Park Hours v. Actual Rope Drop

[Amcd33]

We have not been post-covid, and I’m wondering about the actual rope drop times. I’m reading about parks opening up before the posted time. For Example, if Epcot is scheduled to open at 11am, when is the actual rope drop, and do they open the rides as well? And is this typical for all four parks? Thank you!

 

[GBRforWDW]

We have not been post-covid, and I’m wondering about the actual rope drop times. I’m reading about parks opening up before the posted time. For Example, if Epcot is scheduled to open at 11am, when is the actual rope drop, and do they open the rides as well? And is this typical for all four parks? Thank you!

The parks are all unofficially opening about 45 minutes early. Some rides start almost right away, others start a little later, while some wait until official park open time. It’s not the same day to day, but for the most part, they’re similar. Check out the here now & just back thread as people post every day about their experiences. You can get a better idea following along there what and when things open.

 

[CapnJacksGirl]

I've been researching that same question. There doesn't seem to be an easy answer. It varies from park to park for sure. From the reports I've read, it seems like most are opening 30-45 minutes ahead of the scheduled park opening time and that most attractions are running when you are allowed in, barring issues on particular attractions. The secondary question becomes how to get to the parks prior to the time they actually let people in, which presents whole other quandary.

As the post above suggests, the here now & just back thread is a good resource. Don't get bogged down in reading too far back though, like I did. Things have been too fluid over the past few months for it to be very helpful, and can just make it more confusing. The ones in the past couple of weeks have been great though.

 

[GBRforWDW]

I've been researching that same question. There doesn't seem to be an easy answer. It varies from park to park for sure. From the reports I've read, it seems like most are opening 30-45 minutes ahead of the scheduled park opening time and that most attractions are running when you are allowed in, barring issues on particular attractions. The secondary question becomes how to get to the parks prior to the time they actually let people in, which presents whole other quandary.

As the post above suggests, the here now & just back thread is a good resource. Don't get bogged down in reading too far back though, like I did. Things have been too fluid over the past few months for it to be very helpful, and can just make it more confusing. The ones in the past couple of weeks have been great though.

Yes, good point, what happened 2 months ago is different than today, and what works today will be different in 2 months.

 

[foolish-mortal]

Has this been across the board at all parks? Good to know!

 

[minmin27]

We're here now. We went to Epcot today. We were the fifth or sixth group off of the skyliner. They held is in a line for temp check until around 10:15 or so. They opened the park and we went straight to test track. We were inside the building waiting in line by 10:35. The ride started around 10:45.

Yesterday, we were the second ones off the skyliner at HS. They held us in temp check until around 8:15. We went straight to Slinky Dog and rode it twice.

So this week, the two parks we've been to have opened 45 minutes early. And it pays to be early!

 

[pawstat]

I was wondering as well, I see people saying the Skyliner opens an hour before parks (we're staying at Pop end of March) I'm assuming it the first park to open that day since the hours are a little staggered? When we go it looks like MK opens at 9, but Epcot opens at 11, so I would assume transportation opens at around 8. Right now we're planning to be at the parks about an hour before posted opening, but I like to plan how long it actually takes to get to the gate (plus we're a group of 8 with half our group staying at Dolphin)

 

[Sarahslay]

I have been on three trips from August-Christmas week, and every single trip at every single park they open around 45 minutes before posted time. Now, the big iffy is if the rides are open. MK started opening very few rides first thing on our last trip, but the trip prior everything but Splash was running when they opened. We always got in line for BTMR because that's always our first ride of the day, and I'd say they would start running it on average around 20 minutes befor official park open; Splash was always a different story though, and usually didn't open till offical time or later. So even if your favorite ride isn't running yet it still pays to get there early and get in line. Also, the skyliner does usually start running an hour before official opening. We stayed at Riviera on our Christmas trip, for our Epcot and HS days (split stay), and always got there before they started letting anyone in (aside from our second HS day where we moved a bit slower, but they hadn't been open long and we literally walked on to MMRR, didn't even stop moving to wait for the gate to get on the ride to open).

 

[_19disnA]

When we went to Disney pre-covid, we found the front part of Epcot opens earlier then World Showcase around the lake, but wasn't obvious at first. You could walk around but none of the shops/rides were yet open. It was something like a 1 hr difference, not sure if that is still true with the revisions made due to covid, but something worth checking out. Even if they let you enter from that entrance near the back of Epcot, there wouldn't be much point in getting there very early when nothing is yet open.

 

[GBRforWDW]

When we went to Disney pre-covid, we found the front part of Epcot opens earlier then World Showcase around the lake, but wasn't obvious at first. You could walk around but none of the shops/rides were yet open. It was something like a 1 hr difference, not sure if that is still true with the revisions made due to covid, but something worth checking out. Even if they let you enter from that entrance near the back of Epcot, there wouldn't be much point in getting there very early when nothing is yet open.

With Epcots later opening time, everything opens at the same time now.

 

[heresabe]

Does anyone know how rope drop will change when all Parks begin to open 30-minutes early for Resort guests?

 

[GBRforWDW]

Does anyone know how rope drop will change when all Parks begin to open 30-minutes early for Resort guests?

I would imagine more or all rides will start by the 30 minutes early time. I would think they’d continue to open temp check and ticket scan early for resort guests. Not sure where they’ll keep non resort guests though.

 

[Blondie58]

Why have an open time posted and then have people guessing when and which parks will open earlier?? I understand WDW does not want a congregation of folks at posted opening time BUT as folks discover the early openings disregarding posted open the same will happen??? Hmmmm???? Just thinking out loud.

 

[GBRforWDW]

Why have an open time posted and then have people guessing when and which parks will open earlier?? I understand WDW does not want a congregation of folks at posted opening time BUT as folks discover the early openings disregarding posted open the same will happen??? Hmmmm???? Just thinking out loud.

Yes and no. Disney is able to control transportation to limit people lining up waiting, though they can't control people lining up for buses, skyliner, or people walking over.

However, by controlling transportation, they're able to limit the line of people waiting by not picking people up/running skyliner/opening parking lots until they're ready to do temp checks and scan people into the park. This allows a steady stream right into the park rather than people congregating at the gate.

 

[Blondie58]

Either way there is a congregation of folks somewhere. Covid and the protocols have just changed so much in life at WDW and elsewhere. Praying for the day it is all behind us. And yes, I know some think "old normal and they way things used to be" will never be the case. I am just hoping. And wishing APs would come back.