Why be at rope drop?

[Boiseboone]

I've never been to DL at opening (or DCA ever) and I keep seeing people mention getting there in time for rope drop.
What are the benefits of being there for rope drop? Does it save a lot of time on the rides? Will we be waiting a long time to get in or ride attractions if we show up at opening as opposed to 30 minutes before?
We'll be there June 3-8, if that makes any difference.
Thanks!

 

[CourtFool]

I have never been for rope drop, but I want to. I believe the benefits are:

• Seeing the park nearly empty
• Short lines
• You can cram every hour of park time into the day
• Mobs are fun!

 

[Lissame]

Some other reasons:

Sometimes you can be one of the first people on a ride, occasionally they just let us stay on for another ride right after that. We have had this happen with Splash Mountain many, many times. Maybe we're the only crazies who don't mind getting wet at 8 AM, but it's so much fun!

Fastpass window much shorter, you can often times get another fastpass almost immediately, leading to more collecting for later use and maximizing the time in your day.

At DCA (this can all totally change after Carsland opens) but in the past and before it opens, being one of the first on Toy Story MM can save a bunch of time later in the day, a 5-10 minute wait vs. a 45 minute wait even 15 minutes after the ride opening time.

 

[perlster]

How else would you get this photo?

 

[Eclectic Goddess]

We almost never miss a rope drop. Being able to hit some popular rides without having to wait is a definite plus, as well as the lack of general crowds when you really want to take a good look around. Since you're going in summer, it will be hotter and more crowded, so first thing in the morning is really the best time to hit the park.

Really, though, we do it for the magic. Being there when they open the park is special. Hearing the countdown, and the music begin...it's a lot more than just opening the gates. As you walk down Main Street, the shop workers are all out on the sidewalk, greeting you and wishing you a good morning. Depending on which direction you head, it's possible that you'll be the first guest to walk that path that morning, and you might be the first person to ride your favorite ride.

It's worth 30 minutes to me. Heck, it's worth more than that, because we usually try to get to the gate an hour early! We grab coffee and a snack along the way and spend that time waiting to plan our day and chat with the other Disneylanders.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

I'm one of the DISers who recommended this to you in another post. Being at rope drop and being there as soon as things start up will allow your family to ride many attractions with little to no wait. If your family likes Buzz Lightyear, for example, you will be able to go on it, come out, and get back on again, that sort of thing. And, having first dibs on FPs and being able to collect them with shorter window times will allow you to collect more and more and more to use throughout the day or when you return in the evening after your afternoon break.

It's no at all uncommon to get to do all of FL plus others in that first hour.

Bottom line, you will get to do so much more. It's my number one Disney tip for both DL and DW.

 

[ValpoCory]

Some other reasons:

Sometimes you can be one of the first people on a ride, occasionally they just let us stay on for another ride right after that. We have had this happen with Splash Mountain many, many times. Maybe we're the only crazies who don't mind getting wet at 8 AM, but it's so much fun!

Fastpass window much shorter, you can often times get another fastpass almost immediately, leading to more collecting for later use and maximizing the time in your day.

At DCA (this can all totally change after Carsland opens) but in the past and before it opens, being one of the first on Toy Story MM can save a bunch of time later in the day, a 5-10 minute wait vs. a 45 minute wait even 15 minutes after the ride opening time.

From a WDW-er's point of view, a 45 minute wait at TSMM sounds heavenly!

 

[ValpoCory]

I've never been to DL at opening (or DCA ever) and I keep seeing people mention getting there in time for rope drop.
What are the benefits of being there for rope drop? Does it save a lot of time on the rides? Will we be waiting a long time to get in or ride attractions if we show up at opening as opposed to 30 minutes before?
We'll be there June 3-8, if that makes any difference.
Thanks!

Some people wait an hour for rope drop, run to a ride and think they had no wait. I say they had an hour wait.

Still, getting there early is better.

 

[Lissame]

From a WDW-er's point of view, a 45 minute wait at TSMM sounds heavenly!

Yeah, but the DLR version has no FP, so that is the wait you get, regardless.

I wish there was a FP...it is such a great ride!

 

[kailuagirl]

Some photos from rope drop may look like a madhouse, but it is so fun to be in the bunch of the first people in the parks of the day and you can get some great castle photos and other photos without tons of people in the background, you can hope on rides faster and get alot more done, and more, like everyone has stated and it's kinda cool to be inside before it officially opens. We made the mistake one year of never going at rope drop or opening and getting to the park maybe 1 1/2 hours after opening everyday, our DD then 2 could'nt adjust to the time schedule, the one day we got there early, and of course, it was our last day, we were like, man we have been missing out big time! Look at all we got done and there are no lines! It was awesome! Everyone kinds scurries off to their favorite ride or what they have planned to do, so it isn't as bad as the photos seem.

Have fun and try to do it at least one, you'll see the difference

 

[Boiseboone]

Some people wait an hour for rope drop, run to a ride and think they had no wait. I say they had an hour wait.

Yep, that's what I was wondering!

Nonetheless, you all have me completely convinced that rope drop is worth it. I'm in!

Thanks, everyone!

 

[S. S. Columbia]

I agree with everyone's comments.

And early in the morning the temperatures are a little bit cooler.

 

[bakerudall]

Some people wait an hour for rope drop, run to a ride and think they had no wait. I say they had an hour wait.

Still, getting there early is better.

As Obi Wan would say, what you are saying is true--from a certain point of view. By the same logic, however, if they wait an hour for a rope drop, they effectually expanded the park hours by an hour, thus maximizing ride time at DLR.

I am not the type to wait an hour for premium show or parade locations because that hour conflicts with other possible attractions, but an hour before the park opens? What does it conflict with? Sleep? Sleep is overrated.

Of course, if you ask me about this at 5:00 AM in my comfy hotel bed, I may give you a totally different response.

 

[CourtFool]

Some people wait an hour for rope drop, run to a ride and think they had no wait. I say they had an hour wait.

Except how many rides do you get for that one hour wait? You can make that argument for the first one. Every walk on after that is gravy.

 

[ValpoCory]

As Obi Wan would say, what you are saying is true--from a certain point of view. By the same logic, however, if they wait an hour for a rope drop, they effectually expanded the park hours by an hour, thus maximizing ride time at DLR.

I am not the type to wait an hour for premium show or parade locations because that hour conflicts with other possible attractions, but an hour before the park opens? What does it conflict with? Sleep? Sleep is overrated.

Of course, if you ask me about this at 5:00 AM in my comfy hotel bed, I may give you a totally different response.

Very good counterpoints! I'm convinced. Rope drop every day.

At the MK, they open certain restaurants an hour before "rope drop", like Crystal Palace, CRT in the castle, etc. At Disneyland, do they do that as well, with Minnie and Friends, for instance?

 

[ValpoCory]

Except how many rides do you get for that one hour wait? You can make that argument for the first one. Every walk on after that is gravy.

But every walk on ride after the first one is equally available to those visitors who show up right at rope drop. The real benefit to being really early for rope drop is the wait on the first ride being zero.

 

[Lissame]

Very good counterpoints! I'm convinced. Rope drop every day.

At the MK, they open certain restaurants an hour before "rope drop", like Crystal Palace, CRT in the castle, etc. At Disneyland, do they do that as well, with Minnie and Friends, for instance?

I believe Minnie and Friends only opens technically before rope drop on Magic Morning days. It opens at 7:10 for the first reservation (someone correct me if I'm wrong). So if you are staying offsite and have access to only one Magic Morning, that's a great time to go to Minnie and Friends to maximize your time if you want to do a character breakfast.

 

[mouseymommy]

How else would you get this photo?

We were there for rope drop in March almost every morning, and we never saw crowds like that! Were we just lucky, or was that a very crowded day?

 

[HydroGuy]

Although the OP sounds convinced about RD, one thing not mentioned was being there at RD allows you collect more FPs because the windows in the morning are so short.

 

[dumbodame]

This past August I was there for rope drop. My family wouldn't get their tired rears out of bed so I went over to the park without them.

I didn't intend to be there for rope drop...it just happened.

The picture that was posted is EXACTLY what it looks like. Oh my gosh, the sea of people is insane.

Since I wasn't there to take advantage of the rides, I stepped into doorway of the Penny Arcade and took pictures of the throng.

I was pretty cool, and when the crowd started moving into the park it seemed like the stream of people would never end.

It was a fun experience.

While the crowd headed for the rides, I took the opportunity to head to my favorite coffee cart and my favorite coffee maker...Robert. I was first in line.