Rope drop for FOP is a mob be warned

[bladiator]

You cannot control how people react only your reaction to these people. You can not expect them to behave in a certain way or in a way you would behave. Would you really want to engage with a person who may or may not have cut in front of you; hit your ankles; shoved you; etc? Would probably end up in a heated discussion between you and them and not the best way to start your day. The best thing to do is just let it go. You take care of you and your family.

Not that I am much for confrontation, and I agree that it starts off a good day on a bad footing, but don't you think that fact that no one ever says anything to these people is why they continue to do whatever they want? Because there are no consequences for acting this way?

Rudeness and inconsiderate behavior like I said before comes in all ages and 'generations'. It's annoying when it's "oh yeah it was millennials who did it" followed by someone who says "yeah that explains it, those entitled, yada yada yada".

Why does it matter so much whether or not someone else wants to classify this as an issue with millennials?

 

[cindyfan]

Rope drop was totally worth it to me. And we weren't interested in racing to FOP or NR.

We went in another direction. And the place was empty. It was amazing.

I went the other way.... to Everest.... and the entire rest of the park was EMPTY!!! Everyone was part of that MOB! But got to do everything else with NO wait! Then waited to like dinner time when the wait for FOP dips down to like 60-75 minutes. No pushing, shoving or mob scene!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Why does it matter so much whether or not someone else wants to classify this as an issue with millennials?

Because it's done in a way to explain it away with the stigma. If someone can describe other people as middle aged they can describe someone as a young person. Or better yet just "people". If they are going the route of generations then use the corresponding generations for all that you are talking about. If you've taken the time to figure out someone is a millennial (up to age early to mid-30s) then you surely can do the same for others and figure out they are a baby boomer or a gen-Xers. Or you can just say people.

 

[bladiator]

Because it's done in a way to explain it away with the stigma. If someone can describe other people as middle aged they can describe someone as a young person. Or better yet just "people". If they are going the route of generations then use the corresponding generations for all that you are talking about. If you've taken the time to figure out someone is a millennial (up to age early to mid-30s) then you surely can do the same for others and figure out they are a baby boomer or a gen-Xers. Or you can just say people.

Fair enough. I thought it was perhaps just because you were in the age group, but I like your perspective about using a stigma only to contain a problem.

 

[Magpie]

Because it's done in a way to explain it away with the stigma. If someone can describe other people as middle aged they can describe someone as a young person. Or better yet just "people". If they are going the route of generations then use the corresponding generations for all that you are talking about. If you've taken the time to figure out someone is a millennial (up to age early to mid-30s) then you surely can do the same for others and figure out they are a baby boomer or a gen-Xers. Or you can just say people.

I agree!

The longer I live, the more annoyed I get with the way people try to assign certain behaviours or attitudes to specific generations.

Want to know what put me off Christmas commercialism for life? Witnessing the stupidity of people rioting over Cabbage Patch dolls in the 80's. No frickin' was I ever going to tie the success or failure of my Christmas on the acquisition of a specific toy, after that.

I grew up being told that my generation was the most self-centered, materialistic generation ever, and now I hear people my age saying similar things about people younger than us.

So when folks tell me people are ruder today and lack the morals and courtesy they had back in the old days, and I tell them stories about the 70's, the 80's, the 90's and the 00's. Nothing's changed! It's not better, it's not worse, and it's definitely not a characteristic of any particular generation.

People are just people, and always have been. Some are awesome, some are jerks, most are just clueless.

 

[StageTek]

Thank you for posting this. I'm going in January and we have been talking about rope drop at AK. A year ago we did it at Epcot for "Frozen" and it was a mad house - people running and pushing and slamming others with their strollers. Also, I can't quite wrap my mind around waiting at the gate for two hours to avoid waiting in line for two hours. You helped me make up my mind. If we can't get FP's we'll just go later and wait in line.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

Not that I am much for confrontation, and I agree that it starts off a good day on a bad footing, but don't you think that fact that no one ever says anything to these people is why they continue to do whatever they want? Because there are no consequences for acting this way?



Why does it matter so much whether or not someone else wants to classify this as an issue with millennials?

My husband did say something when people were pushing and being rude but it didn't make any difference. I just hate the potential for confrontation, because if they would have said something back, he probably would not back down and then things could have escalated quickly. I'd rather not put myself or my family in that position again. We will ride FoP during the last hour of the day if we can't get a FP+ for it.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

People are generally safe at WDW. Some guests create an unsafe situation at times by not following the rules. Two different conversations. One situation is about general safety and the other is about a specific situation. One can be avoided and the other usually cannot.

Okay, Ill say it more succinctly: People often have a hard time imagining what they can't see.

Folks couldn't imagine 9/11 until it happened. Even after 9/11, I talked to many folks who believed rural places would never be targeted for a mass killings.

I kinda think you are arguing something different from what I said, but I'm confused. Which danger "are we able to avoid at WDW"?

Crowds, or terrorism?
Which one involves "general safety" and which one involves "a specific situation"?

I read many posts from folks who say crowds can't be avoided at WDW, and I really hope you aren't saying victims choose to be killed by terrorists.

 

[bladiator]

My husband did say something when people were pushing and being rude but it didn't make any difference. I just hate the potential for confrontation, because if they would have said something back, he probably would not back down and then things could have escalated quickly. I'd rather not put myself or my family in that position again. We will ride FoP during the last hour of the day if we can't get a FP+ for it.

I totally feel ya. I wish that we could have like .. an confrontation advocate. Which really should just be Disney, right?

 

[JETSDAD]

Thank you for posting this. I'm going in January and we have been talking about rope drop at AK. A year ago we did it at Epcot for "Frozen" and it was a mad house - people running and pushing and slamming others with their strollers. Also, I can't quite wrap my mind around waiting at the gate for two hours to avoid waiting in line for two hours. You helped me make up my mind. If we can't get FP's we'll just go later and wait in line.

The point of waiting before the park opens is that you are waiting during non-park hours versus wasting park hours in line.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

I went the other way.... to Everest.... and the entire rest of the park was EMPTY!!! Everyone was part of that MOB! But got to do everything else with NO wait! Then waited to like dinner time when the wait for FOP dips down to like 60-75 minutes. No pushing, shoving or mob scene!

Great example. It's surprising to me that folks rush to this ride during the busiest time of the day (Rope Drop) then are shocked that its so busy. There are better alternatives available that cost far less time and stress.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

The point of waiting before the park opens is that you are waiting during non-park hours versus wasting park hours in line.

You can also wait after the park closes by getting in line just before closing time. This option is far less stressful and the line is much shorter. No running required.

 

[adelaster]

I'm sorry. That is totally the behavior I would expect. Obviously that doesn't make it right! You're absolutely right that it's dangerous. But people are animals and only care about themselves.

Most animals are way nicer and civilized.

 

[JETSDAD]

You can also wait after the park closes by getting in line just before closing time. This option is far less stressful and the line is much shorter. No running required.

Or you can do both.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

Or you can do both.

...but probably not in the same day. That's what makes late night touring so effective. The mob that got there well before the park opened tires out and is long gone before the park closes making pre-close lines the shortest of the day.

 

[JETSDAD]

...but probably not in the same day. That's what makes late night touring so effective. The mob that got there well before the park opened tires out and is long gone before the park closes making pre-close lines the shortest of the day.

I actually do both to take advantage of both scenarios. RD, afternoon break, close down a park.

My response was to do with the question about not understanding why people would wait in line 2 hours during non-park hours to avoid waiting in lines during park hours. It seems obvious that waiting during non-park hours, whether early or late or both, beats waiting during park hours any day.

 

[RyMickey]

Once again, it's all what you make of it. The "rush" to Pandora last week at open made me feel no less safe than the chaos that occurs the one time Happily Ever After plays at the Magic Kingdom during a holiday party week and Main Street is backed up nearly to the front of the Emporium 45 minutes before the fireworks are supposed to start. Yes, there may be a few people making a run to the entrance of FoP and yes you're eventually going to have to whittle down from a fifteen person-wide crowd to a single line, but I feel infinitely more uncomfortable waiting for the Magic Kingdom fireworks (or leaving after said fireworks...or, god forbid, attempting to head back into the park after the fireworks and fighting the crowd).

Last week (last Thursday, as a matter of fact), an 8am parking lot arrival at AK got me on the ride by 8:45am. I'll let people run ahead of me all they want and laugh at them all the while to get a 45 minute wait for the new ride (of which the wait time included walking to the front gate and going through security). Similarly, my experience with the huge crowds at the MK fireworks also occurred last Thursday.

Once again, I'm not discounting the feelings of the OP, but it's really all relative...

 

[revdon64]

Okay, Ill say it more succinctly: People often have a hard time imagining what they can't see.

Folks couldn't imagine 9/11 until it happened. Even after 9/11, I talked to many folks who believed rural places would never be targeted for a mass killings.

I kinda think you are arguing something different from what I said, but I'm confused. Which danger "are we able to avoid at WDW"?

Crowds, or terrorism?
Which one involves "general safety" and which one involves "a specific situation"?

I read many posts from folks who say crowds can't be avoided at WDW, and I really hope you aren't saying victims choose to be killed by terrorists.

You can avoid the running of the bulls. That's a specific situation and the one being discussed here. You cannot really avoid crowds, which are also soft targets for people with evil intentions. Disney is almost certainly safer from a targeted terrorism attack now than it was just a few years ago when crowds were gathered at or just past the turnstiles... ripe for someone who could walk up with a gun and just start firing into the crowd. But those crowds couldn't and often still can't be avoided. The difference is that now they are inside of the circle of security measures like bag check and metal detectors. One can avoid the RD rush by standing off to the side or going in a different direction.

 

[LadyCerri]

You know, I'm glad this thread exists. My kids haven't even seen Avatar and I've gotta be honest, the further I get from it, I just remember it as a pretty movie. It never comes on and it doesn't resonate with me as a MUST WATCH film. I like AK when we were in 2011 and there's lots to do that doesn't involve me verbally threatening some random jerkwad who thinks it's okay to push over my tiny 7 year old daughter or my practically equally tiny 68 year old MIL because I'm /that/ family member in our family. So thank you for the post. I appreciate any opportunity I can for avoiding me turning on the Mama Bear at the Happiest Place on Earth.

 

[turtlechick6]

Wanted to report rope drop for Hollywood studios this morning was incredibly mannerly. They had like 10 employees out there walking us to Tower of Terror and Rockin coaster and another group walked to Toy story. There was no shenanigans. So I think it can be done better-add more employees