Top Tips For UK First Time Visitors Planning Rope Drop And Early Entry At Disney World

When you fly all the way to Orlando from the UK for a Disney holiday for the first time, you really feel like you want to make every minute count. For you budget conscious lot, and those of you who are just a bit savvy, two of the best free strategies to use to beat the crowds are rope drop and early entry.

Why Early Mornings Matter At Walt Disney World

Getting to the park for opening time works exactly the same at Walt Disney World as it does at any of the attractions you might head to here in the UK. Think of heading into Chester Zoo, Alton Towers, or Legoland, Windsor; all are quieter in that first hour or so of opening. The same early morning lull happens at Walt Disney World.

When UK visitors head to Disney World they also have an advantage in their first few days which helps to make the early morning start needed to use rope drop or early entry strategy just that bit easier. But more on that in point 3.

There are some tips that we have picked up from our time in the early morning trenches that make mornings run just that bit smoother, especially if you’re not a morning person.

Tip 1: Know the Difference

Don’t get early entry and rope drop confused, there is a difference between the two, even though they have a very similar purpose and the strategy is pretty similar.

Rope drop is something all guest can do, while early entry is a perk for visitors staying in Disney and Disney partner hotels. Rope drop happens at the time the park opens, while early entry begins 30 minutes before the park opens for rope drop. Don’t end up hanging around waiting for longer than you need to be to get in the park because you have muddled up the two.

Plus, depending on whether you are heading for early entry or rope drop will depend on the strategy you use and how you plan your morning.

A tip for the early planning stage of your holiday to Walt Disney World is to ask yourself if staying on site will save you money on Lightning Lanes. Early entry adds 30 minutes extra onto the rope drop early morning queue beating strategy, giving you longer to enjoy a quieter Disney theme park.

Tip 2: Arrive Earlier Than You Think

Rope drop isn’t just being in the car park when the gate opens, it’s about being inside the gates and ready to go as soon as the park opens. And yes, there will be a lot of people using this strategy, so expect a queue.

Arriving about 45 minutes before your rope drop or early entry time is ideal. This gives you time to pass through security, nip to the toilet, get your ticket scanned, and position yourself on the nearest side to the ride you want to go to. There is more of a walk-up to the front entrance of parks than you might think

And don’t forget that it takes time to get to the parks, so check google maps for your journey time and give yourself some leeway. If you are getting a resort bus, they normally start an hour before park opening, so aim to be on an early bus.

When planning to rope drop or do early entry add about 15 minutes on to the amount of time you think you’ll need. This helps to create a buffer that keeps stress levels down for the planner.

Tip 3: Early mornings are easier at the start of a trip

This is true for any guests, but for UK visitors to Disney World this is very true. As your body clock is trying to adjust to the time difference, lots of people find themselves waking up early. Yes, it’s jet lag and you can use this to your advantage. Heading out to rope drop the parks is wise, as you feel more awake and it’s a great use of your time. Plus, at the beginning of the holiday your feet aren’t as sore from walking 20,000 steps a day.

Plan your mornings with this in mind. We normally say mornings one to three have that jet lag boost.

Tip 4 Check the times the night before

With all the excitement of Disney and a busy early morning heading to the parks, it’s easy to forget to double-check the opening times. Now each park opens at a different time, with Animal Kingdom often opening a full hour in advance of the other parks. Disney also sometimes change opening hours at short notice, so even if you have created an itinerary two months before travelling using the opening times in the app, things can change.

For this reason, we recommend always checking the times the night before. The frustration of thinking you are rope dropping only to find the park opened earlier and your strategy has just gone out the window can tarnish a day, particularly when you have limited time.

Tip 5: Plan those first rides strategically

The first ride of the day needs to be planned strategically if you are using rope drop and early entry to save some pennies and avoid Lightning Lanes. Knowing which rides fall under the Lightning Lane Single Pass criteria and tier one Lightning Lane Multi Pass rides will help you to plan which rides to go to first.

Tip 6: Plan for breakfast and snacks

It’s early and you think you’ll pick breakfast up on the way when you head out to do an early morning of rope drop or early entry. It’s a mistake, because inevitably time works against you, or you feel pressured to get to the parks to make the most of your time. You then find yourself standing around successfully ready to go with a grumbly tummy and hangry kids.

The way around this is to either have a grab and go breakfast on the side, like a piece of fruit or pasty. Or if you are feeling particularly organised and savvy, bring some cereal bars from home. They don’t get overly affected by the heat, kids enjoy the familiar breakfast snack, and you don’t need to worry about shopping if you are rope dropping in the first few days of your holiday. Plus cereal bars in the UK tend to be cheaper than the ones in States, depending on what you buy and from where.

A trip to Aldi, Home Bargains, or even Tesco for a couple of boxes to throw in the case will save you time, and make your rope drop or early entry morning smoother.

Tip 7: It’s not all about the rides

Although rope drop and early entry strategies revolve around beating the queues, there is more to beating a queue when you head to Disney World. If you like to be in the park when things are a bit quieter, want to enjoy a peaceful Disney coffee, or hit your favourite rides so you can ride again and again rope drop is definitely for you. Expedition Everest is a ride that you will more often than not be able to walk on at rope drop, and go round a couple of times before a queue really starts to form.

Tip 8: Early mornings beat the heat and the queues

In the Spring ad Summer months Florida gets hot, and afternoons can be unbearable. Heading to the parks early in the morning means you beat the very high temperatures, can enjoy your time and then head back for a rest during the hottest part of the day.

Tip 9: Stay Flexible

Staying flexible will help you get the most out of your days. Sometimes rope drop goes smoothly; sometimes it doesn’t. Rides don’t open, traffic causes delays, you miss the bus, or over sleep. Always being prepared to adapt, like moving to a second-choice attraction and circling back later, will help you enjoy your early morning park experience.

For UK visitors, rope drop and early entry can be game changers, giving you a head start on the crowds particularly during busy days.