Rope drop for FOP is a mob be warned

[turtlechick6]

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

this

We pretty much all week were up in the hotel at 5:45. Got ready, had breakfast in the hotel (its free at Drury), then by 7 were on our way to the park and there at least by 7:15 since its not far and we drove. It worked out well that each morning besides MK we did not have to pay for parking as they were not even taking money yet.

Then we got a very close handicapped parking space at the front of the lot which was nice. We were easily one of the first families to arrive at the park and we got our bags checked and got our place at the front of the tapstiles. Then we chilled in the cool morning air till it opened so we could try to do as many rides as possible before the heat of the day started. We were out of the park at HS by 1 today having done all 4 rides and Muppets and some shopping.

So that is why we come early. We wake up early anyway naturally so might as well go to the park. I have kids and an elderlyish mother. They can't stay up late so we do morning in the parks and then try to be back home at a decent hour.

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

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

Do you think we can RD RnR and then ride TOT standby by 9:45? Or should we FP+ TOT?

Edit to add: oops, forgot this was a FOP thread...

 

[Bullseye]

Guess my kids and I will have a clear shot to EE then.
I’d rather ride EE a few times than deal with mayhem.

That's actually a good strategy especially if you have FOP FP later in the day. You can get two or three EE's in without much wait!

Of course Disney has to be the ones to stop it. They apparently need to add more CMs to monitor the crowds farther back. If they have too many people in too small an area to control, that's on them. Because if we're waiting for people to self-police, we're going to be waiting forever.

For the first hour why don't they just at least station a few CM's every 50-75 yards holding "Do Not Run" signs above their heads to provide a visual warning and also vocally warn any runners "Please Do Not Run." That might at least slow down some of the mob.

Watching a crowd speed walk (not running) always amuses me. Everybody's waddling along trying not to break stride.

 

[sclarked]

Even after reading this thread, I’m still RDing FOP on Saturday - for the simple reason that I’ve travelled a darn long way for this trip (I’m here from Australia) and I honestly can’t say when I will be back. We chose AK as our only full day park based on a few things - seeing Pandora was one of the reasons. And my reason for choosing to arrive at 7:30 for “the mob” was mentioned above - if I’m waiting a couple of hours in line, I would rather do it not on park time. We are just two adults though, and while we are not going to run or push, I think we can keep up the pace enough to not fall too far behind. If we had kids with us though - no way!!

 

[Robo]

It's surprising to me that folks rush to this ride during the busiest time of the day (Rope Drop)...

Rope Drop is generally not the busiest time of the day.

 

[Cameron1515]

Even after reading this thread, I’m still RDing FOP on Saturday - for the simple reason that I’ve travelled a darn long way for this trip (I’m here from Australia) and I honestly can’t say when I will be back. We chose AK as our only full day park based on a few things - seeing Pandora was one of the reasons. And my reason for choosing to arrive at 7:30 for “the mob” was mentioned above - if I’m waiting a couple of hours in line, I would rather do it not on park time. We are just two adults though, and while we are not going to run or push, I think we can keep up the pace enough to not fall too far behind. If we had kids with us though - no way!!

That sounds like the best way to go. FOP has and will continue to have long lines and that is the way it is, unless you can snag a FASTPASS.

 

[mom2rtk]

That's actually a good strategy especially if you have FOP FP later in the day. You can get two or three EE's in without much wait!



For the first hour why don't they just at least station a few CM's every 50-75 yards holding "Do Not Run" signs above their heads to provide a visual warning and also vocally warn any runners "Please Do Not Run." That might at least slow down some of the mob.

Watching a crowd speed walk (not running) always amuses me. Everybody's waddling along trying not to break stride.

Or if they don't want to actually call out specific guests, put CM actors in the group who go too fast, then call them out and make them go to the end of the line.

 

[turtlechick6]

Do you think we can RD RnR and then ride TOT standby by 9:45? Or should we FP+ TOT?

Edit to add: oops, forgot this was a FOP thread...

We rode both by 9:20

 

[DG25]

Would it not be amazing if people acted humanly.

Since Disney now is one of those things were you have to plan every second of your vacation 180 before you go what would be even more amazing is if Disney just went ahead and planned the whole thing.

I would love to be able to go on line with MDX and just punch in like you do on ride max, I want to do this, this and this, I want to eat at this and this place, I want a break at this and this time, and out pops the paper with my whole day planed out. I am to arrive at FoP at 9:05, at Navi river at 9:45, at tucker house at 10:30, at safari at 12, at lion king at 12:45. Then go to other side of park, Everett at 1:30, river ride at 2:15, nemo at 3, Dino at 4 and bugs life at 4:30. In between if there is time I can look around. I can then eat at tiffins at 5, and go to river of lights at 6:30. I think that will give me the whole park, which I usually do but it is a giving. I have always been able to get on all the rides a I want and always have time to go at my pace, but to be able to just have it all down would be so much better.

For those who don't want to plan ahead and walk into the park and be printed out what is available and the times they can go. It would be a FP for all and no one gets on without the print out or MDX plan. So there is no line. Disney plans it all for you by what you put into the MDX. If you want two rides on any ride you would only be able to get it the day of if it is a headliner.

This would stop all the insane pushing, fighting, cutting, cheating, holding space for the 99 people in your group that are on another ride or in the bathroom ( this happened to us once when cars ride open in DL, we got in line the guy in front of us said I'm sorry but I'm holding a few spots they ran to the bathroom), heck we have a six year old we understood, but his few spots was 37, his whole church group and they just kept coming and coming and coming. CM did nothing. We were at WDW in May going to SP and we had the same problem, first one in line, before we got to the ride we were 200 back because everyone cut and ran, would it not be amazing if CM sent them back to the front of park and make them walk to the ride. I have been pushed, stepped on, walked into and hit, very scary for a blind person trying to keep up with the crowd, and people think it unfair for me to get a DAS. So I agree with you with an elderly mom not wanting to do rope drop. Disney just needs to make everything fair, book your resort 180 days out, book your dining and all your days rides 180 out. Have Disney give you exact times to be at every ride you want and you will ride exactly when you are told, and be able to do what you want.and eliminate the crazy 3 hour lines, eliminate rope drop rush, and eliminate the pushing, hitting, stepping on to get to the ride 2 minutes before others.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

Rope Drop is generally not the busiest time of the day.

I checked yesterday's stats on Touring Plans and the actual wait reported by a TP user 10 minutes after opening was 240 minutes, by far the longest wait of the day.

There were no actual times reported later in the day, but the posted wait was down to 90 minutes by mid-afternoon. That's a big difference.

I've been checking this one often over the past several weeks while preparing for an upcoming trip. Generally, the longest waits of the day have been first thing in the morning, with the times dropping consistently through the day.

 

[Happy_2_B]

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.

DW and I have an AARP card (of that age and then some), and we have no issue jostling to keep our position at RD on those occasions when we choose to be at the parks early. For lack of a better word, RD is an 'aggressive' situation- and although I have experienced several 'tamer' ones- for the newest (and/or most popular rides) I wouldn't expect things to change. It was WAY worse back in the 'old days' before this escort system was put it place, so the way it is now- even on days when it is 'less mannerly'- is way less traumatic (for some) than it used to be. As PPs have mentioned- it is a choice to participate in this situation. There is always the option to head to less popular attractions at RD- or not participate at all. As much as I understand the desire for things at RD to become 'civilized'- IMHO it isn't gonna happen.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I checked yesterday's stats on Touring Plans and the actual wait reported by a TP user 10 minutes after opening was 240 minutes, by far the longest wait of the day.

There were no actual times reported later in the day, but the posted wait was down to 90 minutes by mid-afternoon. That's a big difference.

I've been checking this one often over the past several weeks while preparing for an upcoming trip. Generally, the longest waits of the day have been first thing in the morning, with the times dropping consistently through the day.

Only for that one ride though.

For the park as a whole, Rope Drop is not the busiest time of the day.

 

[achang2001]

I checked yesterday's stats on Touring Plans and the actual wait reported by a TP user 10 minutes after opening was 240 minutes, by far the longest wait of the day.

There were no actual times reported later in the day, but the posted wait was down to 90 minutes by mid-afternoon. That's a big difference.

I've been checking this one often over the past several weeks while preparing for an upcoming trip. Generally, the longest waits of the day have been first thing in the morning, with the times dropping consistently through the day.

My friends were at AK yesterday from open to close. The lowest wait time for FoP posted was 110 minutes. We checked at least 3X/hr. They got in line when it was posted to be a 110 min wait. By the time they got there, it was back up to 120min. It took just under 2.5hrs from beginning of the queue to exiting the ride (so the posted wait time was a true approximation). They said it was AMAZING!

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

We rode both by 9:20

Amazing, thanks!

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

Only for that one ride though.

For the park as a whole, Rope Drop is not the busiest time of the day.

This thread is specific to FoP so that's all I've been referring to. My point is, that for this one attraction, the first thing in the morning is the busiest time with the longest lines. There are better options throughout the day that will take less time and be less stressful.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

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.

IMO, the benefit of Pandora to AK has much to do with being able to add PM hours to AK. We're discussing the AM hours in this thread, but really the special lighting effects of the area come alive after dusk.

I won't be surprised if AK keeps adding PM activities to further incentivize AK's PM park hours.

 

[LadyCerri]

Thank you for the heads up. That might be just the time to head over there.

 

[DisneyDad2015]

I checked yesterday's stats on Touring Plans and the actual wait reported by a TP user 10 minutes after opening was 240 minutes, by far the longest wait of the day.

There were no actual times reported later in the day, but the posted wait was down to 90 minutes by mid-afternoon. That's a big difference.

I've been checking this one often over the past several weeks while preparing for an upcoming trip. Generally, the longest waits of the day have been first thing in the morning, with the times dropping consistently through the day.

Not even sure how it’s possible for someone using TP to have an “actual wait time” of 240 minutes just 10 minutes after opening. I thought the actual wait time feature clocked someone’s time in the queue from the time they entered it till the time they got into the ride. Obviously the math doesn’t add up if that’s the case.

 

[bladiator]

Not even sure how it’s possible for someone using TP to have an “actual wait time” of 240 minutes just 10 minutes after opening. I thought the actual wait time feature clocked someone’s time in the queue from the time they entered it till the time they got into the ride. Obviously the math doesn’t add up if that’s the case.

If no one clocks in, then they take the past data and the actual posted time to make an educated guess. It's pretty accurate that way.

 

[DisneyDad2015]

This thread is specific to FoP so that's all I've been referring to. My point is, that for this one attraction, the first thing in the morning is the busiest time with the longest lines. There are better options throughout the day that will take less time and be less stressful.

The stats just don’t seem to back up what you’re saying. FOP wait time today peaked at around 11:15. The wait times were shorter at RD. Tomorrow’s forecast for FOP has it peaking around 2-3 in the afternoon, with RD waits for FOP again being shorter.