Newbie Questions?

[kiapepito]

We are from California and know Disneyland and Ca. Adventures in and out... but WDW... is another world.... literally. It will be our first visit and we are going to MK the first day and Epcot the second.

I have seen many posts regarding Rope Drop and am very confused? Does this mean being inside the park before they officially open it for us to enter?

I'm hoping to get a BOG lunch reservation.... what time would be ideal for lunch? 10:30/11 am?

I'm thinking to start in Fantasy land and to get a FP for Enchanted Tales. Is it best to start in Fantasyland in the middle of July or shall we start elsewhere. I'm also not planning on doing the rides that we have here in Disneyland because we want to experience the one's we do not have at home although I do want to go on Jungle Cruise and because of little one's Small World.

We also have dinner reservations at 5:45pm for Cinderella's Castle. So we'd be back in the middle by late afternoon...

Any advice is much appreciated! Thank you!

 

[Robo]

I have seen many posts regarding Rope Drop and am very confused? Does this mean being inside the park before they officially open it for us to enter?

Here's what's been happening with Theme Park Openings:



MK still offers an actual Rope Drop SHOW along with an inside-the-gates holding area.

MK Gates open approx. 20-30 minutes "early."

But, the Rope Drop show starts about 8:45AM.



MK's Rope Drop Ceremony is called "Magic Kingdom Welcome" (see location HERE.)

Again, guests are usually admitted through the entrance gates starting about 20-30 minutes before

the posted opening time, but must then WAIT just inside the gates, in front of the train station (near the "floral Mickey face.")



The ceremony lasts 6-7 minutes, or so, and starts about 15 minutes before the scheduled MK opening time.

There is also a "mini" version (far less "hoopla") that lasts about 2-3 minutes.

There is also an "AUDIO ONLY" version (no characters at all) that lasts under minute.

That one starts about 2-3 minutes before the top of the hour.

Which one you will see can be tough to guess.



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DAK no longer offers a Rope Drop SHOW,

AND recently, no longer has an inside-the-park guest holding area.

DAK Gates open approx. 15 min. "early," and guests can enter the park and head

for their attractions of choice at that time.

Expedition Everest may likely not start admitting guests until the top of the hour.



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Epcot does not offer an internal Rope Drop SHOW,

AND no longer offers an inside-the-gates holding area.

There might be a "Welcome to Epcot" audio recording played as a chosen family waves "hello"

to other guests, maybe some confetti involved. (But, it is far below what could be called a "Show.")

Epcot gates (sometimes including the International Gateway) will likely open approx. 15 min. "early."

(Sometimes, on rare occasions when the park is very busy...

the front gates, at least, may open as much as 30 minutes early and guests may head to Soarin' or Test Track.)



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DHS No Rope Drop Show.

Gates likely open approx. 15 min. "early."



(DHS has opened as much as 30 min. early, but that's not been the case every day.)



The exception to this was last Summer (and MIGHT happen again this coming Summer)-

They held guests on Hollywood Blvd. for the duration of a FROZEN-based Rope Drop show,

then released them all at once... not a good idea at DHS, IMO.Gates likely open approx. 15 min. "early."

(DHS has opened as much as 30 min. early, but that's not been the case every day.)



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AM EMH entrance times seem to not be affected (figure entering 2-10 minutes before the AM EMH time, as usual.)

On AM EMH days, MK will offer some form of their Rope Drop Show

(may or may not be the "full show")

only for AM EMH guests,

and no show at all for the regular hours open time that morning.



As always, for better positioning in the crowds, arrive well before the posted opening time at all parks.



If staying at a WDW resort, plan to be at the bus stop about 45-60 min. before you want to ARRIVE at a given park.

(Arriving far too early beats arriving just a minute or two late.)



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[Robo]

I'm hoping to get a BOG lunch reservation.... what time would be ideal for lunch? 10:30/11 am?

Whenever you can get a reservation. (Not kidding.)

 

[Robo]

I'm thinking to start in Fantasy land and to get a FP for Enchanted Tales. Is it best to start in Fantasyland in the middle of July or shall we start elsewhere.

Start in Fantasyland at Rope Drop.

Many more details, logistics, and FP+ priorities found HERE.

 

[Mikie]

Rope drop means being at the park gates anywhere from 15-45 minutes before posted park opening, so that you are among the very first people into the park when they do open.

I think a majority of people go straight to Fantasyland at opening, so I actually prefer to go left to Adventureland/Frontierland first. Do those things with short waits as I work my way back toward Fantasyland. I'd book lunch around 11:30-12 (depending on your usual preferences) and pick Fastpasses for 1 thing right before lunch (maybe Peter Pan, which gets long waits and is nearby) and 2 things in Fantasyland after lunch time. This would be based on me not leaving the park for any extended break and also getting a second day in MK where I'd do Tomorrowland, the rest of Fantasyland, and maybe if I missed anything previously.

Edit:as you can see, opinions will be literally all over the board on this one!

 

[Hopefully]

We are from California and know Disneyland and Ca. Adventures in and out... but WDW... is another world.... literally. It will be our first visit and we are going to MK the first day and Epcot the second.

Who is in your party? What are their ages?

I have seen many posts regarding Rope Drop and am very confused? Does this mean being inside the park before they officially open it for us to enter?

Others have done a great job answering this question

I'm hoping to get a BOG lunch reservation.... what time would be ideal for lunch? 10:30/11 am?

Ideal lunch time is, as Robo stated, whenever you can get. I would try for the time our family likes to eat first, but grab anything at all available on your MK day. It is a very hard thing to score

I'm thinking to start in Fantasy land and to get a FP for Enchanted Tales. Is it best to start in Fantasyland in the middle of July or shall we start elsewhere. I'm also not planning on doing the rides that we have here in Disneyland because we want to experience the one's we do not have at home although I do want to go on Jungle Cruise and because of little one's Small World.

To me it depends on the ages and interests of your group. With young ones I would start in Fantasyland. With teens I would be strategizing the "Mountains".

We also have dinner reservations at 5:45pm for Cinderella's Castle. So we'd be back in the middle by late afternoon...

Are you saying you are leaving mid day? Do you have more than 1 day planned for the MK?

Any advice is much appreciated! Thank you!

See Above

 

[Mome Rath]

We are from California and know Disneyland and Ca. Adventures in and out... but WDW... is another world.... literally. It will be our first visit and we are going to MK the first day and Epcot the second.

Yay! Hope you have a great trip!

I have seen many posts regarding Rope Drop and am very confused? Does this mean being inside the park before they officially open it for us to enter?

"Rope drop" just means being their right when the park opens to go in. As others have said they do tend to let you in early most days if you are there in line (we try to be there at least 45 min before the official opening time). The only way to get into the park before it is officially open is to get an Advanced Dining Reservation (ADR) for breakfast at the earliest possible time. For example, many people try to get a really early ADR at Crystal Palace at MK so that they can get in before anyone else to take pics and walk around, then go to their breakfast at Crystal Palace.

I'm hoping to get a BOG lunch reservation.... what time would be ideal for lunch? 10:30/11 am?

Whenever you can get it. Beyond that, it depends more on your eating pattern. If you like to eat little to no breakfast, then go for an earlier time for lunch, just as you would anywhere else, as it is going to be busy there no matter what time you pick.

I'm thinking to start in Fantasy land and to get a FP for Enchanted Tales. Is it best to start in Fantasyland in the middle of July or shall we start elsewhere. I'm also not planning on doing the rides that we have here in Disneyland because we want to experience the one's we do not have at home although I do want to go on Jungle Cruise and because of little one's Small World.

Yes, if you want to do anything in Fantasyland, head there first thing, but also know it will be the busiest place for rope drop. We FP Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and Peter Pan in Fantasyland.

 

[kiapepito]

You are all so helpful!! Thank you!! 3 year old female and 6 year old female so I am guessing we will be spending quite a lot of time in Fantasyland! We plan on staying in the same park all day until we leave at night just as we do in Disneyland. Stick them in the stroller when they need a break and they tend to take a nap on the monorail and/or train... many great pictures we have taken of the two of them knocked out completely... I know that it will be very busy as it is summer but I'd like to utilize our time wisely. Thanks again!

When we have used our three reserved FP do we go to the rides and find a place to upload a fast pass time or do I use the myexperience online and book through my phone?

 

[Robo]

You are all so helpful!! Thank you!! 3 year old female and 6 year old female so I am guessing we will be spending quite a lot of time in Fantasyland! We plan on staying in the same park all day until we leave at night just as we do in Disneyland. Stick them in the stroller when they need a break and they tend to


1. take a nap on the monorail and/or train... many great pictures we have taken of the two of them knocked out completely... I know that it will be very busy as it is summer but I'd like to utilize our time wisely. Thanks again!

When we have used our three reserved FP do we go to the rides and

2. find a place to upload a fast pass time

3. or do I use the myexperience online and book through my phone?

1. Don't forget the MK's TTA/PeopleMover, too. A great ride on which to relax!

2. There are FP+ KIOSKS in the parks. You can only make the 4th, 5th, 6th (etc.) FP+ at those kiosks. (One additional FP+ as each successive FP+ is used.)

3. Once you have scheduled the next FP at a kiosk, you can make changes on your smartphone for that FP.

Again... Many more FP+ details, FP+ logistics, and FP+ priorities found HERE.

 

[kiapepito]

I just realized that after I checked the link you provided @Robo... lol! Thanks again!