[jo-jo]

We or shall I say, I dragged my DH to the park opening almost everyday. I really believe get in early, run around, ride the big rides and then leave when the park gets busier. But I'm trying not to kill my DH this trip. What's it like to enter the park an hour or so after opening. Are the lines better or worst as far as just getting thru security and such. I realize the rides will be busier, I just don't want to spend an extra hour just getting into the parks.

[MissDisney]

When we have gone later than rope drop, it's not much of a problem except that the security bag check can get a little crowded, especially at Hollywood Studios and at MK.

[Dopey]

I don't really know what to tell you. When we go, every time we go, there are no lines, the parks aren't too busy no matter what time of day. I believe we only had to get fastpasses twice for EE. No other rides in any of the parks were busy enough. By no means do we make it to park opening every morning.

I don't want to wear out my welcome with my people since they only go because I want to, I have to let them sleep in some of the time

I bet during busy season it is a must to be there at park opening or else

[Daisee]

I can say that in early June, it get crowded fast! We try to make it by rope drop, but some days we are just to exhausted to get up that early. We then resort to using fast passes to do our favorites when the lines are long. You can always take advantage of EMH's in the evening.

[emamasa]

daisee, when you say early june, do you mean like the 1st week? i don't want it to be that busy when i go. i like not having to use fastpasses. i'm spoiled i guess. ugh - why oh why do i have to wait till june (2009) when school is out. i want to go in september or october or january when crowds are low! (yep, i'm throwing myself a pity party over here!)

[Daisee]

Originally Posted by emamasa

daisee, when you say early june, do you mean like the 1st week? i don't want it to be that busy when i go. i like not having to use fastpasses. i'm spoiled i guess. ugh - why oh why do i have to wait till june (2009) when school is out. i want to go in september or october or january when crowds are low! (yep, i'm throwing myself a pity party over here!)

For several years now we have gone around the 1st & 2nd week of June. Yes, quite packed!

[emamasa]

boo! i am hoping for some off reason that it will be slow next year. hmmm....gotta figure out a way to get there earlier than june......

[keljen]

Id love to be there for rope drop but the women in my family are late sleepers and we never had to long of waits in the security checks at any park. We tend to go in Value seasons and that may have a big reason why

[ddoll]

Travelling with teenagers means you never get out the door early. So the only time I have ever seen a rope drop was when we left them at home.

Going later isn't a problem. You just go with the expectation that everyone is already there. You decide where you want to get your first fastpass and then where you will go to wait for your time to come around. It's just a slower pace than the 'first thing in the morning run around to get all the rides in quick' pace, that's all.

[XQIXX]

We have done the Comando style for the first few trips.The last trip in Nov, I decided to just let everyone sleep a little later and we got there about an hour after opening.I have to say that this was the most relaxing and enjoyable trip we ever had.Some days, the parks were crowded and it didn't matter when you got there.I have learned that if you are flexable and relaxed, it does make for a better vacation.Of course this was my experience and everyone has their own style of doing Disney. With the DVC, I know that I will be back.I try to slow down and enjoy the total package of sights,sounds and fun that only Disney can offer us.Good luck and remember to enjoy the moment, not what you missed.

[dixie]

I've never been there for rope drop as DD and Dh are late risers, but although there are lines when we eventually get to the parks they move fairly quickly.

[whitba]

Originally Posted by ddoll

Travelling with teenagers means you never get out the door early. So the only time I have ever seen a rope drop was when we left them at home.

Going later isn't a problem. You just go with the expectation that everyone is already there. You decide where you want to get your first fastpass and then where you will go to wait for your time to come around. It's just a slower pace than the 'first thing in the morning run around to get all the rides in quick' pace, that's all.

I dream of being there first thing in the morning, seeing the opening at MK ... You've said it all perfectly DDoll... until it's just us (or maybe just me!) it's not going to happen.

You shift your expectations and "go with the flow". It is a vacation afterall.

[Daisee]

Originally Posted by emamasa

boo! i am hoping for some off reason that it will be slow next year. hmmm....gotta figure out a way to get there earlier than june......

This is the reason why we are taking DD out of school early in order to beat some of the crowds.

[Dana]

I think the actual line to get in isn't as long as when you arrive right when the park opens. After the park opens, there are people going through many lines and they haven't been standing there waiting a long time for it to open...it bottle necks at opening cause people are just piling up waiting for it to open. It just doesn't seem as long if you go after opening. That also depends on the time of year you are going to WDW too....there are some times that it doesn't matter when you arrive at the park of the day.;..you wait regardless.

[tiptonsara]

We have been at WDW throughout the year and there are trends.
If you go during the summer or at the holidays yes you are going to wait no matter what time you go.
If you go off season then the crowds are less (duh) and when you get to the park is not a big deal.
June wait times can be 90 minutes. Beginning December 15 minutes.
No matter the time of year a park will begin to fill up around 10:30 and max around noon. Why? Because those families with small children, teenagers, or late sleepers take an additional 1.5 hours to make it in the park. We use to joke about why anyone would do this until children. Now we have a better understanding of the time it takes and why you let children sleep in some.
Around noon people either eat lunch, go back to their hotels or park hop. Numbers increase again around 3 -4 pm.
MEMH is better than the EEMH for getting things done especially in the heavier crowd levels. Reason: Only resort guests, see previous reason, and many people from the other 3 parks converge on the EEMH park. We can get as much or more done in that one hour in the morning than we can with 3 at night. For example we can get the ENTIRE FantansyLand finished including Dumbo and Peter Pan by 10 am with a MEMH and move onto another Land. At this point the crowd is still tolerable so wait times are just beginning to rise. If we were to do EEMH in FantansyLand you would never get into Peter Pan without an hour wait and the only way to ride Dumbo is the last 15 minutes of the night because most families are gearing up to leave.
With all said and done, going through security really does not take too long. Yes it adds some time but it is manageable. As Dana said, you get a bottleneck at the initial push then people go in and guess what? They stop on Mainstreet or below the giant golfball.
If you can convince your husband to go early to hit what you want (which helps you) and agree for a rest later on (which helps him).
Finally do you have a built in rest day for your trip? Even a rest morning can be a good idea as well.