RotR Planning & Daily Boarding Group Discussion - *CLOSED*

[Opie100]

Update to my timing. Completed and off the ride at 10:05am; 4 hours from arrival. Also rode Smugglers Run, RRC, & ToT and had breakfast. Great morning and use of time. Now to do it again Sunday with the wife and kids.

Thanks for your report. Did you use FPs on any of the eligible above?

 

[Nissan1147]

Thanks for your report. Did you use FPs on any of the eligible above?

No fast pass, all standby.

 

[osufeth24]

Delightful: cold and rainy next Weds morning when we go. And it'll be dark so early. Can't wait!

I'm hoping that'll deter people from camping so early lol

 

[Nvrgrowup]

Delightful: cold and rainy next Weds morning when we go. And it'll be dark so early. Can't wait!

yes my 19 yr old ds informed me of the weather when we are there next week. He asked we are still getting up early for HS and ROTR?? What kind of question is that? Of course havent been absorbing all this Intel for nothing!!

 

[BrianJ844]

Our BG was called maybe 30 min ago (?). We are BG 36. Just got to the ride entrance due to the rain and it is closed. We are told we can come back anytime the rest of the day and be let in.

 

[tacosquad]

Headed to FL this afternoon and packed earplugs so I don't have to listen to my DH and DS complain about how early they're going to have to head over tomorrow. I'm telling them we're leaving 5:30 from CBR so I'll look kind and generous when we leave at 5:45.
Fortunately they understand that Disney is a sport.

 

[kboo]

I'm really starting to regret my grand idea of Christmas break at Disney lol. Got a feeling the family is going to be cranky for our day at HS.

We will be right there with you. I can't tell whether Christmas trips will be a one and done for us after this year or whether we'll love it and want to keep coming back this time of year. Our kids are little - youngest one just reached 40.5" at the pediatrician with no shoes.

I don’t think it will be any different than previous christmas trips for me. The official park hours this time of year are already earlier and they always open each park at-least 30 minutes earlier than official opening this time of year.

The reality is the parks don’t start getting really busy until late morning.

Last year I rope dropped MK Xmas eve. It was a 7am opening. We got their just before 6. We rope dropped AKs. Got there a hour and a half early and ended up in the first FOP theater. Our Uber canceled on us and we ended up being to DHS 45 minister prior to official opening(15 minutes before they started the tapstiles). We ended up getting in the tail end of SDD. Instantly said it had a 3hr wait but it only took us about 1hr 15. It was before their retiering so we had FPs for everything else.

This year is slightly different, well have two 16 year old exchange daughters going with us. We are also doing Dec 22-Jan 1.

But my park strategies remain the same. Rope drop every morning and Arrive 1.5 hrs. So everything by 11ish. Go back and relax, nap, do dinner at 5 the go to a different park in the evening.

I’ve done well previous Xmas trips, I’ve done two laps around Magic Kingdom on both Christmas Day and Christmas Eve by 11am on separate trips.

The reality is only a small percentage of guests Christmas and New Years week is informed as we are on here. You see a lot of melt downs etc but if you know what you are doing you can do everything pretty quickly and get out before the crowds swell.

I'm going to keep referring to this post as my daily game plan. We'll be there 12/21 - 1/1! This is sort of how DH and I managed skiing over the holidays. Up super early to "rope drop" and lunch around 11am. Then maybe we'd ski again until 1pm ish, and head to apres ski by 2. We'd have gotten close to 6 hours of skiing with very little waiting time. Of course, this was before having children. Will be interesting to see how we manage this with an 8yo and a 4yo.** DHS park open that week is still mostly 8am. :-\

**Past training: Toy story AP Playtime event that started at 7am last year, when the kids were 7 and almost 3. Hoofed it over to DHS from the Swan when it was still dark. We survived; it was so worth it.

 

[krayzie]

I't's going to storm tomorrow morning. Should be an interesting wait.

 

[rteetz]

So 103 was the highest reported here correct? I would assume they are around that 115 range they have been doing most often.

 

[Nvrgrowup]

I see multiple adult beverages in all our futures in the coming weeks and maybe some bribes thrown in for the padawans!!

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

I saw someone post this before but didn't see an answer and I think I've read every page. Has anyone tried to sign their kiddo up for Jedi Training Academy and if so what time were sign ups available?

 

[Wreckem]

We will be right there with you. I can't tell whether Christmas trips will be a one and done for us after this year or whether we'll love it and want to keep coming back this time of year. Our kids are little - youngest one just reached 40.5" at the pediatrician with no shoes.

I'm going to keep referring to this post as my daily game plan. We'll be there 12/21 - 1/1! This is sort of how DH and I managed skiing over the holidays. Up super early to "rope drop" and lunch around 11am. Then maybe we'd ski again until 1pm ish, and head to apres ski by 2. We'd have gotten close to 6 hours of skiing with very little waiting time. Of course, this was before having children. Will be interesting to see how we manage this with an 8yo and a 4yo.** DHS park open that week is still mostly 8am. :-\

**Past training: Toy story AP Playtime event that started at 7am last year, when the kids were 7 and almost 3. Hoofed it over to DHS from the Swan when it was still dark. We survived; it was so worth it.

This is my 4th Xmas and 1st New Year. We have done 4th of July as well. The crowds are large but with research and planning you can very much maximize your park time, minimize waits, and have a great time. I definitely prefer Xmas over Summer. Hoping to do mid October next year but depends on work calendars.

 

[JoeATC]

A Day In Life (HS Style):

4:55 Woke up, fell out of bed, dragged a comb across my head...
5:10 Brushed my teeth
5:23 Left Bay Lake Tower
5:35 Parked at HS Mickey 303 (Resisted the urge to yell “Run Forest Run!”)
5:42 Quick stop at bag check, in line far right side 10’ in front of ticket window
6:25 Couple of Pee Wee Herman eye rolls
6:40 Tapstiles opened
6:46 In the park, approached VIP Tourguide with IPad 50 yards ahead, BG 19
6:53 Entered SSD cue, 5 minute wait
7:05 SDD a second time (why not... )15 minute wait
7:20 Boarding group opened
7:30 Visited the Comfort Station
7:43 Entered ROTR
7:53 Line stopped moving
8:35 Line started moving (”and there was much rejoicing“)
8:50 Pre Show
9:13 Exited - Well Done Imagineers and CM’s !!
9:20 Entered SR cue
9:50 Exited
10:05 Left the park
10:30 Back at BLT

Thanks to the previous posters for the great information

 

[Opie100]

I wonder if more ride stress testing could be done prior ride opening. I'm sure its expensive and logistically challenging, particularly since the land is already open, but so is comps and PR and hits to customer sat. Would love to be behind the scenes to see to what degree technical modifications are being done on the fly yet (or overnight).

 

[goofynut41]

Ok tell me how things are going with this new Boarding Pass thing???

 

[AARCLUKSCH]

Everyone has to tap and be inside
Finger scans are checked

Thank you!!! Who ever isn't there early is out!! Every

Everyone has to tap and be inside
Finger scans are checked

Thank you!

 

[AARCLUKSCH]

As early as you can. I would be there by 5am. Just to add to the PP, once you tap and enter the park it takes a minute or two for the system to recognize you are inside so don't panic if it doesn't recognize you right away

Thanks for the info. I would have panicked!!

 

[mickey520]

I thought about getting a BG then going to rope drop AK for FOP and Everest right when EMH opens, then back to ride RotR, then to magic for our BOG and FP+ wife said she’s not doing 4 parks in a day..lol..2 max

Ok, now this seems like a great idea! We're staying at YC in late-January. Had a chat with the whole crew last night (8 of us) and I think the RotR contingent is going to be small if it's still a 5-6am wake-up call. Being the first BG may set the stage for a 4 parks in one day scenario!

 

[dina444444]

Up to 50. Looks like it’s been moving after that downtime around 8am.

 

[shellott-hill]

Looks like there were 2 downtimes so far: ~8-ish and ~10:30am.