How much earlier to be at parks before opening?

[trvlr4301]

I've looked around on these boards a little but couldn't find my question. Could someone help me? I can remember years ago when we went to Disney that you could get all the way up Main Street in the Magic Kingdom before opening time and wait at the ropes for them to open. Does anyone know how early they let you in and can you still wait at the ropes before it opens! Do the buses start running a lot earlier than park opening times so you can be there beforehand? Thanks for the help.

 

[We-Luv-Disney]

Bump! I want to know too.

 

[annie1995]

Bump again, I want to know too, I leave in 36 hours!

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

I believe that the buses start running one hour prior the the theme park opening (except for the early morning breakfast buses).
At the MK in June we were allowed through the turnstiles early but held back at the train station. No one was allowed in until the opening show finished. There was a song and dance routine above us in front of the train platform. Then Mickey and friends would arrive on the train with a guest family to formally open the park.

 

[Chuck-PA]

Same thing with Animal Kingdom. They let you in a few minutes before opening. You can walk up the hills to the top and then they put on an opening show with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Pluto when that is done they open the ropes to the park.

 

[heathriel]

Same thing with Epcot - they let you in around half an hour early and the ropes stop just before Spaceship Earth, where the Character Caravan comes and the characters dance and sing.

 

[ChrisAlli]

With the train station under rehab at MK is the opening still the same?? I've seen pictures with green tarps and walls up.

 

[stschaefer]

Buses leave an hour before parks open from resorts. At All STar Music we were ready at 7:50 for 8 AM bus. Epcot let you wait at the gate and character bus came out for a show - then countdown to 9 AM. MK had the bus come out with a welcome show. Let you in 8:55 and I had a brisk walk up to ropes at Tommorrow land - ropes droped at 9AM and went to be the first one at Space Mountain (DW took DD to be first one on Dumbo - funny thing is I got back to Dumbo after SM before they were finished). MGM extra magic hour early - let us in at 8 AM (got there at 7:15 on first bus). Getting there on the first bus allows you to put sunscreen on, use restroom, and prepare for a great day!!!

 

[trvlr4301]

Thanks so much for all your help!

 

[rifamtrav]

I think the basic procedure is the same but the actual times vary depending on time of year, crowd and the mood of the person making the decision that day. Last week we were at Epcot at 8:45, it was a pretty light crowd waiting at the bagcheck/ticket/scan area, the gate person at our gate started letting us in, and then someone on the other side came and said "stop, not yet". She waited for 5 minutes then said ok. We still had time to get through the gate and over to the rope near space ship Earth. The guy running the show that morning was quite entertaining, had the whole crowd chanting and cheering. Then a couple of minutes before 9 am, the bus with characters rolled up, waved to us and danced a little, then got back on the bus. We did a count down and they dropped the rope, then we followed the groups of cast members from the ride we wanted to go on first (there were cms for test track, Soarin' and Mission Space, we chose soarin) as we walked to the ride. It was really cute, and a nice way to start the day, of course it really helped that the crowd was very small so there was no pushing or shoving.

 

[KathylovesPooh]

Until our last visit, we were always able to enter MK 30 minutes before official opening and they let you come into walk around Main Street or stand by the ropes which lead to the "lands".

I asked this same basic question last month on the boards because on our last visit we were held in front of the park until minutes before opening time.

Interesting discussion ensued. Some said they had never been allowed early and others said always. It mattered not if they had been there during busy holiday periods or slow Februarys.

Basically what I discerned was it happens but less than it use to. There is no way of knowing at MK when exactly they will let you in.

It sounds like DS and AK typically let you in any where from 5-15 minutes before the stated opening time. Hope this helps.

 

[trvlr4301]

I think the basic procedure is the same but the actual times vary depending on time of year, crowd and the mood of the person making the decision that day. Last week we were at Epcot at 8:45, it was a pretty light crowd waiting at the bagcheck/ticket/scan area, the gate person at our gate started letting us in, and then someone on the other side came and said "stop, not yet". She waited for 5 minutes then said ok. We still had time to get through the gate and over to the rope near space ship Earth. The guy running the show that morning was quite entertaining, had the whole crowd chanting and cheering. Then a couple of minutes before 9 am, the bus with characters rolled up, waved to us and danced a little, then got back on the bus. We did a count down and they dropped the rope, then we followed the groups of cast members from the ride we wanted to go on first (there were cms for test track, Soarin' and Mission Space, we chose soarin) as we walked to the ride. It was really cute, and a nice way to start the day, of course it really helped that the crowd was very small so there was no pushing or shoving.

You said you were there last week and the crowd was very small. Did you find it to be that way most of your visit. I was wondering how the crowds would be this time of year?

 

[SerinaEmily]

MK had the bus come out with a welcome show. Let you in 8:55 and I had a brisk walk up to ropes at Tommorrow land - ropes droped at 9AM

They aren't doing the characters coming in on the train opening anymore?

 

[stschaefer]

My bad - they had the characters on the train - not bus. Must have still been thinking of Epcot when I was typing. Wish we were back there now... Can't wait for our next trip.

 

[TnTsParty]

In May when we were at AK we were let in a little earlier but were stopped before getting too far by the Characters in a bus opening. So when we were there last week I planned on getting to AK while the AM EMH was still going on. We got there about 8:45 and were able to be at Kilamanjaro Safari by 9 and we had a stop along the way to get me sunglasses since I lost mine at Epcot the day before. It worked out perfect.

So for those that want to bypass the opening ceremony and are staying at Disney resorts and have park hopper option I would suggest getting to the AM EMH park before opening and you can get in and get past the normal holding spot.

This is what me and DH did but that was because it was just us and we don't need to see the opening with the charactors.

 

[rifamtrav]

When we were there last week, the crowds were generally very low. Tues 9/6 we were at MK from 11-2:30, ride waits were 0-15 min. Actually only Thndr MT was 15 min, everything else was 0-5. Wed-Fri we were at parks by 9-9:15am and there were no crowds, we left by mid afternoon, still low crowds. Thurs am was at MGM and I was amazed that although there were no waits at any rides, there were lots of people at the shows (Indiana Jones and Lights motor action) but even after each show, with everyone exiting all at once, they seem to disperse quickly.
Evening crowds were a little heavier but still not much. We did evening EMH on Thurs 9/8 at Epcot, ran on to Test Track just after illuminations, then Mission Space 10 min wait, then Honey I shrunk the Audience and ride at imagination. Tried to get to Soarin again at 11pm, wait was 40 minutes so we didn't bother.
Short answer is, I've been to Disney in Oct. Nov. Jan. and Feb. This is by far the lightest crowd I've ever seen in general for the week days. Sat. 9/10, crowds were heavier but I'm sure nothing like midsummer crowds.

 

[trvlr4301]

Thanks for the update on the crowds. We were there once during May and that was how it was....no lines...just walk right up to the rides. I was hoping it would be that way at the end of September but I wasn't sure. We have never been down in the fall. We usually ended up going over school vacations which is horrible. Now the kids are all grown up so we can go whenever which makes it nice. Leaving in 24 hours and waiting not so patiently!!!!

 

[disney1990]

Wow, does anybody remember when we were told to arrive 1-1/2 hours early because if there were enough people waiting they would open the gates before the posted opening time? Those were the days!