Avoiding Rope Drop lines

[ckmiles]

Staying on-site (9/3-9/6) so have access to EE.

Like to try and avoid the large lines of people waiting to get in each morning.

Should I wait until after parking opening to arrive? If I show up 15 minutes after EE will I avoid most (some?) of the lines?

TIA for any suggestions

 

[sponica]

Well you might avoid some of the lines to get in the park? But all those people will be in line at the rides...

 

[goofyernmost]

There are three easy ways to get into the parks. The first is be famous, no rope drop or queue lines. The second is be at Rope drop. The third is go there after rope drop. I'm not sure if you still can or not, but years ago I took the "Keys to the Kingdom" tour and I got in before rope drop, but I also didn't get to go on many rides until after the tour was done, but by the the park was more crowded.

After 48+ times I went to MK, I only was there for rope drop twice. All the other times I got there when I got there, no planned early or late. Never really had a problem even after Fastpass was started (in the beginning). I would never really care about Rope drop and only went when I did, to see the preshow prior to park opening.

 

[pens4821]

As mentioned, you’ll probably avoid the mess of people trying to get in. However you’ll then be behind them all in the attraction lines. If you’re going to a smaller ride then I don’t see an issue. And if you wait too long then you’ll be in the mess of line for regular guests.

 

[MIChessGuy]

I will mention that last June, I didn't have the discipline to make it to EPCOT EE and got in maybe 12 minutes or so after it started. Even though there were a lot of people at Frozen by the time I got there, it was still a significant improvement over the 60-ish minute waits that the ride gets during the regular operating day. So I can say anecdotally, you can still achieve some time savings even if you aren't part of the thundering herd right at EE opening time.

 

[ckmiles]

Thanks Everyone- I know it sounds crazy, but Im not looking to ride the rides more of just browsing around the park, and avoiding the mad rush!

 

[neverlandsky]

Our recent trip:
AT DHS: Only EE allowed to scan in at gates, free to roam the park and they had lines outsides of the rides at ToT & RnRC to line up at. This by far was the best EE experience!
EP scanned in EE lined up to the right after the gates. Then it opened to the next 2 rope drop areas. We went left towards TT/Frozen. Barely anyone crowd wise where we went. 2nd best EE experience.
AK: Lined up outside the gates. This was a bit squishy. A lot of us had no clue what was going on. Then once in the gates had to scan again for EE. Then free to roam to RD areas. Once we got to the RD area, we waited only a couple of minutes barely any crowds and they opened everything 5 minutes early for Pandora.
MK: Scanned in gate. Followed EE signs towards Mad Hatter. Scanned in and then wait up by the cafe. There was a ton of people. By far the worse EE experience. It was our first time going towards 7DMT area. If we ever do EE again, we'll stay towards Tomorrowland.

 

[Anthony1971]

On site resort guests are allowed in 1/2 hour before the official open. Sometimes you enter the park early sometimes you are held at a certain section and need to scan your magic band or card. If you are on-site try 15 minutes after early open or 15 after normal open. Likely less time but you should be able to walk without huge crowds at that point.

 

[Tigger's ally]

IF you are going to Epcot and want to avoid the throng of people, just go to the International gate. Still be a line but it is not near as bad as the front gate, and besides you can take your time walking from the gate towards FW. Sit on a bench and watch the Ferrari's and the Lamborghini's go by. You might even stick out a leg and trip one of them..

 

[gottalovepluto]

Thanks Everyone- I know it sounds crazy, but Im not looking to ride the rides more of just browsing around the park, and avoiding the mad rush!

I get this. If entering EP via IG I’ll come in earlier EE as they tend to start letting people in earlier to stage them in the park. At DHS, AK & MK I try to arrive right after rope or hang back to the back of the rope drop crowds. It can be hard to time as Disney transport isn’t the most efficient thing though. I don’t do the running of the bulls to whatever ride is hottest, I prefer to knock out stuff like ToT or Navi (good but not the greatest so no one is plowing me over to get there first) so hanging back ends up fine.

The only place I almost got into trouble was a late arrival at DHS in June. They were holding the general public outside the park tapstyles and I came up just a couple mins before park open. I rushed in because I saw as soon as the park opened that crowd to the side would be released and all the tap styles were gonna get slammed.

 

[Skippyboo]

If you aren’t concerned about riding rides then just leave for the parks after the official park opening for all guests then you avoid the onsite EE people and not resort people waiting the 1/2 hr . You might want to go later at Epcot since not all of World Showcase opens when the park does.

 

[gharter]

Thanks Everyone- I know it sounds crazy, but Im not looking to ride the rides more of just browsing around the park, and avoiding the mad rush!

If you don't care about the rides, then there is no reason to do rope drop. Wait 30 minutes after the park opens and the entry line will be short.

 

[elvispursley]

Just FYI, if you want to do the IG, you need to be staying at a crescent lake area resort, staying at a resort with skyliner access, or have an ADR for dining at those resorts. They tend to be fairly restrict guests entering the IG unless you meet the afore mentioned criteria. Some have had luck using a rideshare, others not…YMMV.

 

[goofyernmost]

This may have changed (it's been awhile) but I always found that before 10am it is much less crowded. People with kids have a tough time getting everything moving, dressed, fed and transported much before 10am. So those in the park are mostly adults and teens. The teens head for the thrill rides and the rest of us old folks (anyone over 30) could get a few rides in before the crowd.

 

[Griffin11]

Went we went last January we aimed to get there near the start of early entry, but not necessarily before - it was great, we avoided the crowds waiting for rope drop but still got to take advantage of the lower crowds.

Of course you can't control your arrival time exactly - there was one day we got to MK before the rope was dropped - we just hung out towards the back of the rope drop crowd until it was time to enter, no need to be right in the middle of it. Once they start letting people past the rope, the crowds disperse to different areas pretty quickly, and unless you are heading to one of the big ticket rides with the rest of the crowd you won't be in the crowd.

 

[C&Jx2]

On our last trip in May we showed up about 15 minutes into the EE time for each park and got on everything we wanted within an hour or two of the official opening with no issue. The only day we truly rope dropped was our EPCOT morning and even then we arrived a little after EE but they were holding people at World Showcase. We were doing Frozen standby. That's the only real "Running of the Bulls" experience we had.

 

[ckmiles]

Thanks everyone! I want to avoid the lines and also enjoy the 'cooler' temperatures in the morning- In September I know its going to be hot!