First time DL, a little confused

[chickapin parterre]

...well it will be interesting to read your response when you round the corner coming out of Grizzly accessing Mermaid and view Paradise Pier. As a Ticket Book Kid and purist, I find that photos of Paradise Pier are better than the actual area

 

[CyndiLouWho]

 

[wongck]

You are correct that if the parks open at 9am, MM/EMH will be at 8am. Sometimes they allow guests without MM/EMH to enter Main Street during that period but they have ropes at the end of MS that you won't be able to pass if you don't have MM/EMH privledges..

Wow!! did not know you can pass the tickets gates earlier at MM/EMH without having MM/EMH privileges on the tickets.
Should have done that and use the extra hour everyday to do anything in the parks.

My guess is that you can easily go pass the rope, as they do not check any tickets at the end of Main Street, and go on to the rides.
( at least they did not do any further ticket checks at end of MS when I was there in early Dec).

 

[goooof1]

If folks are let into the park before official park opening, CMs WILL be checking tickets at the end of Main Street and only allowing those with MM or EMH past the rope. There is indeed a ROPE set up at the end of Main Street. Sometimes the gates open about a half hour before park opening, but the rope is there as are CMs. (so, NO, you wouldn't be able to go onto rides early!)

 

[pmaurer74]

I am going June 3-9, planning to spend Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and maybe Wednesday in the parks. I plan to get park hoppers. We are staying at the Grand California. I plan to do EMH Sunday and Monday at DCA and Tuesday at Disneyland Park then switch parks especially on Sunday since we are first time visitors. Is this what you would recommend?

 

[chickapin parterre]

Since you have no Disneland history, for sure do DCA first thing Sunday morning so you can get Carsland out of the way. Plan on spending Sunday morning into early noon in DCA, get wet on grizzly and return to your room for rest, and pool. Pan to enter Disneyland for the rest of the night after you are rested. This would be a great time to take in night time Disneyland, don't plan on any riding, just take in Main street, fireworks, castle lights, Small world lights and Toontown lights. Just walk around and relax.

Monday morning do your favorites again in DCA,then head over to Disneyland and explore the west end of the park. The only other advice for MOnday is to make sure you see carsland at night. Tuesday, you are early Disneyland, knock out your choices in fantasyland, take advantage of fastpass in tomorrowland after that first hour is over, then work on your list of what has not been done. Wednesday is worth the money if you can be there, the whle park is open and a great time to re-ride your must dos.

staying on site gives you early every day, sunday and monday is DCA early, Tuesday is Disneyland, but skip early DCA on Wednesday and wait for Disneyland to open.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Now I'm thinking of adding a Storyteller's breakfast (10ish) one day. No idea which day.
Also I now see DCA Food & Wine Festival while we are there. How will this affect crowds? I'm guessing locals evenings & weekends.

 

[Winnowill]

Wow!! did not know you can pass the tickets gates earlier at MM/EMH without having MM/EMH privileges on the tickets.
Should have done that and use the extra hour everyday to do anything in the parks.

My guess is that you can easily go pass the rope, as they do not check any tickets at the end of Main Street, and go on to the rides.
( at least they did not do any further ticket checks at end of MS when I was there in early Dec).

If you don't have MM/EMH, you won't be allowed into the park at 8:00 am. You'll be allowed in when they say you are (usually in the neighborhood of 8:30, but could be later). And they will hold you at the ropes.

 

[wongck]

If you don't have MM/EMH, you won't be allowed into the park at 8:00 am. You'll be allowed in when they say you are (usually in the neighborhood of 8:30, but could be later). And they will hold you at the ropes.

Ok, that is just like any normal opening. From the previous post, I had the impression that they also sometimes allow you to get onto rides.