RotR Planning & Daily Boarding Group Discussion - *CLOSED*

[Opie100]

but now guests can't complain that they were locked out of bg because the park opened so early. If you were in the park at 7am you could've gotten into a bg.

Unpopular opinion , but I see these 7am being worse for the guest experience:
There's more people lining up outside the park because the park is opening at 7am
There's more people joining the bg, thus having them go out faster
There's more people enjoying other attractions in the park, the "getting everything done before park opens" advantage is gone
And there's still going to be angry people that show up at 7:15-7:30 not being able to join a bg anyways
Just my opinion

I agree. I'm hoping they stick with the 8am open in early Jan. However, I bet CM discussions with those that arrive after park open (to an already completed BG distribution) are a little easier (i.e. perhaps resulting in less condolence perks) than negotiations with those that enter at posted park opening (or earlier) to find that they missed out due to an officially unannounced pre-open.

 

[Museick]

Wow. This might change our plans. Thanks for the info, sarah.

Very disappointed they moved the official opening to 7, even though word is probably getting out anyway.

We were considering getting a Minnie van that can accommodate 2 ECVs because we got non-portable ones (oops). But now even with a 630a pickup (the earliest they will do), we really chance not making it in time.

We might have have to ditch my gf's mother, who absolutely needs the scooter nearly at all times, in the morning and take normal Uber/Lyft without any ECV.

I really feel for any disabled people that don't either have their own transportation, or can't Lyft/Uber easily.

Reported earlier that I Saw a Minnie van pick up at Beach Club at 5:15am!

 

[Opie100]

A family at Beach Club was utilizing the Minnie Van. Presumably pre-scheduled?? We saw the empty buses taking off from Hollywood at 5:45am as we were rolling in.

Could you see what time was the Minnie Van arriving at Beach Club (or at the park)? [EDIT: disregard - posted at same time as above]

 

[billlaurie]

Welcome to the thread! Park opened officially at 7am today.

I know that. Relatively speaking, I was comparing to the 8 am time when they were gone by 8:30 or so, except for yesterday when they went quicker. I have followed this thread since the inception.

 

[Cloudless Nights]

Just got off the ride - it was incredible!

 

[Kevin42565]

When your boarding group is called, how much flexibility do you have for your return time? For example, if you’re at dinner when your BG is called, can you join any group after your dinner or is there a limited return window? Thanks!

 

[ThistleMae]

I know that. Relatively speaking, I was comparing to the 8 am time when they were gone by 8:30 or so, except for yesterday when they went quicker. I have followed this thread since the inception.

They do seem to be going quicker with the later opening.

 

[Duck143]

Has anyone had experience with 2 (or more) people in your group trying to get into BG at the same time? Is it better to have everyone trying or does it complicate things and confuse MDE? I don't want us both to try, somehow confuse MDE and mess the change of joining a BG.

 

[wdw&sonny]

9:00 on BG 29.

 

[Lesley Wake]

When your boarding group is called, how much flexibility do you have for your return time? For example, if you’re at dinner when your BG is called, can you join any group after your dinner or is there a limited return window? Thanks!

You have 2 hrs. But CMs try to be flexible too.

 

[wisblue]

Definitely have to keep watching how this develops as I plan for my attempt on the day before the Marathon weekend 10K.

Today is hard to evaluate because I suspect that a lot of the people who arrived at 5 were hoping, if not expecting, that the actual opening would be earlier than 6:30. If it becomes the norm that they open the tapstiles 30 minutes or so before official opening, there might be less incentive to arrive that early. The question for me will be how much you gain by arriving two hours early as opposed to one hour early.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Personally I’m a bit skeptical that how long it’s taking to fill all BGs is 100% indicative of the guest count/crowd that has gone through the tapstyles on any given day. I’m sure higher crowds are some factor, they just may not be the only factor. We don’t know how many spots there are to fill and I’m ‘assuming’ that is something that is likely being tinkered with each day for various reasons. Plus the elapsed times to fill all BGs have been suspiciously round (or close to round) numbers.... 45 minutes, 1 hour 15 minutes, 2 hours 10 minutes, etc - although there is certainly a margin of error of a minute or two in the tracked times so that conspiracy theory shouldn’t be taken with authority.

As for the crowd part of the equation, as I mentioned yesterday, literally every Disney blog/fan site has now posted their tips/tricks/assessment of getting on RotR and they will continue to do so. Demand will only continue to grow as information gets out there and we get closer to the holidays.

 

[Lashed34]

but now guests can't complain that they were locked out of bg because the park opened so early. If you were in the park at 7am you could've gotten into a bg.

Unpopular opinion , but I see these 7am being worse for the guest experience:
There's more people lining up outside the park because the park is opening at 7am
There's more people joining the bg, thus having them go out faster
There's more people enjoying other attractions in the park, the "getting everything done before park opens" advantage is gone
And there's still going to be angry people that show up at 7:15-7:30 not being able to join a bg anyways
Just my opinion

You make some very good points and I agree with them. We booked a Disney Resort for all the benefits we get from early entry, now that there isn't any advantage for getting all the other rides done people will compain of obsene waiting times making the whole experience excrucuatingly long.

 

[krazymop]

Definitely have to keep watching how this develops as I plan for my attempt on the day before the Marathon weekend 10K.

Today is hard to evaluate because I suspect that a lot of the people who arrived at 5 were hoping, if not expecting, that the actual opening would be earlier than 6:30. If it becomes the norm that they open the tapstiles 30 minutes or so before official opening, there might be less incentive to arrive that early. The question for me will be how much you gain by arriving two hours early as opposed to one hour early.

I think it depends on your plans for the day. I prefer not to have the uncertainty of ride breakdowns, and want as early a BG as I can get. Getting there an extra hour early for me is worth it. But if you are planning on being there the whole day and have more flexibility, it may not be worth it to get there so early.

 

[Malyficent]

For anyone in the park today and tomorrow can you comment on how long the rides are for other rides if you’re there for RD? I may take DS9 on Saturday but our intention is to do all the headliners with the exception of RoTR and RNR. If that secret is out, I’d rather get my beauty sleep and enjoy a leisurely morning at AKL as originally planned. I’ve been trying to keep an eye on posted wait times today but stupid work keeps expecting me to ... work. Thanks!

 

[Katers]

The EMH have been adjusted to evenings and/or completely removed for all Sundays in December.

 

[wareagle57]

Maybe as this evolves people will decide that the marginal value of getting there at 5 instead of 6 isn’t worth it. Same for arriving at 6 instead of 7 when the regular open moves to 8 AM. You can get an earlier BG but that’s it. If I thought I could arrive at about 6:15 (or 7:15) and get a BG that gets me on the ride by early afternoon that’s what I would do. Get in, get the BG, then spend time doing other attractions, etc until the BG comes up.

The more people that adopt this strategy, the better it will work. Unfortunately we are seeing it trend the other way with BGs running out earlier and earlier.

I think people are just so used to thinking about the traditional rope drop, in which case arriving after 4am actually would be worth it IMO as you are saving time and getting on right away.

With the BG, every minute you sit outside the gates is an addition minute to your wait. With the first hour breakdowns you’ve also got a decent chance of getting stuck in line and having to come back and do it again. Granted, that can and does at any time.

I get wanting to ride early and leave if you’re getting up that early. If it were to trend back towards 2 hours for them to run out though, that lets you get there at 7 and know you’re going to get a decent BG.

What's the highest BG assigned today?
I see BG 72 assigned to someone through tapstiles at 7:07.
I see BG were gone at 7:20.
Can someone who got a BG near to 7:20 report their BG number?
thanks.

I got group 88 at around 7:15. I’m guessing they cut it off at 90. I met some people in the parking lot on the way back to my car that parked before me that did not get a BG. This was there last day. Fortunately they rode it last week.

Also, I had to visit guest relations this morning. One of my comp tickets was used instead I’d my AP. Instead of putting it back on my account, they gave me a piece of paper with a confirmation number on it to use whenever I want to redeem
A ticket... So I guess I have to keep up with that for 10 years. Just a warning to anyone that gets a comp ticket. Maybe try to make a dummy MDE account and move the ticket over there so I doesn’t accidentally get used.

 

[CPanther95]

Personally I’m a bit skeptical that how long it’s taking to fill all BGs is 100% indicative of the guest count/crowd that has gone through the tapstyles on any given day. I’m sure higher crowds are some factor, they just may not be the only factor. We don’t know how many spots there are to fill and I’m ‘assuming’ that is something that is likely being tinkered with each day for various reasons. Plus the elapsed times to fill all BGs have been suspiciously round (or close to round) numbers.... 45 minutes, 1 hour 15 minutes, 2 hours 10 minutes, etc - although there is certainly a margin of error of a minute or two in the tracked times so that conspiracy theory shouldn’t be taken with authority.

As for the crowd part of the equation, as I mentioned yesterday, literally every Disney blog/fan site has now posted their tips/tricks/assessment of getting on RotR and they will continue to do so. Demand will only continue to grow as information gets out there and we get closer to the holidays.

Sounds like you talked yourself out of your own conspiracy theory before you finished completely typing it.

You started to realize why everything in life that you time ends up in a nice round 5 min interval - or close to it - didn't you?

 

[wdw&sonny]

9:30: up to BG 32.

 

[Bobbob]

The strategy of using a CM to book your BG - I assume they are all located past the rope? In other words, does this only work after park open?

I’m starting to get worried that a 45 minute booking window (and getting shorter by the day) is going to turn into a frustrating app reload / network congestion crap shoot where you are still not guaranteed to get a pass. I’ll show up early for a guaranteed time slot, but I won’t show up early for just a *chance* to ride.