New rope drop procedures

[Figgy1]

First off I'm sorry if this already has a thread, I looked but didn't notice one. I was reading how in AK rope drop would be phased in starting about 15 minutes prior to the official opening time with fp's starting at official opening. Well I like it they did something similar when we were there in June (AK and HS) and it seemed to work out quite well, not the usual crazy mad dash. And if they won't give a an opening ceremony except at Mk I think it will work out well for crowd control. Just my opinion. How do you feel about it?

 

[marni1971]

Rope drop ceremonies used to be part of the magic. In all the parks.

 

[Figgy1]

Rope drop ceremonies used to be part of the magic. In all the parks.

I totally agree, but realizing they might not be coming back At least they are doing a good job of dispersing the morning crowds.

 

[marni1971]

I totally agree, but realizing they might not be coming back At least they are doing a good job of dispersing the morning crowds.

A cynic would say a well planned park with multiple well designed, appropriately spread out attractions would minimise any rush to any one place.

 

[tare]

I totally agree, but realizing they might not be coming back At least they are doing a good job of dispersing the morning crowds.

I like the opening ceremonies but I think you said it well figment.

 

[bgraham34]

A cynic would say a well planned park with multiple well designed, appropriately spread out attractions would minimise any rush to any one place.

I could not agree with you more.

 

[sgtmgd]

Interesting..for AK in particular..its Ironic..I scheduled donalds breakfast at 8..specifically to be over by kilimanjo safaries before AK opened at 9

 

[Scuttle]

A cynic would say a well planned park with multiple well designed, appropriately spread out attractions would minimise any rush to any one place.

Exactly. If BK would have been built it'd be perfect, we would have 4 e-tickets dispersed evenly across the park. That's assuming Dinosaur is considered an E-ticket.

EPCOT is a disaster as well as DHS and MK still needs a headliner in the top corner of the park(SC area) I think.

 

[dreamfinder]

A cynic would say a well planned park with multiple well designed, appropriately spread out attractions would minimise any rush to any one place.

This, for sure. The fact that a rush has formed indicates that a large chunk of the patrons feel that only a few select attractions are worthy of worrying about. A well designed and executed dark ride can easily attract the same types of crowds that an E ticket coaster would, but of late they haven't shown they can still do those.

Not to mention that probably the favorite part of the trip for my DW is seeing the Good Morning show at MK. Rope drop used to mean something. Now its like eh, run from the gates, instead of halfway down Hollywood Blvd or the Oasis. Just don't trip.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

I like the idea of this slow/early open. I experienced this at HS and didn't know about it before going it was a nice surprise and works out well for us because we are always at the turnstile early. The rope drop ceremonies are nice but the only one I ever thought was worth it is the MK's.

 

[wm49rs]

A cynic would say a well planned park with multiple well designed, appropriately spread out attractions would minimise any rush to any one place.

Of which an opening ceremony (like many a now-defunct parade) could be considered one to boot. Giving visitors more to see and do should be the norm, not simply opening the running of the bulls a few minutes earlier in the day....

 

[DJMoore2011]

When we went to WDW in 2011 I could not believe all the people who were ignoring the Rope drop. I tried to take my time walking into MK for the first time ever and almost got ran over with people rushing to get to rides. If Dear Hubby had not pulled me over to the side I think I would have been flattened. The Opening Ceremonies for me were like an appitizar of what good things were to come. Are they all gone or is it just AK & HS?

 

[Figgy1]

When we went to WDW in 2011 I could not believe all the people who were ignoring the Rope drop. I tried to take my time walking into MK for the first time ever and almost got ran over with people rushing to get to rides. If Dear Hubby had not pulled me over to the side I think I would have been flattened. The Opening Ceremonies for me were like an appitizar of what god things were to come. Are they all gone or is it just AK & HS?

Sadly HS, AK and EPCOT

 

[CohibaMan]

Call me old-fashioned, but I like the idea of knowing when something opens, or I what time I have an appointment and then I show up 15 minutes early accordingly. I'm not sure if I like the idea of opening some things early, but not this or that. It is all very confusing and I doubt it will do anything to disperse crowds. People are always going to rush to the most popular attractions. It doesn't matter whether you open half the park at 8AM and the rest at 9AM, or any other silly gimmick.

 

[DJMoore2011]

Sadly HS, AK and EPCOT

EPCOT too??? That is the one I missed when we were there due to a breakfast ADR.

Do we know if this is temp or is this a permanent thing now? Though from what I am learning TDO temp usually ends up being permanent. Thanks for the info @figmentfan423

 

[dreamfinder]

EPCOT too??? That is the one I missed when we were there due to a breakfast ADR.

Do we know if this is temp or is this a permanent thing now? Though from what I am learning TDO temp usually ends up being permanent. Thanks for the info @figmentfan423

As permament as any other cost cutting measure can be. They were slowly cutting back at the various parks, and now they got rid of it all except for MK.

 

[KeithVH]

What was that? Something about declining by degrees . . .

 

[LaughingGravy]

You know, I was at DLP in California fairly recently per my sig ( 9 months ago).
Rope drop there still existed in its classic wonderful form, with MS opening at least 15 min to a 1/2 hour or so before the rest of the park, with rope drop happening at the castle hub.
It was AWESOME!
Matterhorn and Space Mountain fill up....but you know what I did? I ran over to the Tiki Room, and got to do it all by myself! I walked around, took video close up, and just reveled in it.