in a bunch to TSMM interesting because it seems counter-intuitive to me when it doesn't really save time. Thank you for your comment.

- Dreams

I agree. I don't see how waiting for 30+ minutes, running (or walking briskly) to stand in line for 5-15 minutes more is better than latter waiting 30-45 min. Especially when you can be at DL getting FP's and riding other rides with short lines.

Dreams, we do not always agree but this definitely falls into an area where we do! From the beginning of TSMM I have never understood the DCA rope drop to TSMM strategy. Some people swear by it.

Anyways I think the whole thing will blow over once LMAUA and especially CarsLand are available.

 

[HydroGuy]

"Gloating undertone"??? Gloating about what??? Now I am even MORE confused... and find your comment a bit offensive.

I have never been at rope drop. That's just a simple fact. Not at DL where I am a local nor at WDW where I have been 4 times in my life and had limited time to see, do, and enjoy. Waiting for a Park to open and then walking in with the masses isn't our touring style. We don't do rope drop. I find the approach of those who do interesting. What am I gloating about? Really lost and I don't appreciate the harsh personal judgement.

I have no idea where the PP was coming from either.

 

[DeluxePrincess]

If 45 minutes is the usual MAX for TSMM, as a WDW veteran, I consider that a breeze. I'm sure once Little Mermaid opens, the traffic patterns will drastically change.

 

[HydroGuy]

If 45 minutes is the usual MAX for TSMM, as a WDW veteran, I consider that a breeze. I'm sure once Little Mermaid opens, the traffic patterns will drastically change.

I would say 30-45 minutes is frequent with occasional surges to 60 minutes. Which as I said will go down with LMAUA opening and CarsLand.

 

[taaren]

These threads always fascinate me. As a So Cal local, I have NEVER been to Disneyland at rope drop and ride TSMM practically every visit.

We wait in line, but I have never waited more than 30 minutes, tops. The entire "rope drop cattle call" entertains me every time I read about it.

It's always interesting to hear other people's experiences compared with my own.

- Dreams

Me too! And we stay onsite! (Though are not locals.) The few times we've used MM were when we drove in from NorCal, check into the hotel and just get our keys and throw our stuff at the bell desk without actually getting our room yet, because if we had a bed to sleep in we'd be in it!
Last few trips we saved TSMM til WOC was happening and the line was shorter then, though we normally travel in the fall when its not as crazy as summer. This year our only real priority will be getting in Star Tours so we'll probably just activate our passes before breakfast by going on Grizzly once then send one person over to get FPs for it.
I like the idea of short lines, but I love sleeping in in my bed in my villa more!

 

[BecomingObsessed]

We're rope droppers! I have two littles who are early risers and early to bedders For us, waiting 30 minutes at the rope and 15 minutes in the line means we only "miss" on 15 minutes of the park hours, rather than the entire 45. Precious 30 minutes when you have to return to the hotel for some kitty snoozes.

I do appreciate all the feedback and am grateful several of you mentioned the line by GRR. I didn't know there was another one over there. We'll have to check it out. We have a Woody fanatic that needs her fix!

 

[dnamertz]

Totally with you on this.... Never fails to confuse me why you would go and wait at the rope drop for 30 minutes to be a part of the stampede to TSMM, to wait a further 10 or 15 minutes for a ride that is seldom over 45 minutes anyway...

We did it once and vowed never again....

While your point seems to make sense after first reading it, there is a benefit to waiting at the rope drop.

If 30 of those 45 minutes are spent at the rope drop (before the park opens) you are not wasting 30 minutes of your available park time in the line...you're only wasting 10 to 15 minutes. If the line is 45 minutes later in the day, that is 45 minutes of your time in the park that you are wasting.

 

[dnamertz]

We're rope droppers! I have two littles who are early risers and early to bedders For us, waiting 30 minutes at the rope and 15 minutes in the line means we only "miss" on 15 minutes of the park hours, rather than the entire 45. Precious 30 minutes when you have to return to the hotel for some kitty snoozes.

Exactly!!! Wish I had read this post before I made my last post.

A similar way to look at it is that I like to eat breakfast at the hotel before the park opens rather than wasting valuable park time eating breakfast in the park. It may take the same amount of time, but if it frees up more time I have to spend inside the park doing other things, then it's worth it.

 

[brenda1966]

But that 30 minutes standing at the rope at CA is 30 minutes that could be spent riding rides over in DL before the lines get really long. Mornings are precious time, so for us it depends on how many mornings we have an how much we can get done in each of them. The memaid ride will change things up the same way getting WoC fastpasses did this last summer. I'll be eagerly awaiting rope drop reports in June!

 

[HydroGuy]

But that 30 minutes standing at the rope at CA is 30 minutes that could be spent riding rides over in DL before the lines get really long. Mornings are precious time, so for us it depends on how many mornings we have an how much we can get done in each of them. The memaid ride will change things up the same way getting WoC fastpasses did this last summer. I'll be eagerly awaiting rope drop reports in June!

That is how I think about it too. It can make sense on days DL opens at 10AM - same as DCA - but not when DL opens at 8AM or 9AM.

 

[tanyaewa]

We were at DL last April for 5 days - whenever we checked TSMM was at 45min.
I just couldn't justify the wait when it was walk on at all kinds of E-ticket rides!
We maximized our FP and had an awesome time everywhere - except the elusive TSMM.... Finally I decided to brave it - the dreaded 45 min wait - so we didn't miss the attraction all together.
Big Mistake. My ds 5 & 7 REALLY didn't like the wait. They were troopers and well behaved but it was a mindless wait and they hated it. It was shame because it really tainted their apprecitation of it. The worst part was that after we were done the plan was to stake out a spot for the last Disney Electrical parade. But they were SO tired of waiting that they just wanted to go home. Or move. ANYTHING but stand and wait for a *dumb parade*
Bummer because it was so nostalgic and fun for me to see & hear it. And they just didn't apreciate it.

SO.... IMO I love knowing that there is a rope drop at GRR area so we can do that in the am when they are fresh - and the interminable line at TSMM can be avoided next time. (serioulsy is there a more BORING queue in all DL or DCA??) Maybe I can turn their bad experience around?? Thanks to OP for the post.