Rope Drop - question

[shyjade]

This may be a silly question, but I've never been to MK early (but that has changed thanks to DIS opening my eyes!).

I'm a little confused on the whole "rope drop" issue when the park opens. We plan on arriving before 7:30am for the 8am EMH. What happens...where do we go?

I know there is an opening ceremony at the front entrance. Are we allowed "in" to the MK before 8am, so we can line up at the rope (e.g. Fantasyland) and be "in" Fantasyland right at 8am? Or do we wait at the main entrance until 8am?

TIA for clarifying...I'm really confused!

 

[Star Wars Guy]

After they open the park, you can proceed to the entrance to each land for the rope drop.

 

[shyjade]

Do they open the park prior to the opening time, or do they open the park right at 8am (the EMH time)?

 

[magiroux]

They open the park about 10 minutes early. From there there are several places you can wait for the official opening second rope drop. Where you position yourself for the second drop depends on which attraction you want to ride first.

 

[agotta]

Just a reminder to everyone about rope drop...Please be curteous to those cast members who are at rope drop. A few years ago I got trampled as a cm, at a rope drop in MGM. It was a pin release day for WWTAM and some very impatient guests decided rope drop didn't apply to them...luckily there were a few nice families who helped me gather my rope and waited until the park was actually open...

 

[Lorelai]

agotta -
That's terrible. It's sad when people act like lunatics, no matter where they are. But in a place like Disney - well, that seems like the anti-Disney. Thank goodness for the good folks who lent a hand and helped you out. Now that's what I call "Disney Love" !

 

[babslittleones]

I am not sure if they still do this but this is what happened to us.

We wanted to be at MK for the opening ceremony. Our problem was that we decided to drive and park our car to take the monorail over instead of using the busses. Well, the cast members held us at the gates of the monorail and wouldn't let us go ahead and go over the MK entrance. The only people allowed to board the monorail was people with ADR's for a breakfast. They had a little ceremony that played over the intercom at the monorail entrance but that was it. Once this was done, we were allowed to board the monorails with the mad rush of other guests.

So next time, I will definitely take the busses so I can be dropped off right at the Magic Kingdom entrace to see the train arrive and the characters.

 

[agotta]

agotta -
That's terrible. It's sad when people act like lunatics, no matter where they are. But in a place like Disney - well, that seems like the anti-Disney. Thank goodness for the good folks who lent a hand and helped you out. Now that's what I call "Disney Love" !

Yea, it was not a great day. It was funny though, there were supposed to be 2 cms at rope drop (it was a long rope) and it broke off in the middle. Each Cm would walk their half to the side allowing guests in. I was left by myself so guests just starting climbing over (and under) it!! The nice family that helped me was first on my ride that morning. They were super nice!

 

[outlander]

I am not sure if they still do this but this is what happened to us.

We wanted to be at MK for the opening ceremony. Our problem was that we decided to drive and park our car to take the monorail over instead of using the busses. Well, the cast members held us at the gates of the monorail and wouldn't let us go ahead and go over the MK entrance. The only people allowed to board the monorail was people with ADR's for a breakfast. They had a little ceremony that played over the intercom at the monorail entrance but that was it. Once this was done, we were allowed to board the monorails with the mad rush of other guests.

So next time, I will definitely take the busses so I can be dropped off right at the Magic Kingdom entrace to see the train arrive and the characters.

This was our experience as well, pre our on site hotel days which is one of the reasons I'm now a convert! If you go through the TTC, they hold you there until the official park opening and do a countdown of their own. Of course, by the time you get to MK, ALL of the ropes have been dropped and you're free to move about the lands as you wish.

 

[jellydisney]

Do they still do the Rope Drop?? The last several times I was there I don't remember a Rope Drop at all... a couple of years ago, I do remember CMs slowly walking the rope with everyone behind them, so that nobody could run.

 

[JPN4265]

Can we all say.....STAMPEDE!!!!!!

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I'm not sure the rope drop is the same every day. I've been there when we've been held at the ticket line and also when they let us in 10 minutes early with a rope drop in front of the train.

It might depend on whether it is a EMH day or how crowded the park is going to be.

 

[Robo]

After they open the park, you can proceed to the entrance to each land for the rope drop.

They open the park about 10 minutes early. From there there are several places you can wait for the official opening second rope drop. Where you position yourself for the second drop depends on which attraction you want to ride first.

This is incorrect information.
The "rope drop ceremony" at MK has changed all that for a year or more.

The two "big" rope drop "cememonies/shows" are now at MK and DAK.
Both are performed during EMH mornings.
Both shows feature the characters with "speaking roles".
MK: at the train station (with singing and dancing).
DAK: after your cross the bridge from the "Oasis" (no singing).

Epcot allows guests to "re-group" near Innoventions and CMs "hold" them until scheduled open time, then allow folks to go either way towards Soarin' or Test Track/Mission Space.

MGM allows guests to "re-group" near the Call-Board.
There is a very breif recorded announcement (that "sticks it" to Universal Studios without directly saying so) and then everyone turns RIGHT, and walks quickly to ToT and/or RnRC.

At MK, if you have attended Cindy's Royal Breakfast early, they do have a rope to hold you from FL until "opening time".

At Epcot's International Gateway, there are reports of holding guests at a rope near the UK.

Although the lengths of these ceremonies are not more than 6-10 minutes...

To sure to see any Opening (Rope Drop) Ceremony at any park (if they do have one) is to be at the front gates no later than 20 minutes before the "opening time" (EMH or regular, depending on the day).

The Opening (Rope Drop) Ceremony at DAK is now called, "The Adventure Begins," and it stars Minnie, Goofy, Pluto and a surprise guest "explorer."

These Ceremonies are performed on AM EMH mornings only for the EMH guests and not again for the "regular-hours" guests that day.

On non-AM EMH mornings these Ceremonies are performed for the "regular-hours" guests that day.

These ceremonies are not ALWAYS performed (no way to know until you get to the park and see), but it is always wise to be 20-30 minutes EARLY any day so you will not be at the "end" of longer lines at the front gates.

 

[disneyfanfamily]

We went to CRT for breakfast at 8:05. When we were done, we went toward one of the ropes and waited (can't even remember where we were going). When they dropped the rope, the CM made it clear that we were to follow him (and his helper), that we were not allowed to "pass" him. He took us to a certain point in the land that we were heading for, and then we were free to go, but told us that we needed to walk. I am sure they do this to try and avoid the stampeding.