California Adventure - arriving before opening

[Keyser]

We won't have early entry into CA, but I understand that we can get through the gates before the official park opening time, and some people will already be in there for early entry. I have a few questions about how this works:

0) What time do they typically let people (non-early-entry) in through the gates?
1) Is there a park opening event/show of some sort that's worth seeing?
2) What is there to do once you're inside? I gather you can get in a RSR fastpass line, but is there anything else?
3) When does the Playhouse Disney show typically have its first showing? One of us might take kids to that while the other waits for an RSR fastpass, for instance. But, that only works if it starts right away. What about Muppetvision (I know there is a longer pre-show there)?
4) How far do they let you go before opening (I have heard "Buena Vista Street" but I don't have a concept for what that means). Are there people checking tickets at certain points to make sure only early entry folks get past that point until the park opens?

 

[Girimama33]

I can help with a few of the questions, but hopefully someone has input on he rest for you.

0) Non-EE guests will be allowed in the gates about 30-20 minutes before park opening.
1) Not sure, but son't think so...usually just a countdown.
2) You can begin to line up for RSR FP and do some shopping usually.
3) Disney Junior starts its first show usually at 10:30. Don't have an answer about Muppetvision.
4) Not sure since I have not personally experienced it.

 

[ludari]

Keyser,

Girmama33 pretty much answered all your questions but let me comment on the missing information.

1) No event/show just a countdown.
4) Buena Vista Street includes several shopping stores and resturant areas so you can do a little shopping or grab a bite to eat before they offically open the park to everyone else. People with EE that are moving between Buena Vista Street will have to show their KTTW card plus ticket or AP but typically these people are on the rides and not shopping.

 

[DisneytheKid]

Thanks for the info!

I can help with a few of the questions, but hopefully someone has input on he rest for you.

0) Non-EE guests will be allowed in the gates about 30-20 minutes before park opening.
1) Not sure, but son't think so...usually just a countdown.
2) You can begin to line up for RSR FP and do some shopping usually.
3) Disney Junior starts its first show usually at 10:30. Don't have an answer about Muppetvision.
4) Not sure since I have not personally experienced it.

Keyser,

Girmama33 pretty much answered all your questions but let me comment on the missing information.

1) No event/show just a countdown.
4) Buena Vista Street includes several shopping stores and resturant areas so you can do a little shopping or grab a bite to eat before they offically open the park to everyone else. People with EE that are moving between Buena Vista Street will have to show their KTTW card plus ticket or AP but typically these people are on the rides and not shopping.

 

[Rebekkap]

4) Buena Vista Street includes several shopping stores and resturant areas so you can do a little shopping or grab a bite to eat before they offically open the park to everyone else.

is there somewhere that does eggs and bacon? I was wondering how to get a cooked breakfast in without wasting ride time!

 

[skiingfast]

is there somewhere that does eggs and bacon? I was wondering how to get a cooked breakfast in without wasting ride time!

Not in DCA. In DL you have Carnation Cafe along Main Street. Of course you can go in DTD, the Disney Hotels or Denny's Millie's or Ihop on Harbor.

 

[WeatherbySwann]

Actually now that Flo's is open, there is a bacon/eggs option if you're looking for something inside DCA. Along with some other items that look very good! http://allears.net/dlr/din/menu/men_flosb.htm

 

[skiingfast]

Actually now that Flo's is open, there is a bacon/eggs option if you're looking for something inside DCA. Along with some other items that look very good! http://allears.net/dlr/din/menu/men_flosb.htm

Well yes. However the rope drop is set up in Carthay Circle so you can't eat at Flo's V8 Cafe in Carsland until the rope drops and you can get past Buena Vista Street and into the rest of the park.

 

[Rebekkap]

Not in DCA. In DL you have Carnation Cafe along Main Street. Of course you can go in DTD, the Disney Hotels or Denny's Millie's or Ihop on Harbor.

So if I'm at DL before opening, I can get in and eat breakfast?

 

[tiffjoy]

You can get into DL early if you go to the character breakfast at Plaza Inn, depending on their times and the park opening hour. I think you can reserve as early as 7:30. We go in Sept when they open DL later and we always do one breakfast at Plaza Inn before the park officially opens. It doesn't waste ride time then and we also get a pic with the castle with no people in front of it.

 

[WeatherbySwann]

Well yes. However the rope drop is set up in Carthay Circle so you can't eat at Flo's V8 Cafe in Carsland until the rope drops and you can get past Buena Vista Street and into the rest of the park.

Oh yeah. Duh. Nevermind.

 

[skiingfast]

So if I'm at DL before opening, I can get in and eat breakfast?

Yes they open places, which are mostly counter service when rope drop starts or and during Magic Mornings and Extra Magic hours in some limited locations. You can also shop along Main Street and Beuna Vista Street.

You can get into DL early if you go to the character breakfast at Plaza Inn, depending on their times and the park opening hour. I think you can reserve as early as 7:30. We go in Sept when they open DL later and we always do one breakfast at Plaza Inn before the park officially opens. It doesn't waste ride time then and we also get a pic with the castle with no people in front of it.

It's 7:10 for the first reservation on MM/EMH days. It's a good tip when you don't have access to the MM/EMH that you can still do this breakfast before the park opens.

I'm not sure, and haven't heard of anyone doing this. Before DCA started opening early this Summer you could do the same thing at Ariel's Grotto. I wonder if you can make reservations before the park opening during EMH now that is offers EMH. Has anyone tried this or ask Disney Dining about early AG reservations?

 

[Meganyvemarie]

My sister and I are coimg over from New Zealand to CA to see Cars Land. We really want to be the first people in line waiting for the gates to open and were wondering how many hours we should arrive before the gates open. I know this seems a little crazy but the flight is 13 hours from where we live so its not something you get to do everyday were going on either a sunday or monday in mid October

Any info would be greatly appreciated

 

[Camonkeygirl]

The Starbucks has some breakfast sandwiches that are pretty good. They are egg, bacon or sausage, and cheese on an English muffin. They also have the typical breakfast pastries. I did not see the breakfast sandwiches on the menu boards, but they had a display cabinet at the front of the line. It is in Buena Vista St. so it would be open before the rope drop.

 

[kevdo]

We really want to be the first people in line waiting for the gates to open and were wondering how many hours we should arrive before the gates open.

Based on recent experience, I would arrive at the park entrance about an hour ahead of park open if you want to be first in line at one of the turnstiles.

 

[Eeee-va]

My sister and I are coimg over from New Zealand to CA to see Cars Land. We really want to be the first people in line waiting for the gates to open and were wondering how many hours we should arrive before the gates open. I know this seems a little crazy but the flight is 13 hours from where we live so its not something you get to do everyday were going on either a sunday or monday in mid October

You will need to be early/first in line at the security checkpoint; you can't just wait at the gate before you've gotten through bag check. They'll make you go back to the checkpoint.

Where are you staying? There are 2 main security checkpoints--one on the Downtown Disney side of the "esplanade" between the parks and one on the Harbor Boulevard side.

There are actually many gates to get into the park, so if all goes well you can be first in line at one of the gates.

In October, DCA is supposed to be open to Disney hotel guests an hour early as many as 4 days a week (I've heard these days will include both Sunday and Monday). So if Disney hotel guests get into DCA early on the day you visit DCA, you won't be first in the park unless you're staying on Disney property.

On days when Disneyland has a Magic Morning (in October, probably Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday), both checkpoints should, in theory, open at the same time. I've read they are supposed to open between 30 minutes to an hour before the Magic Morning entry time. One day in June 2009, the checkpoint didn't open until 20 minutes before Magic Morning started (so about 6:40 AM for an 8 AM park opening time).

I'm not sure if both checkpoints will open if only DCA has an early entry day once the AP=holder program ends, since only Disney hotel guests will be able to utilize the early entry into DCA, so in theory no one from Harbor Boulevard will need to get through. I think both checkpoints will probably still be open, but if the Harbor Boulevard checkpoint opens later, that could cause some challenges.

Have a great trip! I was the first person at one of the gates when I visited for my birthday (see June 2009) and it was fun.

 

[Meganyvemarie]

Thankyou so much! Both of these replies are really helpful. Were staying at the best western on south harbor boulevard. Very exciting stuff!