Has Epcot stopped its Rope Drop Show?

[k5jm]

It appears that Epcot has stopped doing their rope drop show in front of Innoventions and allows you to head straight to the rides at 8:45am on normal days.

http://www.epcyclopedia.com/2011/09/19/epcot-opens-gates-at-845-am-attractions-open/

Epcot Opens Gates at 8:45 AM

Posted on September 19, 2011 by admin
Epcot has recently changed the way the park opens in the morning. There is no more rope drop at Innoventions plaza at 9 AM with guests allowed into the park prior. The Test Track car with the family of the day has been discontinued and the characters do not come out to meet the guests from the Character Spot anymore either.

When the change was first made, guests were held at the Epcot Main Entrance and International Gateway until 9 AM when a spiel played and confetti cannons were shot over the waiting crowds at the front gate. More recently however Disney has tweaked the process – now guests are admitted into the park at 8:45 AM on a standard operational day. At that time, guests may visit any attraction that they choose.

A downside to this new procedure is that there’s no way of knowing if Soarin’ or Test Track is not yet operational prior to reaching the actual attraction. The data on the three tipboards in Future World list all attractions as “closed” until the formal 9 AM opening time when the data system switches over. We did confirm with attractions management that the rides and shows that would open at “9 AM” will in fact be operating at 8:45 AM barring any unforeseen circumstances.

This means it’s even more important than ever to arrive early at Epcot – prior to the 8:45 AM gate opening. Guests arriving from International Gateway have a long walk to the Future World attractions. Being some of the first guests to reach Soarin’ for the morning, we noticed International Gateway guests began trickling into the area well after a sizable crowds had amassed from the Main Entrance at the attraction.

 

[disneyholic family]

 

[dmccarty]

We just got back from WDW and this is how it worked during our visit. It is much better than the herd fast walking to Soar'n.

At AKV we did not have a RD show either. As usual, they let people in early and then we waited on the bridge. The CM's did a count down and let us in. One CM sang a song on her own initiative. I told her I liked her song as I walked by.

Same think at DHS.

MK had the usual RD show.

Later,
Dan

 

[disneyholic family]

We just got back from WDW and this is how it worked during our visit. It is much better than the herd fast walking to Soar'n.

At AKV we did not have a RD show either. As usual, they let people in early and then we waited on the bridge. The CM's did a count down and let us in. One CM sang a song on her own initiative. I told her I liked her song as I walked by.

Same think at DHS.

MK had the usual RD show.

Later,
Dan

At DHS, did the CMs walk you to toy story as with the rope drop?