Hi Marilyn Terri,
Thanks so much for visiting us at the Disney Parks Moms Panel with your great question about rope drop!
Essentially, rope drop just means official park opening. The name came because of an actual physical rope that would drop allowing Guests to start their magical day, but now there may or may not be an actual rope. My family loves being some of the first Guests into the theme parks because that's the least crowded time of the day and we've found that we can usually experience several attractions with little to no wait. We like to arrive 30-45 minutes before the theme park opens so that we have plenty of time to go through security and ticketing, as well as grab maps and Times Guides before the park opens. It just helps build the anticipation for the day, too!
My favorite rope drop experience is at Magic Kingdom Park. Cast Members will allow Guests to enter Main Street U.S.A. up to an hour before the park officially opens, although that time may vary. Five minutes before the park officially opens, Guests will gather in front of Cinderella Castle for the
Let the Magic Begin welcome show. It's the perfect way to kick off the day! Right after the show is done, Guests are allowed to enter the rest of the theme park and begin making memories to last a lifetime. By arriving in time for rope drop, you don't have to miss a minute of the magic!
Please let us know if you have any other questions as you're planning your visit, Marilyn Terri, and have a truly magical vacation!
Missy