The ONE Disney World Rule It’s ALWAYS Okay To BREAK

Disney4me · February 28

Sometimes, a vacation to Disney World does not always feel like a vacation.

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Welcome to Disney World!

There is so much to see and do around the resort that you may feel exhausted. Plus, you have to worry about Advance Dining Reservations, transportation, Lightning Lane selections, and so much more. While it can feel like you have to follow all the unspoken Disney World rules, we are here to tell you that it is more than okay to relax as we always break this one Disney World rule, and we are giving you the go-ahead to break it too!

Planning guide for the ultimate Disney vacation

It is no secret that park tickets to Disney World can be expensive, and we totally understand wanting to squeeze the most time out of your park day. We also know that it can be challenging to fit all the rides, snacks, and character meet and greets into one day; that’s why some people like to get a head start and beat the crowds by rope dropping.

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Hollywood Studios at rope drop

Rope dropping is when you get to the park before it officially opens. In most cases, you will go through security and scan your ticket to be let into the park before opening. Then, you will wait for a rope to drop—yes, a physical rope drops in front of certain areas of the park to allow guests into the park for the day.

What No One Tells You About Rope Drop in Disney World

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Rope dropping lines at Magic Kingdom

While rope dropping can give you a head start to your park day, it can be exhausting. Not only do you have to wake up early, but you also have to worry about transportation, parking, and security, all while trying to beat the crowds of people also trying to rope drop.

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Rope drop crowds

If you are staying at a Disney World resort, you can partake in Early Theme Park Entry, which takes place even earlier than rope drop! While this is a great perk, it unfortunately can equal less sleep to get up in time to participate.

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Magic Kingdom rope drop crowd

We are here to tell you that it is more than okay to NOT rope drop. You are on vacation, and you deserve to rest! We can’t lie; many of our team members rarely rope drop when they visit the parks for fun. It can be super stressful to fight through the crowds and get to the park on time.

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Rope drop in World Showcase at EPCOT

If you can’t part ways with rope dropping altogether, that is okay. We know it can be an essential part of Disney World vacations, but perhaps you can consider giving yourself a break. For example, maybe you don’t have to rope drop every park day. But if you do want to participate in the art of rope dropping and getting the most out of your park days, we have plenty of resources on our site, like how to ride everything at Disney World!

We are also huge advocates for taking a rest day in between park days! Rest days can be a great way to recharge and explore other parts of Disney World outside of the park. You can spend the day relaxing at your resort’s pool or at one of Disney World’s water parks. Or you can head to Disney Springs for a day of shopping.