Early Admission (MM/EMH/APEE) Super Thread

[mariezp]

I've got a couple MM questions. We are going to DL in November. I have my confirmation from getawaytoday.com so I am set to try out my first MM. The first day we can use the MM will be on a Tuesday, November 11, which is also Veteran's Day. The park opens at 8:00 so as I understand MM will begin at 7:00.
I seriously doubt my bunch will want to get to the park at 6:30 so I know we will miss some of the prime time. If we don't get there right at 7:00 do they still keep a gate open for MM right up until 8:00? In other words, can you arrive at anytime during the first hour and still get in before the other guests? If you arrive at say, 7:45 and the "regular" guests are lining up is there a specific gate open for MM? I realize this would be a real waste of lots perfectly good MM time, but I am just speaking hypothetically.... I am definitely hoping to be there before then!

Also, I don't believe I have ever heard this one asked... Can anyone give an estimate as to how many guests take advantage of MM on a typical morning? Are we talking about hundreds or thousands? Is it pretty sparse or does it still get pretty crowded in the small areas that are opened?

 

[CrazyDuck]

I've got a couple MM questions. We are going to DL in November. I have my confirmation from getawaytoday.com so I am set to try out my first MM. The first day we can use the MM will be on a Tuesday, November 11, which is also Veteran's Day. The park opens at 8:00 so as I understand MM will begin at 7:00.
I seriously doubt my bunch will want to get to the park at 6:30 so I know we will miss some of the prime time. If we don't get there right at 7:00 do they still keep a gate open for MM right up until 8:00? In other words, can you arrive at anytime during the first hour and still get in before the other guests? If you arrive at say, 7:45 and the "regular" guests are lining up is there a specific gate open for MM? I realize this would be a real waste of lots perfectly good MM time, but I am just speaking hypothetically.... I am definitely hoping to be there before then!

If you show up at 7:45 all the gates will be open already letting people onto Main St. once on Main St. stay to the left and there should be a CM near the rope that keeps people on Main St. She will let you pass the rope if you are doing a MM.

Also Don't pass the rope at 7:59 or you will get trampled when the rope drops!

 

[avalon451]

I've got a couple MM questions. We are going to DL in November. I have my confirmation from getawaytoday.com so I am set to try out my first MM. The first day we can use the MM will be on a Tuesday, November 11, which is also Veteran's Day. The park opens at 8:00 so as I understand MM will begin at 7:00.
I seriously doubt my bunch will want to get to the park at 6:30 so I know we will miss some of the prime time. If we don't get there right at 7:00 do they still keep a gate open for MM right up until 8:00? In other words, can you arrive at anytime during the first hour and still get in before the other guests? If you arrive at say, 7:45 and the "regular" guests are lining up is there a specific gate open for MM? I realize this would be a real waste of lots perfectly good MM time, but I am just speaking hypothetically.... I am definitely hoping to be there before then!

Also, I don't believe I have ever heard this one asked... Can anyone give an estimate as to how many guests take advantage of MM on a typical morning? Are we talking about hundreds or thousands? Is it pretty sparse or does it still get pretty crowded in the small areas that are opened?

We did MM at 7 a.m. on spring break (twice, Tues and Thurs) and yes indeedy, it is VERY early. However, it's so worth it, if you can get your family out of bed. You can knock off 10 rides in that first hour and pick up your first FastPass right at 8 a.m., before the "regular" guests have their shoelaces tied.

I would say, on busy days (and if they open at 8 a.m. with a 7 a.m. MM, they are expecting it to be busy!) that a thousand or two would not be overestimating it. I remember I was wondering the same thing, thought there would be crickets chirping at the gates at 7 a.m. Not hardly! I was surprised our very first day, when we got there at 6:40 a.m., and there were already about 20-30 people in EACH of many lines at the turnstiles. By the time of opening at 7 a.m., the lines stretched back almost to the California letters by DCA! It was amazing to me that so many people got up that early. Keep in mind, though, that was spring break, and there were record crowds that week.

However, also keep in mind that once that couple of thousand gets through the gates, they spread out pretty thinly throughout the open areas of the park, and most of the rides in the first 15 minutes or so are literally walk-on (except Nemo, but I don't advise wasting your whole MM on Nemo, myself). So it looks crowded at the turnstiles, but then seems pretty mellow once you're inside.

 

[mariezp]

Thanks guys. Your answers give me a bit more info on what to expect for my first MM. Now if I can just get the lazy bums out of bed early!

 

[Hound 109]

Thanks guys. Your answers give me a bit more info on what to expect for my first MM. Now if I can just get the lazy bums out of bed early!

The first day of your visit might be a little easier for you since 6:30am SoCal time is 8:30 Texas time.

& one time i did MM arriving at MM+:15. We got ALOT done in 45 minutes.....it's still very much worth it.

Plus getting to DL for all (or part) of MM ensures that you're picking up your first FP at 8:00am which is optimum for FP collecting the first 2 & 1/2 hours (especially on more crowded days).

 

[disneychrista]

If there is only one day you can do EE then it is a great idea to try to get there as early as possible even if you can't be there the standard 30 mins before EE time. Even if it is just 15 or 20 mins you still get a jump on those w/o EE.

 

[mariezp]

Well, Hound 109, in theory the fact that 6:30 would be 8:30 Texas time SHOULD very well make getting up easier. However, my DH thinks he is being tortured if he has to get up at that time normally at home! Still, it is vacation and only one day so maybe, just maybe, I can coax him up early. We will have another family traveling with us so that will probably help spur him into action. They will probably be more effective than I can be. You are right that earlier in our trip should be easier because I know as each day passes we are all so tired that we tend to arrive just a little later each day.

I am thinking getting there early for MM on Veteran's day will be pretty beneficial to beat the crowd. Also, then if the park starts getting overly crowded we can head over to CA but will have gotten to spend some time in DL before it gets packed.

 

[Pooh'sTwin]

I am headed to DL tomorrow and staying on site at the GCH. I have heard already there is no MM on Sunday as DL opens at 6:30am, but is there MM on Saturday?

Sorry if this is a redundant question but I have done some searching to no avail.

Thanks for any info!!!

 

[northshoremama]

there should be MM on saturday, but the best way to confirm this is to call....714-781-7290! have fun!

 

[SnowWhite09]

Thanks for the info on MM days. It is my first trip to DL next year and it will be great to be able to use our MM pass.

 

[orscage]

This is amazing place! I'v been there six month ago!

 

[dhlovesbelle]

Is the stroller rental place opened up early for MM? Or should we just expect not to have a stroller that first hour? Thanks a bunch!

 

[kcchica]

The stroller place is open.. but even if you are in line early and get over there quick.. it sort of slows down the process of getting to FL quickly... so we used it on our 1st MM and then for our 2nd one.. we just used our cheapie umbrella stroller until later in the day.

hth

 

[lil_ragamuffins]

Thanks so much! Subscribing

 

[northshoremama]

i just wanted to let everyone know that i did it....my family and i just got back from a quick 1st trip to DL and did an MM on the same day that we picked up our tickets!!!!!

i know there have been a number of posts/comments about probably not being able to pick up your tickets (if you have vouchers) and do an MM on the same day...but WE DID!

i called guest relations at least 8 times before our trip. in the beginning, i always asked what time the ticket booths opened...and i always got different answers. i realized i was asking the wrong question. i finally told the CM that i had to exchange vouchers to get my park tickets and was wondering if i could do that the same morning as an MM. one of the CMs finally told me about the guest services booth opening everyday at 7am, and that they could exchange my vouchers for park tickets. after that call, i called back at least 4 more times to confirm....and always got the same answer - that i could get my tickets from guest services and that guest services opens everyday at 7am!

we arrived in john wayne airport at 9:15pm on wed, 10/8, and DL closed at 8pm that night. the next morning (thursday 10/9), MM was scheduled to start at 8am (regular park opening at 9am). we woke up at 6:15am and got ready to head to the parks. we went through security around 7:35am. there were already a LOT of people in line...both for security and to get into the park. i stood in line with DDs, while DH went to the guest services booth to get our tickets...and voila! we did our very first MM!

this could still work if MM started at 7am (regular park opening at 8am). you would miss out on maybe the 1st 15 minutes of MM, but it may still be worth it. if you could be the 1st one in line at guest services at 7am, you could get your tickets and then run over to go stand in line to get into the park (or have your family waiting in line for you...like what we did).

anywhooo...i just wanted to share my experience with all you current and future MM'ers!

 

[Hound 109]

Great info NorthShore Mama.

I have new info (unless it has already been stated). Instead of the flimsy paper hotel slips (that one needed to bring to MM), now one receives a "Key to the Magic" Disneyland card. The card has:

- the dates of use.
- the name of the user (so now one must carry ALL cards in the party to the MM gate).
- a magnetic strip which gets you into your DLR hotel room &
- we were told one can use it to buy stuff & have billed to the room.

Plus it makes a "swell" souvenier since it has "the boss"... Mickey's face.... & the kid's name is on it.

 

[perlster]

always got the same answer ... that guest services opens everyday at 7am!

I'm skeptical - maybe they were talking about summer only, but for guest services to open at 7AM 365 days a year isn't believable to me. Guest services is in the esplanade - inside the secured area. When the park opens at 9 or 10, to have guest services open at 7 means that people in line would have gotten into the area without ever going through bag check. What would happen when bag check starts operation - is everyone in line kicked out and forced back into the security lines? How would the order of the guest services line ever be maintained?

 

[toocherie]

Great info NorthShore Mama.

I have new info (unless it has already been stated). Instead of the flimsy paper hotel slips (that one needed to bring to MM), now one receives a "Key to the Magic" Disneyland card. The card has:

- the dates of use.
- the name of the user (so now one must carry ALL cards in the party to the MM gate).
- a magnetic strip which gets you into your DLR hotel room &
- we were told one can use it to buy stuff & have billed to the room.

Plus it makes a "swell" souvenier since the boss Mickey's face.... & the kid's name is on it.

Hound: so everyone had to show a card (even children) to get into MM? It used to be that with the flimsy white card you could get up to six in--is that no longer the case?

 

[Hound 109]

Hound: so everyone had to show a card (even children) to get into MM? It used to be that with the flimsy white card you could get up to six in--is that no longer the case?

toocherie, i was specifically told by the CM at the PP that i needed BOTH cards (Alec & mine) to enter MM. It was just the two of us, & I had asked where "the hotel slip" was. (I can't remember if i "showed" the card or if they "scanned" the card at the DL front gate. (We were second in line & i was handing our tickets/passes to the CM over & around the family in front of us prior to the countdown).

& in thinking about it, the CM at the PP had a card for Mrs. Hound at check in(when i made the reservation i didn't know if she was going or not, so i had included her when i made the reservation) which we didn't need or take.

I guess if a "local" or someone from another motel was going to join you for MM, you could add the names to the hotel reservation? (not encouraging this nor have an opinion on this.....just thinking out loud).

 

[northshoremama]

I'm skeptical - maybe they were talking about summer only, but for guest services to open at 7AM 365 days a year isn't believable to me. Guest services is in the esplanade - inside the secured area. When the park opens at 9 or 10, to have guest services open at 7 means that people in line would have gotten into the area without ever going through bag check. What would happen when bag check starts operation - is everyone in line kicked out and forced back into the security lines? How would the order of the guest services line ever be maintained?

from what i've read here on the boards is that if you are in the esplanade before the security is open/set up...yes, people are asked to leave the esplande area to go back through security the security line. but i couldn't vouch for that since security was already there when we got there that morning at 7:30 for an 8am MM.