How Early are Security Gates Open?

[Mugglemama]

Our next DLR trip is in July. We haven't been in nearly 2 years, and are planning to get to the gates extra early (maybe as much as an hour early). If anyone could help me answer the following two questions, I'd really appreciate it!...

1) Am I correct in my understanding that if I get in line at the front gates before security opens, then I will just have to leave (and lose) my place in line to go back to the security gates when they do open?

2) Does anyone know what time the security gates do open?

 

[disneymom23]

We usually get to security about 30-40 minutes before park opening. We wait by the security tables. We're usually one of the first groups through security and usually are the first at one of the gates.

 

[bumbershoot]

I've noticed it really varies quite a bit.

Rule of thumb...if the security tables aren't set up and you *could* just walk through, don't walk through. Just wait there.

Although, when we've been there before bag check opened (due to a mystifying error on my part, made more mystifying b/c we don't have a time difference when going to DLR), they have it kind of blockaded, the tables set up perpendicular to the walkway, so you'd have to work to get through...as they open up, they move the tables parallel to the walkway to set your bags on while they look into it... So it's not like we found we could have breezed through.

Although again, it could have been different that day, since it was a big Pin event (selling a special Alice pin that had a "piece of the ride" in it) and the line for that was back to WOD while it was still dark out.

 

[Eeee-va]

1) Am I correct in my understanding that if I get in line at the front gates before security opens, then I will just have to leave (and lose) my place in line to go back to the security gates when they do open?

Yes.

On Sunday, 6/21/09, we were in line at Security for Magic Morning and were let through sometime between about 6:50 AM and 6:54 AM, for a 7 AM Magic Morning/8 AM opening. It seemed like a longer wait than usual, but that was our experience. We arrived at the security gates around 6:42 AM and were about the second group in line.

 

[koalagirl5]

So, are all the security gates always used? I'm asking because I don't want to line up thinking I'm first in line only to find out it won't be open. Same thing with the entrance gates, how will I know which ones will open?

OP, thanks for asking this, I was just wondering the same thing.

 

[Mugglemama]

I've noticed it really varies quite a bit.

Rule of thumb...if the security tables aren't set up and you *could* just walk through, don't walk through. Just wait there.

Although, when we've been there before bag check opened (due to a mystifying error on my part, made more mystifying b/c we don't have a time difference when going to DLR), they have it kind of blockaded, the tables set up perpendicular to the walkway, so you'd have to work to get through...as they open up, they move the tables parallel to the walkway to set your bags on while they look into it... So it's not like we found we could have breezed through.

Although again, it could have been different that day, since it was a big Pin event (selling a special Alice pin that had a "piece of the ride" in it) and the line for that was back to WOD while it was still dark out.

Great, thanks for the information!

Yes.

On Sunday, 6/21/09, we were in line at Security for Magic Morning and were let through sometime between about 6:50 AM and 6:54 AM, for a 7 AM Magic Morning/8 AM opening. It seemed like a longer wait than usual, but that was our experience. We arrived at the security gates around 6:42 AM and were about the second group in line.

Hmmm, I see. Yeah, not being able to be let through to the gates until after 6:50am for a MM seems really late. The last 2 trips we made, we got to the gates at 6:30am on MM's, and security was open.

So, are all the security gates always used? I'm asking because I don't want to line up thinking I'm first in line only to find out it won't be open. Same thing with the entrance gates, how will I know which ones will open?

OP, thanks for asking this, I was just wondering the same thing.

Oooooh, good question! I didn't even think of that. Wouldn't it be SUCH a bummer to wait at the tables all that time only to end up way behind because you were standing in a line they didn't open?!!! UGH!

Every time I've been to DLR, it has seemed that ALL the security tables were open. I imagine, since I am going to be there during peak season, that all the tables will be open. But that's just a guess on my part.

 

[koalagirl5]

Every time I've been to DLR, it has seemed that ALL the security tables were open. I imagine, since I am going to be there during peak season, that all the tables will be open. But that's just a guess on my part.

Good point, I should have realized that. I will be there during the first week of WOC craziness, after all. Thanks!

 

[bumbershoot]

Well, if you're there before the security people AND before everyone else, all the other guests will probably just line up behind you, and the security people will either open where you are or tell you where they'll be.

If you have more than one adult/older kid in your group, you could split up...the tables aren't so far apart you can't see each other. That way you're covered if the CMs are in a grumpy mood and open elsewhere.

When we were there in Oct, we had a VERY late security opening, and it was really obnoxious b/c all the CMs were right there...the uniformed security type people AND the bag check CMs. Still don't know what they were waiting for, but we only had a few minutes to wait at the turnstiles (oh, and people WILL run, which is obnoxious) once we finally got through.

 

[Mugglemama]

Well, if you're there before the security people AND before everyone else, all the other guests will probably just line up behind you, and the security people will either open where you are or tell you where they'll be.

If you have more than one adult/older kid in your group, you could split up...the tables aren't so far apart you can't see each other. That way you're covered if the CMs are in a grumpy mood and open elsewhere.

When we were there in Oct, we had a VERY late security opening, and it was really obnoxious b/c all the CMs were right there...the uniformed security type people AND the bag check CMs. Still don't know what they were waiting for, but we only had a few minutes to wait at the turnstiles (oh, and people WILL run, which is obnoxious) once we finally got through.

Good tip! We probably COULD split up, just for good measure. Actually, there are so many of us, that we could probably cover 3 lines, LOL!! That way, whoever gets through first can try to get up there to hold our place. Normally, I would NEVER bother with all of this, but we're going to have to be very mindful of MIL (I don't want her feeling unwell, I just want her to have fun!), and I would love to not always have to be way behind because of it.

Normally, we would be able to keep up a speed of "walking with purpose", but not on this trip. So, we'll just have to deal with what we get when we are able to get to the lines.

 

[cwbronco]

I haven'y been since I was a kid so I'm trying to paint a picture of this in my head. There will security tables (that everybody has to go through correct?) set up directly in front of the turnstiles right? Then once through security you head to the turnstiles to wait in line for the park to officially open right? How many turnstiles are there to let folks in to the park? Sorry if these questions seem dumb but being that I can't remember anything from my last Disney trip and that we are going four days after WOC opens I'm trying to be overly prepared.

 

[Mugglemama]

I haven'y been since I was a kid so I'm trying to paint a picture of this in my head. There will security tables (that everybody has to go through correct?) set up directly in front of the turnstiles right? Then once through security you head to the turnstiles to wait in line for the park to officially open right? How many turnstiles are there to let folks in to the park? Sorry if these questions seem dumb but being that I can't remember anything from my last Disney trip and that we are going four days after WOC opens I'm trying to be overly prepared.

Being that you haven't been since you were a kid, the whole setup is quite a lot different than you remember (I am assuming that when you were a kid DCA did not exist yet?), so what you remember is a parking lot directly outside Disneyland's gates?

Ok, so now, when you get off of the tram, you will turn left towards the parks (don't worry, you'll know which way to go, just follow the hoards of people, lol). You are essentially now standing in part of the old parking lot. But now, it's an esplanade type area. Once you have gone left after leaving the tram, straight ahead of you will be the security tables. Once you are through the lines that pass the security tables, Disneyland will be on your left, and California Adventure will be on your right. Try checking it out on Google Earth to get an idea of what I'm explaining, if you are still confused.

This description is applicable if you are coming off the tram, or walking to the gates from an on-site hotel via Downtown Disney. I believe, however, that there is another security gate on the opposite side of the esplanade area for guests walking in from that side (but I have never come in from that side, so again, you may want to check Google Earth, and also consider whether you are parking in the parking structure, walking in from an off-site hotel, or walking in via Downtown Disney).

HTH!

 

[S. S. Columbia]

I haven'y been since I was a kid so I'm trying to paint a picture of this in my head. There will security tables (that everybody has to go through correct?) set up directly in front of the turnstiles right? Then once through security you head to the turnstiles to wait in line for the park to officially open right? How many turnstiles are there to let folks in to the park? Sorry if these questions seem dumb but being that I can't remember anything from my last Disney trip and that we are going four days after WOC opens I'm trying to be overly prepared.

Here's a link to a wikimap of the main entrance:

http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=33.8090854&lon=-117.9189554&z=19&l=0&m=b

You can see the "East Security Guest Bag Check" (green) tents and the "West Security Guest Bag Check" (green) tents.

If you're entering from the Harbor Blvd. side, then you should wait at the "East Security Guest Bag Check."

HTH

 

[cwbronco]

Thanks you guys that helped a lot. Yeah the last time I was there was when I was 6 in 92. The only thing I remember from that trip is throwing a shoe at my aunt for snoring and the electric light parade.