Early Entry Rope Drop really is a great way to avoid the substantial crowds you will see waiting to get into the parks in the morning. You know how when you drive the kids to school in the morning, or commute to work, there’s a specific time, that is the sweet spot of when you need to leave the house? If you hit the sweet spot, there’s ZERO traffic and you just sail on through, but if you miss it, you get mired down in the traffic. Early Entry Rope Drop is a little bit the same way. If you can get up and get there before the park opens, you will feel like you are walking into an empty park! It’s AMAZING how much you can knock out in 30 minutes! However, as with everything in life, you have to make choices. For some families, getting up that early is just too much to do on vacation. We get that! That’s why your Small World Big Fun agent can help guide you to make the park touring choices that work best for your family. 
WHAT IS ROPE DROP?
“Rope Drop” is what we call being at a Disney park when it opens so you can take advantage of lower lines for major attractions. Cast Members hold a “rope” across the crowd to keep people back, and then once the rope is moved, guests can walk to the part of the park they want to visit first!
WHICH RIDES ARE BEST TO ROPE DROP?
The best rides to rope drop are rides that will get long lines later because the lines will always be shortest in the morning. You also might choose to rope drop a ride that you didn’t get an Individual Lightning Lane reservation for or didn’t choose for your first Genie+ reservation time for. If you chose not to purchase an Individual Lightning Lane for the rides that offer that choice, those are popular choices for Rope Drop. Good rides to choose to Rope Drop include Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Peter Pan’s Flight, Space Mountain, Jungle Cruise, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Slinky Dog Dash, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Test Track, Frozen Ever After, Avatar: Flight of Passage, Na’vi River Journey and Kilimanjaro Safaris.
WHAT TIME DOES ROPE DROP HAPPEN?
If you’re staying onsite, the parks open 30 minutes before the posted opening time for other guests. Rope Drop will happen sometime before that, so plan to be at the park at least an hour before the posted opening time if you plan to truly rope drop a ride.
WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW?
The Cast Members might let you in to one part of the park, like the hub at the Magic Kingdom, and hold you there until they open the “lands” within that park, like Fantasyland. Plan to walk as far as you can toward the ride you want to rope drop until you are held by a Cast Member. You might see signs directing you toward a certain area!
Also, if you see lots of people heading right for the same ride you were planning on rope dropping, don’t get discouraged! The line will still be the shortest in the morning and you should stick with your choice!