Anyone ever driven from Los Angeles for Rope Drop?

[MenchieMan87]

I've never been to rope drop at Disneyland and I'm considering it for the first day of my September visit. (Friday, September 23rd) Anyone ever tried driving from LA for this? How early do you have to leave?

I live about 35 miles from Disneyland, and I get there via the 10 and the 5. (Disneyland opens at 8am that day, fyi)

 

[Nonsuch]

I've never been to rope drop at Disneyland and I'm considering it for the first day of my September visit. (Friday, September 3rd)

Friday is September 2 (not 3)
September 2 has Magic Morning at 8AM, park opens at 9AM.
There is no MM on Saturday September 3.
This unusual schedule is likely because of the 5k Fun Run on Saturday.

Magic Morning guests enter at 8AM. There might be a rope drop at the end of Main Street at 9AM, but all the MM guest will already be in Fantasyland and Tomorrowland.

 

[DLR29]

Yes! I did this on Tuesday. I go to USC and me and my friend left a little before 7, went to Starbucks, hopped on the 10, drove down the 5, went and checked into a hotel and got to DLR for rope drop.

 

[MenchieMan87]

Friday is September 2 (not 3)

I meant the 23rd, my mistake. (though I fixed it 12 minutes before you posted your reply)

 

[MenchieMan87]

Yes! I did this on Tuesday. I go to USC and me and my friend left a little before 7, went to Starbucks, hopped on the 10, drove down the 5, went and checked into a hotel and got to DLR for rope drop.

That's awesome! What hotel did you stay at? (I assume that was an early check-in?)

 

[DLR29]

That's awesome! What hotel did you stay at? (I assume that was an early check-in?)

Best Western Park Place Inn, so literally right across the street. We didn't early check in, but we got our parking permit and left the car there for the day. Then we officially checked in later and got our room that night.

 

[TigerlilyAJ]

Yes! I did this on Tuesday. I go to USC and me and my friend left a little before 7, went to Starbucks, hopped on the 10, drove down the 5, went and checked into a hotel and got to DLR for rope drop.

DLR29, that's awesome. DId you get there for the 8am MM rope drop or the regular 9am one? Was traffic unusually light that you made such good time?
I'm so interested because I am a Trojan alum (Fight On!) and hope to visit 'SC the day we arrive at LAX, visit Exposition Park, stay near campus, and then drive down the next day for rope drop to start our DLR tour.

AJ

 

[disfan07]

yup we have. And we live up in Santa Clarita and have done this. We wanted to leave before morning rush hour so we left at about 5:30 AM and got to the hotel around 7:00 AM. Gave us enough time for my dad to grab some coffee and we made it to the entrance for DL before 8AM.

We ended up going back to the hotel in the afternoon for a nap because we were exhausted from getting up at 4:30AM but it was fun.

 

[MenchieMan87]

Best Western Park Place Inn, so literally right across the street. We didn't early check in, but we got our parking permit and left the car there for the day. Then we officially checked in later and got our room that night.

That's my exact hotel! Now I'm excited

(not that I wasn't before)

 

[DLR29]

DLR29, that's awesome. DId you get there for the 8am MM rope drop or the regular 9am one? Was traffic unusually light that you made such good time?
I'm so interested because I am a Trojan alum (Fight On!) and hope to visit 'SC the day we arrive at LAX, visit Exposition Park, stay near campus, and then drive down the next day for rope drop to start our DLR tour.

AJ

The day that we went, MM was at 7 and regular was at 8. We made it for the regular rope drop at 8. Traffic wasn't bad, but there was a little. Most of the traffic, however, is going towards LA in the morning, not away from it.

Fight on!

 

[narsel]

We drove to Disney for a Magic Morning the Tues. of our 3 day stay. We live near Glendale, left at 5:30am taking the 210 to the 605 to the 5. Arrived at the Paradise Pier Hotel at 6:30ish, checked in, stashed our bags in the room and were over at security at 7:15am. Getting to the parks early -either for magic mornings or rope drop on a normal day MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.