GCH DCA EMH entry only for GCH guests

[dr&momto2boys]

Is that correct? We've only ever stayed at GCH but will be staying at DLH this time, so we have to use the main gate, right?

 

[ttig34]

If you are staying at any 3 of the Disney hotels,, you can use the GCH entrance for early entry. So you are good.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

Oh, okay, thank you!
Do people not know this? The line has always been remarkably short considering. (Of course we always arrive first or second.)
Seems to me we reached RSR first through this entrance...staying to the far right. Is this still true?

 

[julesann]

If you want to get to RSR, I recommend going through the main gates--you are closer to RSR from these gates. The far right is also a main gate strategy. I'd recommend going through the GCH entrance only if you want to go to TSMM.

 

[Malcon10t]

Main Gate is faster. They don't start bag check at the GCH gate until the park opens, whereas you can get to the gate before the park opens.

I really don't get people who get up and line up 45 mins before the park opens. On EMH, I generally hit the front gate at 5 mins after the park opens, no line. It isn't worth it to me to waste that extra 40 mins of sleep time.

 

[whoever]

Main Gate is faster. They don't start bag check at the GCH gate until the park opens, whereas you can get to the gate before the park opens.

This past trip was the first time we've used the GCH entrance for EMH, and we were in the park, and queued on the area next to GRR until park open. When we do EMH via the main gate, we are in the park, and queued just past Carthay Circle. Advantage: Main Gate.

I really don't get people who get up and line up 45 mins before the park opens. On EMH, I generally hit the front gate at 5 mins after the park opens, no line. It isn't worth it to me to waste that extra 40 mins of sleep time.

Hey, sometimes you just want to go hurry up and stand in line I keep hoping we'll open the park one of these days, but we haven't been picked yet.

 

[Malcon10t]

Interesting. Last Wed, we past by the entrance at a couple mins til 9am (EMH was 9am) and they were telling everyone 1 more minute and they'd start bag check, have your bags off, tickets ready, etc.... I wonder how they'd decide when to queue them early?

 

[whoever]

Interesting. Last Wed, we past by the entrance at a couple mins til 9am (EMH was 9am) and they were telling everyone 1 more minute and they'd start bag check, have your bags off, tickets ready, etc.... I wonder how they'd decide when to queue them early?

Rope drop at DL is the same, you never know what you are going to get. Some days turnstiles OPEN at park open, other times they'll queue you at the end of mainstreet... other times they'll queue you mid-way through the hub.... other times they'll queue you at the actual lands... no patterns I've seen for how rope drop/entry works at either park

 

[kim532]

On our trip that was during a slow period, the line at GCH was horrible in the mornings! Way long. We only did it once and then used the main gate for the rest. This entrance is nice for afternoon returns to the room.

Kim

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

We have only been allowed in the parks and queued at the end of the street when we're going in for regular park opening. For EMH/MM they have always scanned our tickets, but made us wait at the turnstile until the countdown is done (using main gate). We have gone during all different times of year also and never had it any different.

 

[Malcon10t]

We have only been allowed in the parks and queued at the end of the street when we're going in for regular park opening. For EMH/MM they have always scanned our tickets, but made us wait at the turnstile until the countdown is done (using main gate). We have gone during all different times of year also and never had it any different.

Same here. If the park opens at 10am, turnstiles open at 930, rope drop at lands or end of Main St at 10am. If the park opens at 9am, turnstiles open at 830, rope drop at lands or end of Main St at 9am. If the park opens at 8am, turnstiles open at 8am, and no rope drop.

In DCA, my experience has been on non-EMH, If the park opens at 10am, turnstiles open at 930, rope drop at lands or end of Buena Vista St at 10am. If the park opens at 9am, turnstiles open at 830, rope drop at lands or end of Buena Vista St at 9am. If the park opens at 8am, turnstiles open at 8am, and no rope drop. During Christmas, they did have a 730 turnstile opening, with queuing for RSR FP, but since that is gone, I was told they are no longer opening that up.

Last week, we were there Tues evening-Sat AM. On Wed, we simply walked by the GCH line at 9am (couldn't see the end of the line) as we were headed to Mandara. All I could think of was it was going to take a while to get that line into the park.

 

[bumbershoot]

Oh, okay, thank you!
Do people not know this? The line has always been remarkably short considering. (Of course we always arrive first or second.)
Seems to me we reached RSR first through this entrance...staying to the far right. Is this still true?

Since you're already getting there really early, that's why it has been short. Try arriving just 10 minutes before park opening. Or 20. Or even 30. That's when you see all the other guests.

RSR is best reached by the main gate, like others have said.

 

[707MickeyGirl]

Or even 30. That's when you see all the other guests..

Yeah... the line goes all the way down the corridor and doubles over itself down past Whitewater Snacks! It's front gate at DCA for us in the mornings from now on.

 

[perlster]

The "it always goes like this" claims are overreaching.

"For EMH/MM they have always scanned our tickets, but made us wait at the turnstile until the countdown is done (using "main gate).
Apparently, this was about DCAP.
I've seen (and noted) several times that guests were let through the DCAP turnstiles (in the esplanade) 14 or 15 minutes before the start of EMH

"If the park opens at 8am, turnstiles open at 8am, and no rope drop."
Also unclear, but if there is no EE at DLP, I've most often seen guests let in around 7:30, and, naturally, there was a rope drop at 8.

I've been waiting at the DLP gates when there was trouble with the computer system and guests weren't let in until 5 minutes after official opening time.

I've been at a DLP rope drop where there was no "Enjoy your day" PA at the time.

I've been at a DLP rope drop where the CM bailed and a guest had to lower the rope.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

The "it always goes like this" claims are overreaching. "For EMH/MM they have always scanned our tickets, but made us wait at the turnstile until the countdown is done (using "main gate). Apparently, this was about DCAP. I've seen (and noted) several times that guests were let through the DCAP turnstiles (in the esplanade) 14 or 15 minutes before the start of EMH "If the park opens at 8am, turnstiles open at 8am, and no rope drop." Also unclear, but if there is no EE at DLP, I've most often seen guests let in around 7:30, and, naturally, there was a rope drop at 8. I've been waiting at the DLP gates when there was trouble with the computer system and guests weren't let in until 5 minutes after official opening time. I've been at a DLP rope drop where there was no "Enjoy your day" PA at the time. I've been at a DLP rope drop where the CM bailed and a guest had to lower the rope.

I never said it only happened that way. I was sharing the way it's always happened for us, which I clearly stated. It was just to give another perspective to being allowed in early to wait into the park for EMH opening. I was also very clear that I was strictly talking about EMH/MM, not regular park entry.

 

[whoever]

I wonder who decides the how the park will open that day stuff? I don't think I've EVER had it happen the same way twice.