How early can you get into the park for a PS?

[Girls Scout Leader]

We have a PS for Crystal Palace at 8:00 am. I would imagine they will let you in a bit earlier than that, but how far is pushing the envelope?

 

[ZerasPride]

This is a good question because I've got a ps for Crystal Palace for 8:10. They offered me 8:00 but I was too nervous to take it. Hopefully someone can answer your question. Have a great trip!

 

[MrsJackSparrow]

All PS recommend that you arrive 15 min prior to you PS time. We had breakfast in the castle and at CP last year early and got into the park about 1/2 hour before PS. Castle is a long walk from the gate!

 

[jel0511]

If MK is opening up at 9AM the day of your PS, the don't open the turnstiles until 8AM. Sometimes a few minutes before, and sometimes a few minutes after. We once had a PS at Cindy's for 8:10, and the turnstiles didn't open until 8:05!!! We got in as soon as we could and made it to the castle by 8:20, we were seated immediately. I asked a CM about it, and he said that the CM's at the restaurants know when the turnstiles are opened, so if they open late, they're aware and will expect late arrivals. If it's an EMH morning at MK, the turnstiles might open up 15 minutes before, but you'll only be allowed just inside, for the rope drop. Unforunately, the days of opening up Main Street early for people to wander down alone, is pretty much over. Plan on arriving at Mk early to be up near the front of the turnstiles, but you won't be able to get in before 8 AM.

 

[Girls Scout Leader]

There is EHM for that day..so the park will open at 8 am? And maybe we won't be in before the actual opening at all? Ok. Well, nothing tried, nothing gained!

 

[caskar]

I am confused by this - opening around 8. Why do the buses start to run at 7 if guest with ps would not be allowed in until 8. Then, wouldn't it back everything up for the day. We have a 8:05 ps at CRT. I thought we should be at MK around 7:30 to go through security, gate, and walk back to castle. This would put us there around 7:50. ?????

 

[jbwolffiv]

We have a PS for CRT for 8:10 on a non early opening day. I suppose we should plan to be at the MK by 7:30 to be near the front so we can get to the castle as soon as poss.

 

[candykisses]

There are Character Breakfast Buses that runs early to get everyone to the reataurants on time. At the tunstiles there are CMs with clipboards. They check your name, # in party and your PS# and let you in. You don't have to wait until the park open.

We've done this numerous times and never had any trouble.

 

[jel0511]

Originally posted by candykisses
There are Character Breakfast Buses that runs early to get everyone to the reataurants on time. At the tunstiles there are CMs with clipboards. They check your name, # in party and your PS# and let you in. You don't have to wait until the park open.

We've done this numerous times and never had any trouble.

Yes, that's true. But, at MK, if the park opens at 9AM, the don't allow patrons through the turnstiles until 8AM. So, if you catch the first bus at 7AM, you're most likely going to be waiting until 8AM to get through. We've experienced this numerous times, and this is Disney's policy. We usually plan to arrive at the turnstiles around 7:45AM. Yes there is a big crowd at that poing, but no long wait in that crowd, and gives me a buffer of 15 mintues before the turnstiles open. Usually the entire crowd is dispersed in about 10 minutes, so the wait after the turnstiles are opened is minimal. No reason to get there so early, just to wait outside for 45 minutes.

 

[lorifl2]

We had an 8:05am PS at Crystal Palace last week on a non-EE day, and everyone was held at the turnstiles until 8am. We stopped for photos, and still made it to the CP by 8:10. We were seated right away.

 

[JKanownik]

We had an 8:10 AM PS at CP on Sunday and were extremely surprised to see that they didn't check you in at the gate before you entered. We didn't have to check in until we got to CP. I heard people in line around us saying they had a 8:50 AM PS and they were let into the park at the same time as us (which was right around 8 AM).

I should note that they were doing the Danskin triathlon at the time, so perhaps this was a little more chaotic than normal.

-Josh

 

[Flower4Pwr]

They don't start letting guests in until 8 and are VERY strict about this. If it's an early entry day you are allowed in when the rope drops (and it drops at 7:55 anyway) even if you have a priority seating. This is for guest safety as well as making sure the park is ready for you before you see it for the day!

 

[donnajon]

Last November, we had a 9:05 PS for CRT and arrived 15 minutes early. They wouldn't let us in even though we were told to arrive 15 minutes early. They said the only ones who get in before 9 are those with PS before 9.