Rope Drop

I grew up in Orange County, California, and we went to Disneyland all the time. We had annual passes off and on, and even when we didn’t we still managed to get there a few times each year. My favorite tradition was getting up super early and watching The Disneyland Sing-a-long VHS with my little sister. And yes, we sang along with the ENTIRE THING. Every visit would start with us arriving before the park opened, putting our homemade lunches in a locker, and lining up for the rope drop.

That strategy followed us into adulthood. When we visit as a family we still get up early and arrive in time to be among the first in the park - sometimes marching ridiculously as we sign “Step In Time.”

What’s your strategy when you visit the parks? Do you get up before sunrise to touch the rope before it drops? Or do you enjoy a lazy morning waiting for the opening crowd to die down before heading in?