Advice for merch release at the park

[ShadowCross]

Does anyone have any experience with a merch release in downtown disney?
We want to get an item that's coming out next week. We're going to have to drive down 8 hours. We know we're going to have to wait in line and hope.
What we don't know is when the parking lot will open, when security opens, and how bad the crowds are going to be to fight for this item. Does anyone have any experience they can share?

 

[LKing]

It really depends on what type of item it is and what store you are trying to get into. Is it a pin? Is it a doll?

Disneyland parking opens at 7 am. Stores open at 9 pm or later (WonderGround opens at 10). Usually there are queues outside of the store. For Pin Traders, there is a taped queue on the ground. They allow a few people in at a time.

Are you driving 8 hours through the night or are you staying in a hotel the night before? If you are not going into the parks, look at the Simba lot. If you are going into the parks, you might consider taking ride share to either Harbor Blvd or DLH so that you don't have to deal with the wait to pay, park, and shuttle. If it is a large item, have one person in your party grab a locker while the others are waiting.

 

[tarheelalum]

If it’s something you think will sell very well I would get there before opening because the eBay reseller people come out in force if they think they can make a quick buck. If you have multiple people maybe drop one of them off so they can get in line before so at least that person doesn’t have to wait for parking. But I don’t know if a person can get to the door of the World of Disney store to wait before security opens by the Disneyland hotel. If not, at least you would be one of the first to get through security to get in line.