Any Security/Bag Check tips?

[ElenaJane]

We have our first DL stay coming up in 28 days!! We will be at the DLH. Our first day will be EMH at the DCA. Any tips as to where we should go through security? Aren't there at least two ways? One through the Grand California Hotel? Which is the quickest security/entry route to DCA for EMH?

So excited! Thanks in advance!

 

[figment_jii]

From the GCH, you can enter DCA either via the GCH entrance or the main entrances. I would personally use the main entrance because there are more security checkers and ticket booths, so it will probably go faster. I don't know about during EMH, but my family did use the GCH entrance one evening after dinner and everyone entering via the GCH entrance had to go through the metal detectors. It made the line fairly lengthy compared to previous trips.

For tips on getting through security...have all bags off your body and the compartments open for easier inspection. If you do get selected for extra screening, they will ask you to completely empty your pockets. So if you carry a lot of loose change/loose items, I would bring a Ziploc-style baggie to put everything in so you have an easier/faster time getting it out of the holding container.

 

[Metalliman98]

We have our first DL stay coming up in 28 days!! We will be at the DLH. Our first day will be EMH at the DCA. Any tips as to where we should go through security? Aren't there at least two ways? One through the Grand California Hotel? Which is the quickest security/entry route to DCA for EMH?

So excited! Thanks in advance!

Go to the regular entrance for EMH. The hotel entrance is not built to handle large crowds and does not work well for EMH.

Whatever time EMH starts, get to the security checkpoint at least 45 minutes prior, more if it is a later EMH (like 9 or 10).

 

[ElenaJane]

Thanks guys! Not sure how I am going to convince DH to get to the security check point 45 mins early (though I totally believe that you are right)! QS breakfast doesn't even start until 7am (Tangaroa Terrace), which means for 8am EMH we would have to eat in like 5 minutes, to then walk the 10 minutes to Security. We will definitely do the main security gate. Thanks for that tip!

 

[tlovesdis]

DO NOT use the GCH entrance for EE! Yikes! The lines are crazy long!!!

We usually show up about 10 minutes before EE starts at the front gate for DCA and are in quick. DL EE we show up about 20 minutes before.

 

[Metalliman98]

Thanks guys! Not sure how I am going to convince DH to get to the security check point 45 mins early (though I totally believe that you are right)! QS breakfast doesn't even start until 7am (Tangaroa Terrace), which means for 8am EMH we would have to eat in like 5 minutes, to then walk the 10 minutes to Security. We will definitely do the main security gate. Thanks for that tip!

EMH first, breakfast later. There will be plenty of time to eat breakfast when the ride lines are long.

If he can't hold out, there are always pop tarts and other such pastries.

Earl of SAndwich might be open earlier than 7. If so, grab it to go and eat it in line.

 

[Metalliman98]

DO NOT use the GCH entrance for EE! Yikes! The lines are crazy long!!!

We usually show up about 10 minutes before EE starts at the front gate for DCA and are in quick. DL EE we show up about 20 minutes before.

Yes, let me add a caveat to my earlier advice: you should be at security 45 minutes before EMH if you want to be sure you are one of the first through the gate. If not, then you can arrive later, but once the lines at the gate get long, it can easily take 30 mins + to get through security and main gate.

 

[Nonsuch]

From the GCH, you can enter DCA either via the GCH entrance or the main entrances. I would personally use the main entrance because there are more security checkers and ticket booths, so it will probably go faster. I don't know about during EMH, but my family did use the GCH entrance one evening after dinner and everyone entering via the GCH entrance had to go through the metal detectors. It made the line fairly lengthy compared to previous trips...

No "probably" about it, for DCA park opening (EMH or regular) the main entrance will be faster. The line at the hotel entrance is often quite long (reaching Whitewater Snacks and doubling back), the security screening (made worse with the metal detectors) limits the speed of this entrance.

 

[tlovesdis]

No "probably" about it, for DCA park opening (EMH or regular) the main entrance will be faster. The line at the hotel entrance is often quite long (reaching Whitewater Snacks and doubling back), the security screening (made worse with the metal detectors) limits the speed of this entrance.

When we were there in September, we came off the elevator near Napa Rose and the line, and I am not exaggerating, was going from the DCA entrance, past Napa Rose, past Storyteller's, past the gift shop, through the lobby and out the main entrance door (the big stained glass one)!! My cousin and I couldn't believe it. We headed out to DTD and we were in the park within about 7 minutes, there was no wait at the front gate! It was the craziest thing I'd ever seen, line wise!!

 

[ElenaJane]

OK, @Metalliman98 You need to make a T-shirt "EMH first, breakfast later."

I'll see if in-room dining delivers at 6am. A bit extravagant, yes, but DH is a bit of a grizzly bear without a big breakfast and coffee. This will be our first morning, so I am hoping 6am will still feel like 9am to us!

@tiovesdis You paint quite a picture! I am sold, main entrance it is! I thought I was being craft by trying to go an alternate route....

 

[tlovesdis]

Starbucks in DTD opens early!!! just saying...

 

[ElenaJane]

Starbucks in DTD opens early!!! just saying...

OOoooooo, good thought! They have some DH approved options. Especially if I bring in a packet of peanut butter for him!

 

[LizzyS]

I always get nice comments from the security CMs because I am the kind of person who is READY when they are going through security. Open every zipper and have everything to where they can easily see inside. More than once I've gotten the "you've done this before" comment from a CM at security and I am not an AP that goes regularly or anything. I pack in small and have my purse gaping open for them when I come through the line.

 

[robin2588]

I read the other day that the DTD Starbucks has mobile ordering!! So you can order and pay ahead, and just stop in and grab it on your way to security At a certain point the Starbucks in DTD gets pretty busy in the AM, so if your not in there early you may get stuck in a line. So I would just download the app and do the mobile order so you do not have to worry about it.

 

[avalon451]

Also... GCH rooms have mini fridges and coffee makers. Just sayin'. Buy your own quick breakfast items the night before at Whitewater Snacks downstairs, snarf them while you're getting ready, or while you're standing in line waiting at the gate, and make your big breakfast more of a brunch, later in the morning.

 

[ElenaJane]

Also... GCH rooms have mini fridges and coffee makers. Just sayin'. Buy your own quick breakfast items the night before at Whitewater Snacks downstairs, snarf them while you're getting ready, or while you're standing in line waiting at the gate, and make your big breakfast more of a brunch, later in the morning.

That may work if I promise him a big brunch later!

 

[bumbershoot]

Starbucks in DTD opens early!!! just saying...

Yep and they participate mobile order/pay. Do that the go in the side door if there's a huge line and go to the back in the clump of people waiting for their orders.

30-45 min early at the main gates, but an hour+ early for the Grand, in our experience. If you're interested in getting into the park quickly and participating in emh, at least.

 

[ElenaJane]

So is it that security is just really slow, or is it that there are that many people there for EMH? Is everyone going to Radiator Racers? My plan is to "race" with everyone to that ride, and then pull a FP for it afterwards. I think I have to wait until 9 though to pull a FP?

 

[lindyv321]

Our last two trips to the park we did early-morning entry at DCA on Monday mornings and have gotten to the security checkpoint about 30 minutes prior to opening. Security goes asked if you are ready we also pack light and no longer bring a backpack and I only carry a wristlet. We do head directly to RSR and usually have to wait about 15 To 20 minutes to actually get on the ride. Then head directly to toy story. The other thing you can do is ride toys story first since there are no fast passes for that ride then head to RSR to see what the wait is or just get fast passes for it for later in the day. As for breakfast we have done Earl of Sandwich, Jazz kitchen express, tortilla Jo's Taqueria, and Tangora Terrace. All are very quick especially if you get there right when they open.

 

[Metalliman98]

So is it that security is just really slow, or is it that there are that many people there for EMH? Is everyone going to Radiator Racers? My plan is to "race" with everyone to that ride, and then pull a FP for it afterwards. I think I have to wait until 9 though to pull a FP?

Security can be slow, especially this coming quarter (April-June) with the staffing cutbacks. Then the actual entry lines are slow, for multiple reasons: people without early entry are trying to get in and don't understand why they can't; people are using their multi-day tickets for the first time and everyone needs to sign the ticket and take a picture; when the park opens and everyone is trying to get in the ticket scanners run slow, etc. If you get there early and are one of the first at the gate you avoid most, if not all of that. But show up at security at 7:45 for an 8 am early entry.....you'll be lucky to get in the park by 8:30.

Most everyone goes to Racers. While good, I don't think it's THAT amazing to warrant three or four rides a day. Personally, I'd go straight to Toy Story or Tower of Terror and ride those four or five times while everyone else is doing racers, then pull a FP for racers when the park opens (you can't pull a FP during EMH, at DCA or at DL). In 2014 we went straight to ToT at opening and literally rode it four times in a row without getting off because nobody else was coming to it, everyone was heading to racers. Probably not the case now, since racers isn't as new and the parks are more crowded, but you still get more mileage doing those rides first, in my opinion.