New rope drop procedure at MK

[rteetz]

Last week disney started testing a new rope drop procedure at the magic kingdom. Disney has security and CMs hold a rope and walk with the guests all the way down main street to the castle. This is to prevent the mad rushing to the frozen meet and greet. Once they get to the castle they drop the ropes and let the guests go. Disney has people in each land to prevent guests from cutting around these ropes on main street. I would expect they will keep this in place for the opening of mine train as well.

 

[lisski76]

Last week disney started testing a new rope drop procedure at the magic kingdom. Disney has security and CMs hold a rope and walk with the guests all the way down main street to the castle. This is to prevent the mad rushing to the frozen meet and greet. Once they get to the castle they drop the ropes and let the guests go. Disney has people in each land to prevent guests from cutting around these ropes on main street. I would expect they will keep this in place for the opening of mine train as well.

I did 2 rope drops this past week and did not notice this....

 

[rteetz]

I did 2 rope drops this past week and did not notice this....

I've heard from a few people on other boards that have experienced this new rope drop this week. Maybe they have only been doing it certain days or something.

 

[FiggieFan]

They did something like this in February one day - it was kind of weird. I think it was the Friday before Presidents Day. After the regular rope drop, everyone got into the park and they still had a rope up keeping people from going into Tomorrowland. Other people that went another route by the castle were getting by, but they held a group of us up. We had gone through Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant, which we have done in the past without issue and they exiting the restaurant off with ropes and cast members to keep people from entering Tomorrowland so we were all stuck waiting until they let us in.

 

[bexter12]

I remember this rope drop procedure from years past. My brain can't figure out when, but I know I've walked behind a rope before.

Its funny, doesn't matter what kind of fast pass changes are made. There is always going to be a need to rope drop and run for something. lol

 

[girli565]

This would suck for those of us who aren't rushing to get to A&E or the mine train bc we have FP. We normally cut through tomorrow land terrace to get to tomorrow land.

We probably won't be hitting rope drop as often this vacation.

 

[Blondie Mom]

My sister was at MK rope drop yesterday, and this is exactly how she described it. The cast members were calling it "The Frozen 5K Walk"

 

[ktlm]

This is the same thing they do for Radiator Springs Racers at Carsland at CA. They basically escort the crowd all the way to the ride line at rope drop. I've done that one before, and I will say that I much prefer it to the sprinting that has been going on at MK in the last couple of weeks with people trying to get to A&E at rope drop, or the TSM run that I've been in at DHS. If you get up early enough to be near the front of the line, you don't get plowed over by people running past you, although people still try to crowd in front of you. I've seen people knocked down trying to get to TSM, and I've heard it has been happening for A&E. Someone here reported watching a little boy get knocked down by a grown man, and the man just kept running. I saw a blog the other day by someone who tested walking to A&E at DL instead of running to see what the line would be, and it was 4 hours by the time they got there, just a few minutes after the park opened on a non EMH day! I actually wish they would walk people all the way to the meet and greet area instead of stopping at the castle and letting the free for all begin there. I don't think they need to cut off access to other lands, they just need to place CMs to keep people from running cutting back to FL before the controlled section gets there.

 

[rn448698]

This was the new procedure last Wednesday (5/7) when we were at rope drop.

 

[rteetz]

My sister was at MK rope drop yesterday, and this is exactly how she described it. The cast members were calling it "The Frozen 5K Walk"

Well it seems the cast members are having fun with it maybe that will be a new rundisney event in the future.

 

[mom2rtk]

This would suck for those of us who aren't rushing to get to A&E or the mine train bc we have FP. We normally cut through tomorrow land terrace to get to tomorrow land.

We probably won't be hitting rope drop as often this vacation.

At least you benefit from having the vast majority of the crowd heading somewhere you are NOT headed.

 

[jeffbear]

I remember this rope drop procedure from years past. My brain can't figure out when, but I know I've walked behind a rope before

Yeah ... they've instituted a walking rope drop in the summer and during heavy holiday periods in that past when things got a little too nuts. And that was just for the Race for the Mountains back in the day. I'm kind of surprised they didn't go this route after a couple of days of the Anna and Elsa stampede. Seriously ... it's a safety risk when too many people just bolt willy nilly to where ever they're headed at rope drop if the crowd are heavy.

 

[agavegirl1]

In 2010, on a not very busy day in November, we experienced the "walking rope drop" from IG in Epcot to Soarin. We arrived just ahead of the "walking rope" coming from the main entrance. The CMs leading each parade coordinated their "drop" when both groups were at the entrance to the ride.

 

[bhwhiz]

seems like a good idea to me

 

[beastandbelle]

Seems like a good plan with all the A&E craziness!

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

About 4 years ago we were at Epcot RD awaiting to dash over to Soaring. There was a good sized group waiting there in general.

About 10 minutes before RD, 4 or 5 Soaring CM's came over and let us all know that they would be *WALKING* us all over to Soaring so no one gets hurt in the race.

It was a great idea and worked well.

Of course, two youngsters started to run ahead and one Gal CM loudly yelled *STOP* and to the youngsters credit they did stop. At this point the gal CM takes out this *BIG* (about a foot long silver key) and waves in in the air..........................announcing..............*running ahead is not going to do you any good.........*I*....... have the key!

Well everyone broke out Laughlin......even the 2 racers came back to the group.

It was a great way to handle the crowd


AKK

 

[jenninaustin]

so what's the best way to get to Space Mountain if that's what we're hitting first? Where can we first turn off to the right with this method?

 

[cavepig]

so what's the best way to get to Space Mountain if that's what we're hitting first? Where can we first turn off to the right with this method?

Follow everyone walking down Main St then take a Right to cut thru Noodle Station (by the restrooms and The Plaza Restaurant) or take next right to Tomorrowland where then they have you wait till 9:00.

We were there April 30 and everyone ran/sprinted down Main St. then we were there May 2 and more mornings thru May 7 and everyone was being walked in. At least 90% of the people head to the castle with the rest going to Tomorrowland or Frontierland/Advenureland.

Not a big deal at all as all lands still hold you till 9:00 anyway.

 

[RayRay13]

I was only able to get 1 FP for my DD,12 from 9 to 10 am this Thursday (EMH). I am concerned that we will have a hard time getting to the line. Maybe we should wait 9:30 to go in so the RD crowds ease up?

 

[rteetz]

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions...ges-the-magic-kingdom-rope-drop-procedure.htm
Article explaining new procedure.