Special events at opening time of the parks?

[brightspark]

Hi,
When I went with my sister to WDW in 2003 we saw Mickey and a host of other characters arrive by train to open the MK first thing in the morning which was great. However in the 2 trips I've made since that, I've not seen it again. My Dh doesn't believe it happens as he's never seen it.

Can anyone tell me if this happens every day or is it only on certain occassions? It may be that we've just been too late to see it or have we been there on the wrong day? Also do the other parks have anything similar?

We go in January and as it's my 4th and dh's 5th trip I'm looking for some slightly different experiences. Does anyone have anything special that they recommend doing, that is slightly out of the ordinary? We are 33 and 34!

 

[Robo]

Can anyone tell me if this happens every day or is it only on certain occassions? It may be that we've just been too late to see it or have we been there on the wrong day? Also do the other parks have anything similar?

Nothing "always happens" every day at WDW.
The best you can hope for is something that "USUALLY happens."

MK: The rope drop you mentioned with the train, Mickey and others.
AK: Minnie, Goofy, Pluto and a special "explorer" open the park.
EC: on selected days, several characters run in and welcome guests
MGM: very seldom is there anything other than a recorded audio greeting.

On EMH mornings, these ceremonies are only performed for the EMH early-arrivals and not for the "Regular hours" guests.
On non-EMH mornings, these are performed for all guests at opening time.

And, again, they don't ALWAYS do them... just USUALLY.

 

[brightspark]

Thanks that's really helpful...

 

[eeyorefan74]

We saw the train and opening show at MK yesterday. It started at 8:45, so be sure you're there in time. We were at MGM at 9:00 earlier in the week and didn't notice anything special at opening.

 

[golden1]

My dh saw the MK opening show with the train last week and I saw the AK show last week. They are cute. I wasn't at Epcot for opening and MGM didn't have anything special.

 

[disndatworld]

I was present for rope-drop @ MGM about 1 1/2 weeks ago on 2 different days. On the regular time park open day, they had a small "film crew" and had a couple from the audience do a "lights-camera-action" sequence to get the crowd pepped up. At the same park @ EMH early opening, they did nothing but drop the rope, a little audio, and have the CM's escort the guests to the attractions (keep them from running).

 

[seashoreCM]

At Magic Kingdom sometimes rope drop is just inside the turnstiles, sometimes rope drop is at the north end of Main St. (near the barber shop and ice cream parlor). It probably depends on crowding.

Sometimes there is a pep talk or ceremony for MK day guests at the parking lot concourse (Transportation & Ticket Center) before people are allowed to proceed to the monorail and ferry.

I do not like the idea of having guests hold up tickets in outstretched hands. Too much of a chance of dropping the ticket or having it snatched.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[bytheblood]

That is what I love about Disney...everything changes daily. Some things you can count on being the same, but not everything.......that is why it is so magical.

 

[battlecat533]

We were at MGM on 12/4 and 12/8 at opening. Had to ride TOT and RNR several times before the crowds got there. Each morning they had the director in his truckl and some actors along with a family picked out of the crowd open the park. They would have the crowd scream "Lights Camera Action" and then the family would say "Hollywood here we come" The cars would then drive to either TOT street or the other way and the crowds could follow. It was all a little skit before this happened