"show" question

[la79al]

When we went to DW in December, we got there one morning early enough to see the 'show' with the dancers/singers and the trolley on Main Street. What is this and what time does it happen in the mornings? DD really enjoyed the interaction and the super low crowds on Main Street at that time were great.

 

[Robo]

When we went to DW in December, we got there one morning early enough to see the 'show' with the dancers/singers and the trolley on Main Street. What is this and what time does it happen in the mornings? DD really enjoyed the interaction and the super low crowds on Main Street at that time were great.

That's the "Rope Drop" Ceremony-

"Rope drop" is a term that generally means, "Releasing guests into the park--or specific area(s) of a park-- so that they can visit the attractions."
Guests usually line up behind an actual rope (or ropes) and, after a countdown, the rope
is "dropped" (usually it is actually removed by CM's and not actually dropped) and guests
can then walk to the area they prefer to visit first.

Here's an excerpt from my Coffee Table Novella, "Rope Drop Wars: Ep. IV- A New Rope."

I arrive at the park gates 30 minutes before opening time at any park, on any day.

MK's Rope Drop Ceremony called "Magic Kingdom
Welcome" (see link below) is, by far, the best and
most elaborate.

Guests are usually admitted starting about 15-20 minutes before
the posted opening time, to WAIT just inside the gates, in front of the train station (near the "flower Mickey face.")

The ceremony lasts 6-7 minutes or so and starts 6-7 minutes before the scheduled opening time.
There is also a "mini" version (far less "hoopla") that lasts about 2-3 minutes.
There is also an "AUDIO ONLY" version (no characters at all) that lasts under minute.
Which one you will see can be tough to guess. (See link below.)

There is really only one more "formal" Rope Drop Ceremony featuring a presenation
with primary Disney characters.
It happens at DAK , and is called "The Adventure Begins"(see link below.)

Guests are usually admitted starting about 15-20 minutes before
the posted opening time, and they re-group to wait just inside the gates.
This "just inside the gates" info is new (as of Feb.2010) and I don't know if it is a temporary
or permanent change. (For years, guests would line up behind ropes set up near the Tips Board.)
I'll leave the info this "new" way until I hear otherwise.

The ceremony lasts 6-7 minutes or so and starts 6-7 minutes before the scheduled opening time.


The above two shows feature Disney characters with "speaking
roles".
MK:* (called "Magic Kingdom* Welcome") at the train
station (with lots singing and
dancing, and a guest family).
DAK: (called "The Adventure Begins") just inside the Main Gates (no singing, but cute).

Epcot allows guests to "re-group" near Innoventions
and, on certain mornings, some of the characters show up
to quietly shake hands with a few of the folks standing at the rope.
CMs "hold" guests until scheduled open time, then
allow folks to go either way towards Soarin' or Test
Track/Mission Space.

At DHS the CMs usually have ropes across the street near the
Call-board/Tips-board/Starring Rolls eatery.

There may be a short (about 3-4 minutes) "show" which
will include a couple of*DHS "Streetmosphere" characters,
and a few selected Guests from the waiting crowd.
After a brief "set-up" and countdown, the
ropes are dropped and everyone walks briskly
STRAIGHT AHEAD (with CM escorts)
towards the new Toy Story Midway Mania...
or turns RIGHT, and walks
briskly (with CM escorts) to ToT and/or RnRC.

At MK, if you have attended Cindy's Royal Breakfast
early, they do have a rope to hold you from FL until
"opening time".

If (IF) they perform a Rope Drop Ceremony at a given park, it will ONLY be ONCE per day (not twice.)

They might not perform it at all.

If (IF) they do perform a Rope Drop Ceremony at a given park on an AM EMH day, it will ONLY be performed for the EMH opening crowd and not at the "regular" opening time that day.

If (IF) they do perform a Rope Drop Ceremony at a given park, it will begin about 5-8 minutes before the scheduled opening time.

But, guests will be let into the park about 10-20 minutes before the scheduled opening time to get ready for the Rope Drop Ceremony.

To see if they will be performing the ceremony, look at the Steve Soares site.
(see link below)

Note: Like everything else at WDW, not EVERYTHING will
happen the same way or the same time (or even happen
at all) every day.
The best you can hope for is for what USUALLY happens.

Rope Drops are no exception to this.

I never miss being there before opening, EMH or
regular, but not just because of the "Rope Drop
Ceremonies"... its because you can do SO MUCH MORE
before the throngs of folks (who simply will NOT get
up early on vacation, bless their sleepy little
hearts) arrive later in the mornings.

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

LINK Below-


The following site posts the stage shows, in-park and
other on-property shows and their times for the
CURRENT week.
(It is updated every weekend.)
The times may be "similar" for other dates as well.

Near the top of the page,
click on the colored links for the various
parks
and their show times.

http://pages.prodigy.net/stevesoares/index.htm

Be sure to check back to the site as the actual dates
of your trip get closer.

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

On many mornings, guests (B) are held for Rope Drop near the HAT (#2)
before being released into the park at opening time (Regular of AM EMH.

On some days following Rope Drop, the CMs will direct guests to enter thru the "Alternate Path" via the Animation archway.

 

[la79al]

Okay Robo, I love you and all and you are usually right, but I swear there's no way we were there nearly early enough to catch any part of a rope drop. Any chance it was something else? Or maybe even just something random? I'm hoping to make an actual RD this trip but will be just as happy if we at least see this little 'show'.

 

[Taja]

They used to perform trolley/dancing program twice during the morning--once just after rope drop and again an hour or so later. Not sure if that is still true.

I'm one of the many who rarely make rope drop--particularly the first two or three days of the visit until I catch up on my sleep (usually work long hours just prior to a holiday) and my body adjusts to the time change--so I'm sure it has been performed at least once later in the morning! *LOL*

 

[ktlm]

More cheers for Robo, but I think I know what you are talking about. You are thinking about when the trolley comes by and the singers jump off and sing "We're walking right down the middle of Main Street U.S.A" aren't you? I love that! At least last year, they were definitely doing it more than at just rope drop. Seemed like they were doing it multiple times a day- as I can remember running across it more than once in a day and stopping to listen each time. I have know idea what the official times are for it, or if they are still doing it.

 

[chartle]

Okay Robo, I love you and all and you are usually right, but I swear there's no way we were there nearly early enough to catch any part of a rope drop. Any chance it was something else? Or maybe even just something random? I'm hoping to make an actual RD this trip but will be just as happy if we at least see this little 'show'.

This is the "rope drop" ceremony for the MK

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSI4ePGCqgA

 

[Robo]

I swear there's no way we were there nearly early enough to catch any part of a rope drop. Any chance it was something else?

They used to perform trolley/dancing program twice during the morning--once just after rope drop and again an hour or so later. Not sure if that is still true.

I think I know what you are talking about. You are thinking about when the trolley comes by and the singers jump off and sing "We're walking right down the middle of Main Street U.S.A" aren't you?

Oh, THAT-

Why didn't you say so?


Here it is-

MK "Main Street Trolley Parade" Song & Dance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpTaAe_KvRA

 

[la79al]

Here it is-

MK "Main Street Trolley Parade" Song & Dance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpTaAe_KvRA

Yup, that's it. Thanks so much everybody!

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

That's so cute..I love that old music! Any way of knowing ahead of time when that happens?

 

[Robo]

That's so cute..I love that old music! Any way of knowing ahead of time when that happens?

Yes. Go to the Steve Soares website and look under Magic Kingdom for the "Main Street Trolley Parade."







.

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

Thanks