Hiya, Thyron! Welcome back to planDisney!
Your family’s first trip to Walt Disney World! How Exciting! While I don’t remember my actual first trip to Walt Disney World (I was 6 months old), I do remember bringing my kids for the first time, and it was a truly magical experience. With all the rides, shows, character experiences, and dining options, you are in for the trip of a lifetime!
Now let’s help you make the most of your time in the parks!
The term “rope drop” refers to when a Disney Park—such as the Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, or Animal Kingdom—officially opens to the public. Some guests will arrive early to be there the minute the parks open, maximizing their time in the parks and hopefully minimizing their time waiting in line.
Since you are staying at a Walt Disney Resort hotel you get to take advantage of
Early Entry. This perk allows Disney Resort hotel guests to enter the parks 30 minutes before the official opening (rope drop) and enjoy select attractions. The best part? There is no additional fee!
Early Entry and park hours can be found on the
Hours & Events Calendar. It’s also worth noting that not all attractions are available during early theme park entry, and are subject to change, so be sure to consult
this list as you plan your day in the parks.
If you’d like to avoid purchasing
Lightning Lane Multi Pass or Lighting Lane Single Pass, my suggestion is to focus on popular attractions during Early Entry. For example, Seven Dwarfs Mine at Magic Kingdom is likely to have a longer wait time during regular park hours. Prioritizing it during Early Entry will allow you to enjoy attractions with lower wait times once the park is open to all guests, and hopefully do more throughout the day!
Here are some of the attractions my family tries to prioritize during Early Entry.
Magic Kingdom:
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- Peter Pan
- Space Mountain
Hollywood Studios:
- Slinky Dog Dash
- Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
- Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
EPCOT:
- Test Track (currently closed for reimagining, but expected to reopen in 2025)
- Frozen Ever After
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
Animal Kingdom:
- Avatar Flight of Passage
Thyron, I hope this helps you plan an amazing day at the Disney Parks. If you have any other questions or are looking for recommendations (dining, rides, or other), come right back to planDisney and ask away!
See ya later, pal!
Matt