Do the gates unofficially open any earlier than 9:00?

[Snoopymom]

I love getting to the Disney parks early, so I thought I'd ask. I don't care if the rides are going yet, I would just like to walk around a bit when it's quiet. Thanks!

 

[Julma]

We were there from 4/15-4/22 and the gates opened one day at 8:50, but the other days it was at 9 AM. It seemed like a slow time, so I am not sure during busy times if they open the gates any earlier. It was fairly quiet until around 10:30.

 

[robvia]

On busy holidays they open at 08:30am. Summer could be 08:45am. They never announce when they are opening early, it just happens.
The parking garage opens at 08:00am, and at 07:45am there's a line of cars waiting. Here's a little trick when you walk up to the gate. Most people will get in 1 or 2 lines. Yet there are 4-5 lanes that will open. Walk up and get in an empty lane. If your line is not going to open, a worker will tell you. You'll be first into the park when the gate opens. Then you can run to Hulk and get a front seat ride on the first train out.

 

[Snoopymom]

Great!!! Thanks for the tip on the lanes too, but I don't even think no line for the Hulk would get me on it, LOL, scarry!

 

[Jenny]

Is it like Disney in that you can enter the turnstiles early, be in the main area (like Port of Entry at IOA) w/ sections of the park roped off OR are you not let in until the whole park is open w/out any ropes up?

 

[MouseGirl]

They keep you at the turnstiles until the park actually opens - when we were there last month the park opened at about 8:45.

 

[gschmerl]

When I've been there in July, the parks usually opened (unofficially) anywhere from 8:30 to 8:45. In IOA Marvel Super Hero Island was usually up and running, but I have been kept waiting at the Lost Continent. At WDW you can't ride anything until they drop the rope. At the Universal parks, some rides will be up and running if they let you in early.

 

[robvia]

That's one of the best things about IOA, when the park opens early, you get to do all the rides in Marvel island before 9am. During slow months, they rope off the Lost Continent and the path leading to Toon Town until 10pm, but you still get to do Marvel Island no matter what. At USF, Shrek and the Mummy are always running when the park opens. It's much better than Disney, because those who arrive early are rewarded. At Disney, the best you can do is be at the front of a crowd walking with the guards to the first big ride. At IOA, you can run the moment you enter the park, and do 3 major rides to start your day before 9am. This definately makes getting to IOA before 9am worth it.