Rope Drop Strategies

[Captain UP]

Oh hi...just curious as to what everyone's favorite rope drop strategy is at each park. For me...

Epcot: Get dropped off at Dolphin and enter via the World Showcase. Turn right immediately and get in line for Remy. Not unusual for them to let you on even before the rope drop time. Then, immediately after, speed-walk to Frozen and if everything is operating properly, you can usually ride that with limited line too.

HS: Take advantage of the Rise and Slinky thundering herds and head to Tower. IF everything opens on time, you should be able to do this, RnR (maybe twice), and then back to Tower all within the first hour.

MK: Avoid the Dwarves crowd and head to Space Mountain. Line won't be nothing, but it will be the shortest you'll see all day. Immediately after, head to Frontierland (which doesn't open early) and you can walk onto JC or Pirates at regular opening time.

AK: IF you're a Dinosaur fan, go straight there and you can ride is 2-3 times in a row. Then head to Everest for no wait and then go through the single rider a couple times if you want even more!

 

[slo]

My DD20 and I love rope dropping the gift shops. We get a coffee and stroll around the gift shops with no crowds - it’s WONDERFUL! We take pictures of what we like and then at the end of the day, we go buy it and head back to the resort. We love it! The only thing that would make this better is if WDW would resume taking guest purchases to their resort - that was an awesome perk!

 

[Captain UP]

My DD20 and I love rope dropping the gift shops. We get a coffee and stroll around the gift shops with no crowds - it’s WONDERFUL! We take pictures of what we like and then at the end of the day, we go buy it and head back to the resort. We love it! The only thing that would make this better is if WDW would resume taking guest purchases to their resort - that was an awesome perk!

That's interesting- rope dropping shops never even occurred to me.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

We go for 8-10 park days so we rope drop each park once and then do later starts the rest of the trip. I love the morning vibes at the park so I must rope drop each park once. I also love the night time vibes so we do that too.

Rope drop for us is arriving a few minute before opening and we don't go to the most popular ride. We utilize G+ and LL so we don't have to deal with that mad dash.

Last trip....

For Epcot we rope dropped Test Track and then stopped for Starbucks.

AK we rope dropped Everest and then stopped for Starbucks.

DHS we usually rope drop ToT and then stop for Starbucks. (didn't rope drop DHS last trip)

MK we rope drop Space and then head for Starbucks.

My DD loves Starbucks and gets it maybe 2-3 times a month at home so it's our little thing at Disney. I don't drink coffee and rarely do Starbucks (I may stop for a breakfast sandwich once every few months) but I like getting it with her at Disney. She gets a iced coffee drink, I get one of their refresher drinks and we split two breakfast items. Usually a breakfast sandwich and a pastry. We sit and chat and talk about what we're going to next and our plans for the day.

With 8-10 day tickets we don't feel the need to rush so much on those rope drop mornings. And I've learned with my daughter that she needs to be hydrated and fed or a melt down will be coming and has happened at WDW (she's 17.....been this way since she was an infant! lol)

 

[Captain UP]

We go for 8-10 park days so we rope drop each park once and then do later starts the rest of the trip. I love the morning vibes at the park so I must rope drop each park once. I also love the night time vibes so we do that too.

Rope drop for us is arriving a few minute before opening and we don't go to the most popular ride. We utilize G+ and LL so we don't have to deal with that mad dash.

Last trip....

For Epcot we rope dropped Test Track and then stopped for Starbucks.

AK we rope dropped Everest and then stopped for Starbucks.

DHS we usually rope drop ToT and then stop for Starbucks. (didn't rope drop DHS last trip)

MK we rope drop Space and then head for Starbucks.

My DD loves Starbucks and gets it maybe 2-3 times a month at home so it's our little thing at Disney. I don't drink coffee and rarely do Starbucks (I may stop for a breakfast sandwich once every few months) but I like getting it with her at Disney. She gets a iced coffee drink, I get one of their refresher drinks and we split two breakfast items. Usually a breakfast sandwich and a pastry. We sit and chat and talk about what we're going to next and our plans for the day.

With 8-10 day tickets we don't feel the need to rush so much on those rope drop mornings. And I've learned with my daughter that she needs to be hydrated and fed or a melt down will be coming and has happened at WDW (she's 17.....been this way since she was an infant! lol)

I feel a common thread in there...

 

[rdevans_2000]

Oh hi...just curious as to what everyone's favorite rope drop strategy is at each park. For me...

Epcot: Get dropped off at Dolphin and enter via the World Showcase. Turn right immediately and get in line for Remy. Not unusual for them to let you on even before the rope drop time. Then, immediately after, speed-walk to Frozen and if everything is operating properly, you can usually ride that with limited line too.

HS: Take advantage of the Rise and Slinky thundering herds and head to Tower. IF everything opens on time, you should be able to do this, RnR (maybe twice), and then back to Tower all within the first hour.

MK: Avoid the Dwarves crowd and head to Space Mountain. Line won't be nothing, but it will be the shortest you'll see all day. Immediately after, head to Frontierland (which doesn't open early) and you can walk onto JC or Pirates at regular opening time.

AK: IF you're a Dinosaur fan, go straight there and you can ride is 2-3 times in a row. Then head to Everest for no wait and then go through the single rider a couple times if you want even more!

Epcot - Remy then Test Track (if open)

HS - Tower then Micky and Minnie. We usually purchase LL for Rise and Genie + Slinky.

MK - 7 Dwarfs then Space Mountain

Animal Kingdom - Flight, then Navi, then Kilimanjaro.


Probably not too creative but it works for us. We usually leave our rope-dropped park after about four hours and do other stuff (Disney Springs, pool, nap, etc). Then it's back to the park for late afternoon and evenings.

 

[MainMom]

MK-If its EMH then we RD Space or PP depending on who is in our party. If its not EMH then BTMRR.

Epcot-This is usually an afternoon park for us. We might head to Remy if we RD.

DHS-Always ToT

AK-Always EE and ride several times in a row

In the past I have always scored FP/Genie+/ILL for the other popular rides so we don't need to be in the crush of 7Dwarves, Slinky or FOP.

 

[Tk0021]

We do

MK: 7DMT then space mountain then Buzz

HS: ToT then RnR then MMRR

Epcot: Remy then Frozen

Animal. Have never done it but probably EE

 

[Skywalker3]

We have been rope dropping over 20 years, and things keep changing depending on what we're enjoying at different times of our lives....plus the addition of VQs.

AK-Always FoP, Safari, EE, then the rest

Epcot-depends on when GotG is. Used to be TT-Soarin, but we vary it up now

HS-split-DH and DS go to ToT, RnRC. I don't ride either of those, so I do RotR, or Toy Story land, Sometimes they join me at RotR, if they've done ToT already another day.

MK-Now, depends on Tron....but if VQ is not early then:
DH and DS go to Space Mountain a few times if lucky then other stuff on that side.
I do other things, not 7DMT, I did PeopleMover one time at rope drop, and I was the only person on the ride, as far as I could see.
Also did Star Tours at rope drop once, and there were only 3 of us in there. I got to be the Spy!

 

[loves to dive]

We rarely rope drop, usually arrive a few minutes after the park has opened since I'm not a fan of the running of bulls that happens. But, sometimes I do happen to be up and ready so I'll go ahead and go to the park. Caveat, I'm a frequent visitor, go at least twice a year for at least 4 nights each trip. Have been going since early 80s (not twice a year back then but once every other year for about 20 years). I always have either a AP or a PH so I tend to go to a park at night then again the next morning. I also never buy Genie+ or ILL.

For MK - depends on my mood and if it's my first day in the park or if I was there the night before. If it's further into my trip, I rope drop Jeoffry's and sit and watch the crowds then ride the Peoplemover. If it's the first day there and I wasn't there the night before, I go on Jungle Cruise. If I was there the night before and didn't ride JC, I go JC. If I did ride JC, then just depends on what has the shortest line and is the closest to coffee.

AK - again depends on if I was there the night before. If I was I probably rode Navi, if I wasn't I usually rope drop Navi since Safari doesn't open until a tad later. After Navi, I'll walk over toward Safari and grab a coffee and bisquit at the little walk up window there and wait for Safari. If I rode Navi the night before I'll head toward Dino and ride it then grab a coffee and something to eat and walk to Safari.

HS - Again, depends on if I was there the night before. If I was and rode Slinky Dog, I'll go to ToT. If I wasn't I'll do SDD. After either one, I'll grab a coffee.

Epcot - Usually I stay in an Epcot resort so I'm coming in IG. If I didn't ride Remy the night before, I'll do that. If I did, I'll to to the bakery in France and get some breakfast and a coffee and just stroll over to the front of the park. If I don't stay in an Epcot resort, I don't rope drop Epcot period, I can't stand the rope drop crowd there. I'll arrive a little later and just work my way around the front of the park hitting whatever I didn't ride the night before.

In case you can't tell, grabbing a coffee plays an important role in all my morning strategies. Always Jeoffry's cause I hate Starbucks. You will also notice I never do the big ticket rides on rope drop - RoTR, FoP, GoTG or SDMT. I can usually hit RoTR and SDMT at night without much of a wait. I don't ride FoP every trip, maybe once every 3 trips, it tends to make me a little off. I'll try for a virtual que on Guardians and Tron and if I don't get it, if I'm in that park at 1, I'll try again then. I've never had an issue with getting one for either ride. I prefer the virtual que at Guardians over Tron since it will at least give you a better sort of estimate as to when your group will be called. Tron is less reliable. I have been known to not ride Rise during a trip as well, heck I've been known to not even step for in Galaxy's Edge during a trip.

 

[MomDoc_99]

Most of the time on our last trip we did what I call "Walk in rope drop". We didn't plan on the top tier ride, but got there just a few minutes after the start of early entry rope drop so we didn't spend time in line waiting for rope drop. Then we went to a major 2nd tier ride first and filled in the rest of early entry with short lines.

 

[Sacahara]

I did rope dropping for my first trip all of the 'important/must do' rides (and I've already been on everything minus Frozen and Dinosaur) so now I rope drop food. lol Get me a snack and then meander around until I decide what I want to do/look at/eat next. I'm really starting to dig this no plan route, gives me a lot of time to just people watch and just enjoy being, ya know?

 

[rdevans_2000]

Walk-in rope drop… I like that. Show up leisurely and walk right in but don’t go where the crowds are going. Nice. Thanks

 

[Jonnnyap]

I've always wanted to rope drop Carousel of Progress. I legitimately love the ride and know many would think this is a joke. But I never have. I think I'd get the theater to myself or be among die hard friends who also love COP.

 

[leeniewdw]

Epcot - Usually I stay in an Epcot resort so I'm coming in IG. If I didn't ride Remy the night before, I'll do that. If I did, I'll to to the bakery in France and get some breakfast and a coffee and just stroll over to the front of the park. If I don't stay in an Epcot resort, I don't rope drop Epcot period, I can't stand the rope drop crowd there. I'll arrive a little later and just work my way around the front of the park hitting whatever I didn't ride the night before.

Thank you for this. We're headed to WDW for a very quick trip and will have 1 day in EP staying at Dolphin for first time. I'm not sure we've rope dropped from the IG before as we normally had EP for afternoon/evening. As I was reading this thread I thought to ask about food in the World Showcase but of course France makes sense!

We plan to do 2 shifts at EP that day, rides in the morning, rest or pool, then back for afternoon/evening. GotG (twice hopefully) is really the only priority, but hitting Remy and then whatever else after a bite to eat sounds perfect!

 

[Newsies]

Epcot: So silly but we usually start with Living With the Land/Soarin'/Spaceship Earth, even if we're staying in an Epcot/DHS area resort and taking the Skyliner to World Showcase entrance. We'll get a lightning lane for later in the afternoon for Remy, so we try to get as much done in World Discovery in the morning before spending the rest of our day/afternoon in World Showcase.

DHS: I'm usually the only one who cares enough to rope drop DHS in my fam, so I'll rush off to Rock'N'Roller Coaster and do the single rider line, usually 3-4 times in a row before heading to ToT and then grabbing breakfast at the Joffrey's cart over there. By then, my family will have gotten out of bed and into the park, so we'll head to standby line for MMRR from there.

MK: We always take it easy rope dropping MK and go wherever there are no crowds. Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Splash (if it's warm enough) and sometimes even BTMRR are good for this.

DAK: Again, I'm usually up and rope dropping DAK alone -- I always rush to Expedition Everest and I've done it 5-6 times through the solo line before! If the family is still at the hotel by the time I'm done I'll grab something quick at Joffrey's in Asia, then see what the situation is like over at Dinosaur before they arrive.

 

[Mickeystar3864]

I really like the different strategies. It’s interesting to see what everyone’s thinking is when entering the parks. Since I only can make it to the parks once a year/every 2 years, I prioritize the headliners as my rope drop strategy. Also, we don’t pay for genie+ but will pay for LL.

MK head to space mountain, then other tomorrowland attractions.

EPCOT we stay at Pop so will hit up Remy and then head to Soarin or Test Track

AK Flight Of passage and then the Safari

HS Smugglers run or Rise

 

[Runnergirl227]

Going to be there with my 15 year old DD in January for marathon weekend. We are running the 1/2. Going to rope drop AK on our 2nd day and are hoping to speed through it because we also want to hit the expo and then hop to MK for extended evening hours later in the day. Looking for guidance on my rope drop plan. It is likely going to be very crowded for marathon weekend. Currently looking like a crowd level of 7 or 8 for AK the day we go (per touring plans predictions). Planning to purchase ILL for FOP and book LL for the Safari (hopefully can get those before noon). Was going to go straight to Navi River and hopefully get on that quickly then head to Everest. I don’t really like the coasters so my daughter with ride a couple of times on the single rider line. Then we will try to fit in Dinosaur and possibly the water ride (depending on the temp in Jan.). We should be able to book 2nd LL at 11:00 since AK opening at 9. Does this seem like a workable plan? Will likely skip It’s a bug’s life but might try to hit the lion king show.

 

[Captain UP]

I've always wanted to rope drop Carousel of Progress. I legitimately love the ride and know many would think this is a joke. But I never have. I think I'd get the theater to myself or be among die hard friends who also love COP.

You'd walk up and they'd be like "we've actually never seen this before..."

 

[Captain UP]

Going to be there with my 15 year old DD in January for marathon weekend. We are running the 1/2. Going to rope drop AK on our 2nd day and are hoping to speed through it because we also want to hit the expo and then hop to MK for extended evening hours later in the day. Looking for guidance on my rope drop plan. It is likely going to be very crowded for marathon weekend. Currently looking like a crowd level of 7 or 8 for AK the day we go (per touring plans predictions). Planning to purchase ILL for FOP and book LL for the Safari (hopefully can get those before noon). Was going to go straight to Navi River and hopefully get on that quickly then head to Everest. I don’t really like the coasters so my daughter with ride a couple of times on the single rider line. Then we will try to fit in Dinosaur and possibly the water ride (depending on the temp in Jan.). We should be able to book 2nd LL at 11:00 since AK opening at 9. Does this seem like a workable plan? Will likely skip It’s a bug’s life but might try to hit the lion king show.

Good luck!