Disneyland Maingate Question

[SteffyLou]

Hi Everyone!

It seems impossible to get a Disneyland maingate reservation. Is there a certain time it opens up each day (like it seems to be open 60 days out just for that one day)? For instance, today I noticed that May 17 California Adventure is open at 9:30 central. Do they open the new day at midnight/7am/? Just trying to figure out what my greatest chance is for getting maingate reservations.

 

[PatMcDuck]

Hi Everyone!

It seems impossible to get a Disneyland maingate reservation. Is there a certain time it opens up each day (like it seems to be open 60 days out just for that one day)? For instance, today I noticed that May 17 California Adventure is open at 9:30 central. Do they open the new day at midnight/7am/? Just trying to figure out what my greatest chance is for getting maingate reservations.

Yes I think it is 60 days. It is possible spring break was never very available. It sometimes opens a few days before, or the day before. And you get 3 MEP days and 3 self admit days at one time. For my vacations I usually book 3 MEP and 2-3 self admit. Then once I use one MEP I try and switch a self admit day to another MEP day. I think it is 7 am not midnight?

Weekends harder in general but it also helps to look at the AP blockout calendar.

I am going in August, the week before D23 Expo. Aug 8 is "D23" day, with special stuff going on, open later, etc. I booked that day already with comps because CMs might be blocked, maybe MEP and self-admit. Some trips I book with comps and switch to MEP as week goes on, if it is still available. Once it opened the morning I was going into the park, last minute.

 

[SteffyLou]

Thank you.
We are looking at going in July. I’ve got the Disneyland hotel booked. Do you know if parking is free for cast?
There are so many differences between the parks.

 

[PatMcDuck]

It is definitely NOT free at the resort hotels, but it is free at the park lots. Which does not help you. I stopped renting a car at DL, I use Uber from the airport, and to go to the offsite CoD cast store, lol.

 

[SteffyLou]

It is definitely NOT free at the resort hotels, but it is free at the park lots. Which does not help you. I stopped renting a car at DL, I use Uber from the airport, and to go to the offsite CoD cast store, lol.

Ugh, thank you. We are doing a "parks" trip- my son loves roller coasters. So spending 3 days up at Magic Mountain and 3 at Disney. So now I need to figure out the best way to do the driving situation- I'm thinking of flying into LAX and renting a car for 4 days. Then driving to Disneyland, dropping the car off at SNA, and flying out of SNA using an Uber.

 

[PatMcDuck]

There used to be an Alamo at Paradise Pier (now Pixar Place) but I am not sure if it reopened between Covid closings and the renovation. But there are probably offices closer than SNA to drop it off, or only use it at Magic Mt area and Uber to DL and Uber to SNA. I guess I would try various scenarios.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I have been trying to watch when the DL park reservations for MEP open each day, back to the original question on this thread. Is it at midnight, 7 am, 9 am PST? I am on east coast and trying to remember to keep looking for the right time. I need early August, just trying to figure this out now, as they seem to release very few 60 days out. Then release some more, but that could be 1-3 days in advance, (which is not great for vacationers from far away like east coast, etc). [I wish we could use the availability calendar for onsite guests like WDW allows- how many CMs are staying onsite on any particular day anyway? sigh]

 

[PatMcDuck]

Answering my own question, it seems to open at 10 am (EST), actually 1-2 minutes before that, for DL Park reservations. I have 6 weeks before I start trying.

 

[Cyn T]

Ugh, thank you. We are doing a "parks" trip- my son loves roller coasters. So spending 3 days up at Magic Mountain and 3 at Disney. So now I need to figure out the best way to do the driving situation- I'm thinking of flying into LAX and renting a car for 4 days. Then driving to Disneyland, dropping the car off at SNA, and flying out of SNA using an Uber.

Hi! Your plans may already be set but I wanted to ask if you've considered Knott's Berry Farm for your coaster-loving son. Knott's has some good ones and (I think) is a good middle ground between Magic Mountain's rides and Disney ambiance.

 

[SteffyLou]

I’ve never looked into it. I’ll have to checks it out. Thanks!