Disneyland Entrance Lines

[socaldisneylover]

I usually don't arrive at the security checkpoint until around 7:15 on the weekend. Usually that gets me into the park by around 7:40-7:45. So today, I decided to arrive earlier, and I was at security by 6:40. I proceeded to get into one of the lines, and then a CM was going through the line saying that it was a Magic Morning only line. In fact, Every line was a MM line, except the 2 lines all the way to the left.

So I picked one of them, and began waiting. I knew that it was probably a mistake....and I learned my lesson. I should have listened to the voices in my head, and left that line right then and there. You see, I know from my normal arrival just before 7:30, that there are more than just the first couple of lines open for regular guests. By that point, it's only the lines towards the right that are still dedicated to MM, and the closer it gets to 8:00, then even more of those MM lines switch over to regular entrances.

So you see....by the time they start admitting regular folk, the lines on the left were beyond World Of Disney. Even then, I should have moved to one of the lines to my right, as I could see them moving, as ours inched along. To lend insult to injury, the super long line to my right, seemed to be moving at a much brisker pace. I suspected there was one of those planters which caused the line to split by the entrance, and I was right. They had 4 turnstiles to go through at the end, while my line had only 2.

The moral is that it does not pay to listen to what they instruct you to do. While those who followed the rules, and went to the lines on the left, were sweating wondering whether they would get in by 8:00, those who waited for the remaining lines to become open to regular guests, were already in the park. Not only didn't I get into the park earlier, even though I arrived 30 minutes earlier, I think I actually ended up getting in later(7:45) than I usually do.

So.....lesson learned. Next time not only will I probably not arrive quite so early, I will get into one of the MM lines towards the left, and try to time it so that I'm close to the gates when they inevitably change them over at around 7:20.

 

[ZCarroll]

The moral is that it does not pay to listen to what they instruct you to do. While those who followed the rules, and went to the lines on the left, were sweating wondering whether they would get in by 8:00, those who waited for the remaining lines to become open to regular guests, were already in the park.

This is my biggest frustration with Disneyland, so many times I felt I should've just gone with my gut rather than listen to what I was instructed to do... actually missed out on a few things because I was following the rules, urgh! I remember in 2018 I felt so bad for a CM that was visibly frustrated with just being completely ignored, but a year later I have to say, I get it, I sooooo get it!

 

[SeaDis]

That is a major bummer. And I have to think this morning situation will be very strained over the upcoming Spring Break weeks. They may have the DLR hotels near capacity, all of those with EMH. The neighbor hotels will be full of people with 3-day MM. The AP blockout calendar is fairly open, outside of weekends. And they have So Cal discount tickets out there also. I hope they are on their game!

 

[carouselDL]

Agreed, I did the same thing this morning I thought the CMs might be directing people to the converted lines, but it was anarchy out there

 

[lorilclevelandrn]

For 1st time guest staying at Grand Californian, what line and what time are you recommending arrival; 730?

 

[Indiana Scott]

Same rule sometimes goes for security lines at the airport too!

 

[socaldisneylover]

For 1st time guest staying at Grand Californian, what line and what time are you recommending arrival; 730?

Assuming it's a 8:00 opening day, and you are set on trying for a Boarding Group, I'd say to be in line by around 7:20. Probably safe a little later than that, but that allows for any issues that may arise. I.E. being in a slow line or one that has problems.

Thing is, it occurred to me later, or perhaps even as time passed while I was in the leftmost line, that since I usually come by way of Harbor security, and I normally don't get through there until just before 7:30, I never end up in a line over where I was today. By that point, they have changed some of the MM lines to regular, and I end up jumping in one of the lines near the center. I also thought they might break up the super long lines on the left, and allocate them to the converted gates, but of course, that never happened. Once it was over, it felt like I had been penalized for arriving early.

I didn't think it was the end of the world, and I knew I'd be inside in time for 8:00. Though it was a little unnerving at moments, as minutes ticked by, and it seemed like time was running short. I chalk it up to another one of those things that you learn once you've experienced it, and now I feel 100% confident that next time I will know how things work, and act accordingly. I may learn something new again in the future as well. Like when exactly they start switching the other lanes over, and at what pace they start switching over, until they're almost all regular admission rather than MM.

 

[wench]

For 1st time guest staying at Grand Californian, what line and what time are you recommending arrival; 730?

If you want to do EMH as a GCH guest, that would start at 7:00 for an 8:00 park open. You’d want to be in line well ahead of 7:00.

 

[ninergrl6]

For 1st time guest staying at Grand Californian, what line and what time are you recommending arrival; 730?

It might depend on the day of the week (week day vs. weekend) but I recommend 7 am.
I was there Presidents' Weekend. On Saturday I got in line ~7:10 and didn't get into the park until ~7:50. That was too close for comfort for me! On Sunday I got in line ~6:50 and was inside the park before 7:20. I don't know if the lines were moving faster or there were fewer people in front of me because I was earlier, but I was much less stressed having the extra time to spare.

 

[OKC Disney Fan]

We had a similar issue at the monorail more than once last week. There were long lines and we were told by the operator that they were only loading/opening from gate 1 so everyone moved forward in the queue area. There were about 15 people ahead of us. Once the monorail arrived, they instead opened all gates and those that had just arrived (About 40 people behind us) were able to jump on and we missed out. Happened at both the stations.

 

[montreid]

The far right lines are the last to turn over for MM so on Saturday AM would rec stalking those lines if you're arriving ~720-725

 

[theluckyrabbit]

It might depend on the day of the week (week day vs. weekend) but I recommend 7 am.
I was there Presidents' Weekend. On Saturday I got in line ~7:10 and didn't get into the park until ~7:50. That was too close for comfort for me! On Sunday I got in line ~6:50 and was inside the park before 7:20. I don't know if the lines were moving faster or there were fewer people in front of me because I was earlier, but I was much less stressed having the extra time to spare.

You experienced the significant difference between the lines on a MM (Sat.) and the lines on a non-MM (Sun.). For a MM (Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays), I would allow more time to get in line, just to be on the safe side.

 

[truetink]

If you don't care about a boarding group but want to get there shortly after the park opens, what is the best time to go to avoid waiting in long lines for entrance to the park?