Rope Drop - Tell Me Why I Should Get Up Early and Fight (ugh) Crowds?

We often get there early, are we at the rope? no, but not far behind it. It's worth it to hit the rides that are popular without having to get a fastpass, it's also worth it because everything has a fresh, clean, ready to go feeling you do get the rest of the day. Not that disney isn't clean, it's just different. The sidewalks are drying from watering all the plants for example. We also do late magic hours too, it depends on our trip plans. I like both, and dh and I are soooo not early morning people, but we like to get up and get to the parks when opening when we can. From what I understand if you are at the rope you may be picked to be in a parade, get vip seating for parade/fireworks, get to wake up tinkerbell at the mk. None of these have ever happened to us, but we just like the early morning feel. It's not nearly as crowded as you might think, even at MK. We always use the buses, so I can't speak to parking/driving. We grab a quick bite to eat in our room, I get in a bus line and dh goes and fills our mugs with coffee for the bus ride over. We then grab breakfast in the park if we are aiming to be there at opening.

We don't go to "rope drop" per se either, but we get there shortly thereafter. There's a crowd waiting for the rope to drop, but after that the parks are as empty as they're likely to be all day. We often get all of our rides in during the first 90 minutes of the park's opening. Everything after that is just a bonus.

I agree about the emptiness, except for the 12am-3am later hours. They are the same if not emptier.

That's why we do both, depending on the park and what we planned for the day.

We have been there for the rope drop and just after at times. But that was always in January. Sometimes we felt like we had the park all to ourselves, we got onto Main Street and have pictures with no one on it. When those times happen, thats when I feel the "most Magic!" And the plus is getting on the rides really quick.

I sadly can't give you a reason as I have never ever been. I'm a firm believer in sleeping late. My job disagrees with me though since I get up ever morning at 5:45.

The biggest draw for us is the opening celebration at the parks. That's why we get there early (aside from being stupid early risers). Each park has a welcoming ceremony:

MK has a fun musical number atop the train station - they let you inside the park up to the front entrance tunnel, and a few minutes before opening, there's a song and dance show, and then Mickey and friends arrive via train and welcome everyone to the park. They always pick out a family with small kids to join Mickey et al up top as the guest family to open the park.

HS lets you in about 15 minutes before opening and allows you s far as Hollywood & Vine. Right before opening, an old clunker pulls up with a "movie producer" and film crew and put on a short comedy show to celebrate the opening. CMs from ToT, RnR and TSM are there to escort guests to the respective rides. They also pick out a family to help with the opening ceremony.

Epcot welcomes guests with a visit from Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto and Goofy. Again, they let you in the park shortly before opening (I think about 15-20 minutes) up to a point, where CMs greet you (and stop you from going any further); then Mickey and friends do a short welcoming number. They used to arrive via a cool tour bus, but they seem to have stopped that.

AK lets you in up to where the lands split, and Safari Mickey and Goofy are in a cherry picker thingie and do an opening number and welcome to the park. Then CMs escort the crowds to the key rides (Everest, Safari)

At both MK and HS, CMs from the shoppes all come out and wave to welcome you, many with the big Mickey hands.

So it's just part of what makes being there magical for us.

I agree with Jeff that the opening ceremonies are worth seeing at least once.

I love doing rope drop. I get in, get all the rides ridden, and get out by 10am when some folks are just getting there.

I think at least two hours before..i know thats when the buses start running anyway.