EPCOT Tests New Rope Drop Process Ahead of Cosmic Rewind Standby Queue Change

Posted: Saturday February 22, 2025 9:22am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

EPCOT is testing a new morning rope drop entry process as it prepares for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind to move to a standby queue on February 25, 2025.

EPCOT has a new arrival process for rope drop

The updated procedure changes how guests are directed after passing through the park entrance.

This morning, regular entry guests were directed to the left of Spaceship Earth, continuing past the attraction before being held just outside Connections Café. Meanwhile, Early Entry guests—those staying at Disney Resort hotels and select partner resorts—were directed to the right of Spaceship Earth.

Previously, non-resort guests were held directly in front of Spaceship Earth before being allowed further into the park at official opening time.

Cast Members we spoke with indicated that this new process is likely a permanent change, designed to help manage morning crowds once Cosmic Rewind begins using a standby queue. The adjustment will help reduce congestion in front of Spaceship Earth and improve guest flow toward high-demand attractions like Remy's Ratatouille Adventure, Frozen Ever After, and Cosmic Rewind.

Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind will operate a standby line starting February 25, 2025

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ZipadeeladyJun 24, 2025

Thanks!

dmc493Jun 23, 2025

Epcot has adjusted slightly to accommodate GOTG going on standby. They hold you at the breezeway next to Creations and then walk you into the queue. Otherwise, standard rope drop lines over near the Land and towards Frozen MK swapped to letting people line up directly in each attraction's queue in Fantasyland and Tomorrowland, instead of holding people at the Fantasyland and Tomorrowland bridges. Unsure if this will continue since some people believe it was changed to allow for pavement work on the bridge.

ZipadeeladyJun 23, 2025

I've heard that just recently, early entry and lining up for particular rides in Epcot and MK have changed. Has anyone experienced anything different from what is already posted here? Going in a few months and would like to know what's new.

TheMaxReboFeb 23, 2025

right, but I am wondering before they open for early entry where they will hold people. So if early entry starts at 8:30 and I get there at 8, where will I be waiting? If it is at Canada vs people coming from the front being held by SSE, they have a much shorter walk to Guardians than those coming from the IG - so would be harder to be at the front of the Early Entry for Guardians ... but if they let you in further so that when they open for early entry your walk is about the same as those coming from the front then it would be more fair/even (on the flip side, those entering the IG could have easier time being at front of Early Entry line for Remy or Frozen so could just be a trade off)

wdwfan22Feb 23, 2025

Anyone coming from the international gateway should be a resort Guests they will go straight to the attraction as it is open for early entry next week.

esskayFeb 23, 2025

A much welcome change. Felt pretty daft that those most likely to take advantage of early entry were being hampered by it!

marni1971Feb 23, 2025

This. For decades the various parks have pre scanned guests and held them in their respective hubs. Guests think they’re getting value by them “opening early” and ops can better manage demand (it used to be left for Test Track, right for Soarin’) We used to play spot the deliberately placed security guard or slowly walking manager in the pinch points.

MisterPenguinFeb 23, 2025

I would presume moving the on-time rope droppers further up... 1. reduces the length of the sprint-track to get to the most popular rides. 2. gets the on-time people out of the way for the resort-early-entrance people to get around the crowd for their early admittance to the rides.

Cmdr_CrimsonFeb 23, 2025

Sooo, they are just bringing back the idea they did in 2003... Corral the Guests at Innoventions plaza Bring the character bus out Rope drops Done. This isn't new....