Rope Drop and EMH's

I'm going to tag on to this. Are rope drops worth it? I have always avoided them for two reasons. It seems too early to get up and rush over for and I imagine a huge crowd of people and it being had to see through the crowds. We like going in after the crowds at the turnstiles have thinned out. We usually arrive about 10-10:30am.

Are they worth going to? Is any one better to see and one really not worth going to?

From my understanding, rope drop occurs prior to regular opening hours and not EMHs.

I believe MK is the only park with rope drop now (please correct me if I'm wrong). Yes, it is worth it.

Imho...Rope drops are awesome. The crowds may appear big at the gate, especially at MK, but in reality when you get into the park, the lines are unbelievably short, and the park appears empty for at least an hour. We rode Splash mountain twice, walked right on and could've done it more, then went to BTMR and walked right on that twice! I'd say the crowds pick up about the time you get there, between 10 and 11. The rope drop at MK is my favorite, Mickey and friends ride the train in and everyone is singing, then the cms all line the tunnels and hi-five everyone singing and it's just REALLY magical! I love it b/c they make you feel really special and like they are sincerely glad you are there to have a magical day! It's a Disney feeling that I can't explain unless you've felt it.
Animal Kingdom's rope drop is cool too, Several characters come out with a decorated truck/float that's playing music and everyone is singing and dancing and they do this little thing to welcome everyone as they let you in. Then same as MK with all the cms waving and singing and dancing and welcoming you as you enter. The lines are very short for the rides, we rode Everest 5 times in a row once, with NO wait (eventually gave me a migraine that's what I get for being greedy)
As for EPCOT, not sure rope drop is as good but we still enjoyed it. When we went, there were a bunch of cms with the big mickey hands, and they sing and joke and talk with the crowd as they hold the rope and then let everyone in and you walk through following a couple characters w cms on each side waving and wishing you a magical day. The whole crowd surges and all run for soaring...which the line gets long fast. We went straight there and still had a 20 min wait and when we got off, it was 60 min already!
Not sure about HS, we always get there just after if they have something special. I'd say it's worth getting up for. We leave home no later than 7:15 to get there and park and get to the park by 8:45ish. Sometimes they will surprise you and let everyone in early like at 8:30, it seems kinda random, we haven't figured that out yet, it may have to do with emh that day.

Hope that helps!

That sounds super fab...I have NEVER made it to actual rope drop (I'm the kind of girl who's going to be late to her own funeral), but I have tried SUPER hard to, and hope to make it one day!! Julie, you've made it sound SO worth it!! Thanks for all that fantastic info!!

I am going to try for a Rope Drop next year. My friend and I are morning people so we have a better chance of getting to a rope drop than staying late night at any park.

I hate to admit this, but up until a few months ago I never even knew rope drop existed! When we go in November we are for sure attempting to make it to MK and AK for rope drop.

We love rope drop!! In the olden days each park used to have one. It happens when the park opens - if it's an EMH morning, it starts at EMH; if not, when the park opens for everyone.

Like JoAnn C said, only MK Still does it, which is a shame IMO. But we think it is so worth it, at least once. Nothing stirs me up inside more than the opening welcome ceremony at the MK!!

I saw rope drop in all four parks in 2010. I read last year they were only doing it in MK. Either this changed or the information I read was incorrect. MK is my favorite with AK a close second.

Thanks for confirming Jeff.

I just went for EMHs in July and they had a ceremony both when they let us in for EMHs an hour early and then for regular park opening they had another rope-drop ceremy.. So you can go at either time and see it. It's only fair to the non-resort guests to do it that way. That's at the MK. Other parks don't really have a true rope-drop, so MK is really the only park this questions applies to.

Oh and yes! Rope drop is completely worth it. However, I'll warn you of a few things. 1. Adventureland is closed in early EMHs. not sure if this is regular, but it was when I went. 2. Every restaurant is closed, so if you're looking to get a coffee, you'll have to wait until park opening. We found a cart open and got bottled drinks when we got to the park. But yes, it is totally worth it. The park is literally SO empty. It's amazing. I'm pretty sure we were two of about 30 people in fantasyland, and this was in july. It was AWESOME. It's so peaceful and amazing. i think it's worth it even to just roam the parks.

I made it for rope drop twice at DHS last year. They did nothing special, but it was still worth it to get to Toy Story Mania ASAP. I got a FastPass AND rode it on standby with a shorter than usual line.

Last year I missed rope drop at MK by 15 minutes. But I got all the advantages of early arrival without having to deal with the rope drop crowd, which was already in the park by the time I arrived. I visited all the attractions I wanted to see long before park closing (at 7 due to MVMCP) and had plenty of time to do my favorites a few times more.