When is rope drop . . . REALLY?

[iujen94]

I've seen lots of reports of "rope drop" being earlier than the posted park opening time (especially at DHS but also at MK). In your recent experience, how long before posted park opening time are the parks actually letting people through the ticket turnstiles? I understand they may stop you a bit into the park - just wondering when they're actually letting people into the parks. Interested in answers for all 4 parks. (And I totally understand that this may vary from day to day!)

Also, we are planning on 7am EMH at MK one day - do you see any difference between how far in advance of park opening they let folks in on an EMH morning versus a regular morning?

Thanks!! This board is the best!

 

[Robo]

1. I've seen lots of reports of "rope drop" being earlier than the posted park opening time (especially at DHS but also at MK). In your recent experience, how long before posted park opening time are the parks actually letting people through the ticket turnstiles? I understand they may stop you a bit into the park - just wondering when they're actually letting people into the parks. Interested in answers for all 4 parks. (And I totally understand that this may vary from day to day!)



2. Also, we are planning on 7am EMH at MK one day - do you see any difference between how far in advance of park opening they let folks in on an EMH morning versus a regular morning?

1. Here's what's been happening with Theme Park Openings:

MK still offers an actual Rope Drop SHOW along with an inside-the-gates holding area.
MK Gates open approx. 20-30 minutes "early."
But, the Rope Drop show starts about 8:45AM.

MK's Rope Drop Ceremony is called "Magic Kingdom Welcome" (see location HERE.)
Again, guests are usually admitted through the entrance gates starting about 20-30 minutes before
the posted opening time, but must then 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 about 15 minutes before the scheduled MK 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.
That one starts about 2-3 minutes before the top of the hour.
Which one you will see can be tough to guess.

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DAK no longer offers a Rope Drop SHOW,
AND recently, no longer has an inside-the-park guest holding area.
DAK Gates open approx. 15 min. "early," and guests can enter the park and head
for their attractions of choice at that time.
Expedition Everest may likely not start admitting guests until the top of the hour.

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Epcot does not offer an internal Rope Drop SHOW,
AND no longer offers an inside-the-gates holding area.
There might be a "Welcome to Epcot" audio recording played as a chosen family waves "hello"
to other guests, maybe some confetti involved. (But, it is far below what could be called a "Show.")
Epcot gates (sometimes including the International Gateway) will likely open approx. 15 min. "early."
(Sometimes, on rare occasions when the park is very busy...
the front gates, at least, may open as much as 30 minutes early and guests may head to Soarin' or Test Track.)

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DHS Gates likely open approx. 15 min. "early."
(DHS has opened as much as 30 min. early, but that's not been the case every day.)

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AM EMH entrance times seem to not be affected (figure entering 2-10 minutes before the AM EMH time, as usual.)
On AM EMH days, MK will offer some form of their Rope Drop Show
(may or may not be the "full show")
only for AM EMH guests,
and no show at all for the regular hours open time that morning.

As always, for better positioning in the crowds, arrive well before the posted opening time at all parks.

If staying at a WDW resort, plan to be at the bus stop about 45-60 min. before you want to ARRIVE at a given park.
(Arriving far too early beats arriving just a minute or two late.)

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2. Figure that the "MK Welcome" will start about 6:50, or so.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

(sorry to hyjack thread)
what if you have a dinning resvation an hour before the park opens? Is there a seprate place to go in? Like AK I am planing on eatting at the chr breakfast before park opening.

 

[Robo]

(sorry to hyjack thread)
what if you have a dinning resvation an hour before the park opens?

Is there a seprate place to go in? Like AK I am planing on eatting at the chr breakfast before park opening.

Yes.

All the way to the end of the entrance gates (it may be to the far right or far left.) There is a sign that says, "Character Breakfast."

 

[btk2333]

Post #2 is a very good summary.

Remember, that you should never be trying to get there "at Rope Drop" at the minimum you will be behind a long line of people- you should always try to be at the park 30-45 minutes prior to "Rope Drop" in order to get the most benefit.

If the park opens at 9:00, we will be trying to get in line at 8:15 at the latest- there are some other ways around this- such as knowing which turnstyles will be held and then opened later- but as a general rule aiming for 45 minutes early will eliminate any chance of missing rope drop or being at the end of a long line.

 

[Robo]

Remember, that you should never be trying to get there "at Rope Drop" at the minimum you will be behind a long line of people- you should always try to be at the park 30-45 minutes prior to "Rope Drop" in order to get the most benefit.

If the park opens at 9:00, we will be trying to get in line at 8:15 at the latest- there are some other ways around this- such as knowing which turnstyles will be held and then opened later- but as a general rule aiming for 45 minutes early will eliminate any chance of missing rope drop or being at the end of a long line.

Agreed.

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

Yes.

All the way to the end of the entrance gates (it may be to the far right or far left.) There is a sign that says, "Character Breakfast."

...a dining reservation before the park opens is a WONDERFUL way to get some great photos in front of the castle before the streets are covered with people. It makes for some really nice photos!! And you get a head start on your day. We always wet and early reservation anytime we can!!

 

[DLBDS]

This explains why we always seemed late for the party last year. We wouldn't get to the resort bus stop until 8:15 or so. So, based on the information here, we should get to the bus stop when? 7:45?? Don't want to be late when we go in July.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

No matter what park I go to wdw or DL i always arive at gates 45 mins before they open. my family may not like me some times but I get us in early.
Yes if the park opens at 8 id want to be a t the park by 7 :15 at the latest. if that means im gona have to be at bus stop bout 6:30 I guess ill do it lol

Thanks about the dinning, yes we are thinking of doing one at MK too.

 

[JamJamFam]

For dining reservations, they'll have a separate entrance that is marked. There they have cast members with a list of all those who have reservations before the park opens.

 

[mindygirl5238]

When we were there in September, Epcot opened right at 9:00am. HS was on morning EMH the day we went, & opened right at 8:00am. AK opened at 8:50, & when I say opened, I mean I was in the park, with my map in hand, heading to the Safari at 8:50...so they probably opened at 8:45. Now, we spent 3 days in MK & all three days we were in the park, walking up Main Street by 8:45. Meaning the Welcome Show started about 8:30ish. For example, we got our "in front of the castle" picture that everyone has to get & stepped to the side of Main Street to look at our map, trying to figure out where exactly to find Tiana. The photopass guy came over to help us, & said, "But she won't be there for at least another 15 minutes. It's only 8:45 now." So, by 8:45 in the morning, we had walked up Main St, got our picture taken, & were headed to Tiana. By 9:00am, we had already met Chip & Dale in FrontierLand & headed around the corner to line up for Tiana.

That was our first day, & after that we paid attention to the times. Like I said, Epcot & DHS were right on time, AK was a little early, but MK started the welcome show almost a half hour early every day. I don't know if it being the SUPER SLOW season had anything to do with this.

 

[Snurk71]

Saturday 1-17 Epcot opened IG at 8.50

Sunday 1.18 DHS opened the gates at 8.50

 

[sweetpea29488]

Agreed.

Robo,

Would getting to the bus stop at our resort 1 hour before opening of a park work? example: be at bus stop at 8:00 for a 9:00 opening?

 

[Robo]

Robo,

Would getting to the bus stop at our resort 1 hour before opening of a park work? example: be at bus stop at 8:00 for a 9:00 opening?

Good rule-of-thumb.

 

[Kelli4Cy]

Thanks for posting all of these times and "things to note" in this thread. Very valuable for our upcoming first family trip!

 

[Cando86]

Our recent experiences from the first couple weeks in January -

AK - we were in line for EE at 9am. So the park must have opened a few minutes before 9 but I don't have it in my notes when exactly it opened. It was probably around 8:50 or 8:55 for a 9am opening.

MK - opened right after the welcome show which started at 8:40 and seemed to last about 10 minutes. So I'd say the park likely opened around 8:50.

Epcot - let us in a little early, around 8:50.

HS - let us in at 8:45 the first day and 8:50 the second day.