How early to arrive to be at front for Rope Drop?

[VicgirlBC]

I would also appreciate any recent feedback about rope dropping from Harbor. What is the Harbor security line like at 7:15? What time does security open on Harbor? When should I arrive at Harbor security if we want to be in the parks before 8:00, but we are not going for a headliner?

We rope dropped from Harbor at the end of January. Security was really quick at 7:15am with maybe 10-20 people in line at each table/scanner. We certainly weren't the first people at the turnstiles though, we were probably 50 people back which wasn't an issue for us. At 7:40am they opened the turnstiles and started scanning tickets. We were then held at the hub until rope drop at 8:00am.

 

[Disney Dad ADL]

Wow this is so helpful, thank you!

If you’re staying at GC, what is the best way to enter DL for EE Rope Drop? I’ve never been so explain to me like I know nothing

Also, I know GC has its own entrance to DCA. Is that where I want to EE rope drop?? Or do I go back out to esplanade??

It's generally better to go out to the main entrance IMO rather than using the dedicated hotel entrance. However, the security line going from Grand Californian to Downtown Disney can be REALLY slow though in the morning though, so I would be prepared for that.

I'm not sure about the new entrance though that goes into Pixar Pier though, I've never used that one

 

[BriannaRuth]

Wow this is so helpful, thank you!

If you’re staying at GC, what is the best way to enter DL for EE Rope Drop? I’ve never been so explain to me like I know nothing

Also, I know GC has its own entrance to DCA. Is that where I want to EE rope drop?? Or do I go back out to esplanade??

Having stayed at the GCH a few times, I can tell you doing rope drop from there is very hit or miss. It's great when everything goes well, but when it doesn't, it's very frustrating. The problem is there are only a couple of turnstiles at the GCH entrance, so if anything goes wrong (technical problem, someone not having tickets ready, someone arguing with the CM, whatever), it slows everything down. In addition, because there are only a couple of turnstiles, the line at the GCH can get very long very quickly if you're not there early.

We normally opt not to use the GCH entrance unless we're early enough to be one of the first in that line.

 

[Disney4Ever!]

I've written about this before, but the situation has changed a bit with EE and such in the last few months. My friends and I make it a game to be the absolute first people through the turnstiles and onto Rise of the Resistance even beating the early entry guests. I've been first at the turnstile and rope for the last like 9 trips I've taken, and it brings me way more joy than it should to charge through the turnstile 10 seconds before everyone else. Please read the original post for some incredible, detailed information that will change your life.

Hi Brandonius, I wanted to thank you SO SO SO VERY much for your detailed and very fun post concerning rope drop. I came across it while searching for rope drop strategies. I printed off your post and on our way to the airport last week for our flight to John Wayne Airport (I live 1600 miles from Anaheim), I read your whole post to my friend and we burned it into our brains. Thanks to you, we ended up against the rope every single day of our 3 day Disneyland adventure. We got to the property gates at 6am each morning and they unlocked that gate between 6:20 and 6:30 each morning. Anyone reading this, I would recommend getting to the property gates before they open because you get to visit with great people who are also waiting with you. You will have this opportunity at the property gates, then as you wait to walk through the "drug dog tent" (this is what my friend and I called it but I'm sure it has a more refined name), you get to wait and visit some more with like-minded folks. As you wait for the turnstile gates to open, you get to meet and talk to even more amazing like-minded people. The time goes by so fast while waiting because you enjoy the camaraderie of other Disney peeps. Anyway, I just wanted to thank you so much Brandonius. I joined DIS boards just so I could get in here and thank you. I am grateful for that too because I am so glad I joined and can be part of this great community and great resource.

 

[mich311e]

Does anyone know what time security opens at the Toy Story Lot? Thanks!

 

[LKing]

Hi Brandonius, I wanted to thank you SO SO SO VERY much for your detailed and very fun post concerning rope drop. I came across it while searching for rope drop strategies. I printed off your post and on our way to the airport last week for our flight to John Wayne Airport (I live 1600 miles from Anaheim), I read your whole post to my friend and we burned it into our brains. Thanks to you, we ended up against the rope every single day of our 3 day Disneyland adventure. We got to the property gates at 6am each morning and they unlocked that gate between 6:20 and 6:30 each morning. Anyone reading this, I would recommend getting to the property gates before they open because you get to visit with great people who are also waiting with you. You will have this opportunity at the property gates, then as you wait to walk through the "drug dog tent" (this is what my friend and I called it but I'm sure it has a more refined name), you get to wait and visit some more with like-minded folks. As you wait for the turnstile gates to open, you get to meet and talk to even more amazing like-minded people. The time goes by so fast while waiting because you enjoy the camaraderie of other Disney peeps. Anyway, I just wanted to thank you so much Brandonius. I joined DIS boards just so I could get in here and thank you. I am grateful for that too because I am so glad I joined and can be part of this great community and great resource.

What a beautiful first post! Welcome!

 

[Disney4Ever!]

What a beautiful first post! Welcome!

Thank you! So glad to be here!

 

[JerrodDragon89]

Does anyone know what time security opens at the Toy Story Lot? Thanks!

I believe 7 AM

But I'm not sure if the Bus go off before they get more people to fill the first bus.

 

[mich311e]

I believe 7 AM

But I'm not sure if the Bus go off before they get more people to fill the first bus.

Thanks! We are walking and will try to be at security by 7. We'll see how it goes!

 

[frjohnk]

We went this past Feb, we stayed at the Best Western Raffle Inn and Suites. We did rope drop 4 of 5 days we were they with success. We started our park days on non EE days. The 1 day we slept in as we had a late night before and got to the park at 830am.

This is how our last day went
Got to breakfast right at 630 am. I had the Away we go app open looking at where the ART bus was. At 640, I told the family eat up, we need to be at the bus stop in 5 minutes. At about 650am, the bus showed up. We got to the Disney bus terminal about 655am. At security at 7am, through security and got to the gates at 708am. There were 6 people ahead of us in our line. I picked the furthest east gate, as I felt going to the middle adds steps (and time). At 730am, the gates were open and they were letting people into the park. What I found is that you need to speed walk as soon as you get through this gate, even if there are a couple hundred people that are already in the park, you can pass many of them by speed walking down mainstreet ( no sprinting like my 10 yearold son) We went to the right of the hub. Made it to front of the rope When the rope dropped, we sped walked onto Peter Pan. We were on the 2nd ride vehicle.

On our other days of rope drop, the times of getting to the park varied. On our 1st day we got to the gates at 720am. There was a considerable line in front of us at the gates. Probably 20-30 people, but they got though the gates rather quickly . We sped walked down main street, went to the right of the hub and made sure we were not behind any stollers. We got onto the 7th ride vehicle of Peter Pan.

In CA, we roped dropped Toy Story Mania, we were on the first ride. Other day we did Guardians, you can speed walk to the rope, but then the cast members will walk you to the ride at 8am. We made sure to stay to the left of the group as there will be jostling for position to get through the entrance and its best to be on the left side.