Rope drop arrival time??

[Lindaapple]

For our Mid May trip (off site) all of the parks open at 9am. We are planning to rope drop rides at Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. I am trying to figure out what time we need to hit the parking lot of each park in order to make rope drop as I have no idea how long from parking lot to check in/security and then to the area we are allowed until the rope drops. Thanks for any advice!

 

[magicwdw]

For our Mid May trip (off site) all of the parks open at 9am. We are planning to rope drop rides at Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. I am trying to figure out what time we need to hit the parking lot of each park in order to make rope drop as I have no idea how long from parking lot to check in/security and then to the area we are allowed until the rope drops. Thanks for any advice!

My strategy has always been to get to the parking lot between 45 minutes and an hour before park opens. That has worked well for us even with the added security. At MK, I think main street opens an hour early now so you can browse in shops before rope is dropped. I didn't think my family would like that but it has given us time to see things we have never seen before. Mid May is a great time with slightly lower crowds and warm, but not oppressive weather. Have fun!

 

[Robo]

At MK, I think main street opens an hour early now so you can browse in shops before rope is dropped.

It does, if it's a 9AM regular-hours open that day.

 

[Lindaapple]

Th

It does, if it's a 9AM regular-hours open that day.

Thanks! Does it change if there is Early Morning Magic event?

 

[Robo]

Thanks! Does it change if there is Early Morning Magic event?

EMM (Early Morning Magic) does not affect regular guests arrival at MK.

EMH (Extra Magic Hour) DOES affect guests arriving at MK.

They do not open Main St. an hour early except on days when MK has a 9AM regular-hours open that day.
Figure about 10 minutes before the stated opening time on non-9AM open days.

 

[Babs1975]

It'll take you about 20 minutes from the parking lot at MK, monorail, security, etc...until you are walking up Main Street.

 

[Cinderella94]

Are you trying to do FOP at rope drop at Animal Kingdom? That would change the answer for that.

 

[Haley R]

We always get to the park at least an hour before it opens. We are almost always the first ones in line.

 

[Lindaapple]

We always get to the park at least an hour before it opens. We are almost always the first ones in line.

Thanks! Does this mean to the parking lot an hour before? Thanks again!

 

[Ensusieasm]

For our Mid May trip (off site) all of the parks open at 9am. We are planning to rope drop rides at Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. I am trying to figure out what time we need to hit the parking lot of each park in order to make rope drop as I have no idea how long from parking lot to check in/security and then to the area we are allowed until the rope drops. Thanks for any advice!

Rope drop for AK is different. They will
let people in the park 45 minutes before scheduled park opening. You will want to arrive at the tapstile line 70 minutes before scheduled opening. They will let people on the ride 30 minutes before scheduled opening. You can actually be done and walking off FoP at scheduled park opening. At that time the FoP wait time often is already 3 hours long.

 

[Lindaapple]

Rope drop for AK is different. They will
let people in the park 45 minutes before scheduled park opening. You will want to arrive at the tapstile line 70 minutes before scheduled opening. They will let people on the ride 30 minutes before scheduled opening. You can actually be done and walking off FoP at scheduled park opening. At that time the FoP wait time often is already 3 hours long.

Thanks! We have little ones and aren't planning to do FOP. We were hoping to rope drop the Safari. Does Safari start 30 mins before opening? and Navi River ride too? Thanks again!

 

[Robo]

Does Safari start 30 mins before opening?

Nope.

 

[Haley R]

Thanks! Does this mean to the parking lot an hour before? Thanks again!

We never drive to the parks, but I meant getting to the turn style an hour before park opening. Which means you would need to be at the parking lot even earlier.

Thanks! We have little ones and aren't planning to do FOP. We were hoping to rope drop the Safari. Does Safari start 30 mins before opening? and Navi River ride too? Thanks again!

The Safari doesn't start early so I suggest you go to Navi River when the park opens or just show up around the time the park opens. We got to the park at about 8:05 for an 8 am opening and walked right onto Navi before the Safari had even opened.

 

[Ensusieasm]

Thanks! We have little ones and aren't planning to do FOP. We were hoping to rope drop the Safari. Does Safari start 30 mins before opening? and Navi River ride too? Thanks again!

Navi River starts 30 minutes early just like FoP, but the Safari does not start early.
Also, you shouldn’t have to arrive as early for Navi as you do for FoP. You might be ok to plan on arriving at the parking lot an hour before opening if your goal is Navi without a fastPass. The wait doesn’t build up as quickly for Navi.

 

[Lindaapple]

Navi River starts 30 minutes early just like FoP, but the Safari does not start early.
Also, you shouldn’t have to arrive as early for Navi as you do for FoP. You might be ok to plan on arriving at the parking lot an hour before opening if your goal is Navi without a fastPass. The wait doesn’t build up as quickly for Navi.

Thanks! So if AK opens at 9am but we plan/hope to do Navi at 8:30, should we arrive at the parking lot at 7:30am or 8:00am? This is for May 17th. Thanks again!!

 

[Haley R]

Thanks! So if AK opens at 9am but we plan/hope to do Navi at 8:30, should we arrive at the parking lot at 7:30am or 8:00am? This is for May 17th. Thanks again!!

You honestly don’t need to be there that early at all for just Navi. You could show up close to park opening and be just fine. Since you are parking I would get to the parking lot at about 8:30.

 

[bigbabyblues]

You may want to double check the hours for your AK day. They added morning EMH to most days in May.

 

[Ensusieasm]

Thanks! So if AK opens at 9am but we plan/hope to do Navi at 8:30, should we arrive at the parking lot at 7:30am or 8:00am? This is for May 17th. Thanks again!!

Well, if you really want to be one of the very first folks on Navi when it opens, then you’ll want to plan just as if you are riding FoP. Arrive at the parking lot at 7:30. As others have said, do check the schedule. If they add EMH, and you can’t participate in that, you are going to be waiting in line for a while no matter when you arrive. If they change the schedule to an hour early for everyone you’ll be ok. One more thing... Navi was closed the past three days because of issues. Good luck.

 

[kniquy]

I would shoot to be at the parking lot no later than 8am. You can never tell what the security lines will be like, pretty much at any time of the day, but expect them to be especially busy right at park opening. Giving yourself an hour should ensure some time to park, get to the security line and into the park.

 

[AngiTN]

We went to MK last week, Wednesday, open was at 9:00.
First item to note, we do not use a bag, so no bag check needed.
We got to the MK security gates at 8:30 and this is the view I had for the opening show,
I had no problems making it to this spot, with a leisurely walk down Main St to reach this point. We even had a fairly good wait till the show started. I believe the crowd level was fairly low this day. Touring Plans says actual was a 3 (predicted was a 6)