EMH for Hotel guests--need help--1st time staying on site!

[DisneyJulieZ]

We have been to DL many times, but have never stayed on site. We're very excited to be going this October and staying at the DLH! I just need some guidance as to where/how the line for hotel guests is so we can beeline straight to the correct place to get our full hour!

Details:
Days we're going: Mon & Wed in early October
Park: obviously, those are days that we'll get into DCA early

My question is:
WHERE exactly do we head, once we pass the security tables, to get into the park early?
I'm thinking there must be a gate or two labeled "Extra Magic Hours" above the turnstile??
If so, is that "hotel guest entry turnstile" on the far right of the row of turnstiles into DCA?

Any other info/advice for 1st time hotel guests getting into DCA early on a Monday and Wednesday?
Do we just head straight towards RSR? Or do we do TSMM and then just get a FP for RSR? or do both? (RSR, TSMM, and then get a FP for RSR once regular park hours begin?)

TIA!!!

 

[Malcon10t]

After you go thru the bag check, proceed to the gates closer to the bag check area. There will be signs over the top of the turnstiles.

 

[alvernon90]

Any other info/advice for 1st time hotel guests getting into DCA early on a Monday and Wednesday?
Do we just head straight towards RSR? Or do we do TSMM and then just get a FP for RSR? or do both? (RSR, TSMM, and then get a FP for RSR once regular park hours begin?)

This is entirely personal preference, so there is no right answer. For our family, we prefer to take a right and go down the path past Soarin' to ride California Screamin' and TSMM during EMH. It is gloriously empty at that time -- my daughter and I once rode Screamin' 10 times in a row during EMH. TSMM is trickier, every time we've done it we find precious minutes of EMH ticking off as we wait to unload because not enough people have come in to clear the cars out of the loading area.

Getting RSR FPs after spending the EMH at Paradise Pier is a good plan, but some people want to ride RSR multiple times per day. For us once is enough, but if you want to ride it a bunch of times, going straight there using wide right may be your best bet.

 

[HydroGuy]

WHERE exactly do we head, once we pass the security tables, to get into the park early?
I'm thinking there must be a gate or two labeled "Extra Magic Hours" above the turnstile??
If so, is that "hotel guest entry turnstile" on the far right of the row of turnstiles into DCA?

All gates are EMH gates when you arrive early. As the EMH hour passes, certain turnstiles are reserved for late EMH arrivers and these will be marked with a sign over the turnstiles. The other turnstiles will have queues for non-EMH people waiting for the park to officially open.

Any other info/advice for 1st time hotel guests getting into DCA early on a Monday and Wednesday?
Do we just head straight towards RSR? Or do we do TSMM and then just get a FP for RSR? or do both? (RSR, TSMM, and then get a FP for RSR once regular park hours begin?)

There are two schools of thought on this. If you are content with riding RSR once each day, then most would agree with me to do TSMM first then get RSR FPs.

 

[surfmontana]

what is the best way to get to TSMM during early entry? I have been to DCA only one and have a very small map (can't find map from last trip)

please give exact detail so I can really get a clear picture.

also where is the fast pass for rsr located?

tia

 

[GeneralTso]

The gates are clearly marked for EE. You'll see it.

Different preferences for folks about what to ride once inside.

We hightail it to RSR and get right on. Then we come back around and do single rider. The two times we did that, we were seated in the same car anyway so that was awesome!

We go to Toy Story NO line. I'm not kidding. Everybody is at RSR so Toy Story is a walk on. We did that twice in a row, no problem.

We don't get into the FP line for RSR until close to "actual" opening. We like evening/dark return time so we time it til the end.

 

[HydroGuy]

what is the best way to get to TSMM during early entry? I have been to DCA only one and have a very small map (can't find map from last trip)

please give exact detail so I can really get a clear picture.

also where is the fast pass for rsr located?

tia

Best way to TSMM is just straight past CarsLand and Pacific Wharf to Paradise Pier then turn left and follow PP around.

RSR FPs are located in front of the ITTBAB ride at the entry to Bugs Land.