They open the parking lots about 45 minutes before opening.I was reading a couple of trip reports where people were walking in to the parks early. My time for MK is 9:00 AM when they open, but some were saying they were walking in at 8:15....
Same with the other parks.....
How does this work?
They are letting people in to avoid the crowding that happens at rope drop, whether outside or inside the park. So rope drop as such is not happening, you can line up for certain rides once you go in, and some rides will start running early.Pre-Covid the parks would open before the published open time, but CMs would have ropes on the main walkway preventing guests from proceeding to the rides. At the official open time (sometimes a bit early), the CMs would remove the ropes and guests would rush in. Thus, the term "Rope Drop" which you may read about.
I've not been since the re-opening... would be curious to know if Rope Drop still happens.
We were at HS last Wednesday. We got into the park around 9:20 (10am opening) and went to Rock n Rollercoaster, they did not start loading the ride until 9:30.I'm not much of a rope-dropper (not at all, actually) but I know that DHS has been opening 45 minutes - hour prior to posted opening. They're doing this so that the (huge) crowd that arrives can 1) be within the park when the 10am Rise boarding groups are released and 2)begin queueing for M&M's Runaway Railway. I don't believe any of the rides are operating, though.
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