What time do they let people in the park for rope drop at Epcot?

[maryj11]

I just wanted to know what time do people usually get into the park and start lining up at rides?
We have a reservation at Garden Grill at 8:10 am, we are hoping this will help us get a jump on the crowds? We tried to get Akershus but there are no reservations available.
Our plan is if the new Frozen ride is open we could eat and beat the crowds to the line.
You think this will work ?

 

[g-dad66]

Opening time varies, but early opening is common. So I'm afraid your plan probably won't work.

On March 11, the gates were opened at 8:45.
On March 14, the gates were opened at 8:40.

 

[perkinsrose]

Might help you get to Soarin' quickly if you can FP Maelstrom oops I mean Frozen...

 

[maryj11]

Might help you get to Soarin' quickly if you can FP Maelstrom oops I mean Frozen...

Good idea, Soarin is our first pick. If they let people in as early as 8:40 that means we will have to be done eating by then. That only gives us 30 minutes to be seated and eat.

 

[DynamicDisney]

30 minutes at Garden Grill just will not be enough time. It tool us a solid hour for dinner in March.

 

[perkinsrose]

Rope drop varies. It could work out for you.
Ten trips with multiple Epcot entries and we have never been let in more than 5 minutes before stated opening. Last summer, they were letting in at nearly exactly opening. Of course, things always vary and change. If you don't want to be rushed and worried, we also grab a small snack as we walk and plan a sit-down meal for late morning after a few rides.

 

[CAS239]

It could work out in your favor, but be prepared for it not to. Epcot could open the gates right on time or 30 min in advance. Just one of the things you have to deal with if you decide on making an early reservation to try to beat the crowds

 

[maryj11]

If they do not have Frozen tiered with Soarin that would be great but, I know they will

 

[HeyIt'sMe]

When we were there in August they started letting us into the park at 8:45am. But then they held everyone at the breezeways to Soarin' and Test Track until 9:00am.

We also have a PPO ADR at Garden Grill (8:05am) - we hope to get downstairs to Soarin' before the crowd hits but we'll have FP+ just in case. While I'm curious to see Frozen Ever After we aren't going to try to ride it since my DH and DD (18) have no interest in Frozen. Guess I'll have to check out online videos after it opens!

Ok dumb question ---- I thought World Showcase opened at 11am. How can having an early breakfast help you beat the crowds to Frozen Ever After? Will the Norway pavilion open earlier than 11am?

 

[Blue32]

When we were there in August they started letting us into the park at 8:45am. But then they held everyone at the breezeways to Soarin' and Test Track until 9:00am.

We also have a PPO ADR at Garden Grill (8:05am) - we hope to get downstairs to Soarin' before the crowd hits but we'll have FP+ just in case. While I'm curious to see Frozen Ever After we aren't going to try to ride it since my DH and DD (18) have no interest in Frozen. Guess I'll have to check out online videos after it opens!

Ok dumb question ---- I thought World Showcase opened at 11am. How can having an early breakfast help you beat the crowds to Frozen Ever After? Will the Norway pavilion open earlier than 11am?

Many expect that the Norway pavilion or at least the Frozen ride will open with park at 9am. Stay tuned though....Disney has not announced this yet.

 

[HeyIt'sMe]

Many expect that the Norway pavilion or at least the Frozen ride will open with park at 9am. Stay tuned though....Disney has not announced this yet.

Gotcha! Thanks for the info.

 

[WEDWDW]

Ok dumb question ---- I thought World Showcase opened at 11am. How can having an early breakfast help you beat the crowds to Frozen Ever After? Will the Norway pavilion open earlier than 11am?

Whether Froway opens at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM,it is expected that the lines for Frozen Ever After and Royal Sommerhaus will begin forming BEFORE the Park opens by early ADR Guests.

That is what happened when Anna & Elsa met in Puffin's Roost-Akershus Guests would eat quickly and be in line for A&E before the Maingate/IG Guests arrived(and that was with an 11:00 AM open).

 

[maryj11]

Many expect that the Norway pavilion or at least the Frozen ride will open with park at 9am. Stay tuned though....Disney has not announced this yet.

I know they have Akerhaus open at Norway for breakfast by 8:00 so I would guess the ride would be also.

 

[WEDWDW]

I know they have Akerhaus open at Norway for breakfast by 8:00 so I would guess the ride would be also.

Not necessarily-Malestrom did not open until 11:00 AM and the Anna & Elsa meet in Puffin's Roost did not open until 11:00 AM.

 

[MermaidMommy]

Because rope drop procedures are always changing, you need to rely on the most current info. Since last fall, all parks have now gone back to an internal rope drop, which makes the current procedures different from what they were. Here's what Josh says about Epcot's rope-drop:

"30 minutes before official rope drop, Disney will begin letting guests enter the park from both entrances. Guests will be held at the Fountain of Nations until 15 minutes to open and then cast members will walk guests slowly toward Test Track and Soarin’."
http://www.easywdw.com/cheatsheets/ep_cheatsheet_v4.pdf

Guests would eat quickly and be in line for A&E before the Maingate/IG Guests arrived(and that was with an 11:00 AM open).

They did eventually move A&E to a 9:00 opening at Epcot. Hopefully, they won't make the mistake of waiting until 11:00 to open the Norway attractions again.

.

 

[dreiwhit]

We walked up to the bag check line at 8:45am on February 29th, and scanned our tickets @5 minutes later. No one was being held anywhere.