How Did Disney World Just Change Rope Drop at Epcot? On February 25th, 2025, Walt Disney World is removing Virtual Queue from Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in the Magic Kingdom, and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in Epcot. This change will make the process of rope dropping at Epcot very different with the crowds showing up early to try and ride before the lines get too long. So Disney has changed the way rope drop works at Epcot.
EPCOT’s Old Rope Drop Process: Both before and after recent changes, remains easy to understand.
Regular park guests scan their tickets and assemble in front of Spaceship Earth, where the rope drop occurs. Those with breakfast reservations or Early Entry (available to Disney Resort hotel guests and select others) are directed to the right of Spaceship Earth for early entry.
New Rope Drop Process:
Guests Scan in at the front of the Epcot, and those without Early Entry or Breakfast Reservations are directed to the left of SSE. The rope drop is now just before Connections Cafe (Starbucks). Technically, it is where Guest Services in the front of the park has a location, and to the left of Spaceship Earth, this area was used in the past for rope drop during construction. While Early Entry is located on the right-hand side of SSE nearer to the entrance of the ride queue for SSE.
From Walt Disney World: Beginning February 25, 2025, Guests will be able to experience Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind via a standby queue, Lightning Lane Single Pass or Lightning Lane Premier Pass. A virtual queue will no longer be offered at this attraction.
This is a permanent change to the rope drop procedure in Epcot, it was done knowing that the crowds would be heading straight for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind! With these changes, Disney has also added more umbrellas and stanchions to the left-hand side of the roller coaster knowing that the ride is a popular choice and is highly rated. This means the demand for riding it will be very high.
Tip: If you are going to rope drop Epcot for GOTG, you must be at the front entrance rope drop. If you are staying at Disney’s Boardwalk, Yacht and Beach Club, or Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resorts you do not want to try and rope drop from International Gateway. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is the furthest attraction from that entrance. Coming in from the International Gateway? Remy’s Ratatouille or Frozen Ever After are still the preferred rope drop rides.
We do not know how long of a wait GOTG will be, but we are not expecting it to be too outlandish. Remember, Frozen Ever After does NOT have a height requirement, so families with little ones are still going to rope drop that attraction. The height requirement for Guardians is 42 in, so little ones won’t be able to ride. Plus, after the first day, February 25th, 2025, the crowds and influencers won’t be so bad. When Tron Lightcycle Run was removed from VQ we saw the line hit up to 80 minutes and then settle down around 55 to 65 min.
If you would like to learn more about how Virtual Queue worked when Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opened click the link.
How Did Disney World Just Change Rope Drop at Epcot?
