Confused About Rope Drop

[FallsChurchDad]

Can someone please give an exact description of the current rope drop procedures for DL/DCA?

There is a lot of information about this online, but some of it is conflicting - maybe because things have changed?

For example, let's say both parks open at 9 am, with an 8 am EE for DCA.

--What time does security open?
--What time do they start letting people through the gate for each park?
--What time do the internal ropes drop?
--What time do they actually start boarding rides?

Thanks!

 

[DLRExpert]

Not sure when the security area opens but I would assume and hour or two before Early Entry starts
That can differ usually 30-10 minutes before park opening
Rope drops at official park opening
When park opens but Soarin may be open earlier for all park guests during it's Early Entry

 

[Winnowill]

Sometimes, if you're lucky, you may get an early ride. When we were there in March, 2017, my friend and I were at the internal rope with our two daughters (7 and 8), both dressed in the blue deluxe Cinderella costume. Some CMs from BTMRR saw us and invited us to be the first ride on it. We were allowed past the rope ten minutes before the park opened, rode BTMRR, and were in line for Pirates before the rope even dropped!

 

[midnight star]

I don’t know what time security opens, but the main parking structure opens 90 minutes before regular park opening. So for a 9 am opening, the structure is open at 7:30. That is generally when people will begin lining up at the gates who aren’t there for EE or MM.

DCA usually starts scanning in tickets 30 minutes before park opens, DL begins scanning about 15 minutes before.

The earliest I’ve seen the ropes drop are 5 minutes before. When you hear the music come on, that’s when they are about to drop.

They start boarding rides as soon as people get there. If for whatever reason a ride won’t be open right at opening the CM’s will tell you so you can change the rope area you stand at if you want to.

 

[FallsChurchDad]

Thanks everyone! We will have one Disneyland Magic Morning (8 am for a 9 am regular opening). Typically, what time does the gate open / rope drop for MM/EE?

 

[tink89]

Thanks everyone! We will have one Disneyland Magic Morning (8 am for a 9 am regular opening). Typically, what time does the gate open / rope drop for MM/EE?

For MM/EMH there is no rope drop. I believe they open right at 8 or whatever time EMH/MM is at.

 

[HydroGuy]

Can someone please give an exact description of the current rope drop procedures for DL/DCA?

There is a lot of information about this online, but some of it is conflicting - maybe because things have changed?

For example, let's say both parks open at 9 am, with an 8 am EE for DCA.

--What time does security open?
--What time do they start letting people through the gate for each park?
--What time do the internal ropes drop?
--What time do they actually start boarding rides?

Thanks!

Exact description? No.

Since DL and DCA open at 8AM, 9AM or 10AM, and also have alternating days for Extra Magic Hours with DL also having Magic Mornings, there is nothing exact about rope drop. There are trends that happen based on these variables but nothing that is 100%. So treat all advice here as folks' best guesses.

Some things are fairly unchanging - such as that they do not allow guests onto rides before whatever is the official opening time (like WDW has a tendency to do). But even that is not 100% with Soarin' often letting guests ride before DCA opens on days they let guests thru the turnstiles early to collect at a literal rope in Carthay Circle and possible over at LMAUA and in HollywoodLand. I think Soarin is the only ride that ever does that these days.

 

[DLfan4]

Some things are fairly unchanging - such as that they do not allow guests onto rides before whatever is the official opening time

So if the official opening at DL is 9:00, and EE/MM is 8:00, What do those with EE/MM have access to between 8 - 9?

 

[ironband74]

So if the official opening at DL is 9:00, and EE/MM is 8:00, What do those with EE/MM have access to between 8 - 9?

In DL, Early Entry gets access to Fantasyland and Tomorrowland.

 

[ironband74]

Can someone please give an exact description of the current rope drop procedures for DL/DCA?

Thanks!

My understanding of the procedure is based on going twice in 2017, once in the summer (3 days) and once in early December (2 days). I defer to anyone who has been there more recently or more frequently.

It would be nice to have an exact schedule, but the bottom line is be in line early and then roll with what happens. I think that they intentionally change it up occasionally to make it unpredictable for security purposes. If you are in line early, whatever procedure happens you'll be in position for the best day possible.

Harbor Blvd security seems to open about 30-40 minutes before the earliest opening for a given day. Lines may begin to form earlier than that, though. Not sure about the other security gates.

On an early entry day in DL, There is a countdown and then the turnstiles open. If you are the first party in line at a given turnstile, the CM might scan your tickets prior to the actual open to 'prime' you to go through the turnstiles. This is especially useful if you are coming with paper tickets and need to be photographed and can save a few seconds on the front end. You are able to walk down Main Street and access Fantasyland and Tomorrowland, while entry to Adventureland and Frontierland is roped off. Adventureland and Frontierland ropes are dropped at official opening time, and the non early entry turnstiles are opened as the early entry turnstiles are converted to standard entry.

On a non early entry day in DL, they'll start letting folks through the turnstiles and onto main street maybe 20-30 minutes before park opening. Everything is roped off near the partners statue (this is slightly different than it used to be, when the rope was at the end of main street). At official opening, the ropes drop and everyone streams into the land of their choosing. Last time I did this we were headed for Peter Pan, and as we went over the castle drawbridge we encountered a cast member who marched a line of us to the attraction. This was a nice surprise since we usually try hard not to run in obedience to the great mouse, but get overtaken by people running with reckless abandon.

I can't speak to early entry in DCA since I've never stayed on property.

For non early entry to DCA, they start letting forlks through the turnstiles and onto Buena Vista Street maybe 20-30 minutes before park opening. Sometimes Condor Flats is open and Soarin' is up and running for you to ride before the park opens. Going into Hollywood land last year we encountered a rope and two lines led by cast members - one to go into the standby line for Guardians and one to go get fastpasses for guardians. As I understand it, there is a similar arrangement along the road towards CarsLand for RSR. Not sure if there is also something set up for Incredicoaster. In any case, at opening or a few minutes before, these lines are marched to their destinations, and at opening the ropes drop for anyone not waiting in a line.

We're planning on going to the parks December 27-29, so I'd love to know if anyone has any more specific/current info.

Andre

 

[HydroGuy]

So if the official opening at DL is 9:00, and EE/MM is 8:00, What do those with EE/MM have access to between 8 - 9?

In DL, Early Entry gets access to Fantasyland and Tomorrowland.