Rope Drop

[MotherRunner]

Me again

We are very much Rope Droppers. Our second trip we got to HS so early we beat the parking attendants and got free parking. Griswold style.

Should we drive for Rope Drop for anywhere other than MK? Does the boat run early enough for MK rope drop?

It's our first stay as a family on property. I've been with my friends, but we were more concerned staying out late than getting there early

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

We drive everywhere for rope drop, even though we always stay on property. It's easiest for us to just get up, get ready and go and not wait for buses and it also allows for a comfortable ride home at night. We do park hop, but we use the bus system for that and leave the car in the first parking lot. We are rope droppers to park closers

 

[bama_ed]

Personally we drive to all the parks other than MK.

MK can be tricky because you have two boat options.

The big boat (off the left of the Fort pier) comes in on its first run about 35 minutes before scheduled MK open, loads up, and takes off for the MK. It gets in about 20 minutes before the hour. That is also approximately the time the Welcome show starts and you are NOT certain to get there in time to see it. The show is over by 10 minutes till when they let people in.

The smaller (think Jungle Cruise size) boats off the right side of the pier run starting about 630am between the Fort, Wilderness Lodge, and the Contemporary Resort. We have taken it and walked from the Contemporary to the MK so be at the front of rope drop and thus we were sure to see the Welcome show. So that's the way to go to see the show and be at the front of rope drop.

If you don't care about being at the Front, the big boat will get you to the MK for rope drop if you are in the first load but you may not see the Welcome show. Just sayin'.

Bama Ed

PS - this past March when we were there they dropped the rope 10 minutes before the hour. Maybe they did that because it was a busy time of year. I don't remember that happening all the time in the past.

 

[MotherRunner]

Personally we drive to all the parks other than MK.

MK can be tricky because you have two boat options.

The big boat (off the left of the Fort pier) comes in on its first run about 35 minutes before scheduled MK open, loads up, and takes off for the MK. It gets in about 20 minutes before the hour. That is also approximately the time the Welcome show starts and you are NOT certain to get there in time to see it. The show is over by 10 minutes till when they let people in.

The smaller (think Jungle Cruise size) boats off the right side of the pier run starting about 630am between the Fort, Wilderness Lodge, and the Contemporary Resort. We have taken it and walked from the Contemporary to the MK so be at the front of rope drop and thus we were sure to see the Welcome show. So that's the way to go to see the show and be at the front of rope drop.

If you don't care about being at the Front, the big boat will get you to the MK for rope drop if you are in the first load but you may not see the Welcome show. Just sayin'.

Bama Ed

Yay! Thank you! We NEED rope drop. Will do this. And my husband informed me we NEED Bama v. Kentucky so we are glad for full hookup and the cable

 

[shalynvalentine]

I personally think that transportation is a way to control the flow of traffic to MK. I've been the first one in the parking lot before and transportation was limited. Even staying at the near by resorts, transportation will not be exactly what it is during high traffic hours so be sure to ask for specifics.

 

[Teamubr]

It's funny, but as many times as I've been to WDW (starting in the 90s), I've never done a rope drop. Until 2004 we stayed off site, usually in St Pete at my parents condo. Since then, we have always slept in (8:00) and made it to the parks by 9 or 10. I get up everyday between 5-6 for work, unless I have 0600 meetings. Then its 430. On my days off, I like to sleep later. I had good intentions when we were all at Gulf State Park of getting up by 7, getting a good bike ride in and chatting with the other early birds in the group. I made it out riding twice and that wasn't until 730 or 8.

Next trip, I think I'm going to have to make sure I do MK rope drop at least once.

j

 

[amcc]

We did rope drop last week to MK (EMH) and Epcot. Definitely drive to Epcot. MK was more complicated.

The buses aren't running to get you to the dock for the 6:45 boat so you have to walk or bike. We left on our bikes at 6:25 and the boat was waiting when we got there. We arrived at the contemporary and walked to the park to arrive by around 7:25. This put us at the front of the crowd (everyone was made to go through the metal detector after the bag check). They did open the gates a bit early as we were waiting at 7D Mine Train by 7:50 and off the ride by 8:08.

It was a MISSION to get there but we were able to do 14 rides by 1:30 when we headed back to the campground for a break.

 

[mtnminnie]

following

 

[rajak73]

DW and I last trip in 2014 was the first time we've done rope drop and welcome show. Like bama ed, other than MK we drove to the other parks, part because of the convenience and part because we were dropping off the pup at the kennel.

 

[coachk34]

Very good advice above. Only thing I would add that we learned. One morning the small boat was at the dock, but the big boat was off in the distance. We went ahead and took the small boat, which was the wrong decision. No doubt the big boat got there before we did. The walk from the Contemporary is not a bad walk, but it is a good 15 minutes with a stroller.

 

[MotherRunner]

We did rope drop last week to MK (EMH) and Epcot. Definitely drive to Epcot. MK was more complicated.

The buses aren't running to get you to the dock for the 6:45 boat so you have to walk or bike. We left on our bikes at 6:25 and the boat was waiting when we got there. We arrived at the contemporary and walked to the park to arrive by around 7:25. This put us at the front of the crowd (everyone was made to go through the metal detector after the bag check). They did open the gates a bit early as we were waiting at 7D Mine Train by 7:50 and off the ride by 8:08.

It was a MISSION to get there but we were able to do 14 rides by 1:30 when we headed back to the campground for a break.

Did you lock your bikes at the dock?

 

[amcc]

Did you lock your bikes at the dock?

No, we've never locked the bikes at the Fort but that's because we always forget our locks. We've never had a problem leaving them all over the place.

 

[North of Mouse]

Did you lock your bikes at the dock?

You should!! They can, and have, 'walked' off!! Might not happen often, but you don't want to be the 'unlucky' one!

 

[MotherRunner]

So for you bike riders. ...was it hard riding back at park closing? Let me back up.

This is the first time we are going to attempt park open to close. We normally do rope drop to 1 and pool it. But my kids are old enough now to go all day. We have 4 day park hoppers.

So we are going all out park open to close for 4 of our 9 days. Im going to guess my 4 year old won't be able to bike home after park close, but thankfully she still fits jn the bike seat. Do we need flashlights? Is it better to leave the bikes and bus it back to the site?

 

[North of Mouse]

We don't take our bikes to the Fort, but do know you will need lights front & back on them for nights. Some of the paths are sort of dark in places and it's hard to see and be seen. We've nearly been hit by bikers before as the paths are used by both. Am sure a flashlight would come in handy also.

 

[Teamubr]

First, you should have a light. It is listed in the rules for the Fort and there are places, even on the sidewalks that can get pretty dark. That said, you will see lots of people after dark on bikes, walking, in golf carts without lights.

I have taken my bike to the Fort several times, but never left it any where for the day. Unless my site is close to the dock, I don't know how much I'd feel like biking back after a full day. Since you will be doing several marathon days, take the bus the first day and see how you feel. After that, decide what's best.

j