rope drop at Epcot?

[bibbidiboo]

When we visited a few years ago, the rope drop at Epcot had doves (pigeons?) that were released. It made for a pretty neat picture, although I wasn't ready, and missed the shot. I heard a while ago that they stopped releasing the birds, because hawks had figured out the schedule and would wait for the rope drop and pick them off.

Do they still release the birds?

 

[1HourAway]

they do not release the birds.

 

[lvs_eeyore]

We were at rope drop twice last weekend and both times the double decker bus came around with the characters on it and music. The characters didnt get off the bus they just danced around and waved and then the bus drove off and the rope dropped. They do park the bus right by the big fountain and you can go and visit and take pictures with the characters right after the rope drops.