What does “rope drop” mean at Walt Disney World?

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You may find yourself surrounded by a world of acronyms and unfamiliar terms when you’re planning a vacation to Walt Disney World. One suggestion you’ll likely see when planning your trip is to visit the theme parks at rope drop. But what does that mean?

Rope drop refers to the time the theme park opens to guests for the day. Guests will be blocked from entering the various areas of the park by a long rope. This rope will be removed (it’s not actually dropped at Walt Disney World) once the park officially opens. Guests will then follow behind a line of cast members as they enter into the various lands and areas of the theme park.

Most guides recommend that guests try to visit each theme park at rope drop in order to maximize their experience. The lines for the attractions are the shortest immediately following rope drop, allowing guests to experience relatively short waits. Crowds grow larger and larger as the day progresses.

We love visiting the theme parks right at rope drop. It’s a great way to try and experience some of the most popular attractions before the wait times grow too large. The first hour after rope drop can be the best opportunity to hop on a bunch of different rides before starting on your FastPass reservations.

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David
David
David is a Disney travel expert who created Notes from Neverland in 2018 after visiting Disney theme parks countless times. Previously, David spent way too much time writing about sports, and was featured in Sports Illustrated, MSN, Yahoo!, and in many other publications. Learn more or contact us.
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