Rope Drop at Disneyland

WHAT IS ROPE DROP?

"Rope Dropping" involves being at the park before it opens. it makes your time at security much more efficient, your time at the ticket gate quicker, and allows you to get into the park when it's less crowded for photos. We like to be at the parks bright and early, enjoy ourselves until we get hot/tired, and then we take a break back at the hotel during the most crowded part of the day before heading back in for evening entertainment, dinner, etc.

HOW DO YOU ROPE DROP?

Plan to arrive at the security gate at least 30-45 minutes prior to park opening time. The ticket counter will start letting people into the turnstiles early. Have your tickets ready to be scanned to help make the entry process smoother for everyone. If you have your tickets linked to your MagicBand + you can also use your MagicBand to enter at the turnstile.

Once you get through security and into the park, you can head to the rope (a literal rope held by cast members--please be kind to them) who will man their posts until a couple of minutes before the official park opening time. Music will play, and guests can head off to their first attraction of the day and expect lower wait times than usual. Most people try to use this time to choose a popular "headliner" attraction so they know they have it accomplished without long, hot queues as the afternoon goes on.

Once you've completed your first ride, it strategically makes the most sense to try to hit other rides within close proximity to you before the wait times increase.

An alternative strategy would be to head to a second "high demand" attraction and hope wait times are still reasonable.

WHERE TO ROPE DROP IN DISNEYLAND

In Disneyland, the ropes are all set up at the hub in front of the castle. Plan to head toward the side of the park you want to visit first. We usually go through Adventureland and head toward Indiana Jones, Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, etc.

WHAT RIDES ARE "WORTH" ROPE DROPPING IN DISNEYLAND

Tomorrowland: Space Mountain

Fantasyland: Peter Pan or Matterhorn (sometimes Matterhorn doesn't open right at rope drop)

Frontierland: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Adventureland: Indiana Jones

New Orleans: Haunted Mansion (particularly during the Haunted Mansion Holiday Overlay)

Galaxy's Edge: (enter via Frontierland): Rise of the Resistance

Toon Town: Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway

WHERE TO ROPE DROP IN CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE

Unlike Disneyland where everyone rope drops at the hub of the park, in California Adventure there are unique locations for each Rope Drop option. Hollywood Boulevard: This is where you go if you are headed to Guardians of the Galaxy.

Avenger's Campus: The best route to Webslingers

Cars Land Entrance: Radiator Springs Racers

Soarin': Typically you can go line up right in front of Soarin', but occasionally I've seen a rope blocking guests off from going further than Fiddler, Fifer and Practical Cafe on Buena Vista Street and if that's the case, just wait there and walk to Soarin' once they move that rope.

Redwood Creek Area (by the Little Mermaid): Access to Pixar Pier...however, if the area from the right side of Buena Vista Circle is blocked off (in front of Fiddler, Fifer and Practical Cafe) and you can't access the side of the Redwood Creek Area, then you'll have to line up at the ropes by the Webslingers/Cars Land crowds, and just plan to head down to the pier from there.

WHAT RIDES ARE "WORTH" ROPE DROPPING IN CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE

Redwood Creek: Soarin'

Hollywood Blvd: Guardians of the Galaxy

Avengers Campus Entrance: Webslingers

Cars Land: Radiator Springs Racers

Pixar Pier: Incredicoaster or Midway Mania

WHAT IF WE MISS ROPE DROP?
Rope Drop is not for everyone. People sleep in, kids are unpredictable, sometimes you are just tired. If you don't make it, don't stress.

The next best thing you can do is head into the park, check wait times, and go from there. If the park is already really busy and everything is long, purchase your Genie+ pass, book your first Lightning Lane and get some photopass photos while you wait for your return time. Grab some breakfast. Enjoy the atmosphere! There are definitely more strategies than one when it comes to making the most of your park mornings.