Every time I go to Walt Disney World, I rope drop Magic Kingdom. Heck, I rope drop every park, every day I’m there. The morning is my favorite time to be in the parks: It’s not too hot yet, crowds are lower, and you can fit in a bunch of rides without paying for Genie+.
But rope dropping is not for the faint of heart, and it requires a lot of planning to make the most out of your morning, especially at Walt Disney World’s most popular park.
Planning to rope drop Magic Kingdom with your family the next time you’re down in Orlando? Here are my top tips for the perfect start to your day:
1. Wake Up for the Virtual Queue
First things first, if you want to ride any attractions that are solely available through Virtual Queue (right now, it’s TRON at Magic Kingdom, but this is subject to change), you’ve got to set your alarm for 6:50 AM at the latest.
The Virtual Queue opens at 7 AM for resort guests, and they’re gone in an instant. Research tips for getting a Virtual Queue before your trip so you know the right time to start refreshing your app, how to set your clock, and whether or not you want to use resort Wi-Fi. Make sure everyone who wants to ride the attraction is in your party in My Disney Experience before 7 AM!
If you miss the Virtual Queue, you’ll be able to try again at 1 PM (and again at PM if there are Extended Evening Hours for which you’re eligible). Otherwise, the only way to experience attractions with a Virtual Queue is to purchase an Individual Lightning Lane — and that’s more money out of your pocket that you can’t spend on Mickey bars.
If waking up this early to get Virtual Queue (and make your first Genie+ selection if you’re buying Genie+ for Magic Kingdom that day) feels too challenging, rope dropping Magic Kingdom may not be for you. Rope drop success hinges on an early wake-up call!
2. Stay at a Disney World Resort Hotel
Staying at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel gives you a leg-up during rope drop. Resort guests get early theme park entry, meaning they’re free to go deeper into Magic Kingdom (and the other three parks) a whole 30 minutes before non-resort guests.
On my most recent Magic Kingdom rope drop, I was able to ride Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in that 30-minute window and still go line up to be on the first boat of the day on Jungle Cruise. (Adventureland does not open early, so I was able to essentially double rope drop: I rope dropped Fantasyland for Mine Train, then hoofed it over to Adventureland to be in line when it opened, too.)
While any Walt Disney World Resort Hotel gets you early theme park entry, the best hotels to choose — if budget is not an option — are the three along Seven Seas Lagoon: Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. You’ll get direct monorail access to Magic Kingdom, and you can even walk from the Contemporary to Magic Kingdom in 10 to 15 minutes.
3. Be First in Line for Transportation
While the Seven Seas Lagoon hotels are ideal for monorail transit, my top tip for rope dropping Magic Kingdom, no matter where you’re staying, is to line up for transportation early. Find out what time buses for Magic Kingdom start departing from your resort, and make sure you line up anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes before that (depending on the time of year and how busy Disney World is).
4. Drink Your Coffee in the Room
Rope dropping Magic Kingdom is all about maximizing your time in the parks to get on the most rides without waiting in long lines. That means you’ll have to skip the wonderful smells emanating from Main Street Bakery and save the Cinderella Castle family pics for later in the day. Instead, you’re making your way straight to the front of the pack to be the first to get on Space Mountain or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
The problem for me (and likely most parents at Disney)? Coffee is absolutely necessary. Luckily, your Walt Disney World Resort Hotel room is stocked with Joffrey’s Coffee. Wake up early enough to brew a couple of cups per adult, and chug them in the room or on the way to the bus. After a few rides in Magic Kingdom, once things start to get busier, you can enjoy another coffee, freshly brewed by Starbucks or Joffrey’s.
Pro Tip: Make sure every member of your family has used the bathroom before leaving the hotel. You may also be able to send one or two to the restroom while waiting in line to get into the park, but once that rope drops, you don’t want to waste valuable time queuing for the bathroom when you could be queuing for Peter Pan’s Flight.
5. Pack Snacks
Similar to coffee, there’s no time for a proper sit-down breakfast when rope dropping Magic Kingdom. Instead, head to the food court at your hotel as soon as it opens to pick up some grab-and-go snacks for everyone to eat at the park. Once 10 or 11 AM rolls around, you can then go enjoy a more leisurely breakfast.
And remember, you don’t have to rely on the food court snacks. You can pack your own snacks from home and take them into the park. If you have a picky eater, this might be the best move. Bring snacks you know they love, just in case.
6. Understand Magic Kingdom’s Rope-Drop Setup
My favorite perk of staying at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel is Early Theme Park Entry. Those extra 30 minutes at the start of the day are so crucial to experiencing short wait times.
Unfortunately, only half of Magic Kingdom is truly open during those 30 minutes. You’ll have to rope drop either Fantasyland or Tomorrowland.
- In Fantasyland, the two big attractions to prioritize are Peter Pan’s Flight and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, since these command the longest waits during the day.
- In Tomorrowland, prioritize Space Mountain; it’s the land’s E-Ticket attraction.
If you don’t qualify for Early Theme Park Entry, you can still rope drop Adventureland, Frontierland, and Liberty Square. That means you should prioritize rides such as:
- Haunted Mansion
- Jungle Cruise
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
And if you have early theme park entry and are speedy like I am, you can potentially ride Seven Dwarfs or Space Mountain and still make it over to Adventureland or Frontierland to rope drop that side of the park, too.
7. Have a Ride Strategy Going In
Rope dropping Magic Kingdom is all about strategy. You should not be flying by the seat of your pants. Know what attraction you’re prioritizing first, and know the most direct path to get there. You should also have an idea of your second attraction, but know that you’ll wait a little longer for the second ride, as other people will have prioritized it first.
Pro Tip: Wear the right shoes for speed walking! Flip-flops and Crocs won’t cut it if you’re trying to hustle.
8. Pack a Portable Charger
Being at Walt Disney World for any amount of time usually necessitates a portable charger for your phone. You’ll use your phone for Genie+, Virtual Queue, and Individual Lightning Lane bookings; you’ll use it for mobile food orders; and you’ll use it to check wait times and as a map for the park. You may also use your phone to research things (or just watch TikToks) while waiting in line and to communicate with family and friends if your large group splits up for the afternoon.
All that to say, you’ll need a portable charger. This is especially true during rope drop, since you’re starting your day so early and will thus have more time in the parks — and more time to burn through your phone battery.
Forget the portable charger? Pick up a FuelRod at various locations throughout the resort. They’re $30, but when your charger runs out, you can exchange it at a FuelRod station for a fresh one. Super handy!
9. Wear Sunscreen
You might think you don’t need to lather up with sunscreen until later in the day. You may even think you can skip it altogether if the forecast is calling for rain (which it almost always is in Florida).
But learn from my mistake: Always wear sunscreen at Disney World, even if the sun is still rising when you head out for your Magic Kingdom rope drop.
10. Have a Family Meeting Spot
The beauty of rope dropping Magic Kingdom is that crowds are generally lower for the first few hours than they are during the peak of the day. That said, everyone gets corralled into a few select spots before the rope actually drops — and then it’s a mad dash as people speed-walk (and rule-breakers run) toward rides.
In all the chaos, it’s easy for kids to get separated. Make sure everyone in your family knows where to go if they get separated. Try to pick somewhere easy enough for littles to find, like the back of Cinderella Castle or their favorite attraction.
Also, take the time to point out Cast Members and their name tags to your children so they know who to go to for help if they get lost.
11. Build Some Rest Into Your Plans
When you rope drop Magic Kingdom, your day starts early — and you’re go-go-go for several hours. The early wake-up, the fast pace, and the overwhelming crowds are enough to tire anyone, but especially your kids.
Make sure you plan some downtime into your day. This can look different for every family, but here are some ways to make sure your family is getting enough rest during your Magic Kingdom day:
- Go back to the hotel for a nap and some pool time: During the heat of the day, consider going back to your hotel, enjoying the pool, or even squeezing in a short power nap. It’s important to rest and recharge, especially if your family is planning to stay up for the Magic Kingdom fireworks later that night.
- Book a sit-down meal: Magic Kingdom has so many great table-service restaurants to try (Skipper Canteen is my favorite, but kids will love character dining options such as Cinderella’s Royal Table or Crystal Palace). These are great options if you want an hour or so out of the heat, in the middle of the day, with a solid, healthy meal. Plus, sit-down restaurants are the only place you can order a beer or alcoholic beverage at Magic Kingdom.
- Prioritize walk-on rides that last a while: Carousel of Progress, Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor, Country Bear Jamboree — these are all great attractions to check out when you need an AC break but don’t want to wait in a long line. Another favorite of mine is the PeopleMover: It’s not a show like the other three, and it is (mostly) outside, but you’ll get a nice breeze while you ride, and it lasts a relaxing 10 minutes.
Rope Drop Magic Kingdom With Ease
Rope dropping Magic Kingdom is a magical experience. You can knock out so many heavy hitters without long lines — and without paying for Genie+. Just make sure you wake up early, get in line for transportation early, and have a solid game plan going into the park. And remember: Magic Kingdom rope drops make for long days. It’s OK to tap out when you need a break!
