Rope Drop Question...

[WEDWDW]

Is Epcot not still using this opening procedure?
http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2015/08/epcot-testing-new-opening-procedures.html

 

[Happy_2_B]

is the rope area outside the actual park?

As Robo said- no. Here is a link to a trip report. This particular trip report was RD at the grand opening of 7DMT, so it shouldn't be this bad at RD unless you are going at a crazy busy time of year. Once you scroll down a bit- there is a youtube video of what happens at rope drop in the MK. Keep in mind that although all these people are at RD, they are dispersed through the parks pretty quickly. It seems like a lot of people, but compared to the masses that will follow over the next three-to-four hours this is just a very, very small handful of total guests for the day. RD is totally worth it. If you are up and can get there- take advantage of it. We always arrive at least 30 minutes before official opening time so we are towards the front of the 'CM Escort'. Was more fun back in the old days, but I get why they changed it. It will pay off in shorter lines for the first few hours in the parks if you plan the order of your attractions optimally. Enjoy.



http://www.easywdw.com/uncategorize...er-bell-moves-the-4th-fp-magic-kingdom-52814/

 

[JOE DELL]

Is Epcot not still using this opening procedure?
http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2015/08/epcot-testing-new-opening-procedures.html

It seems its different every time, we did a rope drop for spring garden and they had the bubbles going, cast members hyping everyone up and some cast members drawing with brooms and water, gives it that magic feeling but most of the time its a "come on" and bum rush.

 

[WEDWDW]

It seems its different every time, we did a rope drop for spring garden and they had the bubbles going, cast members hyping everyone up and some cast members drawing with brooms and water, gives it that magic feeling but most of the time its a "come on" and bum rush.

Have you been at opening since the "test" was started in August?

Thanks!
http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2015/08/epcot-testing-new-opening-procedures.html

 

[JOE DELL]

Have you been at opening since the "test" was started in August?

Thanks!
http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2015/08/epcot-testing-new-opening-procedures.html

Yes last Saturday, they dropped the roap at the front at 8:30 just said OK everyone let's go, then we waited at the roap going to sorin, it dropped at 9.

 

[loves to dive]

I was AK at rope drop a couple of weeks ago. They let us through the tap stiles then held us at the gift shop area. Just before rope drop there was a pretty cool bird show where they let the birds go to fly over the crowd.

 

[WEDWDW]

Yes last Saturday, they dropped the roap at the front at 8:30 just said OK everyone let's go, then we waited at the roap going to sorin, it dropped at 9.

Thanks!

I was hoping they were still doing the special opening show with the Fountain of Nations they were doing during the test.

 

[WEDWDW]

I was AK at rope drop a couple of weeks ago. They let us through the tap stiles then held us at the gift shop area. Just before rope drop there was a pretty cool bird show where they let the birds go to fly over the crowd.

Awesome-thanks for the report!

That sounds like it was the Macaws from Winged Encounters-they are AMAZING!

I hope this is a permanent addition to DAK opening!

 

[JessiMommy]

Hmmmm really..... tell me more! I just don't want to be sitting there in a huge crowd of people not being able to move. As I said, we're not interested in the exact rope drop or anything, just wanting to be there early since we do only have 3 days in the parks total if that makes sense.

If you only have 3 days in the parks and want to see a lot, I'd suggest rope drop every morning. So much can be seen and accomplished before lunch by doing this. When the "real crowds" start rolling in you'll have a good chunk of the park already done.

 

[JessiMommy]

Awesome-thanks for the report!

That sounds like it was the Macaws from Winged Encounters-they are AMAZING!

I hope this is a permanent addition to DAK opening!

Yes, it is the Macaws. We were there in early September and it was so amazing!

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Regular Hours:
MK- Guests are admitted through the gates 20-30 min. early. Guests are held just inside the gates in front of the famous "Mickey Flower Face" just below the train platform.
There is a Welcome Show, then the rope is dropped about "opening time."

Epcot- Guests are admitted through the gates 15-30 min. early. There is a "holding area" rope near Spaceship Earth or Fountain of Nations.
No formal "show." The rope is dropped about "opening time."

DHS- Guests are admitted through the gates 15-30 min. early. There is a "holding area" rope near Sunset Blvd. intersection (-or- near Gt. Movie Ride.)
No formal "show." The rope is dropped about "opening time."

DAK- Guests are admitted through the gates 15-30 min. early. There is a "holding area" rope near Discovery Island area.
No formal "show." The rope is dropped about "opening time."
------------------

For AM EMH, there will likely be a slightly different procedure, and guests won't be admitted
as early before the AM EMH time.
MK will have at least some version of the Welcome Show before AM EMH (and not one at regular hours opening time that day.)

So they changed DHS back to a rope drop. For a long, long time I refused to go there because the amount of rude guests that would shove, run and push past you to get to TSMM. For awhile they went to letting people through the turnstiles a few minutes before opening and right onto TSMM so there was not a huge crowd and pushing. It was a more controlled release. If this is the case I don't want to put my family through it. I'll move it to a half day park in the afternoon with one ride on TSMM. There isn't much there otherwise.

How are the handling the IG at Epcot opening? In order not to be behind every single guest at Soarin' we used to take a cab to the front. It is so unfair to be at the turnstile an hour before opening yet end up behind someone that just showed up.

 

[Robo]

So they changed DHS back to a rope drop. For a long, long time I refused to go there because the amount of rude guests that would shove, run and push past you to get to TSMM. For awhile they went to letting people through the turnstiles a few minutes before opening and right onto TSMM so there was not a huge crowd and pushing. It was a more controlled release. If this is the case I don't want to put my family through it. I'll move it to a half day park in the afternoon with one ride on TSMM. There isn't much there otherwise.

How are the handling the IG at Epcot opening? In order not to be behind every single guest at Soarin' we used to take a cab to the front. It is so unfair to be at the turnstile an hour before opening yet end up behind someone that just showed up.

Short answer:
Whatever problems that USED to be before they (thankfully) cut out the internal rope drops…
NOW (unhappily) is BACK, so compensate accordingly.

It appears that they got new park manager(s) who had no recollection of the problems associated with using the internal holding areas.

Sad.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Well we won't be doing rope drop there. We would be the first family there because we are early risers and liked the early walk from BC but in line for TSMM we were never close to being the first family on the ride so many people pushed/ran/shoved past us.

It was such a running of the bulls.

 

[Solas]

I have a question for the experts here: We have ADR for Kona at 7:40 and plan on being at the MK for rope drop. Opening time for that day is 9 am. We never got FP for SDMT, do you guys think its possible to make the rope drop line in time to get on the SDMT with an ok wait? Thanks!

 

[serene56]

- Epcot... there's so much to look at before you get to SE. A!

I must always be in a hurry== but what am i missing in Epcot before SE??

 

[Robo]

I must always be in a hurry== but what am i missing in Epcot before SE??

There is very little to see except the "Leave a Legacy" pylons, maybe a few topiaries, and a fountain.

 

[wareagle57]

Short answer:
Whatever problems that USED to be before they (thankfully) cut out the internal rope drops…
NOW (unhappily) is BACK, so compensate accordingly.

It appears that they got new park manager(s) who had no recollection of the problems associated with using the internal holding areas.

Sad.

Hopefully they get enough guest complaints or they become aware of the problem. It's fine at MK because of how many options there are at RD. But there is no reason to have a mad rush to Soarin/TT and TSMM/RnR every morning creating an immediate line. Not to mention it is very unpleasant waiting with people crowded around you like that instead of in a line at the turnstiles.

 

[WEDWDW]

I have a question for the experts here: We have ADR for Kona at 7:40 and plan on being at the MK for rope drop. Opening time for that day is 9 am. We never got FP for SDMT, do you guys think its possible to make the rope drop line in time to get on the SDMT with an ok wait? Thanks!

Will be tough.

Magic Kingdom Welcome is currently at 8:40 AM making Rope Drop happen at 8:47 AM,so you would need to be there before 8:47 AM and get as close to the rope at the "right tunnel" as possible to have a good chance at a "decent" wait time.

 

[SA mom]

Rope drop used to be so cool. Is Magic Kingdom the only park to have a whole show prior to opening?

 

[WEDWDW]

Rope drop used to be so cool. Is Magic Kingdom the only park to have a whole show prior to opening?

Yes.