Rope Drop Question

WDeejW

New Member
Original Poster
I have reservations for breakfast in the Magic Kingdom before the rope drop. I'm using this opportunity to get into the parks before everyone else. However, because of this, we will be missing the rope drop ceremony. Is there a way to still see it or should I just let it go (no pun intended).

Thanks!
 

Disney4family

Well-Known Member
You still can see it and it is fun, but I would honestly stay in the park and take advantage of the fact that you are already up Main Street USA, near the hub and closer to the attractions than the hoards of people who are viewing the show and have to still trek up MSUSA to the attractions. You will have the opportunity to experience more attractions - or at least the ones that get crazy lines - before the masses than if you were a part of the masses. For example, we had an 8am seating at The Crystal Palace. At 8:45 we were able to walk over to the 7 Dwarves Mine Train and get on with no wait and no FastPass. When we got off, there was already a 45 minutes wait. Same for Peter Pan. Go back and experience the show if you believe you will regret not seeing it this time. If not, consider your options/opportunities.
 

iYazmo

Member
The Rope Drop ceremony is good but an empty Main Street is THE photo opportunity. Enjoy it because it's something that not many get to experience. If you're going back to Magic Kingdom at a later date, just go see the rope drop ceremony then. If you do miss it, it's not the end of the world.
 

Csmith041177

Well-Known Member
Agree with the thoughts referenced above. We have many times scheduled a pre-opening breakfast at Crystal Palace. Walking down a completely empty Main St. is incredible. The pictures you can get are amazing, and if you are trying to get a special picture in front of the castle, or a picture of a window on Main St., this is the time to do it.
 

Tinkerkelle

Well-Known Member
You will have the opportunity to experience more attractions - or at least the ones that get crazy lines - before the masses than if you were a part of the masses. For example, we had an 8am seating at The Crystal Palace. At 8:45 we were able to walk over to the 7 Dwarves Mine Train and get on with no wait and no FastPass. When we got off, there was already a 45 minutes wait. Same for Peter Pan. Go back and experience the show if you believe you will regret not seeing it this time. If not, consider your options/opportunities.

Agreed. We also had 8am reservations at CP and headed to fantasyland at 8:40 on a 9am opening day. We were just ahead of the entry crowd and completed 7D, Peter Pan, Pooh, Dumbo, Barnstormer, mermaid and small world (in that order) by 10:30 with no real waits.
I would recommend getting to the parks at least 30-40 minutes before the early breakfast reservation opening as a big queue forms for those with breakfast reservations to get in to make their way to their restaurant. We were there at 7:20 for 8am reservations and they started letting us in about 7:45.
 

HauntedMansionFLA

Well-Known Member
Agreed. We also had 8am reservations at CP and headed to fantasyland at 8:40 on a 9am opening day. We were just ahead of the entry crowd and completed 7D, Peter Pan, Pooh, Dumbo, Barnstormer, mermaid and small world (in that order) by 10:30 with no real waits.
I would recommend getting to the parks at least 30-40 minutes before the early breakfast reservation opening as a big queue forms for those with breakfast reservations to get in to make their way to their restaurant. We were there at 7:20 for 8am reservations and they started letting us in about 7:45.
What part of the year did you go down to the WDW?
 
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JoeCamel

Well-Known Member
I have reservations for breakfast in the Magic Kingdom before the rope drop. I'm using this opportunity to get into the parks before everyone else. However, because of this, we will be missing the rope drop ceremony. Is there a way to still see it or should I just let it go (no pun intended).

Thanks!

Don't know if this is too late but try to get to the top of the castle ramps before RD so you can see the running of the bulls. Better show than RD
 

Tinkerkelle

Well-Known Member
What part of the year did you go down to the WDW?

October. Not usually such a busy time but this year was. Crowd levels of between 5 and 7 were expected according to a couple of crowd calendars but actual levels turned out to be between 8 and 9. Rope drop touring meant we got a lot done before crowds built by 11am. Bonus was disney made quite a few changes to opening hours and each park extended their hours by up to 2 hours per day.
 

Disney4family

Well-Known Member
You're not allowed to run at all. CMs will walk you from under the train station to the hub. Each side will split off to the attractions that are open at that time (if you're there for EMH) or to each land. We were walked once specifically to the 7DMT. It can still get crazy. People can be rude and practically run over others, including the poor CMs.
 

Tinkerkelle

Well-Known Member
Question: never done a rope drop. Are people running each direction like crazy people? At the MK, I would head to the Jungle Cruise then off to Big Thunder Mountain.

Most are heading to fantasyland for 7DMT, Pan, etc. We did rope drop a different day and headed to BTM first which wasn't too bad. Getting to the park early so you're at the head of the mob helps a lot.
 

BoarderPhreak

Well-Known Member
It's not a "running of the bulls" but it can be chaotic on Main Street USA as people try to rush to Fantasyland and Tomorrowland... But because of that, the crowd disperses at the end of Main Street USA. This is within that group at rope drop:

 

Raineman

Well-Known Member
You're not allowed to run at all. CMs will walk you from under the train station to the hub. Each side will split off to the attractions that are open at that time (if you're there for EMH) or to each land. We were walked once specifically to the 7DMT. It can still get crazy. People can be rude and practically run over others, including the poor CMs.
What time does rope drop usually end, and how long does the CM take to get everyone to FL? We have an ADR at BoG for 9:15 am, park opens at 9:00 that day. Because our ADR is after park open, we can't get in early with the pre-rope drop ADRs-is 15 minutes enough time for the CM leading the pack to get us to BoG? I'm sure we could make it in 5 minutes if we were left to our own devices, but if a CM is controlling the speed at which we move down MS and through the hub, I just want to make sure we can make it on time.
 

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