MK rope-drop questions

[KatieCharlotte]

We're going to Disney later this month and have a few questions about the MK rope-drop. When we were at MK three years ago, we were not allowed anywhere until after the welcome show right at 9 a.m. We wondered if that was normal procedure, or had something to do with the pack of large men with sunglasses we saw standing outside a store as we made our dumbo dash. Presumably they were waiting for a vip who had early access to the park. On our upcoming trip, should we still expect not to get under the train station until after opening time?
We will be more relaxed on our second MK morning, but will probably still be there at rope drop. DH is going to head for Big Thunder fastpasses, but I'm not sure where to take the kids to meet him. Is it true that the Jungle Cruise doesn't open for the first hour in the slow seasons? Will all of Toontown, including meet and greets, be open first thing? That area always seems packed and the littlest dd loves the characters. The girls also want to ride the train at some point. Can we get on the train immediately?

I should add that we will be there the week of MLK, but not on MLK day, if that affects whether it's a "slow time."
Thanks. I've learned so much from this site already and have enjoyed reading trip and pre-trip reports.

 

[Robo]

We're going to Disney later this month and have a few questions about the MK rope-drop.

1- When we were at MK three years ago, we were not allowed anywhere until after the welcome show right at 9 a.m.
2- We wondered if that was normal procedure, or
3- had something to do with the pack of large men with sunglasses we saw standing outside a store as we made our dumbo dash.
4- Presumably they were waiting for a vip who had early access to the park.
5- On our upcoming trip, should we still expect not to get under the train station until after opening time?
6- DH is going to head for Big Thunder fastpasses, but I'm not sure where to take the kids to meet him.
7- Is it true that the Jungle Cruise doesn't open for the first hour in the slow seasons?
8- Will all of Toontown, including meet and greets, be open first thing? That area always seems packed and the littlest dd loves the characters. The girls also want to ride the train at some point.
9- Can we get on the train immediately?

to the DISboards, KatieCharlotte!

1- Yes.
2- Yes.
3- No.
4- Could be. I wouldn't give it another thought, however.
5- Yes.
6- Don't bother wasting time with that.
It is quite likely that BTM FP machines will not even be in use until later in the day.
7- JC usually opens with the park.
8- Toontown does not open until 10AM (Actually, 9:45AM)
9- Not usually. If they offer the full Rope Drop "MK Welcome" show, then they must take the special train
that is used in the Welcome out of the station, then wait for another "standard" train to come into the
station before guests can board.

 

[suebedo]

We have always had to wait outside the entrance to the the tunnel at rope drop. I have never been allowed to go inside until after the little train/welcome show. You will also probably encounter another rope drop at the castle and at the entrance to TomorrowLand.

Frontierland/Adventureland usually don't open until 1 hr after the regular park opening time. So you DH may not be able to get FPs for BTMRR right after ropedrop.

Toon Town usually opens 1 hr after the regular park opening as well. But the ropedrop is sometimes a little early there. For example, the park opens at 9AM, Toontown offically opens at 10 AM but they usually RD around 9:45 or 9:50.

 

[Robo]

Frontierland/Adventureland usually don't open until 1 hr after the regular park opening time.

I have never encountered that happening in dozens of trips.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

Thanks for the quick responses. I read a long time ago about people entering main street before opening time, but I figured that was old or bad info. Dh wondered about the vip possibility, however.

I think we'll just be more relaxed that second MK morning. Dh will be glad to know he doesn't have to run for fastpasses every morning we're at the parks. Last time we got special fp (long story) and it was so nice, so I'm a little crazy about getting as many as possible this time.
Two more questions:
(1) What else is not open at rope-drop at any of the parks? We are morning people so pretty much expect to arrive at 9 a.m. each day.
(2) Is there any way to get a show schedule for HS before that morning at the park? From what I've read, the answer is no, but I have to ask. My kids have a large age range and want to see different shows, so we're going to split up. It would be nice to know what shows run at about the same time.

 

[perkinsrose]

Thanks for the quick responses. I read a long time ago about people entering main street before opening time, but I figured that was old or bad info. Dh wondered about the vip possibility, however.

I think we'll just be more relaxed that second MK morning. Dh will be glad to know he doesn't have to run for fastpasses every morning we're at the parks. Last time we got special fp (long story) and it was so nice, so I'm a little crazy about getting as many as possible this time.
Two more questions:
(1) What else is not open at rope-drop at any of the parks? We are morning people so pretty much expect to arrive at 9 a.m. each day.
(2) Is there any way to get a show schedule for HS before that morning at the park? From what I've read, the answer is no, but I have to ask. My kids have a large age range and want to see different shows, so we're going to split up. It would be nice to know what shows run at about the same time.

I believe once upon a time you were allowed into MK before "opening". Must've been pre2006...

I believe this site updates show times on Saturdays for the week's schedule

http://pages.prodigy.net/stevesoares/index.htm

 

[Robo]

What else is not open at rope-drop at any of the parks? We are morning people so pretty much expect to arrive at 9 a.m. each day.

Nearly everything will be open at MK except Toontown and Tom Sawyer Island. (Maybe a few other odds and ends, but nothing major.)

Epcot: World Showcase does not open until 11AM every day.
DHS: All (of importance) open.
DAK: Kali River Rapids might open an hour, or so, later.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

Thanks again.
I had forgotten that site from last time. We'll be in Florida by Saturday night of our trip week and probably won't have much internet access, but I think the schedule for the week before will give us a good idea what to expect.

 

[VacationNeeded]

Sorry to jump in although I'm not the origional OP. I have a question related to Park Opening and Rope Drop. This is the first year we plan to show up for the Opening Ceremony at MK. We thought we would take the first bus (assume it's 8 a.m. since bus runs an hour before park opens) from resort to MK, go to Main Street Bakery to get breakfast, then sit around on Main Street until 9 a.m. opening time.

Do I read correctly that I won't be able to get on Main Street until 9 a.m.? Or, is Opening Ceremony near the tunnel earlier than 9 then rope drop to the lands actually happens at 9? Like, you can come onto Main Street before 9 but you can't go further until exactly 9.

This would definitely change our plans as we have kids who need to eat before we start riding.

Thanks!

 

[perkinsrose]

You can't get to MainStreet bakery until opening 9am or sometimes 8:55 or so.

You could get something to go from resort or elsewhere and eat it as you wait in front of trainstation at 8/8:45. The opening /ropedrop ceremony of MK is neat to see. But kids need to eat in the morning i know!

When official opening is 9am, opening ceremony is aprox. 8:50am or so as the train comes in.

 

[ShannonMB]

There ARE other rope drop locations in the park, but those are for people who are already in the park before opening having an early breakfast. If you have reservations for, say, Crystal Palace at 8am and the park doesn't open till 9am, for example.

We loved entering the park before it opened to have breakfast with Pooh and the gang -- I highly recommend it if you can get ADRs. I know CP is going in to refurb in Jan, so not sure about the timing for OP, but something to keep in mind for your next trip -- it's great!