Rope Drop and Magic Kingdom Welcome Show Question:

[travelinggnomes]

We are not morning people...at all! We homeschool, and dh is a pastor, so naturally, we don't have a normal schedule of a school/work family. We are all up and at it by 8:30 most days. In 9 trips, we have NEVER been to a rope drop, b/c we don't normally take a break in the middle of the day. We just got up when we wanted...and stayed till the shops turned their lights off. BUT, we have also NEVER seen a "Welcome to the Magic Kingdom" show either.

We will be staying and Windsor Palms (just outside of gates). What time do we need to leave the condo to be able to see the show. That is actually all we really care about, since dh says we are not going to make a mad dash for rides. (Silly guy...although I might talk him into dashing for Anna and Elsa.) SO, what is the best strategy to watch the train come in and see the show? (Obviously, we would love to be THE family, but I am sure THAT won't happen!) We are going on a crowd level 5 day.

 

[Robo]

We will be staying and Windsor Palms (just outside of gates).

What time do we need to leave the condo to be able to see the show.

I'd leave a minimum of an hour before opening time.
The earlier the better.

It's better to arrive far too early than just a minute or two too late.

 

[bball15fan]

Don't forget to add time from the transportation center. I would allow as much time as possible...especially if it's crowded.

 

[ConvenientTruth]

I've been to Disney 50 plus times and finally did Rope Drop at the Magic Kingdom this Sunday...well worth it...the show is fun and the mad dash for Space Mountain is basically a show itself. As for time, we arrived at the ticket center an hour and 15 minutes before opening...seemed sufficient.

 

[travelinggnomes]

So, in theory, I should be able to leave by 7:30, and have enough time?

 

[MrsDuck]

So, in theory, I should be able to leave by 7:30, and have enough time?

Yes. That sounds about right given travel time. It will also give you a chance to stake out a good spot to see the show.

 

[Robo]

Yes. That sounds about right given travel time. It will also give you a chance to stake out a good spot to see the show.

 

[*disgal*]

So, in theory, I should be able to leave by 7:30, and have enough time?

I think so.

Don't know the park hours when you will be there...I assume 9am? your siggie says April/May so not sure but keep a watch on hours. It could change to 8am if they think it's going to be busy.

Just be thankful you're not there when I am....EMH every single day at Mk(7am to 8am) and the disney site says the welcome show is at 6:50am!!!

We have stayed at Windsor Hills(if you haven't been there yet you will love it! Very nice and very easy to get everywhere). In fact, it was the sat before Easter that we went to MK when we stayed there. Had 9 in our group and MK, once again, was open at 7am for EMH but since we were offsite it was 8am for us. So, this is a VERY busy time of year....lots of people on monorail and ferry.

We had to get tickets for 2 people in our party so wanted to get there fairly early just in case. Ok, we left the parking lot at 6:30(we don't have one early riser in our group either ) We parked, took tram, took monorail, purchased tickets at MK gate and it was 7:25am. We wouldn't have minded standing around taking pics outside the turnstiles but we thought we would chance it and see if they would let us in. I couldn't believe they did. Don't think this would happen now since the MB won't light up green to let you in early if you're offsite. I guess before it was a person (kind of) making a decision to let you in or not. They just waved us in.

All this is to say that from our door to MK turnstiles would have been 45 min. Of course, there is less traffic at that time of day. One hour should be good but that is an hour from when the show goes on, not park opening. So if show is 8:45, 7:30 or 7:45 should be good if you already have tickets.

Have fun and enjoy your stay at WH!

 

[travelinggnomes]

You are just way too awesome, Robo.

Does the entire shaded blue area generally fill up?

 

[Robo]

Does the entire shaded blue area generally fill up?

Yup.

 

[travelinggnomes]

I think so.

Don't know the park hours when you will be there...I assume 9am? your siggie says April/May so not sure but keep a watch on hours. It could change to 8am if they think it's going to be busy.

Just be thankful you're not there when I am....EMH every single day at Mk(7am to 8am) and the disney site says the welcome show is at 6:50am!!!

We have stayed at Windsor Hills(if you haven't been there yet you will love it! Very nice and very easy to get everywhere). In fact, it was the sat before Easter that we went to MK when we stayed there. Had 9 in our group and MK, once again, was open at 7am for EMH but since we were offsite it was 8am for us. So, this is a VERY busy time of year....lots of people on monorail and ferry.

We had to get tickets for 2 people in our party so wanted to get there fairly early just in case. Ok, we left the parking lot at 6:30(we don't have one early riser in our group either ) We parked, took tram, took monorail, purchased tickets at MK gate and it was 7:25am. We wouldn't have minded standing around taking pics outside the turnstiles but we thought we would chance it and see if they would let us in. I couldn't believe they did. Don't think this would happen now since the MB won't light up green to let you in early if you're offsite. I guess before it was a person (kind of) making a decision to let you in or not. They just waved us in.

All this is to say that from our door to MK turnstiles would have been 45 min. Of course, there is less traffic at that time of day. One hour should be good but that is an hour from when the show goes on, not park opening. So if show is 8:45, 7:30 or 7:45 should be good if you already have tickets.

Have fun and enjoy your stay at WH!

Thank you so very much for your advice!!! If it turns out to be an 8:00 opening, we won't be there. lol Our first MK day is the 26th, which is a Sat. Crowd level 5. Our second MK day will be May 2nd, which is a Friday and is also a crowd level 5. We were kind of hoping for our second MK day to be easy going, and not getting up super-de-duper early, since we will be closing down the house that night.

Glad to hear good things about Windsor! We have stayed at many places before, but this is our first time there.

 

[*disgal*]

Thank you so very much for your advice!!! If it turns out to be an 8:00 opening, we won't be there. lol Our first MK day is the 26th, which is a Sat. Crowd level 5. Our second MK day will be May 2nd, which is a Friday and is also a crowd level 5. We were kind of hoping for our second MK day to be easy going, and not getting up super-de-duper early, since we will be closing down the house that night.

Glad to hear good things about Windsor! We have stayed at many places before, but this is our first time there.

haha I get it. I know what you mean. 6:30 just about killed us. But we were rewarded with great park touring. And can we say, 5 hour break in the afternoon(nap, nap, nap)? lol Then we were riding BTMRR at 12:30 am. Of course, for THAT we were ok because we're night people!

eta: and we homeschooled for 8 years.

 

[slickpoetry]

This might be one of those questions without a real answer...


but do any rope drop veterans have an opinion as to which area "most" rope droppers run to first? Even a general sense that more people head to Fantasyland instead of Adventureland, for example. It would be helpful in my planning.

 

[Robo]

This might be one of those questions without a real answer...


but do any rope drop veterans have an opinion as to which area "most" rope droppers run to first? Even a general sense that more people head to Fantasyland instead of Adventureland, for example. It would be helpful in my planning.

Without young kids: Space Mtn.
With young kids: Fantasyland.

 

[*disgal*]

Without young kids: Space Mtn.
With young kids: Fantasyland.

To quote you, Robo.....

yup.

 

[travelinggnomes]

To quote you, Robo.....

yup.

We would be the ones going to fantasy land as well! We have fastpasses there for later morning/early afternoon, and will slowly be making our way down mainstreet and through the castle, so we won't be there asap. (Unless we decide to try out A&E standby...time will tell on that)

 

[travelinggnomes]

Does anyone have an idea where the best place to try to sit/stand would be?

 

[Robo]

Does anyone have an idea where the best place to try to sit/stand would be?

In the middle of the Guest Waiting area.
Right where I have placed the "B" on the map.