Friday, November 13 · Every park
What Time Is Rope Drop?
Rope drop is at each park's official opening time. Be at the gate 30 minutes before it, or 30 minutes before early entry if your hotel or ticket includes it.
From official park hours · Updated
Rope drop today
- Magic Kingdom Early Entry 7:30 AM 7:30 AM
- EPCOT Early Entry 8:30 AM 8:30 AM
- Hollywood Studios Early Entry 8:30 AM 8:30 AM
- Animal Kingdom Early Entry 7:30 AM 7:30 AM
- Epic Universe Early Park Admission 9 AM 9:30 AM
- Universal Studios Florida Rope drop plan 9:30 AM
- Islands of Adventure Early Park Admission 8 AM 8:30 AM
Why rope drop works
The most in-demand rides build long lines within the first hour of the day. Being there at opening lets you ride two or three of them before the crowd arrives, often saving well over an hour of standby time you would spend riding the same attractions midday.
- Check the opening time the night beforePark hours shift by season and day, so confirm the official opening and any early entry before you plan your morning.
- Arrive 30 to 45 minutes earlyBe at the gate before opening so you are through security and ready to walk in when the rope drops.
- Head straight to the biggest line-saverGo directly to the most in-demand ride first, before the wait has time to climb.
- Stack the next rides nearbyKnock out two or three more popular rides in the same area while the rest of the park is still filling in.
Rope drop time by park
Each park has its own opening, gate time and first ride to chase.
Questions, answered
Rope drop, answered
Everything people ask before their first rope drop, in plain answers.
Back to today's board
What time is rope drop?
At each park's opening time.
Today it is 8 AM at Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Disneyland and California Adventure; 9 AM at EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and Islands of Adventure; 10 AM at Epic Universe, Universal Studios Florida and Dollywood. Opening times change by season and by day, so check your park the night before and be at the gate 30 minutes before it opens, or 30 minutes before early entry if you have it.
What does rope drop mean at Disney?
Being first through the gate.
Rope drop means arriving at a Disney park before its official opening so you are among the first guests in. The name comes from the actual rope that staff once used to hold guests at the entrance until opening, then dropped to start the day.
Is rope drop worth it?
Yes, for the popular rides.
The most in-demand attractions build long lines within the first hour, so riding two or three of them right at opening can save well over an hour of standby time compared with riding them midday.
What time should you get to the park for rope drop?
At the gate 30 minutes before opening.
Leave enough time before that for parking, security and the walk to the entrance, which can take 30 minutes or more on a busy morning, so you are ready to move the moment the park opens.
Is rope drop the same as early entry?
No.
Early entry is a perk that lets eligible resort or ticket guests into the park before the official opening. Rope drop just means arriving for the regular opening. Eligible guests can do early entry and still rope drop the next ride.
Do you have to pay to rope drop?
No.
Rope drop is free and simply means showing up early for the normal opening time. The paid or resort version of getting in before everyone is early entry, which is a separate benefit.
Planning insights from Rope Drop News · unofficial, not affiliated with Disney.