How exactly does rope drop at DL work?

[jacobsmommy]

When we arrive early on Sunday (hoping before 7:30) where should we stand? When do they let people in? What's the best approach to rope drop to try to make it to Nemo?

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

During our last trip in December they didn't do the rope drop on Main Street. I was used to them opening up Main Street half an hour early, but they didn't. They didn't open the front gate until park opening.

 

[WVMomof3]

Last Sunday they did not open the gate till park opening either.

 

[jacobsmommy]

So when they open the gates it's just a free for all to Nemo? That's what has me worried about being trampled trying to get to Nemo.

What time did you get to the gates last Sunday?

 

[DangerMouse]

When the park opens at 8 am, and there is no EE, there will NOT be a rope drop. They only do rope drop on EE mornings or when the park opens at 9 am or later.

To the OP, I'd be at the front gates on a Sunday at 7 am if you want to be at the head of the pack going to Nemo.

 

[iceskatejen]

Actually, rope drop only happens when the park opens at 9am or later. EE has no effect on whether or not there's rope drop.

 

[Hound 109]

Actually, rope drop only happens when the park opens at 9am or later. EE has no effect on whether or not there's rope drop.

I just wanted to add that when i was there 2 weeks ago, on a Tuesday (EE had opened at 8am & regular park opening was 9am). We were there for EE.

There was a "ROPE DROP" near the end of Main St. (basically where the last building was before you get to the HUB) for the scruffy NON EE'ers.

While we priviledeged EE'ers were allowed to stroll to a SECOND ROPE DROP....aka "THE PRIVILEDGED EE'ers ROPE DROP" for Adventureland / Frontierland in front of the Dole Whip Stand. (a good 100 yards closer to Indy).

A little extra info for detail geeks like me.

hound

 

[iceskatejen]

What I was meaning is if the regular park opening is at 8am, there's no rope drop, EE or no EE.

 

[Hound 109]

What I was meaning is if the regular park opening is at 8am, there's no rope drop, EE or no EE.

I wasn't suggesting that you were not accurate, iceskatejen. In fact, my experience (with a 9am General Admission opening) backs up your comment. (the rope drop was for the 9am general opening).

I was just giving additional info when a rope drop day occurs on a day when there is also EE.

 

[mattmommy]

Coming from WDW, the rope drop and EE days are throwing me for a loop. I think I have to make a spreadsheet to keep up with all the DISers out there.

So let me try and get this straight. M, T, T, Sat. EE days. 8:00. Fantasyland & Tomorrowland. There is no rope drop on these days, but just the ones that the park opens at 9. Please tell me I have it right. Tomorrow's my ds6's last day of school and I'm really going to lose my mind.

 

[Hound 109]

Coming from WDW, the rope drop and EE days are throwing me for a loop. I think I have to make a spreadsheet to keep up with all the DISers out there.

So let me try and get this straight. M, T, T, Sat. EE days. 8:00. Fantasyland & Tomorrowland. There is no rope drop on these days, but just the ones that the park opens at 9. Please tell me I have it right. Tomorrow's my ds6's last day of school and I'm really going to lose my mind.

MattMommy, so we give you correct info, please let us know your hotel (are you staying at one of the 3 disney properties?).

Also, look at the Disney Calender (on the DisneyLand Website) and let us know what the Hours of Operation are for DL for the days that you will be there.

To answer part of your question - EE (Allows an EE'er to enter Fantasyland & 2 rides in Tomorrowland & possibly Nemo) is Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Saturdays.

hound

(and to California folks....are the grad nights over with?)

 

[DLR29]

Coming from WDW, the rope drop and EE days are throwing me for a loop. I think I have to make a spreadsheet to keep up with all the DISers out there.

So let me try and get this straight. M, T, T, Sat. EE days. 8:00. Fantasyland & Tomorrowland. There is no rope drop on these days, but just the ones that the park opens at 9. Please tell me I have it right. Tomorrow's my ds6's last day of school and I'm really going to lose my mind.

Days w/o EE that open at 8: No rope drop.

Days w/o EE that open at 9: Rope drop at 9.

Days w/ EE that open at 8 (EE at 7): No rope drop.

Days w/EE that open at 9 (EEat 8): Rope drop at 9.

 

[iceskatejen]

Yes, but if you're coming during the summer, after tomorrow, there's no more 9am openings for quite a while. DL will likely open (regular opening) at 8am everyday.

 

[WVMomof3]

So when they open the gates it's just a free for all to Nemo? That's what has me worried about being trampled trying to get to Nemo.

What time did you get to the gates last Sunday?

We got there around 7:45, and there was a lot of people ahead of us to get in. Silly me thought, oh well, there not all going to Nemo. WRONG! I thought the crowd seemed much larger in front of Nemo and it was Crazy. The line was longer than the area roped off for it and the CMs were tellling people to go to the end of the line one way and if you went that way the next CM told you the end of the line was the other way. It was really crazy and some people were getting quite mad. We ended up waiting about an hour. The way I see it, if you get to the park at 7:00 to get to the head of the pack, you are still waiting over an hour, right? I am glad I rode the ride, but if I had to do it again, I would avoid the morning rush. The park was much more crowded on Monday, but the line for Nemo was much shorter this day than on Saturday or Sunday. It seemed like it was less than 2 hours every time we passed it, but on Sat and Sun I believe it was over 3 hours most of the day. So yes it is a free for all to Nemo and yes you may get trampled. The CMs do their best to keep people from running. I think going to the right of the Matterhorn is the best way to get there.

 

[kiwitravel]

To me the idea of going super early and waiting in a queue for an hour simply to avoid a queue is strange... Last year we had 8am openings every day and we used to time our arrival for about 815, that way the gates had opened and the lines weren't as long, we had little or no lines till about 10 each day. I guess Nemo changes things though, seeing it is a slow loading line people will go there first, if it were me I would probably target Nemo on an EE day go in at 0710 and then see if Nemo is open, if not go do the FL rides but keep an eye on the Nemo line, someone else on this board reported it opened 20 min after EE open. Either way aim to get in line at least 15 min befroe opening and you should only have a 30 min wait.

 

[HydroGuy]

To me the idea of going super early and waiting in a queue for an hour simply to avoid a queue is strange... Last year we had 8am openings every day and we used to time our arrival for about 815, that way the gates had opened and the lines weren't as long, we had little or no lines till about 10 each day. I guess Nemo changes things though, seeing it is a slow loading line people will go there first, if it were me I would probably target Nemo on an EE day go in at 0710 and then see if Nemo is open, if not go do the FL rides but keep an eye on the Nemo line, someone else on this board reported it opened 20 min after EE open. Either way aim to get in line at least 15 min befroe opening and you should only have a 30 min wait.

It is similar to getting up early and driving through a high traffic road before the traffic starts. Yes, you get up early, but you also avoid having to sit in traffic. Getting to the gates 30 minutes early saves you many, many hours throughout the day and allows you to experience much more. But some people have limited goals and if that is the case, then getting there early may not help as much. Our goal at DLR is to do as much as possible. Arriving 30 minutes early allows us to ride 25-50% more rides on a given day. It is worth the 30 minutes early arrival in the morning. You can see the different for example by plugging info like this into RideMax and comparing itineraries.

 

[HydroGuy]

I think there is no 100% consistent answer to the OP's question. There are things that DLR usually does, but I have found they can change it from day to day. On 8AM days sometimes they hold everyone at the gates until 8AM. Sometimes they start letting people thru the gates onto Main Street a few minutes beofre 8AM to get the lines knocked down.

Bottom line is do not try to plan rope drop in a specific sense such as where you will exactly be directed on a given morning. Rather plan rope drop in a general sense in that you are at the gates early and ready to follow whatever the setup is for the rope drop. With the caveat that "rope drop" does not always mean a literal rope drop but means the time they let everyone have access to the park.

 

[mattmommy]

We're staying at the Candy Cane Inn and have one ticket for EE. All the days start at 8am according to the calendar our wonderful TA Josephine (SWT) gave us. It's all becoming clear to me. Be there for 7 on one of the EE days.

We have 8 days and I don't feel like it's enough. I guess I'm used to WDW and know what rides we like and which ones we don't and have a better plan of action.

We usually tend to get up a the crack of dawn (we're not morning people) and attack WDW full force for the whole day and the next day is a pool day. Those that say go back to the resort for a dip must be on the monorail hotels.

I can't wait to get back to where the magic started.

 

[WVMomof3]

We just got back from the Candy Cane Inn. Just wanted to let you know on your EE day do not plan on getting breakfast at the hotel. For some reason, they don't start breakfast until 7. We stopped at McDonalds across from the entrance which slowed us down. I thought it would be quicker than IHOp or Denny's, but after doing it not so sure. They were slow! Made it to the gates about 7:05, but still got everything done we wanted. I also wanted to let you know last year we had 10 days at WDW, still did not think it was quite long enough. We only had 3 days at DisneyLand last week and I feel like we saw everything we wanted to see. Except for Alladin, Read your schedules good, it does not show on Monday or Tuesday so don't save it for your last day (Monday) like I did. Oops!!! We did everything we wanted the first two days and Monday did everything we liked again. It helped that we won Dream fastpasses that day. Some of the rides we rode at least 5-6 times (matterhorn, space, buzz, muholland, and screamin) over the 3 days.

 

[kiwitravel]

But some people have limited goals and if that is the case, then getting there early may not help as much. Our goal at DLR is to do as much as possible. Arriving 30 minutes early allows us to ride 25-50% more rides on a given day. It is worth the 30 minutes early arrival in the morning. You can see the different for example by plugging info like this into RideMax and comparing itineraries.[/QUOTE]

We had a 14 day pass so weren't trying to get everything done in one or two days, we just hated queues and with our strategy the longest we had to wait for anything including getting into the park was 20 mins. We used to avoid any queues longer than 10 mins, using FPs and riding those rides in the morning and last thing at night.