Disney World Is Making My Favorite Rope Drop Strategy Harder at Hollywood Studios

As we’ve discussed in the past, there are distinct strategies for rope dropping Walt Disney World’s theme parks. However, the approach to one of the parks is about to change… at least temporarily.

Hollywood Studios

Of all the changes happening at Walt Disney World right now, one park that is changing quite a bit is Hollywood Studios. The park is in the midst of a massive evolution to changes like the new Monsters, Inc. Monstropolis-themed land, the newly revamped Disney Studios area taking over the former Animation Courtyard, and — our focus today — the Muppet takeover of the Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster.

On March 2nd, the current iteration of the Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster — the Aerosmith-centric version of the attraction that opened in 1999 — is set to close forever, with the new Muppet-ized version, which should debut in the summer.

©Disney

While the new Muppet version is sure to be mega-popular and bring its own crowd flow changes, right now we’re looking at the roughly 4-6 months that the coaster will be closed completely, and how that might change the rope drop strategy of many guests.

See, for many years, it was common for guests to head into the park, swing left off of Hollywood Boulevard, and walk down Sunset Boulevard to hit the Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster and its neighbor, the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, first thing in the morning. (Incidentally, we’d like to know how many saved breakfast for AFTER these two thrilling E-Tickets).

However, for the duration of the coaster’s closure, it’s probably unwise to head straight down Sunset Boulevard at rope drop as the only draw will be Tower of Terror. And while we still love the marvel of Disney Imagineering that is the tower, realistically, there are better early rope drop options when considering how the park’s wait times usually shake out.

©Disney

For example, guests can instead keep walking down Hollywood Boulevard to the Chinese Theater, and instead try and knock out the still always-busy Mickey & Minnie’s Runway Railway…

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway

… or they can head around the theater and instead try to snag a seat on the mega-popular (often with the park’s longest average wait) Slinky’s Dog Dash in Story Story Land.

Slinky Dog Dash

They can even walk all the way to the park’s — and the galaxy’s — furthest reaches to try and snag a seat with Lieutenant Bek on Rise of the Resistance in Galaxy’s Edge.

Rise of the Resistance

Speaking of the Star Wars-themed land, there may be another rope drop-worthy ride in Batuu come May, as the mega-popular Mandalorian and Grogu are being added to new missions on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.

New missions will be added to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers run in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort featuring the Mandalorian and Grogu.

Like we said above, the new Muppet version of the Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster may become a rope drop staple once it opens, but during the period between the “Bad Boys of Boston’s” final encore and Kermit and co.’s debut, it’s probably wise to shift early morning strategy away from Sunset Boulevard. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World tips.

3 Disney’s Hollywood Studios Rides We’re Getting Worried About

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What’s your usual Hollywood Studios rope drop strategy? Let us know in the comments below.