The term rope drop refers to arriving at a park before opening, with the intent of being in the first wave of guests to enter. The expression comes from a time when a physical rope was taken down to let guests into the Parks. While still in use at some locations, now it is more of a figurative expression for when Cast Members let guests move into a Park.
Park opening times can change very close to your arrival date, so be sure to check your My Disney Experience (MDE) App for Theme Park Hours.
On site resort guests, and some “good neighbor” hotels, can get into the parks 30 minutes before the official opening. Off-Site guests can’t get on any rides at this time, but may access other areas of the parks such as Main Street U.S.A. in Magic Kingdom.
To be in the first group of people speed walking toward your favorite E Ticket attraction, you need to arrive 30 to 60 (in busier seasons some say 90) minutes before that “Early Entry” time. This means you may getting up early, catching the first bus, skyliner, boat or monorail and waiting 30 to 60 minutes before even getting in line for a ride. So, why do it?
People “rope drop” to enjoy an emptier park, or to try to access rides with shorter wait times. Rope Drop fans say the wait at the start of the day has you ahead of the pack for the morning, or even the rest of the day. While non-Rope droppers are getting in line for the ride you just got off, you are on your merry way to the shorter wait times at some of the less popular rides.
Many months of the year in Florida, rope dropping also helps you beat the heat. You get rides done and can hop out of the Park. Spend time at your resort for a nap or pool time. Enjoy a relaxed sit down meal indoors during the peak heat of the day.
A common question I get asked is “do you have to rope drop to have a successful park day?” Here are a couple questions for YOU first.
Why do I ask these questions? I think the benefits of Rope Drop depend on your travel party. Personally, I love Rope Drop…when I’m with my best friend or brother on an Adult Only Trip.
At Disney my kids go to bed around 7:30 (no later than 8pm) and they wake up between 6 and 7 am. Why these times? Because this is their schedule at home. One late night before a rest day may not ruin us, but several days in a row of late nights will most certainly lead to an increase in meltdowns, lower energy levels, and less enjoyment of our Park time overall. I would rather ride 3 rides with happy kids than all the rides in a park with tired and grumpy ones. While this may seem very obvious to non-vacation me, Disney Mama wants to maximize the limited time we have at my favorite place on earth.
So, have I strayed from this methodology before? Of course. It led to me leaving my eldest with family to bring my 2 1/2 year old back to the resort. She was not having 3 park days in a row. On another trip, I held a sleeping 38 pound 3 year old through Happily Ever After and carried her all the way back to our golf cart at Fort Wilderness covered in her urine. For the record, seeing her sister’s face while watching Happily Ever After for the first time left me with no regrets.
Live and learn. I’ve made the mistakes, so hopefully you don’t have to.
Does Rope Drop have some great benefits? Absolutely. To recap, some perks include:
Is Rope Drop for everyone? Absolutely not. Why not?
For now, my family will spend some extra money to access Lightning Lanes and leave those early morning park days for when we’re a little older and can hang. I hope this helped you figure out what is right for YOUR family.
