Rope Drop Help!

[mrsmomo]

We have never done it before!

This time we need to. Were going during a more crowded time and I would like to enjoy the morning hours.

If MK and DHS open @ 9 on a Wednesday n Thursday what time do I need to be there. We are driving from CSR

 

[WEDWDW]

I would be at Magic Kingdom by 8:30.

Magic Kingdom Welcome starts at 8:45 and you don't want to miss it!

DHS may open unadvertised as early as 8:30,so I would be there not later than 8:15.

 

[mrsmomo]

Really? ! HS would do that? Awesome if they do but dh would be frustrated if they dont lol.

How long does it take 2 get into thr park after they officially open the MK gates?

 

[wendow]

Really? ! HS would do that? Awesome if they do but dh would be frustrated if they dont lol.

How long does it take 2 get into thr park after they officially open the MK gates?

I don't know how regularly DHS opens prior to the posted time but last fall they opened at 8:25 when the posted opening time was 9:00.

If you are at MK for rope drop, it will only take a couple of minutes to get into the park. One day last fall when we were there, they opened MK about 10 mins early. But again, not sure how often that happens.

 

[GigiDisneyfreak]

I don't know how regularly DHS opens prior to the posted time but last fall they opened at 8:25 when the posted opening time was 9:00.

If you are at MK for rope drop, it will only take a couple of minutes to get into the park. One day last fall when we were there, they opened MK about 10 mins early. But again, not sure how often that happens.

Usually this is just main street and the hub that is open 10 minutes earlier. They have ropes up at the entrances to the different lands.

 

[nighttowll]

I don't know how regularly DHS opens prior to the posted time but last fall they opened at 8:25 when the posted opening time was 9:00. If you are at MK for rope drop, it will only take a couple of minutes to get into the park. One day last fall when we were there, they opened MK about 10 mins early. But again, not sure how often that happens.

In my experience, it happens every day you are running late and don't get there early!

But seriously, they do tend to open the parks anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes early on a fairly regular basis, sometimes earlier than that, even if that only means you can get into the front part of the parks. You have a head start on getting maps, rentals, breakfast or snacks, and can get in position for your first ride before anyone else which helps you stay one step ahead of everyone else.

So, if you want to try RD, you should always try to be there in line at least 30 minutes before official opening. This way you aren't using park time to go through the security line or the turnstile or get your family situated like the people who arrive only 10-15 minutes before opening time are. By the time the people who show up right before or right at park opening arrive and make it back to their fist ride, you will be finishing up your first or second one. If you really want to be toward the front of the crowds, you should be there at least 45 minutes to an hour early.

 

[BlueFairy]

Don't forget to add extra time for the monorail or ferry if you are driving to MK. That process always seems slow when we are trying to get somewhere by a certain time. I don't have experience at rope drop, but surely someone does.

And of course, be sure to check the week-of to see if they have added any EMH hours, especially if attendance is higher than expected. For instance, this week at MK there was EMH morning every day due to the holiday crowds.

We haven't done RD at HS, but at MK they will scan your ticket and let you into the area in front of the Mickey flowers before the welcome show begins. If you arrive at the turnstiles at 8:30 you will see the show, but the area near the tunnels to Town Square will be crowded with people ready to head for the big headliners and you may not be able to get somewhere first. If that is important, you should arrive even earlier.

Driving yourself, I'm thinking I would leave your hotel by 7:30 for MK, 8 for HS.

 

[Robo]

Here's what's been happening with Theme Park Openings:

Only MK still offers an actual Rope Drop SHOW along with an inside-the-gates holding area.
MK Gates open approx. 15-20 min. "early."
But, the Rope Drop show is timed so that guests will actually enter the PARK very near the actual opening time.

MK's Rope Drop Ceremony called "Magic Kingdom Welcome" (see location HERE.)

Guests are usually admitted starting about 15-20 minutes before
the posted opening time, to WAIT just inside the gates, in front of the train 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.

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

DAK no longer offers a Rope Drop SHOW,
AND recently, no longer has an inside-the-park guest holding area.
DAK Gates open approx. 15 min. "early," and guests can enter the park and head
for their attractions of choice at that time.

Epcot does not offer an internal Rope Drop SHOW,
AND no longer offers an inside-the-gates holding area.
There might be a "Welcome to Epcot" audio recording played as a chosen family waves "hello"
to other guests, maybe some confetti involved. (But, it is far below what could be called a "Show.")
Epcot gates (including the International Gateway) will likely open approx. 15 min. "early."
(Sometimes, on rare occasions when the park is very busy... as much as 30 minutes early.)

DHS no longer offers a Rope Drop SHOW.
DHS Gates likely open approx. 15 min. "early."
(DHS has opened as much as 30 min. early, but that's not been the case every day.)

AM EMH entrance times seem to not be affected (figure entering 2-10 minutes before the AM EMH time, as usual.)
On AM EMH days, MK will offer some form of their Rope Drop Show
(may or may not be the "full show")
only for AM EMH guests,
and no show at all for the regular hours open time that morning.

As always, for better positioning in the crowds, arrive well before the posted opening time at all parks.

If staying at a WDW resort, plan to be at the bus stop about 45 min. before you want to ARRIVE at a given park.
(Arriving far too early beats arriving just a minute or two late.)

If driving:
Be at the parks' parking lot at least an hour before scheduled opening time.

 

[csmith041177]

I always get to the parks way too early. But I LOVE being there for rope drop and having time to mill around for a while. So I get to the parks at least an hour early.

 

[thehogsters]

This was what happened last week. MK rope drop was 12 till. You better get to the parking lot by 8:15! With the ferry ride/ mono rail and bag check you will not wait long for the opening show. IMO this is a must for MK. You can get so much done that first hour. We did splash mnt, then space mnt twice in the first hour!

DHW studios rope drope was 8 till. We basically walked right on RR and ToT, then used fp for them again in the evening.

Epcot rope drop was 4 till. We whent staight to test track and still jad to wait 15 minutes. After that we walked right on mission space and used fp for sorring in the afternoon.

AK we misse the rope drop by 5 minutes. Walked to the safari and had no wait. The safari is a must do first since the animals will hide and sleep in the heat of the day. After the safari we ate one of those African elephant ears (Awsome !) then walked to EE for only a 15 minut wait. We used fp to ride it again in the afternoon.

IMO rope drope basically gives you 2 or 3 more fp plain and simple!

 

[Hootch]

considerably shorten your time at the MK if you take a bus from CSR. The monorails and ferries can be backed up in the morning and you may wait for the third or fourth monorail or the second ferry. The bus drops you have right outside the park. We even find it quicker sometimes to go back to the resort and then somewhere than drive to the MK.

 

[wendybeth75]

IMO rope drope basically gives you 2 or 3 more fp plain and simple!

I agree! We were there a couple of weeks ago and were talking about RD at EMH parks. We got more done there in 2 hours than we did for the rest of the day. We typically rope drop at the EMH then do our FP+ at a different park in the afternoon and either eat, got to the pool, or nap in between. It is a great plan for us to rest and get in everything we want to do.

 

[mrsmomo]

I agree! We were there a couple of weeks ago and were talking about RD at EMH parks. We got more done there in 2 hours than we did for the rest of the day. We typically rope drop at the EMH then do our FP+ at a different park in the afternoon and either eat, got to the pool, or nap in between. It is a great plan for us to rest and get in everything we want to do.

This is what I am hoping for. To go early get a lot done quickly then relax eat head back 2 the room for a nap and come back in the evening.

 

[mrsmomo]

So if were running late say we dont leave csr until like 8:45 is it then better to wait for initial crowds to enter and go @ 9:30?

 

[Robo]

So if were running late say we dont leave csr until like 8:45 is it then better to wait for initial crowds to enter and go @ 9:30?

Not for us, it wouldn't.

 

[thehogsters]

So if were running late say we dont leave csr until like 8:45 is it then better to wait for initial crowds to enter and go @ 9:30?

Your best bet is to get to any park as early as possable. Come noon till 8 pm at MK and you are in line after line after line. The other parks are not as bad but still work the same way. The only exception being AK. At 3:45 after the parade at least half the guest leave.

We do rope drope and stay till 2 or 3. Go back to the resort and hit the pool and or nap. Its a great way to recharge and get away from the madness. Most days we go back to the park around 6 or 7 unless we are to wore out from the heat and walking.

 

[nighttowll]

So if were running late say we dont leave csr until like 8:45 is it then better to wait for initial crowds to enter and go @ 9:30?

NO! It will only get worse as the day goes on, not better. There is no benefit to waiting for "initial crowds" to thin out. Things move pretty efficiently, and you don't need to do that. It will just waste your valuable morning time. Pretty much think of it like this. After 11:00 = awful crowds. Before 10:00 = happiness. Between 10:00 - 11:00 is hit or miss depending season and crowds. Go as early as possible, it will make a huge difference. You want to maximize that two hour 9:00 to 11:00 window, make sure you aren't wasting any of that precious time on any activities not attraction related.

To do this be standing in line no later than 30 minutes before official opening. That means arriving at the park about 45 minutes early to give yourself time to get from your transportation to the line and leaving your hotel anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour before that depending on your transportation time.

RD for mornings the parks open at 8 give you an extra hour which is great, and extra morning hours where the parks open at 7:00 are the best because you've got a whole 4 hours before you hit the dreaded 11:00.

Think of it like this. People on vacation are sleeping in until about 9. Then they get up, get breakfast, and get ready. They end up leaving their hotels between 9:45 and 11:00. You factor in 30 minutes to an hour to get to the parks, and most people are arriving between 10:00 and 12:00 at the parks. Then they have to get in, get oriented, get maps and rentals, etc. Now it's about 30 minutes later that they start showing up in lines. This is why you start seeing the crowds really pick up between 11:00 and 1:00.

So you can see, if you leave your hotel at 9:30 you won't really be getting any benefit. You'll be arriving only slightly before the masses.

 

[mrsmomo]

We do rope drope and stay till 2 or 3. Go back to the resort and hit the pool and or nap. Its a great way to recharge and get away from the madness. Most days we go back to the park around 6 or 7 unless we are to wore out from the heat and walking.

This is my plan for mk. Were driving home after DHS the next day so I haven't figured out how were working that day yet lol. But hopefully make MK rope drop leave after Bog lunch @ 2ish then head bank around 5:30

 

[mrsmomo]

So you can see, if you leave your hotel at 9:30 you won't really be getting any benefit. You'll be arriving only slightly before the masses.

That's the answer I was looking for lol. I was trying to rationalize sleeping til @ least 8, I mean its vacation right?! But its a short one and we wont have a second day of MK so rope drop is the best plan of attack!

 

[phoebusII]

Great advice! I've even printed Robo's post to have the times and advice at my fingertips when we go this winter.

Now I just need to convince the rest of my party that the Main Street Bakery is not the first ride at rope drop.