Harbor Side Security - Times to Avoid?

[Princess351]

After reading the previous thread about how backed up the Harbor side security can get, (and experiencing it for myself recently), does anyone have good tips on when to *avoid* arriving?
i.e., If we fail to make rope drop, should we just wait until much later to enter? Are there certain days/hours that are worse or better? Curious to know if anyone has enough experience to recognize a crowd pattern.
(I did read in the previous thread that one poster said Tuesday mornings are notoriously bad - which surprised me... but that sort of thing is very helpful to know!)

 

[ebharris]

Watching this one because I'm curious for our July trip as well!

 

[Skyegirl1999]

First off, those "backed up to Harbor" situations are rare and almost always combined with MM or 10am openings IME. Second, I use Harbor security a lot (I think it was 12 times in May), and I really pay attention to the timing (I usually take pictures as I arrive and right after I get through and use the timestamps to "time" my security wait), and it's not that predictable. It's like Disney crowds in general: there are some patterns, but nothing truly dependable. There are times that you're probably not going to hit a wait (like 1pm on a Thursday or something), and times that you're pretty much always going to have a wait (like the hour surrounding park opening), but even those aren't absolutes. On Saturday morning, we waited less than 10 minutes at 8:30, with the parks opening at 9 and MM going on, and on a day with SoCal and Deluxe APs unblocked - I would have predicted a longer wait than that.

Honestly, other than trying to get there as early as possible for rope drop, I wouldn't plan around security waits in terms of timing my day. I mean, I wouldn't wait until "much later" in the day and miss out on hours of park time just to potentially save 15 minutes at security, you know? I'd just be aware of the potential for long waits so you're prepared, especially if you're trying to get through for rope drop or a particular FP or dining reservation or something.

Most security waits are going to be 20 minutes or less, even when lines are long. It can be long and move slowly and be super frustrating when the line next to you moves faster, or they open another lane and people who were way behind you magically get through, or when you end up behind the family arguing about their selfie stick... don't get me wrong, the security situation is a giant PITA hassle - but if you plan for 15-20 minutes, you're very rarely going to get too burned. Except maybe on a Tuesday morning.

 

[FCDub]

I agree with the poster above me. Don't lose hours of park time because you want to save 20 minutes in the security line.

 

[Princess351]

That is really good advice! I suppose that while it *feels* like we're waiting an hour for security (and those above-named frustrations that go along with it), I've never actually timed it. I think just seeing that ''sea'' of people makes me think it's gonna take forever to get through! I feel better knowing that in reality, it's closer to a 20 minute wait when it's backed up. I can deal with that! (And, not have to 'miss out' on park time if we don't make it there early enough!)

 

[blackjackdelta]

Most the lines back up because people arnt prepared. with everything open for inspection including PURSES and STROLLERS. We now stay at the GCH to avoid those waits, usually 2 minutes and stuff out of the pockets.

Jack

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Avoid right before, during, and right after RD.
Both times I've gone I've gotten to security about 30 minutes prior to opening and every single day I walked right through.