Annual Passholder Early Entry and How I got "Adopted" for a day! - Udated 7/15!

[disney-inspired]

I hardly write trip reports for my DLR visits since I'm an AP holder and usually only stay for the day as I'm local but I thought I'd share my experience with the AP Early Entry they are offering this year.

So, here we go!

First, I should introduce myself, right?

I'm Cristabel, 23 years old, recent college grad and clinically diagnosed with a serious, chronic disease. It's known as Disneyitis I have an unexplainable love for everything Disney, especially DLR. I've had annual pass for the past 4 years with annual trips before that.

Here's an oldie but a goodie! I believe this is from my 8th grade graduation trip. If it is, my little sister is only 2 there and is a GIANT! haha

After learning about the Early Entry perk, I registered for July 10th since I knew I have Tuesdays and Thursdays off of work. I also hoped that because it was after the holiday, less people would be likely to go as it is during the week.

Normally I would have chosen Disneyland but seeing as how the construction in California Adventure (will be noted as DCA in the rest of the this TR) was done and Carsland was open, I definitely wanted to take advantage of the extra hour. I had heard the horror stories of the stand by line being 3+ hours long. No, thank you sir!

It was Monday night and I could NOT sleep. I was partly excited, because getting to go in while the park is nearly empty is something to be excited about!, but also because I took nap earlier that day and it screwed with my sleeping schedule. Woops! What?! There is just something so AMAZING about afternoon naps! I swear, who knew I'd miss pre-school so much?!

Next Up: Whose bright idea was it to use the Tiki Room song as the alarm song?!

 

[PinkBudgie]

Looking forward to finding out how you were "adopted."

 

[disney-inspired]

5:00AM​

In the Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Room
In the Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Room
All the birds sing words and the flowers croon
In the Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Room
Welcome to our tropical hideaway, you lucky people you!
If we weren't in the show starting right away,
We'd be in the audience too
All together!​

Whose bright idea was it to set that song as my alarm?!

Oh yeah, that'd be me.
I slowly popped out of bed (think of a souffle), got dressed, did my hair and I was out the door by 5:30AM.

Knowing the Anaheim area (as I was only 15 minutes away), I didn't expect any traffic. I was hungry and didn't feel like eating in the park and wasting any ride time so I got off on Euclid (coincidentally near my old apartment) and visited the McD's drive thru. I normally don't eat McDonalds food but I kinda like their breakfast.
I pulled into the Mickey and Friends Parking structure at 5:50AM and was the 3rd or 4th car in line. After 6am, they let us through and guided us to the Pinocchio parking lot. I LOVE this parking area. It's close to trams and no need to pile on an escalator with 20 of your closest (and sometime SLOWEST) friends.

Once of the tram, I walked quickly (aka walking with purpose!) to security. I was one of the first people in line but they didn't let us through security until 6:30am.

The whole "checking in" for the AP event was very smooth. They had iPhones out that they scanned our APs and then we headed to another CM for a wristband. I was the first one at my gate, that's a first!

We had about 30 minutes until the let us in so we all waited. There had to be at least 500 people there. I overheard the family behind me talking and politely injected myself into the conversation. You know how that goes at Disney!

Well they were very nice and we chatted about what we wanted to ride first, obviously RSR, and how it's great that we were so close to the front of the line.

They were setting a game plan as to how they'd get to Carsland. Dad and the daughter would hustle it to the ride and mom would find them in line when she got there (bad foot). They included me in their group and told me to stay close.

Soon it was 7am and they started scanning tickets outside of the turnstile.

The CMs were bright-eyed and bushy-tailed! They led us in a countdown and as soon as the CM said "ONE!" people were out like a shot.

Now, I know running is never permitted so I walked with purpose. Other people were obviously not in the know and proceeded to nearly run over each other with their strollers. Thankfully the CMs knew this and proceeded to stop us in front of

Carthay circle and walked us down to Carland with a rope.

At Carsland Mater and Lightning McQueen led us into the land. It was such a cool experience!

Myself and the daughter, who turned out to be Stacey, proceed to hustle to Radiator Springs Racers. Once we were in line, we all just stopped and took a deep breath. So myself, Stacey, and Bob (dad) made it to nearly the front of the line!

But where was mom?!

More in the next update!

 

[disney-inspired]

Looking forward to finding out how you were "adopted."

Thanks for reading, more coming soon!

 

[PinkBudgie]

That's so cool you found a nice family to be with in both lines.

 

[Jazzheffa]

You can't do this too me!! Lol I need the end of the story. Ha ha

I'm not bad, I was drawn this way!