Are the parks opening before the "official" time?

[lornak]

For those of you just back or really in the know...
Have the parks been opening before the posted times? I know in past summers the parks have been up and running up to 30 mintues ahead of schedule. We are heading off in one week (!!!!!) and wondering if we could anticipate this kind of schedule???

 

[snuggles]

I had a hard time getting my DM and DD up and going so we missed park openings both days of our short trip. I'd be curious to know the answer too.

 

[dizkidz2]

In all our vacations to DW (14) we have NEVER been to any of the parks at opening time. We were curious about this also. DH and I were just talking about trying to get there for opening, just once. We will be down in DW June 6th-15th.
Where and when is the rope drop? Is this the same time that the turnstiles open?
Of all the time we have been there, we have never paid attention, since we could never get our teenage daughter to get up and out on time.

 

[DisneyFan79]

The only park that I know that was open before the official time was the Animal Kingdom on a non extra magic hour morning. We arrived around 8:35am and the park was already open and there were no ropes up at the tree of life. As far as the other parks go, we went for extra magic hour and they opened the gates a few minutes before 8. Hope this helps!!

 

[DisneyFan79]

I just returned last week also!!

 

[gumdrop]

They kind of opened MGM early last year in August. I think the official opening time was 9:00. We were let in at 8:30 but no rides were open at all. Everyone horded to Sunset Blvd (or whatever street ToT and RnR are on) with CM"s standing in front of us as a barricade. Once it was really 9 am, they let us through.

 

[Disbug]

We have found it depends on the crowds building at the turnstiles...

If the park "officially" opens at 9 AM, and the crowds are building at the MGM turnstiles, at 8:30 AM they will let people through to the cross roads where you turn off to the ToT and RnRC. There is a rope and the crowds will mill around until the official rope drop time of 9 AM and the CM's will walk you to the end of the street where of course everyone breaks into a run for either the Tower or the Coaster!

Same for EPCOT. We have gotten through the turnstiles at 8:30, but there was a rope waiting at the turn-off for Test Track. It would drop at 9 AM also.

MK can be tricky. Depending on whether you are parking at the parking lot... or riding a bus which drops you at the entrance to the ticket turnstiles. I have gotten through the turnstiles at 8:30 and been stopped at one of 3 rope drops. One going to Fantasyland, one to Tomorrowland, and one to Frontierland/Adventureland. These all drop (usually) at 9 AM.

But that was then, this is now... I guess I'll find out in July how they are doing it now!

 

[jaysue]

Was there between May 13th and 19th, and the only early openings were as described above, sometimes let in early up to a roped off point and then let further forward at official opening time

this even happened at Typhoon Lagoon

Thanks
jaysue