What is Rope Drop? Is it really worth it?

If you’re planning a theme park trip, you have likely heard the term rope drop and thought “What is it? Is it worth it?” Rope drop is one of my favorite ways to avoid the lines at theme parks! If you’re thinking, “What the heck is she talking about?” stick around because I’m about to share my tried and true strategy for maximizing your time in the theme parks. This crash course will have you feeling like a park pro in no time!

What is Rope Drop?

Let’s start with the basics. Why is it called “rope dropping”? When you arrive at the parks in the morning, you are often let in the front gates well in advance of the attractions actually opening. Rides and certain areas aren’t quite ready for guests so they are closed off by a rope. When it’s time for them to open, cast members will come and take the rope down and welcome guests. So the term comes from guests waiting at these ropes, being ready to high tail it to their favorite attractions as soon as the rope is dropped. Rope dropping is a great method to minimize wait time in lines because the crowds are much lower during this time. You’ll be finished riding 2 or 3 things before many people even enter the park! Now that you know what rope dropping is, let’s dive into how to do it.

What time do I need to arrive for rope drop?

Short answer: early. Each park has an opening time listed in the My Disney Experience, Disneyland, or Universal app daily. Be sure to check as these vary by park and season. If you are staying on-site you are eligible for early entry, which is a window of time in the parks that ONLY on-site guests are allowed in meaning lower crowds. Currently, early entry at Disney parks is 30 minutes before general opening time and Universal is one hour before general opening. You are going to want to arrive a few minutes BEFORE early entry begins so you are in place and ready to head to your first attraction of the day.

What is open at rope drop?

You need to have a game plan in mind. I usually pick a big attraction that is high on our priority list and head there first. Perhaps something I might have used a Genie+ pass on at Disney, or a ride not included with Express Pass at Universal. (Note: Not all attractions are open during early entry. Check these lists to see what you can do during this time.)

Walt Disney World Early Entry Attractions

Disneyland Early Entry Attractions

Universal Studios Early Entry Attractions

When you arrive at the park, don’t be afraid to ask where to go. You’ll want to be sure you are headed in the right direction so you don’t waste those precious, low-crowd minutes getting lost.

Then what? Head to the next ride that appeals to your group! The crowd will still be fairly low after your first ride, so know where you want to head next. Basically, you want to squeeze as many things as possible in before the crowd begins to build. Use the Universal, Disneyland, or My Disney Experience app to check wait times so you can make the most of your morning.

Is rope drop worth it?

Now that we have covered what rope drop is, it’s time to think about whether or not rope drop is worth it for your trip. For my trips, the answer is yes. My kids are early risers and we aim to maximize our time in the parks. If you have a family that you have to drag out of bed, this may not be the best strategy for you. Will everyone be grumpy if you wake them early? Will they get excited and move past the sleepiness quickly? You’ll need to think about your family and decide if hitting a couple of rides with minimal wait is worth the early wake-up call.

How to (Rope) Drop it like it’s hot

Strategy for Magic Kingdom

Let’s pretend we are headed to Magic Kingdom in Disney World. I checked the app and the park opens to the general public at 8:00 am, so early entry begins at 7:30 am. The goal is to arrive at Magic Kingdom no later than 7:15. Only attractions in Tomorrowland or Fantasyland are open during early entry. For my family, I know we want to hit Space Mountain and that wait can be long. So we’re heading straight for Tomorrowland when we enter the park. After we ride Space Mountain we will hop around and do other attractions in the area (Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, Tomorrowland Speedway, etc.)

Strategy for Universal Orlando

Pretend we are wanting to ride Hagrid’s but it’s not eligible for Express Pass. This line gets really long and the ride closes in poor weather so rope-dropping is an excellent choice. The Universal app says the park opens to the general public at 9:00 so early entry begins at 8:00. Be in line at the park gates by 7:30. When they open those gates get right to Hagrid’s and get in line. I’m not kidding on this one, no coffee stops, no family pictures right now – HUSTLE. Get the coffee and the pictures later in the day. Universal does not offer quite as many attractions during the early admission window so it’s worth noting the crowd might not feel as small.

Now that you know more about what rope drop is, you can decide if it is worth it for your family. Hopefully, I’ve got you feeling more confident about your next theme park trip! Do you like getting tips, advice, and strategies like this? If you decide to visit Disney or Universal and book with one of the Sweatpants Moms, we will provide you with all kinds of valuable info just like this and so much more! The best part about booking with us (aside from getting to work with some totally awesome ladies) is that it doesn’t cost you a dime. Want to talk more? Send me an email!

Wishing you bunches of magic!

Sarah

P.S. – If you found yourself singing Snoop Dogg when you read the strategy section of this post, we should probably be friends. Come follow me on TikTok and Instagram for all kinds of fun!