Here Now & Just Back WDW Reopening Experiences Including Park Hopping

[disneyseniors]

Satu’li is my absolute favorite place to eat. I’d eat every meal there if I could. It was as good as it ever has been.

I would love to try it, BUT my husband usually won't try anything new and it looks like they have "different" things on their menu. Do they serve more traditional fare too, I mean burgers, chicken, etc. I wish he was more adventurous but he's always been that way, LOL.

 

[DefnotDLav]

Getting out for rope drop was something we weren't willing to do this trip. That's what the recovery passes helped us avoid. We had enough to get the biggest headliners in and just get to the parks right at opening, after the crowds had moved in. We still waited longer for secondary rides than we normally would have- some up to 30 minutes, but even that wait time went away very quickly. So the mornings were a rush of going from ride to ride as quickly as possible. Still, we accomplished much less than we have in previous trips and we skipped quite a few rides entirely. The only thing we rode in Epcot was Frozen for example. We had to carefully pick and choose what we used those passes for to get the most out of them.

We used to do rope drop, but because we did secondary rides, it wasn't neccesary to get there an hour or more before opening. We didn't need to be at the front of the pack- those people were all headed to rides we weren't going to. If we got there at opening, that was plenty good enough to get a couple of hours of short waits on secondary rides. This trip, we were lucky if we got 3 in before they were long waits as well.

Bottom line is, we aren't going back under these conditions again. I do think whatever they come up with is something we'll be able to work with, but until they do, we just aren't going back.

Even with FP+ we still had to rope drop if we wanted to ride everything we wanted to.

 

[Turksmom]

I would love to try it, BUT my husband usually won't try anything new and it looks like they have "different" things on their menu. Do they serve more traditional fare too, I mean burgers, chicken, etc. I wish he was more adventurous but he's always been that way, LOL.

My MIL isn't an adventurous eater either and she loves it. The bowls are customized and the potato/ sweet potato hash is delicious. He could get that with beef or chicken and leave off the things he doesn't care for.

 

[EPCOT-O.G.]

Getting out for rope drop was something we weren't willing to do this trip. That's what the recovery passes helped us avoid.

How did you know ahead of time to skip rope drop with the expectation you’d get recovery passes?

 

[cakebaker]

How did you know ahead of time to skip rope drop with the expectation you’d get recovery passes?

We had some before we went on our trip. We would’ve skipped rope drop regardless though and just been able to do much less.

 

[meremac]

I'd be very interested to learn how you got all this done using only standby. FOP 3x's and Everest 6 with all the other things in between in only 8 hours? Even with Fp+ we never got close to accomplishing that much in that short of a time. If FOP was only a 1 hr wait and Everest was only a 30 minute wait (both those estimates are well below what anyone is reporting in real wait times) it would take 6 hrs of wait time leaving only 2 for Safari, Navi, TTS, Dino, Walking trails, Nomad lounge and an adr. The other parks seem incredible as well with the amount of time you were in the park. So what's your secret?

It was 8 hours total over 2 days, give or take MAYBE 30 minutes. We went once in the late afternoon and waited for FoP. Then Nomad Lounge, then back to FoP again right before park closing. So 2x that day. We rope dropped the other day. Got there at around 7:15am the second day (park opened at 8am officially but actually opened at around 7:30am). On and off FOP well before the park even opened, then Navi. Off that by 8:15am, honestly maybe even a little earlier. Then we went to Everest. It was still very early so it was a walk-on. Went on 4 times in a row. At this point it was maybe a few minutes after 9am. Went back over to Safaris which was not quite a walk-on but the line moved fast. Did Gorilla Falls Trail. Back to Asia for two more rides on Everest and Maharajah. Early lunch at Yak & Yeti. Then DinoLand.

To be fair, we do NOT waste time. We walk fast and are very focused, lol, especially in the morning and in the late afternoon. I also do this for a living and am always testing out plans, but it's very possible.

What I have found works really well is to arrive well before park opening, hit it hard for a few hours, take it easy for a bit when it starts getting really crowded, then come back in the late afternoon and hit it hard until closing. A couple times we were literally getting in line seconds before park closing. We also rarely do nighttime shows, opting instead for more attraction time (we typically get a LOT done then).

 

[rlk]

Last week we were able to accomplish a lot with rope dropping AK. We rode FOP, Everest 2x, Dino -5 min wait and were on Kali by 9:14 am. We had a recovery FP that we were able to use for a second FOP ride.

 

[slyster]

We have park reservations to visit each park twice. It really sounds like rope drop is the key. We plan on spending at least one rope drop per park. I'm very thankful for the reviews and experiences here.

 

[meremac]

We have park reservations to visit each park twice. It really sounds like rope drop is the key. We plan on spending at least one rope drop per park. I'm very thankful for the reviews and experiences here.

IMO rope drop is super important still. Of course, there may be times when it's a total failure, like if the ride you planned to do first is down. But in my experience, it usually works well. That and the late afternoon/evening.

 

[meremac]

My question is, how much time was spent standing in lines each day, and how many hours did they need to stay in the parks each day. THAT was the big difference for us this year. Having to get up EARLY... every. single. day... if we wanted to be remotely as productive as we used to be with FP. Even getting up early only helped get ONE headliner in before waits became long for all the others. Then is was... standing in lines.

Dan

So yes, you make a very good point there. In the past, with FastPasses (because we knew how to maximize them), we were able to do much more and we didn't necessarily have to rope drop EVERY single day. Without FastPasses, I find that it's a necessity to get there VERY early every day. We didn't spend all day every day in the parks by any means, though. We'd hit it hard in the morning, take a break (sometimes that meant just wandering the park, shopping, taking it all in, having a meal, seeing a show, all of the above...sometimes it meant going back to the resort for a break), then hit it hard again in the late afternoon through the evening. We had 6-day Hoppers, so we had lots of flexibility and lots of time to play with as well. As I mentioned in a previous post, I do this for a living (about a decade in at this point) and am always testing out plans. Things are definitely different post-FastPass, some good and some bad. It was early morning and late nights, and we were VERY tired when it was over lol. But on the flip side, I liked that I felt more present without having to constantly be on my phone looking for the next FastPass.

 

[2Lunds]

IMO rope drop is super important still. Of course, there may be times when it's a total failure, like if the ride you planned to do first is down. But in my experience, it usually works well. That and the late afternoon/evening.

We haven't been since FP was suspended, but we ALWAYS saved a headliner for last thing before park close at AK (didn't care for their night-time show) and DHS (ditto), and MK if it's our second night (so we can see FW at least once). There's triple benefit because you're guaranteed to get on, you get to experience the themed regular queue (something that's missing from FP lines) and you're exiting a much less crowded park afterwards.

 

[meremac]

There's triple benefit because you're guaranteed to get on, you get to experience the themed regular queue (something that's missing from FP lines) and you're exiting a much less crowded park afterwards.

Yes, Yes, and Yes! Obviously, for people who like to see the nighttime shows, this wouldn't work. But we typically prefer to do attractions for the reasons that you just mentioned!

 

[DisneyFive]

We haven't been since FP was suspended, but we ALWAYS saved a headliner for last thing before park close at AK (didn't care for their night-time show) and DHS (ditto), and MK if it's our second night (so we can see FW at least once). There's triple benefit because you're guaranteed to get on, you get to experience the themed regular queue (something that's missing from FP lines) and you're exiting a much less crowded park afterwards.

Just so I'm clear, that's regardless of whether FP is around or not right? We did get in a headliner queue last thing many of our nights this past stay. I agree there are those 3 benefits to that. Even so, we still waited 66 minutes for Flight of Passage IIRC. Even though we went through the whole queue, I would MUCH rather skip the whole queue and wait more like 15 minutes with FP. For us, it's nice to see the whole queue for a ride once, but we don't appreciate a queue enough to do that EVERY time. Would much rather have the shorter wait in lines. The actual ride is much more of the payoff for us. It was really cool wandering Pandora with very few people around after the park had closed.

Dan

 

[2Lunds]

Just so I'm clear, that's regardless of whether FP is around or not right? We did get in a headliner queue last thing many of our nights this past stay. I agree there are those 3 benefits to that. Even so, we still waited 66 minutes for Flight of Passage IIRC. Even though we went through the whole queue, I would MUCH rather skip the whole queue and wait more like 15 minutes with FP. For us, it's nice to see the whole queue for a ride once, but we don't appreciate a queue enough to do that EVERY time. Would much rather have the shorter wait in lines. It was nice wandering Pandora with very few people around after the park had closed.

Dan

TOTALLY regardless of whether FP is around or not! Even in the days of FP it wasn't always possible to get them for everything you wanted, which is why we employed this strategy. We haven't been this past year, and we always went during quieter times anyway (sept/oct or jan/feb) but I can only imagine this strategy would be even more valuable with the crowds and heat the way they are now. Stick around at night, get on a ride, leave AFTER everyone else has battled for a bus

 

[wilkydelts]

It amazes me how if you have success at the parks, no one will believe you.

It isn't all doom and gloom.

 

[meremac]

It amazes me how if you have success at the parks, no one will believe you.

It isn't all doom and gloom.

Totally agree. But at the end of the day, it's just some free advice I was doling out. People don't have to believe it/take it/etc. I'm just happy we had a successful time, and I'm happy that my clients have too. If I'm happy and they're happy, it's all good!!

 

[Jellybean9]

Normally I am one who is adamant about letting them know when something is wrong. It is the best way to let them know they aren't doing as well as they should.

But this trip was exhausting and I mean mentally, not physically. We were constantly monitioring my grandson for exposure, watching crowds, and laser focused on keeping him safe. I just didn't have it in me to take on any more. I do intend to email them with our concerns now that we're home and poor food quality is going to be one of the things I share. I did get a survey and filled that out as well.

My son-in-law did turn back a lobster roll when he picked up the order. He said it looked like they had forgotten to put the crab at all there was so little on the sandwich. Honestly, he said they didn't act like they much cared at all and were puzzled that he was unhappy with it, although they did give him another one. I'm not sure that complaining at the window at qs ever gets past the person at the register. I want them to know higher up that the quality was horrid.

How many of you all ended up testing positive for Covid?

 

[serenitygr]

How many of you all ended up testing positive for Covid?

I read his post earlier that they all tested negative

 

[petunia]

We are not typically rope droppers for an 8 am AK day (especially since it seems that actually means 730), but really love FoP... is it pretty much the case now that if we get there at 9 or 10 there will usually be a 2+ hr wait? Also, is a significant amount of the wait outside, Im wondering if we do a long wait if it would work that one of us runs to get breakfast to eat in line, would that be allowed? Thx!

 

[meremac]

We are not typically rope droppers for an 8 am AK day (especially since it seems that actually means 730), but really love FoP... is it pretty much the case now that if we get there at 9 or 10 there will usually be a 2+ hr wait? Also, is a significant amount of the wait outside, Im wondering if we do a long wait if it would work that one of us runs to get breakfast to eat in line, would that be allowed? Thx!

Yes it will likely be bad by then. But since AK closes pretty early and there's no nighttime show, another option is to hop in line for FoP at the very end of the day. The posted wait time might be long, but it's usually wildly inflated at the end of the night.