If you're planning on getting to the parks at opening to be the fist person on a ride, you might be surprised to learn that you can't just show up at opening. Each park at Disney World has an opening procedure that allows you inside the park before actual opening time.
Find out when you should arrive and what you can expect if you want to be at Hollywood Studios for park opening (rope drop).
Cast Members will typically let guests inside the park about an hour before actual park opening. So if the park is open at 9am, you can expect guests to be allowed in to the park at about 8am.
When planning your morning, remember that you will still have to go through security at the parks. Security lines can be long in the morning.
When you arrive at Hollywood Studios you have 4 options on where to start your morning:
Depending on which area you want to rope drop, you'll head to a specific part of the park to be held until opening.
Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway
If you want to rope drop Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway you will head straight down Hollywood Blvd towards the ride. This ride will have guests entering an outdoor overflow queue. So if rope dropping this ride is a priority I would definitely get to the park as early as possible.
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge
If you want to rope drop any of the rides in Galaxy's Edge, you'll head down Hollywood Blvd and over to Grand Ave (by Star Tours and Muppet Vision 3D). Look for Cast Members holding signs to direct you. You will be held in this area until park opening.
Toy Story Land
If you want to rope drop any rides in Toy Story Land (especially Slinky Dog Dash), you'll want to head to Animation Courtyard. You will be routed through the "Hollywood Studios" archway to get to Toy Story Land, and held at the entrance of the land until official park opening. Look for Cast Members holding signs to direct you.
Sunset Blvd (Tower of Terror and Rock 'n Rollercoaster)
If you want to rope drop Tower of Terror and Rock 'n Rollercoaster you can head over to Sunset Blvd. You will be able to walk partway down this road before Cast Members have it roped off. If you want to ride Rock 'n Rollercoaster you will be directed to one side of the road, and if you want to ride Tower of Terror you'll be directed to the other side.
If you have breakfast reservations at the park before regular park opening, you will be allowed in to the park and allowed in to the Echo Lake area (which is closed off to all other guests before park opening.)
At Hollywood Studios there is one restaurant that participate in pre park opening breakfast:
For more information on getting breakfast reservations before park opening, and how it works, see thefull article here.
Looking for Opening Procedures on the Other Parks?
I have created guides for opening procedures on the other parks as well as this one. You can find Magic Kingdom opening procedures here. Animal Kingdom opening procedures can be found here.
Note that because of the construction at Epcot I do not have an opening procedure guide for that park. After construction is complete, and new opening procedures are in place a guide for Epcot will be created. At this time I recommend asking a Cast Member to direct you.
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-Julie
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