Rope drop question for Magic Kingdom

[itsdisneytime]

Hey again,

I'm wondering about rope drop with Magic Kingdom on August 3rd. What time would you make your party be in motion headed to MK to be lined up to do so?

I'm driving from a resort just up the way from Magic Kingdom. Historically speaking it takes 10 minutes from leaving my resort to paying for parking and heading to MK parking lot. I remember it being A PROCESS when you drive vs. Taking Disney busses. Thanks in advance

 

[LizzyDragon]

Pre-covid times, it would take me around 35-45 min from entering the parking booth to tapping in at MK. I anticipate the process will probably take closer to an hour during Covid due to social distancing on the monorail/ferry, plus the temp checks. But obviously there's no data yet on how long it'll actually take until the parks reopen.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Hey again,

I'm wondering about rope drop with Magic Kingdom on August 3rd. What time would you make your party be in motion headed to MK to be lined up to do so?

I'm driving from a resort just up the way from Magic Kingdom. Historically speaking it takes 10 minutes from leaving my resort to paying for parking and heading to MK parking lot. I remember it being A PROCESS when you drive vs. Taking Disney busses. Thanks in advance

remember to add extra time from lot on ferry or monorail to gate even more so with social distancing now

 

[pooch]

Do you think rope drop is even gonna be a thing??

 

[MrsInsG]

Do you think rope drop is even gonna be a thing??

I doubt there will be a show or anything that encourages gathering in one spot.

 

[brockash]

Do you think rope drop is even gonna be a thing??

Well there's going to b an opening with many ppl. waiting...no show or anything but there will still be a start time with lots of ppl

 

[GADisneyDad14]

The critical detail will be what time they let people in. Under normal times, MK gates open around an hour before official park opening and guests are free to roam Main Street up to the Hub/Castle. This usually creates more of a “slow loading” type of feel for MK rope drop and you have a decent amount of flexibility in terms of when exactly to arrive since you have an hour to work with. Until they reopen and we see what kind of exact rope drop procedures they use, it’ll be hard to provide specific arrival time guidance. Fortunately you’ll have a few weeks of reports to be able to make a better educated assessment closer to your date.

 

[HuskerFaninIL]

I’m curious what opening will look like. I think they’ll probably let people in the park pre-park open, to prevent bunching up at the entrance. Then rides won’t actually start until opening time. I don’t have any other ideas on how they could do it.

 

[puffkin]

I’m curious what opening will look like. I think they’ll probably let people in the park pre-park open, to prevent bunching up at the entrance. Then rides won’t actually start until opening time. I don’t have any other ideas on how they could do it.

I agree. I wouldn't be surprised if they let you in even further than they have in the past. I also think most food/stores will open at least an hour ahead of time through the main areas of the park. I can't see any other way to keep people distanced. Depending on what the actual capacities are, park openings may not be as big of a deal as people are thinking with normal crowds.

 

[gharter]

I agree. I wouldn't be surprised if they let you in even further than they have in the past. I also think most food/stores will open at least an hour ahead of time through the main areas of the park. I can't see any other way to keep people distanced. Depending on what the actual capacities are, park openings may not be as big of a deal as people are thinking with normal crowds.

I suspect we will be surprised at how few people will be in the parks for the first few days and then they will start to increase.
How they handle park openings will be interesting. If they let you into the rides, but not on the rides there will be bigger crowds at the time they let you into the parks.
Glad its not my decision.

 

[wareagle57]

Well there's going to b an opening with many ppl. waiting...no show or anything but there will still be a start time with lots of ppl

If they let people into the park early, there will be people waiting at the various lands, how they will handle social distancing for this time is anyone's guess. But people were never crowded around the stage show like they were waiting for 7DMT so the show isn't the problem. I agree they won't have it though. Maybe the best thing to do is open at the same time but allow guests to proceed to their first attraction and wait for opening in the socially distanced lines. But that might encourage early arrivals like RotR did. I don't think there is a good answer for rope drop other than...hopefully crowds are so low that it isn't a real issue.

 

[Shellyred8]

I wonder if it will be like DS was...really busy the first day and then not as much after that.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I wonder if it will be like DS was...really busy the first day and then not as much after that.

In my opinion, this is exactly what will happen. Other than the ‘first’ crowd over the first day or so, I personally don’t think rope drop crowds will be big in the near term.

 

[CastAStone]

Hey again,

I'm wondering about rope drop with Magic Kingdom on August 3rd. What time would you make your party be in motion headed to MK to be lined up to do so?

I'm driving from a resort just up the way from Magic Kingdom. Historically speaking it takes 10 minutes from leaving my resort to paying for parking and heading to MK parking lot. I remember it being A PROCESS when you drive vs. Taking Disney busses. Thanks in advance

We will know so much more in 2 weeks...until then I’d plan to leave anywhere on property 90 minutes early and anywhere off property your google map time plus 75 minutes. If there are no trams, social distancing, and they make you use the resort monorail, which personally I think are all likely, it’s gonna take some time.

 

[Jess.stw]

I read somewhere---honestly can't remember where, so take it for what it's worth--that they will not open main street an hour early like they have in the past to keep people from congregating, to maintain the regulated flow. But my guess is they will experiment and try different things in the initial opening period to see what leads to the lowest crowds...so what what happens and how they respond!

 

[tinkerbelletreasure]

I’ve never, in all my times of going to MK, made it to rope drop. We usually stay until close. Ugh! I’ve got to totally rethink my first morning strategy. We will be coming from on offsite hotel. We want to maximize our time in the park this trip. I guess we’ll plan on trying to be there by 8 to get through security and everything by 9.

 

[wareagle57]

I’ve never, in all my times of going to MK, made it to rope drop. We usually stay until close. Ugh! I’ve got to totally rethink my first morning strategy. We will be coming from on offsite hotel. We want to maximize our time in the park this trip. I guess we’ll plan on trying to be there by 8 to get through security and everything by 9.

I personally find rope drop mornings in MK (or other parks if skipping headliners) to be one of the most magical times in the parks. I’m not a morning person at all. But on the rare occasions (and Disney is one of them) I’m up at the buttcrack of dawn, I just love the peace and quiet of the morning. Late closings used to be very special too, but they just don’t really happen that much anymore and certainly not now

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I personally find rope drop mornings in MK (or other parks if skipping headliners) to be one of the most magical times in the parks. I’m not a morning person at all. But on the rare occasions (and Disney is one of them) I’m up at the buttcrack of dawn, I just love the peace and quiet of the morning. Late closings used to be very special too, but they just don’t really happen that much anymore and certainly not now

Shhhhh, don’t be giving away the magical rope drop secrets.

 

[Sunnywho]

Maybe the best thing to do is open at the same time but allow guests to proceed to their first attraction and wait for opening in the socially distanced lines.

I think this is the only way to keep people from bunching up somewhere. Rope drop is as bad as fireworks and parades and those are cancelled so they will have to have given thought to how to solve a problem like rope drop.

 

[wareagle57]

Shhhhh, don’t be giving away the magical rope drop secrets.

Lol people have been saying that for years. And it’s just kind of common sense with all things, not just theme parks. People are going to do what they want to do. For me, it never made sense not to be there at opening if I only have a few days. Others, just can’t fathom waking up that early.