Master Disneyland Rope Drop: Pro Strategies for 2024

Rope Drop is a Disney fan term for the official opening of the theme parks. Rope Drop is an essential strategy used by theme park pros for getting on the most rides in the least amount of time.  “The early bird gets the worm” is an easy translation for what Rope Drop means, but implementing it takes specific steps I am sharing for your next Disneyland vacation.

If you’ve never been to Disneyland Resort for the official opening keep reading here for all the magical details about opening Disneyland and California Adventure. I’ll answer these important questions and more so your morning strategy starts smoothly:

• What is Disneyland Rope Drop?
• What time is Disneyland Rope Drop?
• When should I arrive for Rope Drop?
• Where is Disneyland Park Rope Drop?
• Where is California Adventure do Rope Drop?
• What ride should I go on at Rope Drop?
• Which rides should I avoid at Rope Drop?
• How does Early Entry affect Rope Drop strategies?
• Lightning Lane Rope Drop Tips
   

What is Disneyland Rope Drop?

Rope Drop is the official opening ceremony of Disneyland Resort theme parks including Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. If you arrive early enough, you can actually enter the gates and get closer to your first ride before the parks officially open.

Guests are all admitted to certain points in the parks that are roped off. When the announcement comes over the speaker welcoming you to Disneyland Resort, the rope “drops” and you’re able to quickly walk to your first ride and get on within minutes of park opening. 

This happens every day of the year, regardless of Early Entry which we’ll talk about a bit later. 

What Time is Disneyland Rope Drop?

The rope is removed at exactly park opening. For example, if Disneyland opens at 8:00 am, Rope Drop is at 8:00 am. If California Adventure Park opens at 9:00 am, Rope Drop is at 9:00 am. Make sure you know what time the parks are opening on the day you’re going. View Park Hours on the Daily Event Schedule here, these are listed about 6 weeks in advance.

When Should I Arrive for Rope Drop?

Arrival time for Rope Drop is very different than official Rope Drop time. Plan to:

• If you’re parking, arrive at Disneyland Resort Parking 1 hour before Rope Drop opening
• Be prepared for security screening, arrive to security about 45 minutes before Rope Drop
• Have your Disneyland tickets up and ready on your mobile device or MagicBand
• Be at the entrance gates 30 minutes before the park is scheduled to open
• Choose a line behind one of those planters or trees, like gate 13 since these gate lines split into two getting you in faster

Remember, cast members let you stroll down Main Street, U.S.A. and gather at the entrance where each land branches off. Our first destination is often Fantasyland or Tomorrowland, so we gather at the rope near Sleeping Beauty Castle or Astro Orbitors until we hear the announcement of the official park opening.

Where is Disneyland Rope Drop?

Rope Drop is not at the park gates, it’s actually inside the park. It gets you closer to your first ride destination so you could literally be riding a ride at 8:02 or 8:03 if you’re one of the first people at the rope. 

There are a few popular areas to gather for Rope Drop in Disneyland and I explain each spot below. I suggest getting one of my Park Plans to easily map out your day from start to finish. I have step by step itineraries for various Disneyland strategies and interests. 

1. The Right Side of Sleeping Beauty Castle. Best for heading to Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan’s Flight, Matterhorn Bobsleds, Mickey’s Toontown and more.  This is the best way toward “it’s a small world” which becomes very popular during the holiday season and is always a hit with small children. It is also one of the most popular areas to gather.
2. Tomorrowland Entrance. Best for heading to Space Mountain.
3. Adventureland Entrance. Best for heading to Indiana Jones Adventure, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Haunted Mansion and more.
4. The Left Side of the Castle / Frontierland Entrance. Best for heading to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

Where is California Adventure Rope Drop?

The Rope Drop process for California Adventure is the same as Disneyland except there are more areas to branch off to, so having a plan of what you’re going to ride first is important. I suggest getting my Pixar Favorites Park Plan for a step by step itinerary for your day in California Adventure. 

There are a few popular areas to gather for Rope Drop in California Adventure and I explain each spot below. After walking down Buena Vista Street you can choose from one of these three spots.

1. Entry to Cars Land. This isn’t all the way to Cars Land, but it’s as close as you’ll get to walk quickly to ride Radiator Springs Racers. This is the most popular spot to gather at Rope Drop. You can also use this for access to Pixar Pier or WEB Slingers
2. Grizzly Peak. Best for those heading to Soarin’, sometimes Cast Members will even let you queue for the ride while Rope Droppers gather, although the ride itself won’t open until official opening. This is also a great spot to get to other rides around Paradise Gardens Park. Sometimes you can even go a bit closer to The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure. 
3. Hollywood Land. Best for those heading to Avengers Campus, especially my favorite ride Guardians of the Galaxy Mission Breakout. 

What ride should I go on at Rope Drop?

It really depends on your interests, including it this is your first day or second day of your trip. Generally, the best places to rope drop include:

• Fantasyland with rides for all ages, although some can be scary so be sure to read my Disneyland ride guide to learn more about each attraction.
• Mickey’s Toontown as this area can get really hot and crowded later on.

• I like to Rope Drop some favorite rides, schedule a mobile order breakfast while we’re in the short lines and then pick up my food about 90-120 minutes after the park opens. 
• Step by Step itineraries include themes like Thrill Seekers for those who love rollercoasters and Story Book for those visiting with little ones. See all my Park Plans here, or grab the DIY version which includes a “what to ride first” list.

Which rides should I avoid at Rope Drop?

There are exceptions to every rule, and even I break them from time to time to test out new morning strategies. So I encourage you to break these rules too—when it makes sense! But I generally avoid rope dropping these rides:

• Peter Pan’s Flight because everyone tells you to rope drop this, creating instantly higher wait times if you’re not among the first on board. Navigating this queue with children at rope drop is even harder. It’s not always one of the best strategies to follow something everyone is telling you to do.
• Space Mountain because it’s often not open right away—but if it’s an Early Entry day at Disneyland, you can see on your app before official opening and make sure you effort to walk that way will be rewarded.

• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance because it’s often not open right away and it’s a long walk. If you do head that way and find out it’s closed, have a second ride in mind to quickly re-route. 

At California Adventure Park avoid rope dropping:

• Radiator Springs Racers because everyone goes here first creating instantly high wait times if you’re not among the first on board. If you know you’re going to do standby on this, consider an hour after parking opening or an hour before park closing. 
• Incredicoaster because it’s often not open right away—but if it’s an Early Entry day, you can see on your app before official opening and make sure you effort to walk that way will be rewarded.

Make your theme park reservations in a way that lines up with your goals, and don’t overthink it when it comes to Early Entry if you don’t have it.