Something I noticed about the Magic Kingdom and Epcot openings

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

If anyone has been to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot right away when they opened you know that you can actually enter the park a few minutes before it actually opens, since they will have a rope at the various sections stopping everyone. Anyway I have noticed that at the Magic Kingdom everyone going down Main Street is always walking at a good pace, however at Epcot everyone is always running fast and it doesn't do them any good since they will be stopped at the rope. So has anyone else ever noticed this?

 

[soccerchick]

Yes, we noticed this last week. At DHS and Epcot, you get runners because, IMHO, there are far fewer FP rides, especially at Epcot at opening. AT MK there are more (seemingly - haven't counted) FP rides that appeal to more diverse ages, so I think things get spread out there better. Our FP return times at MK last Wed. were all less than an hour until the afternoon. Then they grdaually increased. Consider you;ve got Splash, BTMR, PP, Pooh, Buzz, Jungle Cruise (I'm sure I'm missing one or two). There were still runners since Splash and BTMR have more people going there w/SM closed. Love the ones that were cutting through the gift shops on the left as you enter.

At Epcot, you have two headliners: TT and Soarin. At DHS you have three: ToT, RNRC, and TSMM. If you don't get a FP at TSMM early, you won't get one, hence the RD Run.

 

[LilGMom]

I noticed people running at MK too. They ran to the next rope right by Stitch and then had to wait again. I think you see more running at Epcot because of the greater distance to cover to get to Soarin' and MS vs. Space Mountain.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Well the main point I am trying to get across is that at Epcot after entering the park running won't do you any good, because you will be stopped at the rope. Then once the park is officially opened you will be walking behind the Cast Members up to a certin point, like when going to Soarin right away.

 

[AbbyPan]

Well the main point I am trying to get across is that at Epcot after entering the park running won't do you any good, because you will be stopped at the rope. Then once the park is officially opened you will be walking behind the Cast Members up to a certin point, like when going to Soarin right away.

Yup, I understand what you're saying.

On one occasion we entered thru the WS entrance just minutes before 9am when Soarin was brand spanking new and we thought we could get first in line...NOT!

As we walked up to The Land pavilion we looked back (it felt like this all happened in slo-motion) we saw this massive crowd with CM's leading the way towards us (they looked super cool with their aviation suits, they were Soarin CMs). And i just turned to my family and shouted, in slo-motion of course: "BRRRAAACE YOOOUURSEEELVES!!"

Point is, we couldn't go any further until those official ropes were dropped so, you're right.

 

[LilGMom]

Well the main point I am trying to get across is that at Epcot after entering the park running won't do you any good, because you will be stopped at the rope. Then once the park is officially opened you will be walking behind the Cast Members up to a certin point, like when going to Soarin right away.

Same thing at MK. You walk down Main St. and if you are heading towards Tomorrowland there are CMs with a rope right after you cross the bridge from the Hub. If you are heading towards Adventureland there will be CMs to stop you just after the bridge. It is kinda like a "Hurry up and wait" thing. Hurry up and get through the front gate, hurry up and get to the next rope and then hurry up and get to the attractions. Kinda funny to see some of the runners have to throw on the brakes as they come up to the next rope that hasn't been dropped yet.

 

[Ktharee]

I always get a kick out of watching people run. I think it's fun that they are so excited. Reminds me of the episode of Roseanne when they go to WDW with their tax refund.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Same thing at MK. You walk down Main St. and if you are heading towards Tomorrowland there are CMs with a rope right after you cross the bridge from the Hub. If you are heading towards Adventureland there will be CMs to stop you just after the bridge. It is kinda like a "Hurry up and wait" thing. Hurry up and get through the front gate, hurry up and get to the next rope and then hurry up and get to the attractions. Kinda funny to see some of the runners have to throw on the brakes as they come up to the next rope that hasn't been dropped yet.

I never really noticed that at the Magic Kingdom. Although maybe it's because there is less room with everyone going down Main Street at the opening, compared to walking in Future World with a lot more room.

 

[PrincessMonkey]

I think it's fun that they are so excited. Reminds me of the episode of Roseanne when they go to WDW with their tax refund.

Did you mean this episode of Roseanne? The rope drop scene is 5:55 minutes into the 7:57-minute clip. The other parts are also available.

I usually notice rope drop runners the most at DHS, but I am sure they've somewhat increased at Magic Kingdom due to Space Mountain being down. I know that a significant portion of the crowd heads to Fantasyland and that hasn't changed much.

 

[Ktharee]

Did you mean this episode of Roseanne? The rope drop scene is 5:55 minutes into the 7:57-minute clip. The other parts are also available.

I usually notice rope drop runners the most at DHS, but I am sure they've somewhat increased at Magic Kingdom due to Space Mountain being down. I know that a significant portion of the crowd heads to Fantasyland and that hasn't changed much.

THAT'S AWESOME! Thanks for posting that link. It's exactly what I was talking about. I've always loved that episode!

 

[Robo]

you can actually enter the park a few minutes before it actually opens, since they will have a rope at the various sections stopping everyone.

Just to keep things clear, that does not ALWAYS happen at MK.

Although they usually DO allow guests through the gates by 10-20 minutes before "opening time" and allow them into the "holding area" between the gates and the RR Station...

There are days when they do not drop the rope at the RR station until straight-up, top-of-the-hour "opening time" and there are no additional ropes at the Hub.

 

[seadd67]

The only thing that I can come up with Is they want to be as far In front at the second rope as possiple when they do start walking. But I do giggle to people wait months some times years and then at rope drop they run. But as long as there not running Into people and being rude. Its ok thats called youth unless its the parents draging there kids.

 

[PrincessMonkey]

THAT'S AWESOME! Thanks for posting that link. It's exactly what I was talking about. I've always loved that episode!

I've never seen this episode before! The whole thing is very funny... If you search, there is another episode preceding this one where they are planning the trip to Disney World.

Thanks for mentioning the episode!
Nice little break in my work day

 

[MickeyNicki]

I have not noticed runners to the rope (Epcot) but once the rope is dropped they run like crazy to get to Soarin for FP

 

[DisneyFanSince71]

Lets see if the runners return to MK on Nov 21st when Space Mountain reopens?

 

[Pixiedust34]

I've noticed people running after RD at all parks.

My dh and a woman next to him were knocked to the ground during the Soarin Stampede several days ago. Luckily, they weren't hurt, but the person(s) did not apologize and no one stopped to help to see if they were OK. It's a crying shame that people are so rude as to knock ever another person just to get to an attraction a few minutes before anyone else.

I know that Disney is trying to control the crowds with the internal ropes and with trying to walk people to the headliner attractions, but I wish something (I don't know what the solution would be, but something) can be done to stop the running, shoving, and pushing. It's crazy.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

I am the runner at Epcot for Soarin, and at AK for EE, and at DHS if we want to do the LMA!

We typically hop on the train and take it to the back of MK and work our way forward, so no running there. It's smaller, so the rest of the family doesn't mind zig zagging back a little to return for FP times.

It's fun!

I like to be at the back of the rope drop crowd, though-I don't like being squeezed or jostled, and a lot of the front runners don't pace themselves right and I run right past them a few minutes later, lol.

But I don't always do it. If I wake up that morning and don't feel like running or I decide to wear heels and a dress that day, then I don't run.

I saunter.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Just to keep things clear, that does not ALWAYS happen at MK.

Although they usually DO allow guests through the gates by 10-20 minutes before "opening time" and allow them into the "holding area" between the gates and the RR Station...

There are days when they do not drop the rope at the RR station until straight-up, top-of-the-hour "opening time" and there are no additional ropes at the Hub.

Thanks for pointing this out. They don't ALWAYS open the gate early at ANY of the parks.


Soon we'll be hearing from someone who is upset they didn't opne the gate before 9am, and it ruined their trip planning. Or maybe I'm just getting cynical.

 

[Robo]

Thanks for pointing this out. They don't ALWAYS open the gate early at ANY of the parks.


Soon we'll be hearing from someone who is upset they didn't opne the gate before 9am, and it ruined their trip planning. Or maybe I'm just getting cynical.

My main point was that ONLY at MK, the rope drop holding area (and "Ceremony," if any) is just inside the gates.

At all of the other parks, the rope drop holding area (and "Ceremony," if any) is actually very deep into the park (a distance away from the gates.)

Often at MK, once they drop that first rope (at the RR Station area) there may or may not be any more ropes between guests and the attractions.

 

[g-dad66]

There are days when they do not drop the rope at the RR station until straight-up, top-of-the-hour "opening time" and there are no additional ropes at the Hub.

Yep, this was our situation the last three trips (October, March, August), which made me feel pretty good that we had selcted relatively un-busy days each time.