Early Admission (MM/EMH/APEE) Super Thread

[AquaDame]

I took a closer look at this when I rode the ride on Friday, entry point is actually the same, but the single rider queue space is overall shorter after the entry point. Not sure if it makes too much difference to anyone, but I hate to post incorrect info.

Also just a heads up - when I did APEE on Sunday they did not have the single rider line open. I asked a CM there and they said they would not open it until later, so I went in the normal line. They did not bring us up into the last queue area until a few minutes had passed and then still did not start boarding. A bit later they said they were having difficulties, and after a bit more waiting started boarding around 7:25. YMMV!

 

[DizFan13]

I am reading through the various threads regarding RSR during the extra hour, and trying to make a decision about how to handle our APEE next week. I am struggling to decide because there doesn't seem to be a consensus about whether or not RSR will even be running. Can anyone tell me if it is possible to tell before you line up? Can you hear/see the cars if they are running? I am considering having two plans in mind, and then asking a CM just before rope drop whether or not the ride is up and running and just deciding on the fly.

It seems like we can either spend the hour in line and riding RSR, hoping to fit in Luigi's as well, before getting in the FP line around 7:45, or skip CL altogether and ride TSMM and Screamin' as many times as we can. I would actually favor the former, since seeing CL and experiencing the attractions is the point of this trip, but I am worried that the family will be less than thrilled to stand in line for an hour or more waiting for a ride that isn't running.

 

[skiingfast]

It seems like we can either spend the hour in line and riding RSR, hoping to fit in Luigi's as well, before getting in the FP line around 7:45, or skip CL altogether and ride TSMM and Screamin' as many times as we can. I would actually favor the former, since seeing CL and experiencing the attractions is the point of this trip, but I am worried that the family will be less than thrilled to stand in line for an hour or more waiting for a ride that isn't running.

You won't know until you are on Route 66 and see if people ahead of your are going around the corner at the Courthouse, or getting in line for LFT. CMs at the gates, know about the gates, CMs at an attraction know about that attraction.


I would plan to ride RSR and LFT, then get in line for a RSR FP to use at night. Then at 8:05 you can go to the pier and ride TSMM and CS twice each before 9am. TSMM and CS have short lines for the first hour because almost everyone is going to RSR.

 

[DizFan13]

You won't know until you are on Route 66 and see if people ahead of your are going around the corner at the Courthouse, or getting in line for LFT. CMs at the gates, know about the gates, CMs at an attraction know about that attraction.


I would plan to ride RSR and LFT, then get in line for a RSR FP to use at night. Then at 8:05 you can go to the pier and ride TSMM and CS twice each before 9am. TSMM and CS have short lines for the first hour because almost everyone is going to RSR.

Thanks!

 

[Lisa808]

Anyone know whats happening when this promo ends in sept? We are going late sept into oct... bummed we are missing this!

 

[thecapells]

Anyone know whats happening when this promo ends in sept? We are going late sept into oct... bummed we are missing this!

We're set for November - I was also hoping they would extend this if it works well.
Anybody know Disney's plans?

 

[HydroGuy]

Anyone know whats happening when this promo ends in sept? We are going late sept into oct... bummed we are missing this!

We're set for November - I was also hoping they would extend this if it works well.
Anybody know Disney's plans?

First, DL has had early entry for hotle guests since 2005. So it is highly likely the EMH will continue.

Whether it continues at DCA I doubt even Disney knows yet as they are still mulling over the expanded hours and attendance at DCA. Sometime in August they will make a decision how to go forward come September with DCA. I suspect DL will go on as it has before.

 

[S. S. Columbia]

Anyone know whats happening when this promo ends in sept? We are going late sept into oct... bummed we are missing this!

We're set for November - I was also hoping they would extend this if it works well.
Anybody know Disney's plans?

Just to add to HydroGuy's comments.

FWIW, the DLR web-site says the following:

"After September 13, Extra Magic Hour will be available every day, during registered Disneyland Resort hotel Guests' stay,
according to this schedule: Disneyland Park on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and Disney California Adventure Park
on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday."

Source: Benefits of Staying at the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/hotels/resort-benefits/

Here is the full quote that appears at the bottom of DLR's web-page:

Extra Magic Hour

After September 13, Extra Magic Hour will be available every day, during registered Disneyland Resort hotel Guests' stay,
according to this schedule: Disneyland Park on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and Disney California Adventure Park
on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Each registered hotel Guest (ages 3 and older) must have a valid theme park ticket and active hotel room key card.

To enhance the Extra Magic Hour experience, it is strongly recommended that Guests arrive at least one hour and 15 minutes
prior to regular park opening.

Applicable theme park, days and times of operation and all other elements including, but not limited to, operation of attractions,
entertainment, stores, restaurants and appearances of Characters may vary and are subject to change without notice.

Subject to capacity, cancellation and other restrictions.

- http://disneyland.disney.go.com/hotels/resort-benefits/

 

[Eeee-va]

It seems like we can either spend the hour in line and riding RSR, hoping to fit in Luigi's as well, before getting in the FP line around 7:45, or skip CL altogether and ride TSMM and Screamin' as many times as we can.

I'm pretty sure CS still has disconnected Fastpasses (someone posted that for their trip on July 14th). So even if you don't go to Paradise Pier until DCA opens to the public, I personally wouldn't make CS so much of a priority (even if I liked it ). Mickey's Fun Wheel seems to have a 45-minute wait whenever they take a picture of the wait board on Mice Age (I assume that's the afternoon), so I'd try that if you didn't want to just do TSMM repeatedly.

 

[Lisa808]

Just to add to HydroGuy's comments.

FWIW, the DLR web-site says the following:

"After September 13, Extra Magic Hour will be available every day, during registered Disneyland Resort hotel Guests' stay,
according to this schedule: Disneyland Park on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and Disney California Adventure Park
on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday."

Source: Benefits of Staying at the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/hotels/resort-benefits/

Here is the full quote that appears at the bottom of DLR's web-page:

THANKS! so am I understanding correctly this is continuing for hotel guests after sept

 

[HydroGuy]

Just to add to HydroGuy's comments.

FWIW, the DLR web-site says the following:

"After September 13, Extra Magic Hour will be available every day, during registered Disneyland Resort hotel Guests' stay,
according to this schedule: Disneyland Park on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and Disney California Adventure Park
on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday."

Source: Benefits of Staying at the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/hotels/resort-benefits/

Here is the full quote that appears at the bottom of DLR's web-page:

Cool, I had not seen that yet. I wonder if they will really make this permanent but it is nice while it lasts!

 

[DizFan13]

You won't know until you are on Route 66 and see if people ahead of your are going around the corner at the Courthouse, or getting in line for LFT. CMs at the gates, know about the gates, CMs at an attraction know about that attraction.


I would plan to ride RSR and LFT, then get in line for a RSR FP to use at night. Then at 8:05 you can go to the pier and ride TSMM and CS twice each before 9am. TSMM and CS have short lines for the first hour because almost everyone is going to RSR.

I'm pretty sure CS still has disconnected Fastpasses (someone posted that for their trip on July 14th). So even if you don't go to Paradise Pier until DCA opens to the public, I personally wouldn't make CS so much of a priority (even if I liked it ). Mickey's Fun Wheel seems to have a 45-minute wait whenever they take a picture of the wait board on Mice Age (I assume that's the afternoon), so I'd try that if you didn't want to just do TSMM repeatedly.

I am thinking our rough plan will be to go straight to CarsLand, and ride Radiator Spring Racers and Luigi's Tires, and by 7:45, have DH line up for RSR fastpasses.

Alternatively, if RSR is not up and running, we will ride:
Luigi's Tires, TSMM, as many times as I can drag the guys along with me! , and Screamin', with DH still hitting the RSR FP line by 7:45.

I am basing this on the idea that we will be able to find a wait time for Mater's in the afternoon or evening which is more reasonable than what we can expect to see at TSMM. Does this seem reasonable?

 

[HydroGuy]

I am thinking our rough plan will be to go straight to CarsLand, and ride Radiator Spring Racers and Luigi's Tires, and by 7:45, have DH line up for RSR fastpasses.

Alternatively, if RSR is not up and running, we will ride:
Luigi's Tires, TSMM, as many times as I can drag the guys along with me! , and Screamin', with DH still hitting the RSR FP line by 7:45.

I am basing this on the idea that we will be able to find a wait time for Mater's in the afternoon or evening which is more reasonable than what we can expect to see at TSMM. Does this seem reasonable?

Pretty much our plan for next week. We might try and fit it MJJ before 8AM. I am looking to get in line for RSR FP some time before 8AM and am not shooting for 7:45.

 

[DizFan13]

I am looking to get in line for RSR FP some time before 8AM and am not shooting for 7:45.

Does 7:45 seem excessively early? I was thinking that while DH waited, I could run and grab him a Starbucks, now that it's available. But there's really no reason for him to spend a quarter of the extra hour in line if it's not necessary, especially since I am trying to minimize his overall wait.

 

[Eeee-va]

I am basing this on the idea that we will be able to find a wait time for Mater's in the afternoon or evening which is more reasonable than what we can expect to see at TSMM. Does this seem reasonable?

Every wait time photo I have seen for Mater's, at least since maybe when Cars Land first opened, has been under 30 minutes. I know this because I am excited about the ride, so I cheer every time I see a wait time under 30 minutes. In fact, Dateline Disneyland recently cited a 15-minute wait at Mater's Junkyard Jamboree as an example of the ride "picking up the slack" while RSR was down. As long as you have more than one day in DCA (just in case Mater's happened to break down--which is unlikely) and as long as you're not going in late August when the Southern California blockouts are lifted, I think you're perfectly fine to wait until later in the day.

Can't speak for the RSR Fastpass situation for certain, but everyone's plans sound reasonable to me!

 

[DLR29]

I am thinking our rough plan will be to go straight to CarsLand, and ride Radiator Spring Racers and Luigi's Tires, and by 7:45, have DH line up for RSR fastpasses.

Alternatively, if RSR is not up and running, we will ride:
Luigi's Tires, TSMM, as many times as I can drag the guys along with me! , and Screamin', with DH still hitting the RSR FP line by 7:45.

I am basing this on the idea that we will be able to find a wait time for Mater's in the afternoon or evening which is more reasonable than what we can expect to see at TSMM. Does this seem reasonable?

Sounds like a really good plan!

Pretty much our plan for next week. We might try and fit it MJJ before 8AM. I am looking to get in line for RSR FP some time before 8AM and am not shooting for 7:45.

When I was there at 7:45 they were letting even regular guests get in line for RSR FP. At 7:45, the line for RSR FP was back to Disney Junior and those people probably got late morning return times. If you got in line at 8, it was probably back by the Animation Building and you'd get a return time for noonish/early afternoon. Those were based solely on the Saturday that I went and data probably changes based on the day that you go.

Every wait time photo I have seen for Mater's, at least since maybe when Cars Land first opened, has been under 30 minutes. I know this because I am excited about the ride, so I cheer every time I see a wait time under 30 minutes. In fact, Dateline Disneyland recently cited a 15-minute wait at Mater's Junkyard Jamboree as an example of the ride "picking up the slack" while RSR was down. As long as you have more than one day in DCA (just in case Mater's happened to break down--which is unlikely) and as long as you're not going in late August when the Southern California blockouts are lifted, I think you're perfectly fine to wait until later in the day.

Can't speak for the RSR Fastpass situation for certain, but everyone's plans sound reasonable to me!

I rode Mater's just before dinner (around 6PM) with a 25 min wait. The line moves pretty quickly for a "load, ride, stop, unload, load" kind of ride. Didn't see a line longer than 30-40 min all day.

Also I just updated the OP with the new info on EMH.

 

[Jkpark]

I am a worrier so when we got off MJJ at 7:45, I got in line. Knowing a FP was our one chance to ride RSR (with young kids can't do single rider), I was too nervous that if I did that last ride before getting in line, something would go wrong and I would get stuck on a ride. My original plan was to ride MJJ later in the day since the lines always appeared reasonable, but LT took longer than I thought and at 7:35 when we got off, I was too nervous to venture that far away from the FP line so we rode MJJ twice instead.

On Sunday and Monday they didn't merge the lines until 8, but when DH tried to get in line Monday at 7:50, the two were so close together it appeared as one and a CM even directed him to the end of the regular FP line. When he called to tell me (I was at DL), I told him to try again and he found a CM who directed him to green tape on the ground for the break between the two. He could barely find it. The person at the front of the FP line being held until 8 saw him and showed him where to squeeze in. Whew!

 

[HydroGuy]

When I was there at 7:45 they were letting even regular guests get in line for RSR FP. At 7:45, the line for RSR FP was back to Disney Junior and those people probably got late morning return times. If you got in line at 8, it was probably back by the Animation Building and you'd get a return time for noonish/early afternoon. Those were based solely on the Saturday that I went and data probably changes based on the day that you go.

Thanks for the heads up. I have heard conflicting info on this over and over. Last I heard was from a week ago where they kept the regular guests near CCT until 8AM and allowed the FP folks to line up first. What you are saying is what I heard was happening a month ago. Guess I will go back to the 7:45AM plan.

 

[bumbershoot]

Thanks for the heads up. I have heard conflicting info on this over and over. Last I heard was from a week ago where they kept the regular guests near CCT until 8AM and allowed the FP folks to line up first. What you are saying is what I heard was happening a month ago. Guess I will go back to the 7:45AM plan.

On Sunday they let us into the park before 8, but we had a rope to wait at until it was actually 8.

 

[Jkpark]

I think that has been the hardest part of planning for Cars Land. Just when you think you understand how it works, someone experienced something a little different. I don't know if there are different procedures on certain days (maybe when they see EE isn't as crowded), or if CMs interpret things differently?

When I checked into DLH on Saturday I was told EE to either park for hotel guests started Monday ( which was good news for me b/c I was registered for APEE Sunday) and I read other posts confirming the 16th as the start date. Yet on the 15th there were definitely hotel guests in the park for EE. I even overheard one woman complaining to her friend of how with all the people waiting in GCH for hotel guest EE, the CMs were trying to tell them it didn't start until Monday. They did eventually get in for EE (which didn't make a huge difference for me, but seems unfair to the hotel guests who didn't know to try).