Rope Drops?

[anbouk]

Can someone pls explain what the term 'rope drop' means when referring to visiting the parks? I keep seeing that pop up in threads and don't really know it's meaning...thanks!

 

[Donald is #1]

Here goes:
About 10-15 minutes before official park openings, the turnstiles are opened and people can enter the park. They are then held at a holding area that is roped off from the rest of the park. For most if not all of the parks (I have been to the one at AK in the past year), there is a small ceremony just as opening, when the rope is "dropped" i.e. the park officially opens. At this point, at least in EPCOT and AK, the CMs lead the crowds to the popular attractions.

I have not been to the MK & MGM rope drops in many years, but the AK one is at the entrance to Discovery Island (i.e. in front of the Tree of Life) and the EPCOT one is in between the 2 Innovations buildings.

 

[anbouk]

Thanks!

 

[SplashMountainMama]

At rope drop in MGM last year there were CM's that lead the crowd to RnRC and ToT, but when we went for Magical Beginnings in MK last year it was basically a free for all with people actually dashing to get to Fantasyland. It was a first for me to see it and it was quite interesting to watch. Some people go crazy trying to get there first.

 

[Robo]

At rope drop in MGM last year there were CM's that lead the crowd to RnRC and ToT, but when we went for Magical Beginnings in MK last year it was basically a free for all with people actually dashing to get to Fantasyland. It was a first for me to see it and it was quite interesting to watch. Some people go crazy trying to get there first.

Some of this may be about the practice of attempting to be the first kid to "Wake Up Tinker Bell" at the Tinker Bell's Treasures shop in Fantasyland. (**See below for more on this.)

Due to near "fisticuffs" between parents as to whose little angel was FIRST ( or OUGHT to be first, or DESERVES to be first, or was PROMISED to be first, or THOUGHT she was first, or youngest, or saddest, or cutest, or... you get the idea.)

There are many mornings when more than one (a lot more than one) young guest gets to "wake up" the snoozy Tink.

So don't break any speed-records (or bones) trying to be FIRST...
just go on over to the shop and discreetly ask a store CM the status of Tink's sleep-condition.

We were there on several days in late January last year when there were lots of folks already riding attractions, the doors to Tinkerbell's Treasures were wide open... and not a single little angel was around to wake the fairy.
Guess Tink got to sleep-in a bit on those days...

I stood off to the side, watching the non-activity for a few minutes.
I didn't want to chance stepping in front of any "MOM" who might come rocketing-in behind me, warning me to "Back-OFF, my Mindy wants to be FIRST!"

SMACK-DOWN at Tink's... Film at Eleven!

---------------------------------------------------------------

**
Waking up Tinker Bell


Best short description I've found:

"Visit Tinkerbell's Treasures, a shop behind the castle, as soon as it opens. Inside the shop is a very special treasure box where Tinkerbell sleeps! If you are the first guest of the day to enquire, you might be lucky enough to be asked to wake her up. You’ll be told to wave a wand, say "Wake up, Tinkerbell" three times, and then you’ll hear Tink fly around the room. Of course, you probably won't manage to spot her because she's a fairy and flies pretty fast once she’s woken up, but you will see flashing lights and hear bells so you’ll know when she’s awake. You might also be given a certificate and some stickers."

Quoted from:

http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=1162888&page=1
(This site has now become "private.")