Question about Rope Drop at MK

[Figment's Girl]

We leave in just over three weeks for the world and I have a question. I plan on being at MK when they open (Not a EMH Day) so that I can get my youngest son on Dumbo first thing because that is his greatest wish of the trip besides seeing the hippos at AK but I've never opened a park in any of my trips.

How early can you get into Main Street for rope drop? Any suggestions?

 

[daddey]

We have gone for rope drop many times. The monorail starts running @ 7:30. It really depends on where you are staying how early you have to leave. If you are in the DTD area SSR, OKW you will have to leave around 6:45 to get there for the monorail start. If you are @ CR or BLT you can just walk across around 8:30. If you are in the first crush of people and go straight to the ride you shouldn't have an issue. The best way to do MK @ rope drop is with a touring plan. I recommend the touring plan it will get you on a lot of rides before noon.

good luck

 

[Alesia]

Where are you staying?

 

[Hootch]

you onto Main Street for rope drop but most of the time we have been only let into the area in front of the train station but past the turnstiles. People will gather right in front of the tunnels to be first onto the streets. We usually wait back a bit so we can see the opening show. I would get there 40 minutes early (hard to keep a little one entertained) if you want to be near the front.

Not all rides start immediately. I think Dumbo does though. Last trip my son and I headed to BMTR for fast passes before heading to meet my wife and daughter in Fantasyland. They did Dumbo first. Peter Pan had not started boarding yet so I called her and eessentially walked on.

I don't if this was an issue with getting the ride started or a staggered start of sorts.

 

[daddey]

40 to one hour before arrival time should be sufficient. You stand in front of the train station until after the show. I have never been let in before the show is over... I have never heard of that before. As long as you are in the crowd watching the show on the right or left tunnel entrance you will be fine to get to Dumbo first. I still recommend a touring plan if you want to get the most out of your day. I believe they are online @ touringplans.com or you can get the Unnofficial Guide to WDW and laminate the touring plans pages like we do instead of carrying around that big book.

Here's another good site to check out. Planning your day will make it a little easier with little ones. We have 4!

http://allears.net/index.html

 

[daddey]

you onto Main Street for rope drop but most of the time we have been only let into the area in front of the train station but past the turnstiles.

I had to think back if this ever happened to us and in 2008 we were let in and got back to Tommorrowland for a 2nd rope drop and that morning there were people in the tunnel and onto Main Street. Thanks for making me rack my brain.

 

[DisneyWorldbuff]

You can try to get an early(before the park's opening) ADR at either CRT or Crystal Palace. After the meal, you can walk aroung the "hub" for photos or wait inside the Castle "tunnel" for a rope drop into FantasyLand. You can literally watch the wave of guests entering MK from the Main enterance. We did this our last trip...We were the 1st family on Dumbo! Awesome! The breakfast is great too, quick service and quiet atmosphere.

 

[daddey]

Oh yeah, that's a good way to do it also.

You also get the advantage of getting some awesome pics in front of the castle before the streets are crowded.

Another bonus is feeling like you're cheating when you take the entrance to the right around all of the people waiting to get in.

 

[TrustedTraveler]

Everyone should do one rope drop. Just don't do it the days we plan to be there. It makes you appreciate all those folks who think a vacation is about sleeping in.

Bless their sleepy little hearts! We can get in a whole days worth of attractions before they make it past the castle!

 

[rob_jen]

We are staying at POR. We are planning on making the Rope Drop on a non EMH day (9:00 AM). What time do we need to get on a bus? 7:30-8:00

If i am correct, doesn't the bus drop us off at the main entrance near the train station and not the monorail TTC center?

 

[keri125]

The monorail starts running @ 7:30. It really depends on where you are staying how early you have to leave. If you are in the DTD area SSR, OKW you will have to leave around 6:45 to get there for the monorail start.

I am staying at OKW and plan on attending MK during an EMH morning. So... does this mean I would need to leave earlier than 6:45? Does the monorail start running earlier on EMH days? This is my first trip and I am nervous about attempting to make rope drop at the parks, as I have no clue where I'm going or what to expect with crowd levels!

So I guess I'll just ask it straight as well... if I'm at OKW, wanting to make EMH at MK at 8am, what time should I try to catch the bus at OKW to head on over to MK? Any help is much appreciated! (Oh, going 10/17 - 10/23!)

 

[lblume91]

We are staying at POR. We are planning on making the Rope Drop on a non EMH day (9:00 AM). What time do we need to get on a bus? 7:30-8:00

If i am correct, doesn't the bus drop us off at the main entrance near the train station and not the monorail TTC center?

We always stay POR & usually try to be at the bus stop about an hour & 15 minutes before park open so 7:45-ish on a 9:00 day. That will give you plenty of time. The bus will drop you off just down from the turnstiles. Usually they keep you between turnstiles & train station until park opens. The show is great so make sure you can see when the train comes in. I walk around singing the song all vacation! (And sometimes even at home!)

 

[Hootch]

We are staying at POR. We are planning on making the Rope Drop on a non EMH day (9:00 AM). What time do we need to get on a bus? 7:30-8:00

If i am correct, doesn't the bus drop us off at the main entrance near the train station and not the monorail TTC center?

be at the bus stop 65-75 minutes early just to ensure you are there in plenty of time. My experience is that all of the parks have some type of ceremony ranging from a big number at MK through DAK, DHA and minimal at Epcot. Much of the time from POR is ensuring you have time to catch the bus and getting through bag check and ticketing. That should give you ample time to get situated inside the park (depending on which park you're in). We usually stay in POFQ so the transit time is similar. We grab some light breakfast food (sometimes begniets) to eat while waiting before the opening show.

 

[islandtimect]

What happens at MK rope drop? This thread make me want to do it.

 

[CoachCracka]

You definitely need to do this. My family went about an hour early to MK and were right up front for the show. Train comes in, musical number and family of the day, cheering and the countdown to entry. CMs were at the front entertaining kids with beachballs and such.

If you are trying to get to the dumbo rides first, walk quickly (don't run, CMs will stop you) through Frontier Land. We did this and were the first on the Haunted Mansion and it was awesome. Everyone else goes through main street and the castle to take pics.

It was perfect for us. Hope this helps you.

 

[matterickson23]

When my wife and I did the Keys to the Kingdom Tour quite a few years back, we were the first tour of the day. That gets you in to the park before anyone else –*or at least it did when we did it. Your tour starts down Main Street, and then the guide brings you to the side and your tour group stops to listen to the opening show, and you get to stand there in a group and watch everyone else stream into the park.

I will tell you this: It was AMAZING to experience it that way. Think about how many hundreds of millions of people have been through there, and then think about at that one moment, YOU are one of the first small handful of people in the park. It most definitely gives you a unique feeling. Now ... you don't get to take cameras on that tour, so you can forget about documenting the experience.

I'd check the times, though, to make sure that tour still starts you early enough to make that happen. (And by the way, that whole tour is outstanding, as well, and you get to go backstage as well as in the utilidor tunnels under the park.)