8 Disney World Hotels That Make Rope Drop 10X Harder, and 8 You Should Stay at Instead

When it comes to rope dropping at Walt Disney World, not every hotel is created equal.

Bright and early at Magic Kingdom

Rope dropping, 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, has become 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. On top of that, Walt Disney World hotel guests receive Eary Entry benefits to the resort’s parks. 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.

Magic Kingdom

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.

Disney’s Pop Century Resort

Of course, there is value (see what we did there) to staying at the value resorts. Specifically, Pop Century offers one of the most fun, and nostalgic themed environments for guests of a certain age who want to visit Walt Disney World in the most cost-effective way possible.   

Disney’s Pop Century Resort

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.

Saratoga Springs Resort

Of course, Saratoga Springs’ location might be benefit in the eyes of some. Specifically, the hotel’s location all the way at the Disney Springs end of property makes it a bit more laid back and “out of the way” – well, as out of the way as a hotel can get – than those closer to Disney World’s parks.  

Saratoga Springs

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.

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort

In addition to its location near the Magic Kingdom, the grand Floridian offers some of our favorite restaurants and snacks at any of the property’s hotels. This is only going to get betetr with the opening of the hotel’s upcoming themed lobby bar.

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.

Fireworks deck at California Grill

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.

Spaceship Earth

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.

Fort Wilderness

Of course, just because it’s not close to EPCOT isn’t a reason to write off  the Wilderness Lodge. This massive resort is still one of our favorites on property. In particular, the resort offers one of our favorite themed pool areas thanks to it’s rocky, national park-like setting.

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

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.

Animal Kingdom Lodge

What Animal Kingdom Lodge lacks in ease of transportation, it more than makes up for it thanks to it’s beautiful savanas full of animals and some of the best hotel dining on property, including JIKO. 

Jiko

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.

Disney’s Yacht Club

Beyond that proximity, we have two words for you: Stormalong Bay! The pool area that the Yacht and Beach Clubs share is not only the best pool on property, it’s as good as some water parks.

Yacht Club

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 BoardWalk Inn

The Boardwalk’s proximity to ECPOT also provides another benefit: It’s so close, that the hotel essentially provides access to the Skyliner without even technically being on the Skyliner line! 

Inside the Disney Skyliner

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.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

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.

Old Key West

Like Saratoga Springs, Old key West’s location provides a comparative form of isolation at the Walt Disney World Resort. 

Disney’s Old Key West

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.

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Issues getting to Animal Kingdom aside, the Polynesian probably the quintessential Walt Disney World tesort, featuring in-depth theming, dining, and of course, one of our FAVORITE places on property: Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto. This heavily themed bar features themed takes on Tiki drinks, and is loaded with Disney in-jokes. 

Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto

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.

Animal Kingdom Lodge

In addition tot he aforementioned restaurants, the other main draw of this hotel is obvious. IT’S THE ANIMALS! 

Not a bad view

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 All-Star Sports Resort

The All-Star Resorts lack many of the amenities of other Disney hotels, BUT if you’re the type of person who wakes up early, gets up late, and spends the WHOLE day at the park, they may be the ideal resort for you. 

All-Star Music Resort

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.

Hollywood Studios

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.

Wilderness Lodge

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.

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

 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!

Swan and Dolphin Hotel

In addition to its proximity to the Studios park, the Swan and Dolphin offer some of our favorite hotel restaurants on Disney World property, including the new Bourbon Steak.

10 oz Center Cut Filet Mignon

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.

Art of Animation

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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Which hotels do you think offer the best rope-dropping advantages? Let us know in the comments!

The post 8 Disney World Hotels That Make Rope Drop 10X Harder, and 8 You Should Stay at Instead first appeared on the disney food blog.

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