Early entry madness today

[hjgaus]

What ever they use at the turnstile when they scan your ticket does not pull up the photo. Only the handheld device pulls up the photo.

No ..... they CAN see your picture when scanned at the turnstile.
I HAVE seen MY OWN picture as I have walked through.
Unless you are talking about something else?

 

[jlima]

Sometimes the photo isn't up to standards; if eyes are closed or looking down or anything like that, the photo will drop out of the system and when the cm scans the pass, there's no photo there and that's when they ask for ID. DH had this happen several times and re-took his photo 4 times.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

We activated new APs last week. Our first entry we had to show photo ID and were told to go to any Photopass photog in the park to have our photo taken for the AP. So we did that. No problem. Photog took a basic head shot of each of us without hats or sunglasses then scanned our passes. She told us it could be up to 48 hrs before our photos were in the system with our passes. Each entry we walked to the turnstile with pass and ID until the CM told us our photo was there, no ID needed. I'd say the photos showed up within 24 hrs. From that point forward whenever we approached turnstiles the CM out front with the handheld saw our APs then waived us forward. He/she did not scan them. The CM at the turnstile scanned the pass as we each approached then usually greeted us each by name as we entered. A few times I looked back at the screen & saw my photo was there. I noticed because its actually a decent picture of me. LOL!

I did notice when my friend was there with us the first CM out front with the handheld always scanned her ticket first. Hers was a paper military ticket which differed from our plastic AP cards. I tried to ask one of those CMs in front with the handheld why they scanned some but not others but the girl I asked didn't seem to understand the question.

 

[jennilouwho]

They had a castmember out asking for photo ID before you even hit the turnstyle, or at least when I was there.

What ever they use at the turnstile when they scan your ticket does not pull up the photo. Only the handheld device pulls up the photo.

 

[tiffjoy]

We went in April last year, towards the end of the month, expecting it to be slow. It was crazy busy. All the CMs expressed how unusual it was, but it seems this year is the same way.

One CM told us there is no longer an off season at DLR. We are going in August this year, and I'm sure it will be busy, but we will be expecting it. Plus we will have longer hours and fill entertainment schedules (and fewer refurbs) to help with managing the crowds. We went the same August week 4 years ago and it wasn't bad. It will be interesting to see how it is this year and if in general, DLR is just busier all around.

 

[NancyIL]

I was there last week with a 5-day ticket. Sometimes the first person's scanner couldn't bring up my photo, so I was asked for my ID. I agree that it's an inefficient system.

Peter Pan also broke down while I was in line during Magic Morning!

 

[hjgaus]

I got asked to do that a few times last early December. I also wondered why they couldn't go off the picture they took in the first place.

We recently upgraded our WDW Premuim Pass to Premier Pass here @ DL tickect booth and they had asked us to retake our pics.
We asked them " Can we just reuse our pictures from our April 2012 - 13 DL Premuim Passes?"
At first they said NO... but went ahead and reused them anyway!

We entered the park right after the upgrade WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS & NOBODY asking for a photo ID!!

 

[Andray]

I was there last week with a 5-day ticket. Sometimes the first person's scanner couldn't bring up my photo, so I was asked for my ID. I agree that it's an inefficient system.

Peter Pan also broke down while I was in line during Magic Morning!

We were there last week and were asked for one ID at every entry in DL or DCA's main gate. I was told their iPods were not working so that is why they needed ID each time. At the GCH entrance into DCA, no need for ID, their iPods were working fine over there.

 

[Molly Meow]

Just FYI about Peter Pan and Mr. Toad...

We were there yesterday and were in line for Mr. Toad when it broke down. We went next door to Peter Pan to use my assigned DAS time and it was down, as well. The CM there told us that the reason for the trouble is the refurb on Alice. They all share a building and whatever was going on during the refurb was triggering repeated electrical problems for the other rides. We ended up not being able to ride either one during our entire trip due to this issue.

 

[HollyL]

This is crazy! At DL for early entry and Peter goes down after we waited in line for 20 minutes, AND Mr Toad is down. Add that to all the other rides down, and the few open ones are packed. Not to mention the frustration if entering the park. Why take a picture to go with the ticket yet continue to make me produce a photo ID every time. Grossly inefficient having 2 people at each entrance turnstile.

Ok, rant over...

I know...what the heck? What was going on this past week?! I knew going into it that many rides were down. I wanted to cancel/re-schedule our trip when I learned that POC was going to be down, but we were flying in from Texas for my son's 6th birthday, so we were stuck with these dates. I could not believe how crowded it was at both parks. Looked to be about a 77/100 crowd index according to the MouseWait app. I checked it this weekend, and it seemed like Saturday and Sunday were actually less crowded than Wednesday/Thursday were. What's up with that?! I know these crowd prediction sites aren't really that accurate, but the days that we were in the parks were FAR from the "ghost-towns" they were predicted to be. Oh well. It was still a great visit, and we still got to do a lot, just not some of our favorites. Fantasy Land was such a disaster, we did not ride one single ride there this time around.

 

[HollyL]

Oh yeah, and they were very militant at the gates with the ID's! Every single time we entered the park (which was several each day because we had hoppers) we were asked for ID.
Seriously, there has to be a better way.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Oh yeah, and they were very militant at the gates with the ID's! Every single time we entered the park (which was several each day because we had hoppers) we were asked for ID.
Seriously, there has to be a better way.

Sadly, the people to blame are those who bought tickets from ticket sellers for "too good to be true"/shady deals and the ticket sellers running those deals.

- Dreams

 

[HydroGuy]

Sadly, the people to blame are those who bought tickets from ticket sellers for "too good to be true"/shady deals and the ticket sellers running those deals.

- Dreams

Yep. Until something like biometric turnstiles comes to DLR this will continue unfortunately.

 

[HollyL]

It did seem that we got stuck behind people that had "issues" with their tickets several times.

 

[DisneyDork1969]

really? what company are you going though. I was told by Disney that they didn't have early morning, id love to know how to get it for my race tickets in nov.

Go to www.getawaytoday.com...they are the main online travel company I use to book all my DL trips...they do DL hotel/tix pacakages (on and off site)...they also sell tixs to every major destination in California (Sea World, Universal, Knotts Berry Farm)...I'm goin to DL on Sat for 5 days...my 5-day park hopper includes a EM early to DL...I'm staying off-site at the Portofino Hotel...the tix I was mailed is the same paper-type tix they sell at the parks...I think mine has Donald on it...and it was a few dollars cheaper than the gate-price...I think they might be selling adult tixs at childrens prices currently...

John

 

[twodogs]

We were there this morning (Tuesday) and I was absolutely amazed at the crowd level. So far we have gone Saturday and Tuesday this week, and the crowds have been ridiculous both days. In addition to the many rides already down for refurb, we have personally been on, or in 4 rides in a single day that have broken down. I have been coming to Disney for about 35 years. I absolutely love it and until this trip would have chosen to go to a Disney place over anything else for a vacation. After this trip I seriously am wondering if we will even go into the parks when we return for the half marathon in August. I am just frustrated with how many rides are permanently down at one time, plus how many go down during the day, plus the level of crowds on what use to be a low season. I understand "It's still Disneyland and there is so much to do". But when you stand in a line for 40 min (because all major rides are that wait time or worse), and it breaks down so you have to leave, and then try to use a FP, but can't because that ride is down, and then you walk back across the park to do something else and it is either down or the wait is 45min +, it's hard to still keep the magic. When the CM's are commenting how crazy busy it is, and they have no idea why, you know things are not going well.

We were there Tuesday, and this was our first day at DLR ever. Early entry was insane to me, as it was a mad rush for us to Matterhorn, as others stampeded to Anna and Elsa M&G or Fantasyland. We rode Matterhorn, Buzz and Astro Orbitor (already a 25 minute wait at 9:40), and then the flood gates really opened at 10AM for regular entry. Immediately Space and BTMRR went down right at 10. My husband was the FP runner, so he ran a lot for nothing as they wouldn't issue a FP for SM or BTMRR while rides were down. With all the existing closures, every other ride was chaos. Autopia was 45 minutes during early entry! Another frustration was no FP for Autopia during the week, only weekends, during this time of year apparently. This despite so many other rides being down made no sense to me.

On Thursday we attempted to go straight to Autopia at 9AM early entry to avoid the 45 minute wait we had encountered on Tuesday. Unfortunately, despite what a CM said, it didn't open right at 9, but at 9:30 for early entry. We backtracked with kids and grandparents (not fun), rode Buzz twice with minimal wait then went back to Autopia at 9:40. The line was already 25 minutes. They only had one of the three lines of cars loading, and they said this was due to "staffing". At 10 (regular park opening), the staffing "issue" was resolved and they opened the second line of cars. They never opened the third line of cars, despite waits all day in excess of 45 minutes.

I don't really understand why they don't have the FP machines open during the week, especially when so many other rides are closed for refurbishment and that makes lines at the open rides so much longer. I understand that it takes a CM to "take " the FPs, so again "staffing", however, they are saving "staffing" at all of the rides that are closed for refurbishment, so you would think they could redistribute these CMs to allow the open rides to function at maximum efficiency.

We were in the parks 4 days and we only rode the Carousel in Fantasyland (25 minute wait) and no other FL rides because it was utter chaos every time we tried to go there last week. We made RD at early entry every day at both parks and hopped because we stayed at GCH. I used a touring plan. It did not work very well at all, though FP really helped at DCA (not much available for FP at DL once SM and BTMRR went down). I hope this is not the typical DLR experience (for days that were listed as "ghost town' and 1.8/10 at DL), as I won't sign up for it again if it is. I felt we got more done at DCA than at DL by far. I have not used FP+ at DW because we last went a year ago, right before they rolled it out full-scale (though we were in a test group for it and it worked fine), but I can see there are some advantages to it when it is insanity like this. I am happy to plan my day in advance, but I don't like it when DLR makes that difficult (no FP machines on, CMs telling me the incorrect ride opening times, etc).

Rant over for now!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

Go to www.getawaytoday.com...they are the main online travel company I use to book all my DL trips...they do DL hotel/tix pacakages (on and off site)...they also sell tixs to every major destination in California (Sea World, Universal, Knotts Berry Farm)...I'm goin to DL on Sat for 5 days...my 5-day park hopper includes a EM early to DL...I'm staying off-site at the Portofino Hotel...the tix I was mailed is the same paper-type tix they sell at the parks...I think mine has Donald on it...and it was a few dollars cheaper than the gate-price...I think they might be selling adult tixs at childrens prices currently...

John

the ones sold by gettravle the race tickets are 240-5 day tickets, but its 40 more at get away toady. I was asking the person who said they had ee on their tickets they got for a race, because i'm hoping i can get them too.