Early entry...what time to check in?

[cissy]

On our way!! We will be staying at Off site hotel tonight but RPR rest of stay. Park opens officially at 9 tomorrow. Two questions; 1. What time can we get in the gate as an on site guest? 2. What time do we need to be in the lobby tomorrow morning to get checked in and be at the gate in time for #1? Please note we have our tickets in hand.

Thank you!!

 

[BeDisneyHappy]

When we were there resort guests got in the parks one hour earlier.
As far as time to check in goes, I would think it depends. Are you going to leave your luggage in your car? Or do you need to have time to store it?
In December, we were transferring from CBBR to RPR and they said we could check in as early as 6am in order to use Express Passes. It took only about 30 minutes to check in and get our EP.

On that note. You also need to leave enough time to go through the process of getting your express passes. Depending on how many machines are working, how many people are in your group, how many people are in line and how well they know how to work the computers there - the process can range from easy peasy to painfully slow.
Have fun!!

 

[cissy]

Okay, good questions....we are a party of four and Dad is very tech savvy so no worries working kiosk. We are leaving bags in car so no luggage to deal with. So, wondering if we can get to lobby by 7 and easily be at early entry by 8?

 

[cissy]

I guess I also trying to gage whether an hour before opening really means an hour. I know at Disney the rope drop at 9am sometimes means 8:30. I want to make sure we get into park as early as possible so wondering how flexible early entry time really is.

 

[illinidp]

I would say 6:30. Sometimes there can be a line to check in.

 

[cissy]

6:30? That is an hour and a half before early entry.....do they sometimes let guests in MORE than hour before official opening?

 

[chmurf]

6:30 sounds right

30 minutes to check in and get express passes (you won't be the only one doing early check in)
30 more minutes to double check your day bags (probably go back to the car once you realise one of you has left their tickets in the trunk ...), find the path, go through bag check along the way, and get to the park's entrance (slightly longer if it's USF than if it's IoA)
Be at the parks gate 30 minutes before to be at the front lines

We went for a 7:15am check in last october and missed a good 30 minutes of EE

 

[cissy]

Ok...6:30 it is! Cause you are 100% right about going back to the car!! Like herding cats!