Disneyland Magic Morning entry

[live4christp1]

Booked our trip through Disney. Staying at a good neighbor hotel directly across the street from the park entrance.

Our package says we have one magic morning entry and from what I gather from the CM I spoke to on the phone when paying my balance, that can only be used at Disneyland.

Do I also understand correctly that it is entrance to the park one hour before the official park open time? Also, where can I find a list of attractions that are generally open during this time?

Any suggestions on where we should head first?

Thank you!
Cristy

 

[figment_jii]

The CM is correct, Magic Morning is only available in Disneyland, usually on Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday mornings. The park will open one hour early for guests that are eligible for Magic Morning (and Extra Magic Hour - but that's a perk of staying onsite). Select attractions in Fantasyland and Tomorrowland are open during MM/EMH (the shops and some of the dining locations on Main Street are also open). Touring Plans has a pretty good list of what is open (subject to change without notice). No FP or FP distribution during MM/EMH.

The park will open one hour early, but the line(s) can start forming well before that. I went to MM once and we got there before opening, but the line was across the Esplanade (over halfway) and it took a while (10 minutes?) to get into the park. So if you really want to maximize your MM time, I would aim to get there at least 30 minutes before MM is slated to start.

In terms of where to head first, it really depends on what attractions you like. The most popular are usually Peter Pan and Space Mountain. Personally, if you get to the attraction and the line is already over 20 minutes, I would skip it and do other things during the MM.

 

[coaches24]

In order for MM to be worth it IMO you have to get there 45 min to 1 hour before the MM starts to get in line. If you are one of the first people in line and through the gates it is perfect because you can get all of FL done, as well as some TL rides done before the park opens to everyone. I go to PP first, then dumbo, then AIWL, toads, Pinocchio, space, and star wars and Buzz and then the park opened and we headed over to Indy and Jungle cruise and then BTMRR, POC, and HM. Then we park hopped over the DCA to do some rides there.

Like the PP said if the line is too long (I say more than 5 min for FL rides and 10 for space and star wars) then skip it and get FPs later for the ones that have them. Thats why its so important to be one of the first few through the gates. If there is a delay than lines will form quickly for PP and dumbo and of course space and star wars

 

[avalon451]

This thread explains it really well, although it hasn't been updated in over a year. It has all the basic explanations and info. I'd also refer you in general to Hydroguy's tips, in the sticky thread at the top of the forum.

If you're early enough to be first or very close to the turnstiles at opening, I'd head for Peter Pan first, walking briskly. You'll be with a lot of other people doing the same thing, and some people will be jerks and run, even though they're not supposed to. If the line is already ridiculous (more than 20 minutes) when you get there, I'd ditch it and do the rest of Fantasyland, preferably in the order of Matterhorn, Alice, Dumbo, Toad, Teacups, and then whatever else. Star Wars and Star Tours are low wait on MM, but you can also fastpass them later, which you can't do with any of the Fantasyland rides. Finding Nemo is fun, but not everybody likes it (especially if you're claustrophobic) and the wait can get long later; it used to be one of the worst waits in the park, and the one everybody raced to first, but I've noticed lately that it's not very busy early in the morning. So if PP gets crazy too fast, you could head over there if you're interested. It's a time suck, though; it will take up half your MM even if you get straight on.

Have fun!

 

[monorailrabbit]

Edited: never mind! Figured it out!

 

[smartlabelprint]

OK, so, just to be clear, if we are staying onsite, we get the extra magic hour for both DL and CA? (on the respective days, of course)

Correct.

 

[agamble]

I saw some say 20 minutes, but I personally won't wait longer than about 10 for Peter Pan in the morning because everything else is a walk-on at opening. This goes for non MM days too. You get a pretty good idea when you walk up to the ride. If there's a long line backing out to the entrance, then it's time to skip it. If you're able to get into the inside queue then it's probably worth waiting. We like to go to Alice first if we're skipping Peter Pan. It also gets a pretty long line later, as can Toad and Dumbo. I personally think your time is best spent in Fantasyland during MM because the rides in Tomorrowland have FP (except the subs) and can be experienced with short lines using FP. The Fantasyland rides do not have FP, so if you want to ride them all it's a good time to get to them with less wait.