Rope dropping can be a hassle…but it doesn’t have to be with this tip!

Rope dropping is the process of showing up to a theme park before it opens and then subsequently getting phased deeper and deeper into the park as it gradually becomes available to the public. Rope drop is popular among guests as it usually provides you with the shortest wait times of the day and a leg up on guests who show up later. With that said, it’s more like ripping off a Band-Aid rather than something you’ll love to do. Rope dropping at Disney World requires you to get up EARLY, and it could be even earlier than you think once you start factoring in transportation times. We’ve rope dropped from many different hotels over the years, and if you want to quickly get to rope drop and make the most out of your day, avoid these hotels and opt for their substitutions for a shorter commute.

Disney World is the size of San Francisco, so, understandably, the parks are spread out. With that in mind, we can’t just give you a set list of hotels that are good and bad for rope drop. Each hotel is closer to a specific park and further from another. Therefore, we’re letting you know two hotels you should skip and two hotels you should opt for instead for each of the four theme parks.

Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom is the most popular park at Disney World, so rope-dropping here makes a lot of sense.

If your main focus is to get in as much time at Magic Kingdom as possible, take these hotel tips into consideration:

AVOID The Value Resorts

Disney World’s Pop Century and Art of Animation resorts are on the Skyliner route, which is great…except you can’t take the Skyliner to Magic Kingdom. Even worse, the All-Star Resorts are even further away and off the Skyliner path. You’ll need to take buses to the park, and the commute (and its wait) won’t likely be brisk.

AVOID Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa

This is no knock on Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa — in fact, it’s quite lovely as most Disney World hotel resorts are. However, it’s parked pretty close to Disney Springs, which means it’s not that close to Magic Kingdom.

STAY AT Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

If Magic Kingdom is the crown jewel of your vacation, we recommend staying at a Monorail Resort such as Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. This luxurious hotel is one of the nicest (and most expensive) hotels at Disney World and one of its best perks is that you’re a short monorail ride away from the hotel (which has a station) and Magic Kingdom.

STAY AT Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Another Monorail Resort, Disney’s Contemporary Resort is the CLOSEST resort to Magic Kingdom, so if your main goal is to spend as much time as possible at Magic Kingdom, this is the resort for you. This gorgeous resort (and California Grill especially) is a fantastic spot to stay at if you want to get to Magic Kingdom as soon as possible, but also a prime location to watch the fireworks at night.

And keep in mind that the walking path to Magic Kingdom from the Contemporary is very short and quicker than going by Monorail!

EPCOT

EPCOT  is located along the Skyliner AND monorail routes, creating some complexities as to which hotels you should stay at versus those you should avoid if rope-dropping EPCOT is something you take very seriously.

If EPCOT is your top destination, take these hotel tips into consideration:

AVOID Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground certainly offers a unique lodging experience that you can’t get anywhere else at Disney World, but it’s also off the beaten path.

AVOID Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is a FANTASTIC resort…but unless you’re consistently rope-dropping Disney’s Animal Kingdom, it’s just too far out from the other three parks.

STAY AT Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts

Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts are PRIME EPCOT locations. The International Gateway Entrance at EPCOT is located just a short stroll away from both hotels and you won’t need much transportation (or any at all) to rope drop.

STAY AT Disney’s BoardWalk Inn

Another short distance from EPCOT, Disney’s BoardWalk Inn is less than a 10-minute walk from the resort to the back entrance of EPCOT at the International Gateway.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Disney’s Animal Kingdom isn’t along the monorail or Skyliner routes, making it one of the trickiest Disney Parks to rope drop.

If you’re mostly game for safaris and visiting Pandora, the world of Avatar, consider these hotel tips:

AVOID Disney’s Old Key West Resort

Disney’s Old Key West Resort is sandwiched between EPCOT and Disney Springs and, while it’s not as far away as the Magic Kingdom resorts, it’s also not along any convenient transportation route.

AVOID Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Speaking of Magic Kingdom resorts, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is a fan-favorite and another great pick if you want to focus on Magic Kingdom, as it is a Monorail Resort. However, it’s one of the furthest hotels from Animal Kingdom in all of Disney World.

STAY AT Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

We already brought up Animal Kingdom Lodge as a place not to stay, but if your priority is Animal Kingdom or just animals in general, THIS IS THE PLACE FOR YOU. Animal Kingdom Lodge is literally the closest you can get to Animal Kingdom via a very short bus ride.

STAY AT Disney’s All-Star Resorts

Again, we’re suggesting resorts we told you not to stay at. Although Disney’s All-Star Sports, Music, and Movies Resorts aren’t ideal for rope-dropping ANY of the Disney Parks, they are a bit closer to Animal Kingdom than most other resorts — especially All-Star Sports.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Finally, Disney’s Hollywood Studios sits along the Skyliner route and is an incredibly popular park to rope drop thanks to its big-ticket attractions.

If you’re intent on rope-dropping Hollywood Studios, consider these hotel tips:

AVOID Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is a ways away, closer to Magic Kingdom, and isn’t great considering how many hotels are better options for rope-dropping Hollywood Studios.

AVOID Disney’s Contemporary Resort

While Disney’s Contemporary Resort is great for visiting Magic Kingdom, it’s much further away from Hollywood Studios. Stay somewhere closer unless you don’t mind long commutes to and from the park.

 STAY AT Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Hotels

Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Hotels are super close to Hollywood Studios and are actually within walking distance (with the Swan being closest). You’ll also get a scenic view along the way!

STAY AT Disney’s Art of Animation Resort or Disney’s Pop Century Resort

Both Pop Century and Art of Animation Resorts are solid stays if you’re looking to rope-drop Hollywood Studios since they both have Skyliner access. Both have access to the same Skyliner station and you can take the bus if the Skyliner is down.

And there you have it! Disney World has a TON of hotels, and each one has its pros and cons based on location. When in doubt, check the Disney World map for proximity and transportation options.

As always, stay tuned right here at DFB for more Disney World tips!

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