How soon do you (or would you) arrive to security prior to park opening?

[LizzyS]

I had this on lock in years past, but since it's been 2 years and we're post-COVID closure plus there's no RotR boarding group to acquire, I was wondering what time would be suitable to arrive at security these days. I don't have to be at the front of the pack, but I also don't like to be WAY back, either. A good middling spot would be acceptable to me. 7:30 on an 8am opening day or should we try for a bit sooner? TIA!

 

[DharmaLou]

7:30 should be fine. Lines are generally shorter to get into DCA than DLR but I got there 30 minutes before park opening each day of my trip in January and was thru security and into the park about 10-15 minutes before rope drop.

 

[Disneyland1084]

FYI, once security opens, the line goes REALLY fast. One of the days I was there last summer the line was practically to Harbor Boulevard and we still got inside DL before rope drop

 

[pokee99]

Can you enter from the opposite side (not off Harbor Blvd)? I'm thinking of staying at the Westin, and I think guests walk through DTD to get to the gates, don't they? I've only ever stayed at a Harbor Blvd hotel in the past, so I have no idea about access from the other side

 

[Disneyland1084]

Can you enter from the opposite side (not off Harbor Blvd)?

Yes

 

[Kristin Weiss]

Out of curiosity, if I show up later than most- around 30 mins/hour after opening, would security and lines to get in be better? Or worse? Thanks in advance!

 

[BadPinkTink]

On my last visit a few weeks ago, Sunday 30 Janury, Monday 31 January and Wednesday 2 February the parks officially opened at 8am.

I was at bag check on Harbour Boulevard at 7.30am and there were no lines to get into either park. I scanned in just after 7.30am on all days at both parks.

On My Disneyland Main Park days, the area around the Hub, the entrances to the lands were very crowded but Main Street was not and you could stay away from the big crowds. Once the Opening announcement came on, the CM's dropped the ropes and everyone raced into each land. The Hub and Main Street cleared fast and I managed to get photos of The Castle with no people in the background at about 8.15am.

On my California Adventure Day, the same thing. No lines to get into the park, I was scanned through around 7.30am, and people were held at ropes at Hollywood Land and Carthay Circle.

It depends on where you want to be when the ropes drop / park opens.

If your goal is to be at the top of a turnstile line and be at the top of a rope line to be in the first loading of a ride, you need to get there at least 1 hour before park opening.

If you just want to be in the park for park opening and are not bothered about being in the first loading of a ride but want to take advantage of low crowds and low wait times, then you are fine scanning into a park any time in the 30 minutes before park opening or up to 30 minutes after park opening.

 

[LizzyS]

7:30 should be fine. Lines are generally shorter to get into DCA than DLR but I got there 30 minutes before park opening each day of my trip in January and was thru security and into the park about 10-15 minutes before rope drop.

Thank you so much for sharing your recent experience!

 

[LizzyS]

On my last visit a few weeks ago, Sunday 30 Janury, Monday 31 January and Wednesday 2 February the parks officially opened at 8am.

I was at bag check on Harbour Boulevard at 7.30am and there were no lines to get into either park. I scanned in just after 7.30am on all days at both parks.

On My Disneyland Main Park days, the area around the Hub, the entrances to the lands were very crowded but Main Street was not and you could stay away from the big crowds. Once the Opening announcement came on, the CM's dropped the ropes and everyone raced into each land. The Hub and Main Street cleared fast and I managed to get photos of The Castle with no people in the background at about 8.15am.

On my California Adventure Day, the same thing. No lines to get into the park, I was scanned through around 7.30am, and people were held at ropes at Hollywood Land and Carthay Circle.

It depends on where you want to be when the ropes drop / park opens.

If your goal is to be at the top of a turnstile line and be at the top of a rope line to be in the first loading of a ride, you need to get there at least 1 hour before park opening.

If you just want to be in the park for park opening and are not bothered about being in the first loading of a ride but want to take advantage of low crowds and low wait times, then you are fine scanning into a park any time in the 30 minutes before park opening or up to 30 minutes after park opening.

Thank you for sharing!!

 

[avalon451]

If I'm rope dropping for a particular ride, like Peter Pan, I aim to get to security by 7:15 for an 8 a.m. opening-- earlier on busy days, like weekends or holidays. One trick is to look for the lines at gates 13 and 20. They have tree planters in front of them, and once the turnstiles open, those lines feed into two turnstiles apiece, and move faster.

 

[joshua4]

And if you want to be at security at 730 does that mean we should get to parking structure at 7 to park and then tram over?