rope drop at international gateway

[Lisa F]

Hi All,
Can anyone tell me how rope drop at the international gateway works? It looks like the FP+ Kiosks are RIGHT inside the tapstiles. So am I correct in that we would check through security, go through the tapstiles and then queue up for rope drop somewhere inside of the tapstiles? So I'd have time to hit the FP+ Kiosks for SDFP before heading into the park if I get there early enough?

Also when is it recommended that you get there to RD for TT on a non EMH day?

thanks!

 

[Mousetopia]

Dont forget you can now do fastpasses on a smart phone, etc.

 

[Mome Rath]

I've not rope dropped there in about a year, so it may be different, but in the past, bag check acted as rope drop. So, when they let you through security, you go through the tapstiles then you are in the park... in other words, there's not an extra rope drop right past the tapstiles at international gateway. As the PP said, the smart phone is usually the way to go, or I believe the concierge service desks at the hotel can help you get FP's as well (can anyone confirm that?).

ETA; as for times, we try to be there at least 30 min before park opening, which is usually 15 min before rope drop.

 

[Lisa F]

Dont forget you can now do fastpasses on a smart phone, etc.

I know, I'm looking to grab a set of same day fastpasses which requires the park kiosks.

I've not rope dropped there in about a year, so it may be different, but in the past, bag check acted as rope drop. So, when they let you through security, you go through the tapstiles then you are in the park... in other words, there's not an extra rope drop right past the tapstiles at international gateway. As the PP said, the smart phone is usually the way to go, or I believe the concierge service desks at the hotel can help you get FP's as well (can anyone confirm that?).

ETA; as for times, we try to be there at least 30 min before park opening, which is usually 15 min before rope drop.

thanks, that is helpful! I guess I will keep up with my original plan and not attempt to pick up a FP+ for TT same day, just head there right at RD and then to Soarin'.

 

[Dan Murphy]

rope drop somewhere inside of the tapstiles?

If you are there before park opening, there will be CM's, generally with a rope, beyond the tapstiles, blocking entrance to the UK area. You can go on over to France for breakfast items.

 

[Lisa F]

If you are there before park opening, there will be CM's, generally with a rope, beyond the tapstiles, blocking entrance to the UK area. You can go on over to France for breakfast items.

oh really? France opens early?? do you know what time? On one morning I have an 11:35 with CP package at Coral Reef and had been planning to hit up boardwalk bakery (staying there) on our way to rope drop for some snacks, but if I can fit in the french place before RD that would be even better! touring plans and disney say it opens at 9 though boo.

 

[rwdavis2]

I know, I'm looking to grab a set of same day fastpasses which requires the park kiosks.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought same day could be done on the app as well these days.

 

[Lisa F]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought same day could be done on the app as well these days.

only for bands with linked tickets. anything not linked with tickets can only be done in the park where you plan to use them. The SDFP thread is super helpful

 

[PeasandCarrots]

Hi All,
Can anyone tell me how rope drop at the international gateway works? It looks like the FP+ Kiosks are RIGHT inside the tapstiles. So am I correct in that we would check through security, go through the tapstiles and then queue up for rope drop somewhere inside of the tapstiles? So I'd have time to hit the FP+ Kiosks for SDFP before heading into the park if I get there early enough?

Also when is it recommended that you get there to RD for TT on a non EMH day?

thanks!

We stay at Epcot resorts twice a year and as of April they did not let you through the turnstiles until after "rope drop". There's not a lot of people there so it moves fast, but in my experience anyone at the front of the park is most likely going to beat you to Future World unless you book it. I've heard of people being let in "early" there but that has never happened for us - always right on time (so if opening is 9am, they let us in at 9am).

 

[Lisa F]

We stay at Epcot resorts twice a year and as of April they did not let you through the turnstiles until after "rope drop". There's not a lot of people there so it moves fast, but in my experience anyone at the front of the park is most likely going to beat you to Future World unless you book it. I've heard of people being let in "early" there but that has never happened for us - always right on time (so if opening is 9am, they let us in at 9am).

yeah I pretty much expect even if we are there at RD we won't be the first in line anywhere... my kiddo walks kind of slow so even if we went in through future world that would be the case. Is it really that much of a difference though? I was kind of hoping that FEA being open and how hard it is to get FP+ for it if you are not staying onsite would relieve the pressure on the future world tier 1's.

 

[NuJoy]

We stayed BWV mid September. Our first day arriving was 8:00a.m. EMH in Epcot. We had to buy TIW and activate our AP's at guest services first and were then lined up with everyone else waiting for the park to open. I didn't notice how they were handling PPO ADRs; but no one was entering IG earlier and then waiting at another rope drop inside the park area. Once the park did open, security began checking bags, everyone was required to go through the scanner, then through turnstile and into the park.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I stayed at BWI in January 2014...so awhile ago. Things may have changed since then. But we were held outside the tapstile until rope drop. I think we got there about 30 min. prior to park open. There were a handful of people in front of us. I got a photo of the fountain in Future World with no one in the photo. We then headed to Sum of all Thrills, where we were in the 2nd group to design our ride. It is obviously further to Future World from IG, but you're not in as big of a crowd either, which makes for a much more pleasant walk.

 

[FencerGirl]

I was there at the end of September and my experience was similar to NuJoy's. We waited outside bag check until rope drop, and then straight through bag check, scanner, and tapstyles. I had a PPO Akershus reservation and they let us start going through security right at 8:00.

 

[WEDWDW]

oh really? France opens early?? do you know what time?

The Quick Service Restaurant and adjoining Merchandise Shop in France,World Traveler(store at International Gateway) and all of Norway open with the park at 9:00 AM.("Sometimes" the UK and Canada "carts" will open early as well).

There will be a rope between France and Morocco and between Norway and China until 11:00 AM.

 

[Wdwfan2016]

95% of the time you will be held outside of the International Gateway until 9 am before being allowed through bag check and then on into the park. Also note that quite a bit of the time they allow the main gate people entry prior to 9 am.

 

[loves to dive]

I was there in Sept. this year. The line outside bag check starts about half hour to 45 min. before park opens. They generally start letting you in about 15 min. before park opens. Park opened at 9 when I was there and I had a 9:15 F&W thing and they said, nope we'll open around 8:45 you have plenty of time. They opened around 8:50. They don't have a bagless line so everyone goes through the bag check line then through security then the tapstiles. You can walk through Great Britain to get to FW and to get to FEA ride. There is a person at the rope to go to France, you just tell them you want to go to the QS there at France and they will let you through, I'm assuming it doesn't open until 9. I'm not sure how they then keep you from going the rest of the way around WS after that. Wouldn't matter since nothing is open any way but I'm guessing there may be another rope or a CM directing you back toward the bridge. If you have a pre-park opening ADR, you tell a CM before you get in line and they have a tablet, they will check to make sure you aren't fudging and will let you through bag check, security, tapstiles early if you do.

 

[Mome Rath]

As you can see, times vary. When I was there in November, they coordinated very closely with the front gate and let both in at the exact same time, which was 10/15 min before opening time.

 

[Lisa F]

As you can see, times vary. When I was there in November, they coordinated very closely with the front gate and let both in at the exact same time, which was 10/15 min before opening time.

hm that's kind of a bummer. They should let people in at the same time. Half wondering if it would be worth taking an uber around to future world rather than trying to come in IG at rope drop or if it would not make that much of a difference.

 

[Mome Rath]

I enjoy going in the back way so much that I would do that regardless (I adore walking through empty countries lol), and I've never been hindered from riding what I wanted at rope drop. I think now that Soarin has another theater, you should be able to do TT, and Soarin OK. And, as I said, every time I went in International Gateway, we were let in just as early as the front.

 

[Dan Murphy]

it would not make that much of a difference

Really, no difference.

every time I went in International Gateway, we were let in just as early as the front.

Our experience also.