Happy Entry - how does it work?

[jofo]

My understanding for Happy Entry for Miracosta guests at DisneySea is that you go through a special security line at the main entrance, accessed from an outdoor staircase at MiraCosta (ask at check-in) but if you miss that staircase, you can also ask cast members near the regular security lines and they can direct you (I think it's all the way to the right side). Once through the special Happy Entry security line, you line up at one of many turnstiles to get in the park. From reading DisneyHanna's posts, it sounds like you don't have to get there super early before Happy Entry so long as you still make it through the special security and into one of the turnstile lines before they open to regular park guests.

How does it work at Disneyland (staying at Toy Story night before)? Is there a special security line just for Happy Entry? Or do you go through security with everyone before going to a special Happy Entry turnstile? If security is the same line for everyone then it seems like we'd have to get there earlier to make sure we don't miss Happy Entry?

Also, I have read conflicting reports as to which rides (if any) are actually open during Happy Entry at both parks. Can you actually ride anything (if so, which ones at both parks?) or is the advantage just that you can get into the ride lines before everyone else?

Can you start making priority pass, DPA, standby requests, and mobile orders during Happy Entry?

Thank you!

 

[DizneyLizzy]

My understanding for Happy Entry for Miracosta guests at DisneySea is that you go through a special security line at the main entrance, accessed from an outdoor staircase at MiraCosta (ask at check-in) but if you miss that staircase, you can also ask cast members near the regular security lines and they can direct you (I think it's all the way to the right side). Once through the special Happy Entry security line, you line up at one of many turnstiles to get in the park. From reading DisneyHanna's posts, it sounds like you don't have to get there super early before Happy Entry so long as you still make it through the special security and into one of the turnstile lines before they open to regular park guests.

How does it work at Disneyland (staying at Toy Story night before)? Is there a special security line just for Happy Entry? Or do you go through security with everyone before going to a special Happy Entry turnstile? If security is the same line for everyone then it seems like we'd have to get there earlier to make sure we don't miss Happy Entry?

Also, I have read conflicting reports as to which rides (if any) are actually open during Happy Entry at both parks. Can you actually ride anything (if so, which ones at both parks?) or is the advantage just that you can get into the ride lines before everyone else?

Can you start making priority pass, DPA, standby requests, and mobile orders during Happy Entry?

Thank you!

1. Miracosta guests had their own security line for Happy Entry to the right if facing the entrance. We were not anywhere near the front of this line and had plenty of time after passing through security before they opened the park. I think we initially got in line about 30 minutes before Happy Entry started, and they opened security for HE as soon as we walked up.

2. At Tokyo Disneyland, we did not have Happy Entry. Everyone went through security together, and then after security, they put the Happy Entry people in a separate waiting area in front of the middle entrance gates. The rest of us were off to the sides. They kept those middle gates open just for Happy Entry a few minutes into regular park opening, presumably so Happy Entry latecomers wouldn't have to get in line with the rest of us. At TDL, even if you had walked up 5 minutes before regular entry, you still would have had a nice advantage.

3. Nothing was open to ride for us during Happy Entry at Disney Sea. We got inside, made our standby, premiere access, and 40th anniversary passes, then lined up for Journey to the Center of the Earth, which started running at the official park opening. I can't speak to TDL because we didn't have Happy Entry there.

4. We were able reserve standby pass, DPA, 40th-anniversary pass, and place a mobile order during Happy Entry.

 

[gelatoni fan]

The rides that are open during Happy Entry will vary based on crowd levels. Since crowd levels have been low lately, it's actually common these days for rides to open at the same time the entry gates open for general guests which is still earlier than official park opening time. The advantage can still be big though, especially if you want to ride Anna and Elsa's Frozen Journey or get DPA for the Fantasy Springs attractions.

At DisneySea, the rides that are most likely to open early are Soaring and Toy Story Mania. At Disneyland, it's Beauty and the Beast and Baymax. Now that it's summer, Splash Mountain also has a higher chance of being open early. Most likely, Space Mountain, Astro Blasters, Winnie the Pooh, Monsters Inc and Big Thunder Mountain will open at general guest gate opening time. Other rides in Fantasyland and Toontown are more likely to open at official park opening time.