Rope Drop and getting in the park??

[Overthemoon]

Can someone tell me about rope drop? Is rope drop after you get into the park. I'm a bit confused here

 

[johnGorski]

Its a grand opening celebration like to each park before the parks scheduled time to open. I recomend doing this and getting threw the ticket turnstiles 15-30 min before the rope drop happens. You will be amazed the number of major rides you can knock out in 2 hours

 

[wisblue]

"Rope Drop" refers to the literal dropping of a rope by Disney cast members that allows guests to proceed to attractions. It takes place after you have entered the park through the turnstiles.

For example, if a park is scheduled to open at 9 AM, lines will begin to form at the turnstiles well before the opening time. Once the lines at the turnstiles go back far enough, the turnstiles will be opened, allowing people onto the park's "main street". That will usually happen about 10-15 minutes before the official park opening time depending on the crowd. The people who enter the park will only be allowed to advance to a point where cast members hold ropes to hold the crowd back.

Then at the opening time (and sometimes a little before if the crowds are large and are starting to fill up the main street) the cast members "drop the ropes" and the crowds head off for the attractions. For some attractions, like Splash Mountain and Soarin', the cast members may walk with the rope for awhile to slow down the stampede.

We are veterans of MANY rope drops and, while I do not advocate running in the parks, you'd better be prepared for brisk, purposeful walking or expect a lot of footprints on your heels. We have usually found that the people who run all out don't really gain any significant advantage over those who walk briskly. But, they apparently feel better about themselves getting there 30 seconds sooner.

 

[glenpreece]

"Rope Drop" refers to the literal dropping of a rope by Disney cast members that allows guests to proceed to attractions. It takes place after you have entered the park through the turnstiles.

For example, if a park is scheduled to open at 9 AM, lines will begin to form at the turnstiles well before the opening time. Once the lines at the turnstiles go back far enough, the turnstiles will be opened, allowing people onto the park's "main street". That will usually happen about 10-15 minutes before the official park opening time depending on the crowd. The people who enter the park will only be allowed to advance to a point where cast members hold ropes to hold the crowd back.

Then at the opening time (and sometimes a little before if the crowds are large and are starting to fill up the main street) the cast members "drop the ropes" and the crowds head off for the attractions. For some attractions, like Splash Mountain and Soarin', the cast members may walk with the rope for awhile to slow down the stampede.

We are veterans of MANY rope drops and, while I do not advocate running in the parks, you'd better be prepared for brisk, purposeful walking or expect a lot of footprints on your heels. We have usually found that the people who run all out don't really gain any significant advantage over those who walk briskly. But, they apparently feel better about themselves getting there 30 seconds sooner.

I love being at rope drop in Epcot. As everyone is running for Soarin' I pop into the character spot and meet 5 characters back to back in less than 5 mins and then head over to Soarin'!!!

 

[Robo]

Here's an excerpt from my Coffee Table Novella, "Rope Drop Wars: Ep. IV- A New Rope."

I arrive 30 minutes before opening time at any park, on any day.

MK's Rope Drop Ceremony called "Magic Kingdom
Welcome" (see link below) is, by far, the best and
most elaborate.

Guests are usually admitted starting about 15-20 minutes before
the posted opening time, to WAIT just inside the gates, in front of the trains station (near the "flower Mickey face.")

The ceremony lasts 6-7 minutes or so and starts 6-7 minutes before the scheduled 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.
Which one you will see can be tough to guess. (See link below.)

There is really only one more "formal" Rope Drop Ceremony... at DAK
called "The Adventure Begins"(see link below.)

Guests are usually admitted starting about 15-20 minutes before
the posted opening time, and they re-group to wait at the far end of the bridge from the Oasis (near the "Tree of Life.")

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


The above two shows feature Disney characters with "speaking
roles".
MK:* (called "Magic Kingdom* Welcome") at the train
station (with lots singing and
dancing, and a guest family).
DAK: (called "The Adventure Begins") after your cross
the bridge from the "Oasis" (no singing, but cute).

Epcot allows guests to "re-group" near Innoventions
and, on certain mornings, some of the characters show up
to quietly shake hands with a few of the folks standing at the rope.
CMs "hold" guests until scheduled open time, then
allow folks to go either way towards Soarin' or Test
Track/Mission Space.

At DHS the CMs have ropes across the street near the
Call-board/Tips-board/Starring Rolls eatery.
There will be a short (about 3-4 minutes) "show" which
will include a couple of selected Guests and then the
ropes are dropped
and everyone walks briskly
STRAIGHT AHEAD (with CM escorts)
towards the new Toy Story Midway Mania...
or turns RIGHT, and walks
briskly (with CM escorts) to ToT and/or RnRC.

At MK, if you have attended Cindy's Royal Breakfast
early, they do have a rope to hold you from FL until
"opening time".

If (IF) they perform a Rope Drop Ceremony at a given park, it will ONLY be ONCE per day (not twice.)

They might not perform it at all.

If (IF) they do perform a Rope Drop Ceremony at a given park on an AM EMH day, it will ONLY be performed for the EMH opening crowd and not at the "regular" opening time that day.

If (IF) they do perform a Rope Drop Ceremony at a given park, it will begin about 5-8 minutes before the scheduled opening time.

But, guests will be let into the park about 10-20 minutes before the scheduled opening time to get ready for the Rope Drop Ceremony.

To see if they will be performing the ceremony, look at the Steve Soares site.
(see link below)

Note: Like everything else at WDW, not EVERYTHING will
happen the same way or the same time (or even happen
at all) every day.
The best you can hope for is for what USUALLY happens.

Rope Drops are no exception to this.

I never miss being there before opening, EMH or
regular, but not just because of the "Rope Drop
Ceremonies"... its because you can do SO MUCH MORE
before the throngs of folks (who simply will NOT get
up early on vacation, bless their sleepy little
hearts) arrive later in the mornings.

---------------------------------------------

LINK Below-


The following site posts the stage shows, in-park and
other on-property shows and their times for the
CURRENT week.
(It is updated every weekend.)
The times may be "similar" for other dates as well.

Near the top of the page,
click on the colored links for the various
parks
and their show times.

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

Be sure to check back to the site as the actual dates
of your trip get closer.

---------------------------------------------

On many mornings, guests (B) are held for Rope Drop near the HAT (#2)
before being released into the park at opening time (Regular of AM EMH.

On some days following Rope Drop, the CMs will direct guests to enter thru the "Alternate Path" via the Animation archway.