Are guests allowed on to Main Street in MK before opening time?

[Zippa D Doodah]

I have yet to be a WDW when guests are admitted thru the gates at any time before the scheduled opening. If MK opens at 9am, gates open at 9am and whole park is open. If EMH is scheduled for 8am, then gate opens at 8am and the usual EMH rides are open. I have yet to be there at a time when you can wander Main Street, rent strollers, grab a leisurely bite at the Main Street bakery, and wait for a rope drop to enter the other lands. Almost all guidebooks (and many DIS posters) describe a "window of opportunity" in which guests can wander Main Street beginning at say, 8:30am on a day in which MK opens at 9am. Is this just a myth?

 

[jaysue]

We have been there in March when they did open the gates early and then had the rope drops in place on the bridges leading out the hub - they opened the gates about 25 minutes or so before official opening and we marched up to the rope drop at Fantasyland and just waited for it.

This also happened at Epcot as well but in that case it was an EE day but we wanted to be at the rope drop for Living Seas/The Land and that area was roped until 0900

Thanks
jaysue

 

[RaySharpton]

I don't know if they still do this. About 5 years ago, I entered the gates before scheduled opening time and was able to walk down to the rope near the ice cream and Casey hot dog store. We were allowed to pass te line and crouds to go to the castle breakfast(with priority seatings).

I wonder if they used to do this to keep the crowds down out in front, near the ticket gates on very busy mornings.

I remember the stores were open, too.

But times are different now since September 11th. Security, or downsizing the number of WDW castmembers available to do this. Or even a money, cost-cutting thing.

I'm sure someone else here might have an answer.

Ray

 

[Synonymous]

They used to do this as a matter of course, but if they do it anymore it is rare. When we were there the week before April this year, they actually let us in several minutes after the scheduled opening time on at least one occasion. Frustrating.

The leisurely stroll to the rope drop is another casualty of the economic downturn since 9/11. It seems like so many small pleasures at Disney disappeared after that.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

hmmm... thanks for the replies. Still no consesnus though. Jaysue says maybe and Synonymous says rarely. Any other responses?

 

[jaysue]

Maybe change the posting header to:

Does the MK ever open the gates before official opening time?

Maybe that will generate some more responses

Thanks
jaysue

 

[d-r]

not anymore.
you used to be able to go in and they had a rope drop.

Now the magic kingdom opens by the mayor of mainstreet coming out and greeting, and the train coming into the station full of characters for a special greeting.

So they have roped off the area to each side, so that there is no way to the tunnels. They let guests in to the center, where the mickey mouse is on the circle there in the garden, in front (or is it behind?) the train station. And you wait there until the show starts. When the opening show starts, or I guess when that area gets full, they stop admitting people through the ticket styles, so that people who are cued up when the opening show is over just walk straight to the tunnels because the rope dropped, if that makes sense, so it isn't that congested.

But the short answer is, not anymore.
DR

 

[Calcio]

I can only give you my results, and the sample is only one day (Tuesday, January 7), but guests were not allowed into the MK until the 9 A.M. open.

Like other posters, in past years and times, the 9 A.M. open meant you could get through the turnstiles about 8:30, and stroll up Main Street, perhaps stopping for a snack and drink at the Bakery.

This past January, however, that did not happen. I arrived by Disney bus about 8:40, and all guests were held in front of the two walkways under the train tracks. A train arrived filled with characters, they went through their brief song and dance welcome, and at 9 A.M. we were allowed into the park. I assume this is a function of lower crowds and increased attention to security and guest flow.

Sorry.

 

[jaysue]

Inconsistent it would appear at best - in March 03, we were allowed in "early" up to the rope drops and in May 03 there was no early to rope drop procedure

Thinking of the other parks during our May 03 trip:

TL opened gates 15 minutes early and then you hit a rope drop - lockers and change rooms were accessible

AK opened gates 15 minutes early one day to let people through Oasis etc. and we did not hit a rope drop along the way

Epcot was at official time

MGM - have heard different stories - think Star Wars weekend may have changed things a bit for that time period

Thanks
jaysue

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I was just going to say the same thing- must be inconsistent. They let us in early at MK and had the ropes across those certain areas that they didn't drop until the actual opening time. This was in Jan of this year.