EMH or ADR before rope drop?

[YellowM4]

What's a better way to experience the parks in the morning, getting an ADR before rope drop on a non-EMH day, or taking advantage of early EMH? We're staying at POR and I've read some people love EMH while some avoid those parks.

 

[morethananyonex]

If you want to actually experience the park early and not just get in early, EMH is the way to go. Depending on how long your ADR takes, you might not make it out in time for rope drop anyways. You can get a lot done during morning EMH, people tend to plan to show up but not make it there on time making the park more crowded later but not during the actual EMH.

Do you have a hopper? I'd do EMH if we could get there on time and then leave the park for slower one once it gets busy.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

What's a better way to experience the parks in the morning, getting an ADR before rope drop on a non-EMH day, or taking advantage of early EMH? We're staying at POR and I've read some people love EMH while some avoid those parks.

Many people are divided on visiting parks on EMH days. Many resort guests will head there because it is a perk that they can take advantage of. That doesn't make it necessarily a bad thing to visit on EMH days. The trick is to arrive at park opening and take advantage of the hours. If it is evening EMH, stay until park close if possible. The later the park closes, the more you'll be able to do. 2am-3am closes are amazing! At 2am, we have been able to walk on Big Thunder, Space Mountain, Enchanted Tales with Belle, we could walk straight in to meet Rapunzel.

An ADR before the park opens can be great. You do get in first and especially at MK, take some great photos of the castle with few people in the background. Even if you finish before park opening, you'll be held somewhere until the park opens.

You could always take advantage of EMH and then make a reservation for 11am or so, which is when everyone else is really starting to pour into the park.

 

[shefrn1]

Is rope drop at the regular opening time and not at EMH?

I hope that makes sense...lol....my brain is spinning with all of this information I'm trying to retain....lol

 

[YellowM4]

For the purposes of my question, I was referring to the rope drop at regular opening time. We may try to schedule at least MK this way and try for some late breakfasts as well. I've heard some of the later breakfast times actually allow for more interaction with the characters.

I suppose, there's a plus side to every scenario. With the limits of FP+ to just 3 attractions, planning for a successful morning seems more important than ever.

 

[Robo]

Is rope drop at the regular opening time and not at EMH?

I hope that makes sense...lol....my brain is spinning with all of this information I'm trying to retain....lol

To understand about "rope drop"
here's what's been happening with Theme Park Openings:

Only MK still offers an actual Rope Drop SHOW along with an inside-the-gates holding area.
MK Gates open approx. 15-20 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.

On AM EMH days, the "Magic Kingdom Welcome" (in some form) will only be performed for the early AM EMH guests.


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

DAK no longer offers a Rope Drop SHOW,
AND recently, no longer has an inside-the-park guest holding area.
DAK Gates open approx. 15 min. "early," and guests can enter the park and head
for their attractions of choice at that time.

Epcot does not offer an internal Rope Drop SHOW,
AND no longer offers an inside-the-gates holding area.
There might be a "Welcome to Epcot" audio recording played as a chosen family waves "hello"
to other guests, maybe some confetti involved. (But, it is far below what could be called a "Show.")
Epcot gates (including the International Gateway) will likely open approx. 15 min. "early."
(Sometimes, on rare occasions when the park is very busy... as much as 30 minutes 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.

If staying at a WDW resort, plan to be at the bus stop about 45 min. before you want to ARRIVE at a given park.
(Arriving far too early beats arriving just a minute or two late.)

 

[Robo]

For the purposes of my question, I was referring to the rope drop at regular opening time. We may try to schedule at least MK this way and try for some late breakfasts as well. I've heard some of the later breakfast times actually allow for more interaction with the characters.

I suppose, there's a plus side to every scenario. With the limits of FP+ to just 3 attractions, planning for a successful morning seems more important than ever.

If the idea is to "get into the park and get a jump on other entering guests" on a non-AM EMH day,
then scheduling a first-sitting-of-the-day breakfast is no longer a very good plan at any park but MK.