24 Hour Event - Arrival Time?

[Castillo Mom]

Hello everyone!

My family and I are attending this event in May. The first time we did this, we arrived at around 8:00 p.m. and waited in a long line since DLR was at capacity. Second time, we arrived at 3:00 p.m. and had no problems with parking or getting through the turnstiles. This year we're going to try doing the full 24 hour event.

What time should we arrive for the 6:00 a.m. opening? Is there a long line to enter the parking area? How about getting through the turnstiles?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Gisele]

Hello everyone!

My family and I are attending this event in May. The first time we did this, we arrived at around 8:00 p.m. and waited in a long line since DLR was at capacity. Second time, we arrived at 3:00 p.m. and had no problems with parking or getting through the turnstiles. This year we're going to try doing the full 24 hour event.

What time should we arrive for the 6:00 a.m. opening? Is there a long line to enter the parking area? How about getting through the turnstiles?

Thanks in advance!

Good question. I too, am wondering about timing. I have read here (Disboards) that people start lining up before 6 in the a.m. And that by the time of the night parades, etc. one might not be allowed in.
I have worked before, literally a 24 hour day. It bites. But this is Disney. So it's a different situation. But....sleep deprivation is just that. So I don't know if staying the full 24 hour time frame, is such a great idea. Maybe you have to drink red bull and be 21 y/o. No, really! lmao

 

[thmcdonald1]

I, too, am curious about when the park will reach capacity! I'll be going with my wife and daughter, though we have no interest in the 24 hour aspect... just the fact that the 60th anniversary stuff begins on that day!

I'm planning on making dining reservations and tour reservations in DLR to give us excuses to get back in the park if we need to leave for naps. Hopefully we can get in at the gate even if the park is at capacity if we have preexisting dining reservations!

 

[iKristin]

With this 24 hour event being the biggest one ever since it's the 60th reveal date, I'm going to say that people will probably start lining up after the park closes the night before. I'm planning on checking it out around midnight, but I'm more curious how the parking is going to work at Mickey and Friends since they won't be open for people to park in over night in order to line up??

 

[SMD]

They'll designate a lot for overnight parking. I went to one AP after hours event years where they told us to park in Toy Story. I camped out for the DCA reopen and they let us park overnight in M&F, but the shuttles only ran during park hours, so if you had to go back to your car or arrived in the middle of the night you had to walk. Of course, by the middle of the night the esplanade was closed and the line was out on the Harbor side.

 

[Gisele]

Do that many people actually line up that early? I am not interested in waiting in line that early in the a.m.

 

[SMD]

Realistically, do that many people actually line up that early? I am not interested in waiting in line that early in the a.m.

If there's a free item or a limited item for purchase, yes, they'll line up before the park closes the night before.

 

[Gisele]

If there's a free item or a limited item for purchase, yes, they'll line up before the park closes the night before.

Thank you.
Omg! The humanity of it all. Lol

 

[wdwfan22]

I, too, am curious about when the park will reach capacity! I'll be going with my wife and daughter, though we have no interest in the 24 hour aspect... just the fact that the 60th anniversary stuff begins on that day!

I'm planning on making dining reservations and tour reservations in DLR to give us excuses to get back in the park if we need to leave for naps. Hopefully we can get in at the gate even if the park is at capacity if we have preexisting dining reservations!

So does anyone know if this works if the park is at capacity? I know about the phases at DW. Do they have those too at DL? I am planning on making a late reservation at Big Thunder Ranch BBQ after having left the park for a mid day nap. But I'm not sure what time to make it until they release the parade/fireworks schedule. And by then the reservations will probably be full. Argh. At lease this once, I wish they would release that days schedule before the 60 booking window.

 

[cindernat]

I'm having the same problem, not quite sure how to plan my week until I know if Fantasmic will be showing during the week days. By current schedule, it's looking like no We're there Monday to Friday inclusive of the 24 hour event.

 

[figment_jii]

The Friday of Memorial Day weekend is considered the kick-off to the summer (peak) season, so before that, F! and fireworks (and Mad T Party) will be on the standard non-peak season schedule (Fri, Sat, and Sun only). Starting with the Friday of Memorial Day weekend, F!, fireworks, and most everything should be presented on a daily basis. So, cindernat, unfortunately, it's most likely that F! will not be presented on Mon through Thu leading up to the 24-hour day (assuming the schedule from previous years holds for this year).

In terms of the 24-hour day, they didn't actually release the full schedule until that day. The basic information (e.g., parades, fireworks, F!, WoC, etc.) was announced in advance, but some of the special entertainment wasn't announced beforehand. You had to look at the Times Guide for that day when you got to the park!

In terms of park closures, DL does have staged closing, but it's not as well known what those stages are. The most common ones I've heard is that first they stop selling new tickets, but folks with tickets or those re-entering the parks are allowed in. The second stage only allows guests to re-enter the park. At the third stage, no one can enter the park. Unlike WDW, which has provisions for guests with ADRs, I don't know if DLR has the same thing. I get to married to these stages, but they're the most common ones you hear about here on the Disboard.

In terms of arrival timing...last year, the lines to get into DL were about 3/4ths of the way to the center of the Esplande at 6:00 am when the park opened. I got there at about 5:00 am and the lines were fairly long, but there was music and characters on a stage. I walked from the hotel, so I didn't have to deal with parking.

 

[Gisele]

[QUOTE="figment_jii, post: 53304553, member

terms of arrival timing...last year, the lines to get into DL were about 3/4ths of the way to the center of the Esplande at 6:00 am when the park opened. I got there at about 5:00 am and the lines were fairly long, but there was music and characters on a stage. I walked from the hotel, so I didn't have to deal with parking.[/QUOTE]

What was the scene like though, once entering Disneyland? A madhouse? Mad dash? Like an average park opening in May? Wondering because honestly, if I even make it there that early, I don't care to be stampeded upon me person. Don't want footprints on my forehead. That will not bode well with me. Most definitely not the makings of a magical morning. More like a trip to the ER. Scary man...

TIA

 

[figment_jii]

I thought it was very orderly and pretty easy in truth. The entry went pretty quickly and we inside the park within 6 to 10 minutes of the park opening. I didn't think there was a stampede or anything like that. After about 30-minutes, I "hopped" over to DCA to pick up the Times Guide and there was no line to get in. The only place(s) that seemed kind of chaotic right at opening were the first shops on Main Street as folks were trying to get the 24-hour merchandise right away.

 

[Castillo Mom]

Hmm. I'm wondering whether a 6:30 a.m. - 7:00 a.m. arrival at the turnstiles would be best. Will have to see!

 

[Gisele]

Regarding early opening, am getting this image of the special merchandise becoming very well picked over, quite fast, with several remnants strewn about the floor. A couple of "discussions" by various people, over the remains, along with a bloody nose, and several deflated shopping lusts/lists.
Which really greatly reminds me of shopping at Halloween stores
on Oct. 30th. omg!

 

[beachdreamr1229]

Regarding early opening, am getting this image of the special merchandise becoming very well picked over, quite fast, with several remnants strewn about the floor. A couple of "discussions" by various people, over the remains, along with a bloody nose, and several deflated shopping lusts/lists.
Which really greatly reminds me of shopping at Halloween stores
on Oct. 30th. omg!

Lol! I'm personally picturing Walmart on Black Friday levels of scary. That mad grab and dash to get everything you've never dreamed of wanting until it's all you can reach.

 

[figment_jii]

Lol! I'm personally picturing Walmart on Black Friday levels of scary. That mad grab and dash to get everything you've never dreamed of wanting until it's all you can reach.

Maybe if there are limited edition items out, but most of those end up being behind the counter. It was busy in the stores first thing in the morning last year, but it wasn't anything like what Gisele described or like you see on TV for Wal-Mart on Black Friday. The fact that some of the 60th merchandise will debut that day will add to the crowds in the store, but if enough things are open edition, then it will probably be okay.

 

[SMD]

Usually the limited edition merchandise is in a single location and you're given wristbands, order slips or some kind of coupon for your allotment. I expect it will be that way on July 17th, not sure about May 22nd. There probably won't be any real limited merchandise like 500 or 1000 edition size stuff that day.

 

[GenGen22]

Ok now I'm a little worried... I had no clue that they were kicking off the 60th or a 24 hour party when I planned my trip... Now, that this is all going on my plan was to arrive at the parks around 8am-9am as we fly in that morning. Do you think by this time it will be a problem getting into DL??

 

[iKristin]

No I don't think an 8-9am arrival would be capacity. But the lines to get in might be kind of long, especially parking if you're renting a car