Sometimes, a vacation to Disney World does not always feel like a vacation.
Welcome to Disney World!
There is so much to see and do around the resort that you may feel exhausted. Plus, you have to worry about Advance Dining Reservations, transportation, Lightning Lane selections, and so much more. While it can feel like you have to follow all the unspoken Disney World rules, we are here to tell you that it is more than okay to relax as we always break this one Disney World rule, and we are giving you the go-ahead to break it too!
It is no secret that park tickets to Disney World can be expensive, and we totally understand wanting to squeeze the most time out of your park day. We also know that it can be challenging to fit all the rides, snacks, and character meet and greets into one day; that’s why some people like to get a head start and beat the crowds by rope dropping.
Hollywood Studios at rope drop
Rope dropping is when you get to the park before it officially opens. In most cases, you will go through security and scan your ticket to be let into the park before opening. Then, you will wait for a rope to drop—yes, a physical rope drops in front of certain areas of the park to allow guests into the park for the day.
What No One Tells You About Rope Drop in Disney World
Rope dropping lines at Magic Kingdom
While rope dropping can give you a head start to your park day, it can be exhausting. Not only do you have to wake up early, but you also have to worry about transportation, parking, and security, all while trying to beat the crowds of people also trying to rope drop.
Rope drop crowds
If you are staying at a Disney World resort, you can partake in Early Theme Park Entry, which takes place even earlier than rope drop! While this is a great perk, it unfortunately can equal less sleep to get up in time to participate.
Magic Kingdom rope drop crowd
We are here to tell you that it is more than okay to NOT rope drop. You are on vacation, and you deserve to rest! We can’t lie; many of our team members rarely rope drop when they visit the parks for fun. It can be super stressful to fight through the crowds and get to the park on time.
Rope drop in World Showcase at EPCOT
If you can’t part ways with rope dropping altogether, that is okay. We know it can be an essential part of Disney World vacations, but perhaps you can consider giving yourself a break. For example, maybe you don’t have to rope drop every park day. But if you do want to participate in the art of rope dropping and getting the most out of your park days, we have plenty of resources on our site, like how to ride everything at Disney World!
We are also huge advocates for taking a rest day in between park days! Rest days can be a great way to recharge and explore other parts of Disney World outside of the park. You can spend the day relaxing at your resort’s pool or at one of Disney World’s water parks. Or you can head to Disney Springs for a day of shopping.
Blizzard Beach
While we know it may seem crazy to not rope drop, sometimes saving your energy and sleeping in can help you enjoy your vacation even more!
To stay up to date on all the latest Disney news, make sure to continue to follow along with us here at the Disney Food Blog!
The Unwritten Rules of Disney World
Planning a Trip to Disney World? We’ve Got Everything You Need to Know
Tips, Hints, Lists, and Videos for Planning the BEST Disney World Trip
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
We only rope dropped once by accident ?when we had a pre-park opening breakfast reservation. It had been a while since we had reservations that early at EPCOT, and I didn’t realize that there was rope-dropping within the park, and we weren’t going to be able to get to our restaurant on time! The CMs assured everyone with reservations that the restaurant was aware and that we would be able to keep our reservations, but I’m a big planner, and it was very stressful for me to have missed that logistical point. Luckily (very luckily) there was a photopass photographer who was nearby, and we were able to get great, stress-free photos with the new Walt Disney statue while we waited. It gives me a lot of anxiety to ‘waste’ my fam’s time, especially in the morning, when I know that prying everyone out of bed better be worth it! ?