Rope Drop Questions

[2hapykdz]

Trying to break our habit of sleeping in and getting to the parks by 9:30-10:00! Last year we did the rope drop at Animal Kingdom...and was blown away by the bird show...it was awesome. Headed to WDW in 2 weeks and doing Mon-Wed MK-EP-DHS....each day the parks open at 9.....but what time should I be there to catch the opening "rope drop" show? I know MK has an awesome show up on the train platfform....does it start at 8:30...or even earlier? And I know what they do at DHS...but do they do anything special at Epcot? TIA

 

[CAS239]

There's no welcome show at DHS or Epcot. The welcome show at MK starts approximately 20 min before park opening. So it'll start at 8:40 on your day. I'd recommend getting to the parks 45 min before the scheduled opening time to be close to the front. And also keep in mind that sometimes the parks open ahead of scheduled time. So just because Epcot and HS are scheduled for 9, they could open at say 8:45 or 8:50

 

[AngiTN]

Epcot does have a greeting/welcoming in the various languages of the WS. Not a show but it's not nothing either. And the fountains go off too, though for whatever reason they do that before most folks are back there to see it

 

[nkereina]

Not to hijack, but does anyone know if they are still walking people back to TSMM at DHS? We were there in October last year and they let us in around 8:45, but held us in the areas where the hat used to be and just outside Brown Derby until 9am. They then walked us back to TSMM, but it was a giant cluster. It was just a group of people walking aggressively and pushing past people to get to the line first, and made the situation worse than if people could speed walk themselves back there from the gate. We had gotten to DHS about 45 minutes before park opening, but it was wasted time since we were ultimately pushed to the middle of the pack because of this process.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

The welcome show at MK usually starts at 8:40am.
I try to arrive at about 8:25am.

There is no opening show at HS or Epcot.

At HS they hold you at the tap stiles until about 5 minutes prior to opening time and then start letting you in and you're on your way to the attractions.
I usually arrive about 30 minutes prior.

At Epcot they usually allow you to enter the tap stiles and then hold you until opening.
I usually arrive about 30 minutes prior.

 

[thelittlemermaid2]

I'm glad you're trying to get to the parks a little earlier, you'll also find you can get a lot more done first thing in the morning!

 

[Mike Mantis]

Never done a rope drop before but with a 4 year old who is up like clockwork at 7 am, I think we'll be able to do it this year!

Had a few BOG breakfast reservations to try to get into the park early but Disney changing park opening hours (earlier) killed those plans!

 

[2hapykdz]

Epcot does have a greeting/welcoming in the various languages of the WS. Not a show but it's not nothing either. And the fountains go off too, though for whatever reason they do that before most folks are back there to see it

So no nice recording or welcoming announcement? Not worth it? And I thought DHS had all the street performers doing a mock movie scene before they let everyone make a mad dash for Toy Story?LOL

 

[2hapykdz]

I'm glad you're trying to get to the parks a little earlier, you'll also find you can get a lot more done first thing in the morning!

We usually close the parks...so this should be interesting.....opening and closing....3 days in a row!

 

[Robo]

And I thought DHS had all the street performers doing a mock movie scene before they let everyone make a mad dash for Toy Story?LOL

That was many years ago. (Ended sometime in 2010.)

 

[LENNON500]

Early park openings, like 8am at MK on 9/17 when we're there, are your friend!
We treat them like a free EMM ticket and use them to the fullest
Sleep at home....when you're in Disney, enjoy every minute!!!

 

[Blue32]

The welcome show at MK usually starts at 8:40am.
I try to arrive at about 8:25am.

There is no opening show at HS or Epcot.

At HS they hold you at the tap stiles until about 5 minutes prior to opening time and then start letting you in and you're on your way to the attractions.
I usually arrive about 30 minutes prior.

At Epcot they usually allow you to enter the tap stiles and then hold you until opening.
I usually arrive about 30 minutes prior.

This report of HS opening conflicts with just about everything I have read recently. It seems they now open the tap stiles earlier and allow JTA sign ups and herd people at various rope drop points before releasing them. Can someone confirm this?

 

[anniemae]

This report of HS opening conflicts with just about everything I have read recently. It seems they now open the tap stiles earlier and allow JTA sign ups and herd people at various rope drop points before releasing them. Can someone confirm this?

this was our experience 2 weeks ago, they opened the tap tiles about 15-20 mins prior to opening and held us a little ways up hollywood blvd for about 10 mins before walking everyone to TSMM. It was mobbed with people kind of walk-running, weaving in and out and trying to pass people, but it was all good.

 

[AngiTN]

So no nice recording or welcoming announcement? Not worth it? And I thought DHS had all the street performers doing a mock movie scene before they let everyone make a mad dash for Toy Story?LOL

No, I said Epcot does have a welcoming announcement. It's a recording saying welcome, good morning, and/or hello (I forget now) in the various languages from the countries in WS
Is it worth it? Nah, not really. Not unless you plan to be there early anyway. It's not worth getting there just to see it

For what it's worth, what you reported at AK at opening is not the only time it's done. The birds fly at random times all day. They land near The Tree. So it's not like the show at MK where you must be there early or you'll not see it.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

This report of HS opening conflicts with just about everything I have read recently. It seems they now open the tap stiles earlier and allow JTA sign ups and herd people at various rope drop points before releasing them. Can someone confirm this?

Not sure if EMH changes that?
I only ever go to HS on EMH morning.
I can recall in July 2014 they did let everyone in and then there were ropes at certain points such as half way down Sunset Blvd.
In December 2015 and just a few days ago we were held at the tap stiles until 5 minutes prior to the EMH opening and then let in and were free to walk where ever we pleased.