Rope Drop Tactics

[ThemeParks4Life]

My current priority order if I only have a day:

Donkey Kong (low capacity + outdoor queue means this needs to get done ASAP)
Monsters
Ministry
Stardust Racers
Hiccup's Wing Gliders
The rest

Since I've already been on Mario Kart in Hollywood, it won't be a high priority/I'll be fine using single rider whenever.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

My hope is that we don't see a "At Capacity" scenario hours before the park closes officially. I'd hate to see that as hopping into line at park close for one last ride is a great tip to maximize the day.

My current plan is to rope drop Ministry and then hit Monsters later in the day once everything else is done or towards the end of the day.

 

[mainejeff]

1. DK
2. Monsters
3. Ministry

Makes the most sense.

 

[pjnugget]

Call me crazy, but looking at this picture...the entrace for SNW looks to be equidistant from Helios as to the park entrance (esp since the portal points towards Helios). I'm sure we will get more information once park opens but just thought it looked interesting:

 

[UniversalRBLX]

Call me crazy, but looking at this picture...the entrace for SNW looks to be equidistant from Helios as to the park entrance (esp since the portal points towards Helios). I'm sure we will get more information once park opens but just thought it looked interesting:

View attachment 25078

Physically no. The SNW portal to Chronos is 583 ft., while SNW portal to Helios (center) is ~930 ft., nearly double. Just appears farther from this angle.

 

[ParadoxPortals]

So I'm not a US citizen and have no plans to return to Florida for a few years, so by the time I visit the Epic ride strategy would've inevitably changed, but here's where I'm at if I were to visit on opening day:

1) Monsters Unchained.
2) Curse of the Werewolf *IF* the queue is 30mins or less (I'm not hyped for it like I am for Unchained).
2/3) Battle at the Ministry.
4) La Cirque Arcanus if another show is due to start in 30mins or less after I get off Ministry.
4/5) A very belated lunch at Das Stakehaus / Burning Blade Tavern, followed by Werewolf if I haven't already ridden it.
6) Hiccup's Wing Gliders.
7) Unchained re-ride because by now I've done everything I want to.
8) If there's time I'll do Bowser's Challenge and Power-Up Band activities.
9) Dinner at Pizza Moon or Mead Hall.
10) Skipping the fireworks (I hate fireworks) and queuing for Ministry if possible right before park close.

I'm expecting this to be a way too optimistic plan that isn't conservative enough, and I'm sure I won't be able to get everything on here done at opening day if I was to theoretically visit. Literally all I want to do is ride Unchained, Ministry, and get lunch at Dark Universe. I'd preferably like to meet Dart and play with the interactive merch at some of the lands too. Wing Gliders would be great but honestly I'm fine to miss it.

 

[LPCaptainDeath]

4/5) A very belated lunch at Das Stakehaus / Burning Blade Tavern, followed by Werewolf if I haven't already ridden it.

Eating lunch then riding on Curse of the Werewolf is a curse I'd not dare wish on my poor tum-tum.

 

[moth]

Here's my gameplan on Day One:
0) Go to EU
1) Walk in
2) Bolt to Berk
3) Hiccup's Wing Gliders x2
4) Untrainable Dragon
5) Lunch at Hooligan's Grog and Gruel
6) Fyre Drill
7) Meet and greets
8) Wing Gliders again
9) Gawk at the flying dragons
10) Flip a coin on Mead Hall or Spiy Fyre for dinner
11) Dragon Racer Rally
12) Wing Gliders again
13) And again!
14) And one more time!
15) Okay, I wanna go again.
16) Shopping in Berk.
17) ONE MORE TIME ON WING GLIDERS!
18) Tearfully say goodbye to Berk, walk to SNW
19) Yoshi
20) DK
21) Eat the DK Hot Dog if there
22) Remove contents of DK Hot Dog (Likely)
23) Mario Kart
24) Monsters Unchained
25) Stardust Speedway or whatever the name is for the cool dueling coaster
26) Carousel
27) WING GLIDERS AGAIN!!!!
28) AND AGAIN!!!
29) Tearfully say goodbye to Berk again.
30) Stare at HP portal, shrug shoulders to do the circus show if it's there.
31) WING GLIDERS BEFORE I LEAVE!
32) Leave EU
33) Tearfully look at Berk as I walk out and go back to my method of transport


I think I got it all figured out, right? I might skip 18-26 and spend some more time in Berk, feel like I'm not giving it enough love.


Oh snap, I forgot to dedicate an hour to the Grump meet and greet. I am a filthy traitor.

 

[LPCaptainDeath]

Here's my gameplan on Day One:
0) Go to EU
1) Walk in
2) Bolt to Berk
3) Hiccup's Wing Gliders x2
4) Untrainable Dragon
5) Lunch at Hooligan's Grog and Gruel
6) Fyre Drill
7) Meet and greets
8) Wing Gliders again
9) Gawk at the flying dragons
10) Flip a coin on Mead Hall or Spiy Fyre for dinner
11) Dragon Racer Rally
12) Wing Gliders again
13) And again!
14) And one more time!
15) Okay, I wanna go again.
16) Shopping in Berk.
17) ONE MORE TIME ON WING GLIDERS!
18) Tearfully say goodbye to Berk, walk to SNW
19) Yoshi
20) DK
21) Eat the DK Hot Dog if there
22) Remove contents of DK Hot Dog (Likely)
23) Mario Kart
24) Monsters Unchained
25) Stardust Speedway or whatever the name is for the cool dueling coaster
26) Carousel
27) WING GLIDERS AGAIN!!!!
28) AND AGAIN!!!
29) Tearfully say goodbye to Berk again.
30) Stare at HP portal, shrug shoulders to do the circus show if it's there.
31) WING GLIDERS BEFORE I LEAVE!
32) Leave EU
33) Tearfully look at Berk as I walk out and go back to my method of transport


I think I got it all figured out, right? I might skip 18-26 and spend some more time in Berk, feel like I'm not giving it enough love.


Oh snap, I forgot to dedicate an hour to the Grump meet and greet. I am a filthy traitor.

I don't even think Isle of Berk is on my 'day 1' itinerary lol

 

[twebber55]

been contemplating this the last few weeks since we will be there May 30th
early entry to SNW then head to MOM is the plan right now

 

[familylovemichael]

I don't even think Isle of Berk is on my 'day 1' itinerary lol

Everyone forgetting about Isle of Berk just means more room to roam for me!

 

[LPCaptainDeath]

Everyone forgetting about underprioritizing Isle of Berk just means more room to roam for me!

Fixed it for ya lol

EDIT: to add some commentary here as to my opinion of it, i'm ABSOLUTELY going to Isle of Berk when i go to Epic. I'm not knocking it in any way. I simply don't have a kid or a huge love for the IP. I LIKE How to Train Your Dragon, but i ain't dying to see it.

I DO, however, have a Harry Potter related tattoo sleeve and even THAT is #3 on my list for EPIC.

 

[sparky]

How much of an advantage do we think the dedicated entrance at Helios would give compared to one of the other hotels there?

 

[Loki]

I would also factor in ride down times. Monsters and Ministry being at the top of the "uncertainty" list. I would try to hit them up as early as possible. That way if they are down there is a chance of revisiting them later. Also if you are in queue when they go down you will possibly get a return "voucher". Also the longer the rides are active throughout the day the more chance that something will cause them to pause operations. Not trying to be an alarmist just that preparation helps mitigate bad luck.

Coasters are probably safe except in certain weather conditions. So check your phones weather app to see if a storm is on its way (it's florida in spring/summer so chances are high).

 

[saint.piss]

I'm just going to say, as someone who's been to the park now, if Ministry is open by the grand opening that needs to be your first ride. The waits for this ride are going to be insane. Do whatever you want after that but I would highly recommend making Battle at the Ministry your first ride. The fact that it still hasn't opened yet for previews is making everyone even more excited for this attraction. Everyone's anxiously waiting for it to finally open lol

 

[UniversalRBLX]

How much of an advantage do we think the dedicated entrance at Helios would give compared to one of the other hotels there?

The great thing about Epic is that they can "pre-load" the park and split crowds somewhat evenly at each portal and then open them up at official start of EPA. Not sure what their ops will be, but Helios should get a good 5 minute start if they intend on opening both turnstiles at the same time.

I would also factor in ride down times. Monsters and Ministry being at the top of the "uncertainty" list. I would try to hit them up as early as possible. That way if they are down there is a chance of revisiting them later. Also if you are in queue when they go down you will possibly get a return "voucher". Also the longer the rides are active throughout the day the more chance that something will cause them to pause operations. Not trying to be an alarmist just that preparation helps mitigate bad luck.

Coasters are probably safe except in certain weather conditions. So check your phones weather app to see if a storm is on its way (it's florida in spring/summer so chances are high).

Yeah, I would have suggested for people to do MK first during EPA and then Ministry.... but if capacity is severely limited then I'd go with "wasting" EPA on waiting for Ministry. That can easily climb to a 2-3hr wait if capacity is taking a hit.

 

[DarkMetroid567]

I'm just going to say, as someone who's been to the park now, if Ministry is open by the grand opening that needs to be your first ride. The waits for this ride are going to be insane. Do whatever you want after that but I would highly recommend making Battle at the Ministry your first ride. The fact that it still hasn't opened yet for previews is making everyone even more excited for this attraction. Everyone's anxiously waiting for it to finally open lol

Hard to balance what could be a longer and better queue with Mine-Cart Madness’s potentially shorter but worse queue!

 

[HandsomePete]

The great thing about Epic is that they can "pre-load" the park and split crowds somewhat evenly at each portal and then open them up at official start of EPA. Not sure what their ops will be, but Helios should get a good 5 minute start if they intend on opening both turnstiles at the same time.

These are the only available attractions during EPA per the Universal website:

• Mario Kart™: Bowser's Challenge
• Yoshi's Adventure™
• Mine-Cart Madness™
• Stardust Racers

If someone doesn’t have EPA, it could be better to hit one of the other lands first to get a walk on or two versus getting in line behind the EPA people in SNW and then being behind them when they finish there and filter to other lands.

 

[sparky]

These are the only available attractions during EPA per the Universal website:

• Mario Kart™: Bowser's Challenge
• Yoshi's Adventure™
• Mine-Cart Madness™
• Stardust Racers

If someone doesn’t have EPA, it could be better to hit one of the other lands first to get a walk on or two versus getting in line behind the EPA people in SNW and then being behind them when they finish there and filter to other lands.

I wonder if you do epa if you can wait at the harry potter entrance before the no epa arrive? With all the hotels having epa is this gonna dilute the benefit? Like Disney has limited extra magic hours to the deluxe hotels?

 

[UniversalRBLX]

These are the only available attractions during EPA per the Universal website:

• Mario Kart™: Bowser's Challenge
• Yoshi's Adventure™
• Mine-Cart Madness™
• Stardust Racers

If someone doesn’t have EPA, it could be better to hit one of the other lands first to get a walk on or two versus getting in line behind the EPA people in SNW and then being behind them when they finish there and filter to other lands.

Ideally, it'd be Mine-Cart first for EPA and then Ministry. It'll depend on how well Ministry can operate over the next few weeks though.

I'm a bit worried that they might "At Capacity" Ministry & Unchained later in the evening, so you could save Mine-Cart for the last attraction of the day since it's operating more reliably and hit up MoM first with or without EPA.