Magic Kingdom Rope Drop Procedure: Provide Updates Here Please (since June 2014)

[Tricia732]

Can you branch off and go to the other lands or does everyone have to go through the Castle? If you want to go straight to Tomorrowland can you?

I just spoke to BFF who is there now. If you want to head to a land other than Fantasyland @ RD, just stick to the far right or left and branch off accordingly.

 

[dreamit]

I had been considering giving up my 8:05 Crystal Palace ADR, so my dd can see the Welcome Show, but after reading this, I'm definitely keeping the ADR to avoid the RD madness. I do not understand why Disney doesn't have A & E greet in multiple locations.

 

[Jennasis]

Good going Disney! Put two headliner attractions about 100 feet from one another and within months of each other's grand opening...perhaps they can add to the excitement by releasing the hounds upon the mass of people? Or shouting "FIRE!"?

 

[LJD2143]

.... put the Frozen ladies up front in the park. Or maybe in the parking lot or Richard Petty's race track infield.

 

[wunkmom]

How bout just forget the Avatarland nonsense and do Frozenland instead?

 

[Iralyn]

Are there any more recent updates on how Rope Drop at MK is going? Trying to decide if it is worth it or not as some of the stories are a bit scary.

 

[korie99]

Oh how I wish I had checked in here before our short 3 day trip two weeks ago! I had NO idea how the RD procedures had been changed. We had the intention of riding 7DMT first thing to avoid the lines so I went with my old strategy of booking an 8am breakfast at Crystal Palace to ensure we'd already be in the park and ahead of the crowd at RD. We were waiting at the rope at the carousel around 8:50 or so with only about 20 people when my 9 year old son suddenly yells, "OH MY GOSH LOOK AT ALL THE PEOPLE!!!!" I turned to see the CMs leading a giant mob right toward us. I had no idea that the line for 7DMT started over by the teacups, so we were waiting in the complete wrong place. They waited until the crowd was literally steps away from us and finally let us pass, but we were not allowed to go to the right of the carousel, we had to go all the way around to left. By the time we got there, the line was so long - we waited about 30 minutes or so, which I suppose isn't horrible but I had originally thought we'd be one of the first in line! And anyone who wasn't going on the mine train was headed straight for Anna & Elsa - it was CRAZY. Wait times for them were 120+ minutes the entire time we were there. Fortunately my kids weren't interested in meeting them!

 

[danielangie]

We experienced seeing the "rd mob" last Saturday. We had the first appt at BBB that morning(we were first in line at the park early that morning-got some really cool pics). She was done by 8:20 am. We also were waiting by the rope at the Carosel to ride 7SMT since we had fp for A and E...a cast member came by and asked what we wanted to ride first-we told him Mine train as he said-you need to go down this path and stop at the rope (we were on the path where Merida meets) and were stopped at the bottom
By cms... We then heard the mob, yes I said heard them heading our way. Once they met up with us, it was, I kid you not, a free
For all. Thanks goodness my boys are a little older and my DH carried our dd6. It was unnerving and downright scary how people were pushing and shoving to get to this ride. I was tramped on numerous times.
Make sure your party grabs on to each other or holds hands because these people are no holds barred

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

Thanks for providing the updates. It is over a month later and things still sound a little intense. Headed down for a visit soon, so we will avoid it and try to get a FP during our upcoming October trip.

 

[tsme]

OMG! That sounds so scary & just horrible!

 

[Iralyn]

Is it possible to be there at Rope Drop and avoid the crushing crowd? I'd like to see the RD show because I never have before but no desire/need to rush off to try and be first at some attraction (already have FP for A&E and 7DMT). So can one be close enough to enjoy RD show but then drop back in a way until most of the crowd has entered the park?

I wonder if the change to A&E with the standby tickets (assuming it becomes permanent) will affect the RD crowds at all. I'm thinking not significantly...

 

[lustergirl]

Is it possible to be there at Rope Drop and avoid the crushing crowd? I'd like to see the RD show because I never have before but no desire/need to rush off to try and be first at some attraction (already have FP for A&E and 7DMT). So can one be close enough to enjoy RD show but then drop back in a way until most of the crowd has entered the park?

I wonder if the change to A&E with the standby tickets (assuming it becomes permanent) will affect the RD crowds at all. I'm thinking not significantly...

My question exactly In all the years I have been going I have never made it to RD and would like to see the opening ceremony on my next trip. I would have no hurry to get to anything and would love just to step back and let the mobs pass on by.

 

[Mydreams]

Oh wow, you guys are scaring me! We are going on our first trip ever for Christmas week. It will be my husband, who is 69 and uses a cane, our children and grandchildren, which includes a 3 and a 4 year old. We are going to Magic Kingdom on Monday, Dec. 21st and have 9:10 breakfast at the Crystal Palace. It is a EMH day and the park opens at 8 am. I do not want to be in that stampede! How long does it take for the crowd to get through and allow us to walk safely to the Crystal Palace?

Cathy

 

[Kimosabe]

Is it possible to be there at Rope Drop and avoid the crushing crowd? I'd like to see the RD show because I never have before but no desire/need to rush off to try and be first at some attraction (already have FP for A&E and 7DMT). So can one be close enough to enjoy RD show but then drop back in a way until most of the crowd has entered the park?

Absolutely not a problem. The show starts about 20 minutes before the scheduled opening time, and it's one of our favorite things to see...definitely gives the day a nice happy start. When the show is over, you are then free to follow the mob at whatever pace you choose, whether letting them go well ahead of you...or joining in. We did this a few weeks ago, with plans to turn left into Adventureland. We made no effort to get to the front of any pack, but as expected, the vast majority of the crowd continued on to Fantasyland so they could be first in line for the two biggies (Gringotts and Hogwarts Express, right...Buehler?), so we pretty much had Adventureland to ourselves for a while.

 

[Kimosabe]

Oh wow, you guys are scaring me! We are going on our first trip ever for Christmas week. It will be my husband, who is 69 and uses a cane, our children and grandchildren, which includes a 3 and a 4 year old. We are going to Magic Kingdom on Monday, Dec. 21st and have 9:10 breakfast at the Crystal Palace. It is a EMH day and the park opens at 8 am. I do not want to be in that stampede! How long does it take for the crowd to get through and allow us to walk safely to the Crystal Palace?

Cathy

If the park opens for resort guests at 8:00, you should have no trouble at all getting to Crystal Palace by 9:10. If you are staying on property, it's definitely not a problem. If you are not staying on property, I would suggest that you get there about 8:45 and go to the special gate for people with early dining reservations (on the far right side of the gates, I think, but if not, maybe somebody will correct me here). I would be shocked if they wouldn't let you go ahead and get in the park, especially if your husband has a cane.

 

[njmom76]

Absolutely not a problem. The show starts about 20 minutes before the scheduled opening time, and it's one of our favorite things to see...definitely gives the day a nice happy start. When the show is over, you are then free to follow the mob at whatever pace you choose, whether letting them go well ahead of you...or joining in. We did this a few weeks ago, with plans to turn left into Adventureland. We made no effort to get to the front of any pack, but as expected, the vast majority of the crowd continued on to Fantasyland so they could be first in line for the two biggies (Gringotts and Hogwarts Express, right...Buehler?), so we pretty much had Adventureland to ourselves for a while.

Good to know! We go in a few weeks and have FP+ for 7DMT & A&E so were planning on heading to Adventureland at rope drop.

 

[thiabelle]

Oh wow, you guys are scaring me! We are going on our first trip ever for Christmas week. It will be my husband, who is 69 and uses a cane, our children and grandchildren, which includes a 3 and a 4 year old. We are going to Magic Kingdom on Monday, Dec. 21st and have 9:10 breakfast at the Crystal Palace. It is a EMH day and the park opens at 8 am. I do not want to be in that stampede! How long does it take for the crowd to get through and allow us to walk safely to the Crystal Palace? Cathy

Also as an FYI- I'm pretty sure MK opened at 7am everyday of Christmas week in 2013.

 

[Praying Colonel]

Is it possible to be there at Rope Drop and avoid the crushing crowd? I'd like to see the RD show because I never have before but no desire/need to rush off to try and be first at some attraction (already have FP for A&E and 7DMT). So can one be close enough to enjoy RD show but then drop back in a way until most of the crowd has entered the park?

I wonder if the change to A&E with the standby tickets (assuming it becomes permanent) will affect the RD crowds at all. I'm thinking not significantly...

On our May trip, we did RD twice at MK. The 1st time we were in the front right close to the rope and unfortunately got swept up in the RD stampede. The 2nd time we stood in the middle around the Mickey head. We watched the RD show, then just stood there and let the mobs go out the left & right sides. We took our time strolling out about a minute or so behind them and headed to Tomorrowland. That worked much better.

 

[lillygator]

this sounds nuts, we check in tomorrow and I am dreading rope drop,

 

[mickenme]

Ok maybe I missed something in reading these posts, but if it is an EMH morning at 8:00 and the park opens at 9:00, what time is the Rope Drop show?

Thanks,