TSM Down at Rope Drop

[brittainy]

Arrived at Hollywood Studios this morning to ride/FP TSM. Got fast passes for 9:50-10:50 then got in standby line (15 minute wait time). Announcement made that there were technical difficulties and the ride was closed, to please exit the way we came in. Not sure what's up but by the time we left the fast passes were already distributing for 11:30-12:30!

[CentralFloridian99]

I thought they werent doing rope drop anymore?

[Robo]

Originally Posted by CentralFloridian99

I thought they werent doing rope drop anymore?

"Rope Drop" is often used interchangeably with the term "opening time."

"Rope Drop Ceremony" or "internal rope holding area" are often the terms use to differentiate a separate opening event or holding area inside the park gates... vs. the actual time that the gates open for guests.

=======================

Here's what's been happening within the past few months:

Only MK still offers a Rope Drop SHOW along with an inside-the-gates holding area.
MK Gates open approx. 15 min. "early."
But, the Rope Drop show is timed so that guests will actually enter the PARK very near the actual opening time.

MK's Rope Drop Ceremony called "Magic Kingdom Welcome" (see location HERE.)

Guests are usually admitted starting about 15-20 minutes before
the posted opening time, to WAIT just inside the gates, in front of the train station (near the "flower Mickey face.")

The ceremony lasts 6-7 minutes or so and starts 6-7 minutes before the scheduled opening time.
There is also a "mini" version (far less "hoopla") that lasts about 2-3 minutes.
There is also an "AUDIO ONLY" version (no characters at all) that lasts under minute.
Which one you will see can be tough to guess.

----------------------------------

DAK no longer offers a Rope Drop SHOW,
but still has a "rope" (guest holding area) at a location past the Oasis, near the Tree of Life.
DAK Gates open approx. 15 min. "early."

Epcot no longer offers a Rope Drop SHOW, AND no longer offers an inside-the-gates holding area.
Epcot gates (including the International Gateway) will likely open approx. 15 min. "early."

DHS no longer offers a Rope Drop SHOW.
DHS Gates likely open approx. 15 min. "early."
(DHS has opened as much as 30 min. early, but that's not been the case every day.)

AM EMH entrance times seem to not be affected (figure entering 2-10 minutes before the AM EMH time, as usual.)
On AM EMH days, MK will offer some form of their Rope Drop Show
(may or may not be the "full show")
only for AM EMH guests,
and no show at all for the regular hours open time that morning.

As always, for better positioning in the crowds, arrive well before the posted opening time at all parks.

[ghtx]

TP Lines app says it was offline today until about noon, then opened back up. Bummer. Hope that doesn't happen when I'm there!

[Ckmommy72]

Originally Posted by ghtx

TP Lines app says it was offline today until about noon, then opened back up. Bummer. Hope that doesn't happen when I'm there!

In a case like this, do they then honor all the FP's for times prior to noon, thus likely making the FP line potentially as long as or longer than standby? And is there a cutoff? Say you didn't know that it came back up at noon, or had an ADR at noon, and therefore showed up at 2 or 3, would they honor your FP?

Just wondering...

[ghtx]

Originally Posted by Ckmommy72

In a case like this, do they then honor all the FP's for times prior to noon, thus likely making the FP line potentially as long as or longer than standby? And is there a cutoff? Say you didn't know that it came back up at noon, or had an ADR at noon, and therefore showed up at 2 or 3, would they honor your FP?

Just wondering...

I have heard some reports that when a ride is down at any point during the day, then they will honor any FPs for that ride on that day, regardless of the return window. Don't know if that's true.

[brittainy]

If the ride was down during the FP time it was able to be used anytime during the day!
(Sorry for the rope drop confusion!!)

[seashoreCM]

Originally Posted by Ckmommy72

In a case like this, do they then honor all the FP's for times prior to noon, thus likely making the FP line potentially as long as or longer than standby? And is there a cutoff? Say you didn't know that it came back up at noon, or had an ADR at noon, and therefore showed up at 2 or 3, would they honor your FP?

What happens after that can differ from day to day. Seek out a CM nearby and ask.

Most likely you will be told you can come back any time later. The CM may assign a specific time to come back but that really does not make sense (1) for the reason stated earlier and (2) if the ride is still down or the fastpass line is humongously long at that time you would seek out a CM nearby and ask yet again.

[CentralFloridian99]

Originally Posted by Robo

"Rope Drop" is often used interchangeably with the term "opening time."

"Rope Drop Ceremony" or "internal rope holding area" are often the terms use to differentiate a separate opening event or holding area inside the park gates... vs. the actual time that the gates open for guests.

=======================

Here's what's been happening within the past few months:

Only MK still offers a Rope Drop SHOW along with an inside-the-gates holding area.
MK Gates open approx. 15 min. "early."
But, the Rope Drop show is timed so that guests will actually enter the PARK very near the actual opening time.

MK's Rope Drop Ceremony called "Magic Kingdom Welcome" (see location HERE.)

Guests are usually admitted starting about 15-20 minutes before
the posted opening time, to WAIT just inside the gates, in front of the train station (near the "flower Mickey face.")

The ceremony lasts 6-7 minutes or so and starts 6-7 minutes before the scheduled opening time.
There is also a "mini" version (far less "hoopla") that lasts about 2-3 minutes.
There is also an "AUDIO ONLY" version (no characters at all) that lasts under minute.
Which one you will see can be tough to guess.

----------------------------------

DAK no longer offers a Rope Drop SHOW,
but still has a "rope" (guest holding area) at a location past the Oasis, near the Tree of Life.
DAK Gates open approx. 15 min. "early."

Epcot no longer offers a Rope Drop SHOW, AND no longer offers an inside-the-gates holding area.
Epcot gates (including the International Gateway) will likely open approx. 15 min. "early."

DHS no longer offers a Rope Drop SHOW.
DHS Gates likely open approx. 15 min. "early."
(DHS has opened as much as 30 min. early, but that's not been the case every day.)

AM EMH entrance times seem to not be affected (figure entering 2-10 minutes before the AM EMH time, as usual.)
On AM EMH days, MK will offer some form of their Rope Drop Show
(may or may not be the "full show")
only for AM EMH guests,
and no show at all for the regular hours open time that morning.

As always, for better positioning in the crowds, arrive well before the posted opening time at all parks.

Thank you for giving me the post I see you post on all these rope drop threads

[Robo]

Originally Posted by CentralFloridian99

Thank you for giving me the post I see you post on all these rope drop threads

The first part of it I wrote directly answering your question.

The rest of it (with the 4 parks' specific procedures) was simply informational.



Now, here's a question for you...
Why do you suppose that I post the same info over-and-over on these boards?

[LSUfan4444]

This happened to us last time we were there too. We have some friends who are hard believers in getting FPs first, then riding and we are exactly the opposite. The shortest standby time for TSM is right when they open and we never pass that opportunity. We walked on, walked off and then got our FPs. They got their FPs, stood in line for 20 then they announced the ride was having some issues and was currently being worked on.

The good news for them is they got an extra FP to use later in the day (plus the one they go first thing), but they passed on the chance to walk right on.

Bird in the hand, .


Not saying you had that chance today, just relaying a similar story.

[Letsbgoofy]

Now, here's a question for you...
Why do you suppose that I post the same info over-and-over on these boards?

I haven't seen this post yet so thanks! I wish they would stop holding people at the Tree of Life, maybe that would eliminate the crazy rush to EE or the Safari? Or maybe people would just run to them once they got inside the park....