Recent experience with SDMT rope drop?

mdmama76 · Jul 20, 2018

I have a FP+ for SDMT for 4:45-5:45, which is much later than I wanted (I hope to do a lot of refreshing to get more FP+ on our upcoming trip). I'm wondering how it's been rope dropping SDMT lately -- if manageable, we could plan that for RD and use a FP+ for Space Mountain or something else earlier in the day.

We're looking at a 9 am open, mid-August. What time would we want to be there if we rope-dropped SDMT?

Thoughts/experiences/advice? Many thanks.

gap2368 · Jul 20, 2018

Main Street opens at 8 get to the park well before this (7:30.) walk quickly to the bridge and wait there until they let you in. And you should be first on or you can get there 8 -8:15 and be on in 30 or so minutes. Touring planes did a. MK:/ 7DMT RD not too long ago that you could look up

I think this is the right video

iujen94 · Jul 20, 2018

In my recent experience, you could get to the park at 8:15, head straight for the walkway to 7DMT, and have an almost walk-on ride. That’s assuming you can stand your ground while waiting for rope drop and walk quickly to the ride, staying up with the pack.

DVCcurious · Jul 20, 2018

I don’t understand this. The ride isn’t new anymore. I understand the demand for Peter Pan and the Princess meet and greet. I get why their lines build so quickly. They are very unique experiences. But SDMT? Is it really that much better than SM, TM, HM, PoTC, or SM?

I realize “the people” say it is better than those other headliner rides. And I accept it. I just don’t understand it.

iujen94 · Jul 20, 2018

DVCcurious said:
I don’t understand this. The ride isn’t new anymore. I understand the demand for Peter Pan and the Princess meet and greet. I get why their lines build so quickly. They are very unique experiences. But SDMT? Is it really that much better than SM, TM, HM, PoTC, or SM?

I realize “the people” say it is better than those other headliner rides. And I accept it. I just don’t understand it.

I think it’s because it’s the perfect first roller coaster. It has a lower height limit than the other “thrill rides”. And, it’s fun for older kids and adults too. I wouldn’t wait in the standby line for it, but I get why it’s so popular.

kathy884 · Jul 21, 2018

DVCcurious said:
I don’t understand this. The ride isn’t new anymore. I understand the demand for Peter Pan and the Princess meet and greet. I get why their lines build so quickly. They are very unique experiences. But SDMT? Is it really that much better than SM, TM, HM, PoTC, or SM?

I realize “the people” say it is better than those other headliner rides. And I accept it. I just don’t understand it.

I have to agree with you. Yes it's cute and fun, but it's not that overly wonderful. And other less crowded headliners are way better IMHO, all the ones you mentioned. I feel the same way about Toy Story Mania in the HS. iujen94 is correct, though, it's a ride that is on everyone's top 10 list of things to do the MK, so almost everyone wants to do it. The lines are insane though. I hate to waste rope drop on it, I hate later insane stand by lines, and as an offsite visitor I usually can't get a Fastpass or can only get a really late one. My personal opinion is SKIP the ride. But my son usually want to do it and I defer to him lol.

You say you understand the demand for Peter Pan. Now me, I don't understand that at all. It's a skip for us as we don't want to waste a precious fastpass and stand by lines are WAY too long based on our assessment about the ride experience. I'd do it for a 10 minute or less wait, but that's it.

kylenne · Jul 21, 2018

kathy884 said:
You say you understand the demand for Peter Pan. Now me, I don't understand that at all. It's a skip for us as we don't want to waste a precious fastpass and stand by lines are WAY too long based on our assessment about the ride experience. I'd do it for a 10 minute or less wait, but that's it.

Peter Pan’s wait times are almost entirely a function of basic logistical issues combined with nostalgia, but mainly the former. It’s not a terribly high capacity ride to start, and the way FP+ is handled there, standby waits are going to inherently be long. That may be what they meant.

sharonabe · Jul 21, 2018

kathy884 said:
My personal opinion is SKIP the ride. But my son usually want to do it and I defer to him lol.

You've answered the question right here. KIDS LOVE it! So parents will stand in line for their kids to be able to ride it.

Personally, I LOVE it too. We got our car really rocking last time which made for an even better experience. Now, I won't wait an hour for ANYTHING, but I will get the FP+ and also watch wait times to ride it more than once.

caitcance · Jul 21, 2018

A couple weeks ago my best friend arrived at MK 15 minutes before opening, walked not that briskly to SDMT and had a 40 minute wait (posted time was 60 mins). Hope that helps!

DaniMoon · Jul 21, 2018

I'm also going in Mid August. MK is our first day, so pickings were slim for 7DMT at 60 days. My original FP was 3:45, I was able to bump it up to 2:40 at 59 days. And there it sat til last week, til I was able to snag a Noon FP for it. So keep trying! If we wouldn't have been able to get an earlier time, we would have RD it.

mdmama76 · Jul 21, 2018

DaniMoon said:
I'm also going in Mid August. MK is our first day, so pickings were slim for 7DMT at 60 days. My original FP was 3:45, I was able to bump it up to 2:40 at 59 days. And there it sat til last week, til I was able to snag a Noon FP for it. So keep trying! If we wouldn't have been able to get an earlier time, we would have RD it.

Thanks, I'm holding on to what I have and will hope to get lucky -- if not, we will go the RD route, I guess.

MomOTwins · Jul 21, 2018

DVCcurious said:
I don’t understand this. The ride isn’t new anymore. I understand the demand for Peter Pan and the Princess meet and greet. I get why their lines build so quickly. They are very unique experiences. But SDMT? Is it really that much better than SM, TM, HM, PoTC, or SM?

I realize “the people” say it is better than those other headliner rides. And I accept it. I just don’t understand it.

New fantasyland opened in December 2012, so 5-and-a-half years ago. There are plenty of people who visit WDW less frequently than that for whom 7DMT is a new ride. Plus, as others have mentioned, it has a lower height limit that Splash or Space or BTMRR, is a smoother ride, so better for younger kids. Also, if the wait for the seven dwarves meet and greet at the halloween/christmas is any indication, there is a lot of nostalgia for Snow White.

We were there in April and the rope drop line for 7DMT seemed just as long as ever (we opted to rope drop Space Mountain instead). I would plan on using your fastpass and enjoying something else early. The other option is to keep an eye out for BOG breakfast PPOs, which will get you to be first in line for 7DMT when the park opens. That is our plan for the upcoming trip, and we snagged one at about 60 days (presumably due to people changing park plans once they could book FPs) so keep an eye out.

ScubaCat · Jul 21, 2018

I must say, I find it ironic that people get to the park an hour or more early to avoid a 30-45 minute queue. The standby line won't be any longer than that for at least an hour or two after rope drop (and is often a lot shorter after the initial rush, too.)

Recent experience with SDMT rope drop?

mdmama76

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gap2368

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iujen94

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DVCcurious

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iujen94

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kathy884

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kylenne

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sharonabe

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caitcance

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