Early Admission (MM/EMH/APEE) Super Thread

[babyruth]

The Toy Story lot has been open this week, does it open early enough for us to use it for MM?

 

[DLR29]

The Toy Story lot has been open this week, does it open early enough for us to use it for MM?

Hasn't been confirmed, but I would assume so. I've found the Toy Story lot to be more efficient and a much faster option than M&F parking structure.

 

[jpow5]

Thanks for all the great tips! Our MM was fabulous since we followed the plan (almost) exactly!!! Later in the day when we circled back through FL, we couldn't help but look at the Peter Pan and Dumbo lines and say a little disney thanks to everyone on this forum!!!!

 

[DLR29]

Thanks for all the great tips! Our MM was fabulous since we followed the plan (almost) exactly!!! Later in the day when we circled back through FL, we couldn't help but look at the Peter Pan and Dumbo lines and say a little disney thanks to everyone on this forum!!!!

I'm glad it worked out for you!

 

[TinkFlies]

When?
How? For onsite guests, each guest must show their "Key to the Magic" card. This is just a fancy name for your room key, which you can also use to charge in-park purchases. It is given to each member of your party at check-in with the dates of your stay and that person's name. You also need a valid source of admission ticket for entrance. For guests staying offsite, you enter just like you would normally and the MM is deducted from your ticket. For all guests, there is no extra piece of paper or voucher needed for MM. That piece of paper that they give onsite visitors is just for information purposes. It, by itself, does not grant MM privileges, so you cannot pass it on to someone else. All you need is your ticket and if you are staying onsite, your room key.

We stayed onsite the first trip so we just hopped on the monorail for our MM. On our second visit we stayed offsite AND had a reservation at Aerial's grotto before DCA opened. We could not see how to get in and get to our reservation and I couldn't see folks going in early at DL either. We ended up o.k. for breakfast but I'd like to take advantage of a MM next Thursday.

What did I miss? Where do you enter the park exactly? Do you have to be there right at the start of MM or something??

 

[DLR29]

We stayed onsite the first trip so we just hopped on the monorail for our MM. On our second visit we stayed offsite AND had a reservation at Aerial's grotto before DCA opened. We could not see how to get in and get to our reservation and I couldn't see folks going in early at DL either. We ended up o.k. for breakfast but I'd like to take advantage of a MM next Thursday.

What did I miss? Where do you enter the park exactly? Do you have to be there right at the start of MM or something??

Nothing special. You enter MM through the normal DL gates. There will be specific gates marked "Magic Morning" and others marked "Entrance" for those who don't have MM privileges. At the beginning of MM, about half of the gates are labeled "Magic Morning" and the other half will be "Entrance". Then as the MM hour goes on, they will turn some of those MM gates into Entrance gates, but they always leave at least 1 or 2 designated for MM only. You don't have to be there right at the start.

 

[jasonk5]

Hasn't been confirmed, but I would assume so. I've found the Toy Story lot to be more efficient and a much faster option than M&F parking structure.

So can AAA tickets allow you to park in Toy Story? On my AAA tickets it says free parking in Mickey and Friends. I would think one could park in Toy Story though?

We're staying in Worldmark with my elderly parents, and thought it would be easier to drive across the street, park in Toy Story lot, and take the free shuttle, rather than paying for ART?

 

[DLR29]

So can AAA tickets allow you to park in Toy Story? On my AAA tickets it says free parking in Mickey and Friends. I would think one could park in Toy Story though?

We're staying in Worldmark with my elderly parents, and thought it would be easier to drive across the street, park in Toy Story lot, and take the free shuttle, rather than paying for ART?

Not sure about the AAA parking vouchers. I think it might be faster to walk from Worldmark to the Toy Story lot because the car entrance is actually on Harbor, not Katella but you can walk across Katella to get to the lot. Although it might just be a little too much walking. Depends on your party.

 

[DLR29]

Updated the OP with a few things.

 

[cpster]

Great information...thank you so much!

 

[2princes'mom]

Thank you for so much information everyone.

 

[starkweatherink]

Thank you for posting this! Lots of helpful info for our upcoming week visit!

 

[JulyGirl]

Bear with me, as I've never been to DLR and my question may sound strange. From what I've read, people are lining up at security before rope drop. I assume non MM folks are lining up as well. Is there a special security line for MM? If not, do you just "cut" in front of those that are waiting? I need to visualize this process.

 

[HydroGuy]

Bear with me, as I've never been to DLR and my question may sound strange. From what I've read, people are lining up at security before rope drop. I assume non MM folks are lining up as well. Is there a special security line for MM? If not, do you just "cut" in front of those that are waiting? I need to visualize this process.

At MM all lines are MM lines. As the MM hour progresses the lines are switched from MM lines to non-MM lines for regular guests. At least one MM line is kept open and has a sign for the whole MM hour. So no need to cut.

 

[bumbershoot]

Bear with me, as I've never been to DLR and my question may sound strange. From what I've read, people are lining up at security before rope drop. I assume non MM folks are lining up as well. Is there a special security line for MM? If not, do you just "cut" in front of those that are waiting? I need to visualize this process.

Security is outside of the esplanade. If it's open, it's open for anyone who wants to go wait in a line, or go through to DTD (or go from DTD area to Harbor), or go the lockers or the bathroom etc.

So you go through security (bag check) and THEN you get in the line for Disneyland. If you have access to MM, find the lines that say that over them. If not, don't get in those lines.

 

[HydroGuy]

At MM all lines are MM lines. As the MM hour progresses the lines are switched from MM lines to non-MM lines for regular guests. At least one MM line is kept open and has a sign for the whole MM hour. So no need to cut.

Security is outside of the esplanade. If it's open, it's open for anyone who wants to go wait in a line, or go through to DTD (or go from DTD area to Harbor), or go the lockers or the bathroom etc.

So you go through security (bag check) and THEN you get in the line for Disneyland. If you have access to MM, find the lines that say that over them. If not, don't get in those lines.

Ooops. Somehow I missed the key word here about the security line. Bumbershoot answers that.

 

[JulyGirl]

Thanks for the replies! I was just picturing a mob of angry people in line for security. I didn't realize you go through security and then are held by the turnstiles.

 

[Hound 109]

Bear with me, as I've never been to DLR and my question may sound strange. From what I've read, people are lining up at security before rope drop. I assume non MM folks are lining up as well. Is there a special security line for MM? If not, do you just "cut" in front of those that are waiting? I need to visualize this process.

In addition to Bumber's & Hydroguy's accurate answers, let me add some timing info. Say Gen. Adm. is 8am (MM is at 7am).....then:

- People start lining up at Security from (say) 6:10 - 6:30am.
- At (about) 6:25 all folks are moved out of the esplanade area (if any are there) & back to the security check lines (on either side of the esplanade).
- At 6:30 Security opens & the first 10-20 people in line at Security move thru & secure first (or second) position places at the SEVERAL MM Turnstiles.
- 6:30 - 7am. Wait impatiently but happily at the turnstile...... munch on McBreakfast items, apply suncreen, study "plan of attack" maps & lists, chat happily with other disgeek families who got up at 5:15am, take a few pics....etc.
- 7am - enter thru the turnstiles & walk with a purpose to Peter Pan or Star Tours. Do not stop for pics, do not stop for strollers, do not stop for bathroom breaks.

I would think that with Star Tours 2.0 now in play, that those heading to PP should enter the left (closest to DTD) turnstiles & hug the left side of Main St. (while walking with a purpose up Main St..... around the partners statue... thru the castle.....& on to Peter Pan which is on the right just after you walk thru the castle) ....to avoid being trampled by those heading to Star Tours.

 

[nemofans]

Is it a good idea to have a runner go get FPs for Star Tours while the rest of us head to PP?

 

[sonnyjane]

Is it a good idea to have a runner go get FPs for Star Tours while the rest of us head to PP?

Since this is the MM thread, I'm assuming you mean during MM. In that case, FP's are not distributed during the Magic Morning hour. The machines don't turn on until the official park opening.