How exciting is the "Rope Drop" at the Magic Kingdom?

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

Do they have a rope drop on EMH mornings? We were there are opening each morning during our last WDW trip, however, we only had any sort of rope drop on our morning at AK. For MK, we were held outside until the park opened. I had read about getting in to a certain point and then getting to see a rope drop, so I was a bit disappointed that we didn't see the entire thing.

They did do a show from the Train Station, which really got everyone in the Disney mood, and it was fun being there as soon as they let people thru the turnstiles. Everyone was in a big hurry, but we didn't see any wild running, or anything. Then again, since we were held outside, and people were only filtering thru the turnstiles, we didn't get to experience the whole effect.

 

[kev97rach]

Ok, so how early would you have to get there if you want to try and be the first family to open the park? Do they just pick any family or is it the first family to arrive?? If the park opens at 8am, what time to get there? Anyone here ever been the chosen family??

 

[Cameo]

The only thing my kids knew about the rope drop is that they had to stand in a crowd, jam-packed like sardines and wait for 20 minutes before they got to go in. The characters arrived on the train at the station above our heads, but the kids couldn't really see well anyway. Once we were in the parks and headed to Splash Mountain, the CMs formed a chain across the walkway and weren't allowing anyone to run (this June, 2005). We all had to stay behind their line and it forced everyone to walk. We also experienced this "chain of CMs" on another day of our trip, but I can't remember which park it was at.

 

[Jen D]

We always try to make it but usually we are just a little late. My dd and I did do it a couple years ago at MK. The opening show is amazing, brings tears to my eyes. First there is the rope drop to get into Main Street and then at opening, the Fantasyland rope drop. No one really ran, just very brisk walking-- we had no strollers so we had no problem breaking out in front of the pack while still walking, not running.

We were the first on Dumbo and rode it twice.

 

[YesI'mObsessed]

Ok.....let me see if I get this straight. First, there is a rope drop at Main St., what time is that? Then, you proceed to the section of the park you want to visit....like Fantasyland. Then there is another rope drop there? What time is that? Now I'm getting confused! If the park opens at 9:00, then what time do these ropes drop?

Thanks.

 

[maddhatir]

We didn't run at all...briskly walked, maybe, and we were the first to wake up Tink that morning. Didn't even try to get there in a hurry, figuring we'd never make it. I refuse to run. But we peeked into the shop when we got to Fantasyland and no one had woken her up yet!! So exciting for DD4.

WAIT! wake up Tinkerbell?? what is that?? boy you think you know everything about disney! see this is why i have to spend every waking moment on this board! laundry, dinner, sorry honey i have to be on the boards!

ALSO

YesI'mObsessed Ok.....let me see if I get this straight. First, there is a rope drop at Main St., what time is that? Then, you proceed to the section of the park you want to visit....like Fantasyland. Then there is another rope drop there? What time is that? Now I'm getting confused! If the park opens at 9:00, then what time do these ropes drop?

i too would like to know the above info.......

thank you!

 

[TinkGirl]

It's fun to be welcomed by characters and all the smiling CM's wearing giant Mickey hands, but the most exciting part is walking on the rides before the big crowds come--definitely worth waking everyone up early for!

 

[MOmousefan]

For our family, it isn't the initial sprint to a "mountain" as much as it is being there to ride the rides before a big crowd develops. I am too old to run!
At MGM , the CMs walked the crowd to ToT by stretching a rope across the street and walking us to the attraction.
I don't understand the lemming-like behavior, but hey, it's the happiest place on earth!

 

[champagnegirl26]

To wake tinkerbelle you need to be the forst person to the store "tinkerbelles treasures" and to then be the first to ask to wake tink up. Theres a ceremony done and then you can see tink "flying" in the store for the rest of the day. Im afraid i have never done this so i cant tell you exactly what happens though
Claire

 

[Tinker74]

 

[2angelsinheaven]

I saw this for the first time two weeks ago... I cried...lol! It's a must see if you can get over in time. Lots of music, entertainment and characters. We didn't do this to get in early (we were already booked on a early tour) so we came out of MK and around to see the event and were glad we did.

 

[Jen D]

Ok.....let me see if I get this straight. First, there is a rope drop at Main St., what time is that? Then, you proceed to the section of the park you want to visit....like Fantasyland. Then there is another rope drop there? What time is that? Now I'm getting confused! If the park opens at 9:00, then what time do these ropes drop?

Thanks.

No one else answered to I'll answer what happened when I went. I think it can vary according to season and expected crowds.

When we were at opening in Feb 2003, the park opened at 9am. We went through the turnstiles when we arrived, maybe 8:30, 8:40. There were ropes blocking the tunnels under the railroad. At maybe 8:45 , the opening show started, it was really great and made me tear up (not normal for me, but my emotions are a little raw when I'm sleepy). Then sometime about 8:50, they dropped the ropes at the tunnels. I don't know about other lands, but we proceeded directly to Fantasyland. through the tunnel of the castle, where there was another rope and a castmember waiting. We waited at the rope until 9am, at which point the castmember picked a cute birthday kid to "open" Fantasyland, and they dropped that rope. Proceed directly to Dumbo, do not pass Go, do not collect $200.

 

[YesI'mObsessed]

No one else answered to I'll answer what happened when I went. I think it can vary according to season and expected crowds.

When we were at opening in Feb 2003, the park opened at 9am. We went through the turnstiles when we arrived, maybe 8:30, 8:40. There were ropes blocking the tunnels under the railroad. At maybe 8:45 , the opening show started, it was really great and made me tear up (not normal for me, but my emotions are a little raw when I'm sleepy). Then sometime about 8:50, they dropped the ropes at the tunnels. I don't know about other lands, but we proceeded directly to Fantasyland. through the tunnel of the castle, where there was another rope and a castmember waiting. We waited at the rope until 9am, at which point the castmember picked a cute birthday kid to "open" Fantasyland, and they dropped that rope. Proceed directly to Dumbo, do not pass Go, do not collect $200.

Thanks, that's what I wanted to know!

 

[byoung]

Love the show before opening on the train platform.

 

[206bones]

My husband & I were married at WDW in 2001. My niece & nephew, ages 6 & 9 at the time, were picked to be the family to open the MK. Unfortunately, my husband & I missed seeing them but my Mom, who is no longer with us, got to see it. Having been their 1st trip to WDW, they had ***NO*** idea how special it was. My sister was thrilled. It was one of their highlights. Each of them got a certificate saying that they opening the park. I'm so glad my Mom got to see it & be part of that special time. When they were telling us about it, they were SO excited, and at 1st I didn't believe them. I thought they were making up their own "Disney moment"! But when I looked at my sister & my Mom, I knew that it was a true Disney moment.

 

[maddhatir]

My husband & I were married at WDW in 2001. My niece & nephew, ages 6 & 9 at the time, were picked to be the family to open the MK. Unfortunately, my husband & I missed seeing them but my Mom, who is no longer with us, got to see it. Having been their 1st trip to WDW, they had ***NO*** idea how special it was. My sister was thrilled. It was one of their highlights. Each of them got a certificate saying that they opening the park. I'm so glad my Mom got to see it & be part of that special time. When they were telling us about it, they were SO excited, and at 1st I didn't believe them. I thought they were making up their own "Disney moment"! But when I looked at my sister & my Mom, I knew that it was a true Disney moment.

sorry about your mom.

 

[graciepooh]

Does anyone mind explaining what a rope drop is and how you could be in the park when it happens? I am clueless but it sounds fun. Thanks for all the great info!!

 

[maddhatir]

Does anyone mind explaining what a rope drop is and how you could be in the park when it happens? I am clueless but it sounds fun. Thanks for all the great info!!

its a whole big hoopla that goes on every morning in the front of the park to celebrate the MK opening for the day.

 

[RobInBigKC]

If I want to be one of the first at the turnstiles for a 9am opening what time should i aim on getting there??

We are staying at WL.

If you want to be at the front of the crowd, I would suggest arriving around 6:30 or 7 am. We got to the MK at 8:25 am last Tuesday and at 8:15 am last Saturday and there were already several dozen guests in front of us (maybe hundreds on Saturday).

I will say that the opening show was great fun (even when we saw it the second time in that same week) and the best part was easily getting on most rides (though Dumbo was still a 20 minute wait on Tuesday and a 35 minute wait on Saturday) for the first couple of hours the park was open. I'm not sure I see a huge advantage to being at the front of the turnstiles though (unless you're wanting to wake Tink or trying to beat the crowd to the stroller rental pickup).

-- Rob

 

[BlindTyldak]

I have heard - stress, HEARD - that they no longer do the "real" rope drop, where they used to just drop it and off went the stampede to the Mountains. Now they apparently "walk" the rope back at a brisk pace. So for those wanting to take part in one of the oldest Disney traditions, you may want to check and see how broken in your running shoes really have to be now.