How early do people start lining up in the morning?

[qa4ever]

Hi there, I am used to going with my family to WDW and we usually get there about 15/20 min before rope drop as that as quickly as I can get them all there . I am going to DL and will be on my own, and coming from the east coast so will be up early. For an 8 am rope drop on the weekend, how early do people start lining up. If I show up at 7 or 7:15 would that be too early or would there be others around?

 

[Zbugz]

I haven't been there since October, but I have found that 45 mins. early is not too early, but not always necessary. Bag check doesn't open until about 30 mins. before the earliest opening (including EE and MM), so you'll need to line up there instead of the gates first.

 

[qa4ever]

So if DCA has 7 am EMH, and I am going to DL at 8, will the bag check open at 7:30 or 6:30?

 

[Jerryp49]

I`m sure there will be others. For an 8am opening the parking garage opens at 6:30 and cars start to queue up at 6am. I believe they start to let people thru the turnstiles a half hour before rope drop so they can shop.

 

[Jerryp49]

So if DCA has 7 am EMH, and I am going to DL at 8, will the bag check open at 7:30 or 6:30?

6:30 The EMH guests have to go thru the same bag check

 

[qa4ever]

So arriving at bag check around 7:15 would be a good time on a Sunday to arrive?

 

[qa4ever]

It will still feel like 10:15 am for me

 

[chickapin parterre]

7:15 is the time I show up and have never had a problem with security opening, have been in the park at 7:30 and stood behind the rope for 30 mins

 

[TechGuy]

For this who are not familiar with the process at DLR.

You stand in line at the bag check on either side of the Esplanade (near the ART stops or near La Brea Bakery/parking trams). This line opens about 30 minutes before the park gates.

After the bag check, you enter Esplanade. Here you have two options, stand in line for tickets at the ticket booth or go direct to the lines for the Main Gates (my option). Here you spend another few minutes waiting for the Main gates to open and all the "irritating" people ahead of you to get out of your way (LOL).

After you get past the Main Gate, you can enter Main Street and the ropes are usually at the end of Main Street.

This process may be dependent on what time the park officially opens.

 

[sunshine1]

Can you buy tickets before bag check?

Is there booths outside that bit?

Does anyone know what time the ticket booths open, please?

 

[SMD]

Can you buy tickets before bag check?

Is there booths outside that bit?

Does anyone know what time the ticket booths open, please?

The ticket booths should open when bag check starts. There is no ticket booth outside the bag check, but you can buy tickets at the hotels and good neighbor hotels, though they may not sell them 24 hours. You can also buy online or go to the ticket booths the night before.

 

[TechGuy]

Many times, if you have an e-ticket, you can get your tickets the night before by going to the ticket booth the night before.

If you need to buy tickets, I would suggest you look into eTickets. You can buy them online and print the tickets (or use your internet phone) and take directly to the DL or DCA main gate (no ticket booth required). Read this for more information. https://disneyland.disney.go.com/faq/tickets/using-etickets/

So, NO, you cannot buy tickets at DLR, outside of the bag check. You always need to get through bag check to get to the ticket booths, even the night before.
BUT you can buy them in a hotel, at Safeway/Vons, or online and skip the ticket booth lines (which can be very slow)

 

[trainingupmy4princes]

Many times, if you have an e-ticket, you can get your tickets the night before by going to the ticket booth the night before.

If you need to buy tickets, I would suggest you look into eTickets. You can buy them online and print the tickets (or use your internet phone) and take directly to the DL or DCA main gate (no ticket booth required). Read this for more information. https://disneyland.disney.go.com/faq/tickets/using-etickets/

So, NO, you cannot buy tickets at DLR, outside of the bag check. You always need to get through bag check to get to the ticket booths, even the night before.
BUT you can buy them in a hotel, at Safeway/Vons, or online and skip the ticket booth lines (which can be very slow)

We have already bought from Cheap Tickets so have to exchange the vouchers. So does anyone know the hours for the ticket booths as we might try to get in early the evening before to exchange them.

 

[SMD]

We have already bought from Cheap Tickets so have to exchange the vouchers. So does anyone know the hours for the ticket booths as we might try to get in early the evening before to exchange them.

The ticket booth should be open until the parks close. Does your voucher say you have to go to the ticket booth, or is it a print at home ticket where you can go to the turnstile?

 

[TechGuy]

I would read YOUR voucher but the policy I see online is this:

Policies
Redemption Instructions
Once you have completed your purchase, you will receive an email linking to a voucher. You MUST print and exchange this voucher for your admission ticket at any main entrance ticket window at the Disneyland® Resort. Guests staying at a Disneyland® Resort Hotel may exchange this voucher at the Hotel Front Desk upon check-in for admission tickets. Photo identification will be required for issuance of all Disneyland® Resort theme park tickets. Subject to restrictions and change without notice.
Terms and Conditions
Voucher may be redeemed for Disneyland® Resort Ticket. Voucher may only be redeemed once.
Cancellation Rules
Attractions and services are non-cancelable. A Voucher has no cash value and is non-transferable. No refunds, credits, exchanges, or cancellations of a Voucher will be granted once Voucher has been issued. Refunds will not be issued for unused or partially used attractions or services. Availability and pricing for an attraction or service are subject to change without notice.
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So, this says to take it directly to the Main Gate, no Ticket Booth required. Verbiage sounds like you are getting a Disney Travel Company Voucher. You may be able to exchange the voucher for tickets at the DLH ticket desk.

 

[chickapin parterre]

rope drop on main street on Mondays, Wednsesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Because the Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday have a "T" in their spelling, the rope drop is at the castle and Tomorrowland. Adventureland and Fronteirland have no rope drops and are closed on those "T" days until park opens to the general public.

Lines do not move fast at the gate because of criminal photography, that is why rope drop during high season days has become the norm and the photo op in front of the castle are now gone.

 

[LoriLovesMickey]

Lines do not move fast at the gate because of criminal photography, that is why rope drop during high season days has become the norm and the photo op in front of the castle are now gone.

What do you mean by "criminal photography"?

 

[chickapin parterre]

Disney sees you as a threat to their bottom dollar, so to prevent crime they will photograph you on your first visit. This is time consuming so the line moves slow, slow line frustrates folks. So gate opens onto rope drop. Then each time you renter the park,you hand the ticket to a cm, they slide your ticket, hold the photo device to your face to see if it is a match, if so, you slide your ticket again at turnstile.

 

[SMD]

The rope drop procedure hasn't changed from how I experienced before they added pictures to tickets. They no longer have the CM that scans the tickets, it's all handled by the turnstile CM now. I really doesn't take any longer than the combo of checking handstamps and stopping people who unknowingly bought bad tickets used to. Reselling tickets isn't illegal in CA like it is in FL. They're not preventing people from committing a crime. If you don't agree with the way a business protects their profits, it might be time to reconsider spending money with that business.

 

[chickapin parterre]

Yes........ it is in the experience and I feel sorry for the folks who will never get a photo in front of the castle with no one in the background. I feel sorry for the folks who will never experience Disneyland as being the first folks to walk down main street, alone, no crowds, no pushing. I feel sorry for the folks who have to see the carnage of rope drop for the first time. I have spent my 55 years of disney dollars well and seen what only folks can now imagine, there is no reconsideration, just being considerate of those who will miss out...because of the bottom dollar, adieu my beloved court of angels.