If EMH for DCA are at 7am...

[Minnie824]

what time do we need to get in line at the gates? We're staying at GCH and will be going on a Fri in a couple weeks, where DCA opens for EMH from 7-8am. I know how WDW works and how early we need to be in in line, etc, but we plan (like everyone else) to go straight to carsland here...so what time should we get in line? Thanks!

 

[Girimama33]

To get a close spot in line, I would get down to the gate at 6:30.
Have un!

 

[subtchr]

what time do we need to get in line at the gates? We're staying at GCH and will be going on a Fri in a couple weeks, where DCA opens for EMH from 7-8am. I know how WDW works and how early we need to be in in line, etc, but we plan (like everyone else) to go straight to carsland here...so what time should we get in line? Thanks!

We also stayed at GCH, and on Friday we went down to the hotel DCA entrance at 6:15. That put us about 3-4 families back from the front of the line, and it worked out fine.

Our plan was to check that line when we went down, and if it was too long, to go to the main gates. Our reasoning was that with fewer security lines/turnstiles, a long line there meant getting into the park later than if we entered through the main gates.

From other reviews and from our experience on Friday, there is no advantage to either entrance - they are being sticklers about making sure they open at the same time, and the GCH entrance guests are being funneled past Soarin' (not allowed to go to the right around GRR) to join up with the main gate crowd.

But by 6:30 or so the line at the GCH entrance snaked down to Whitewater Snacks and then back up the sidewalk, although not too much farther. I didn't look right before we entered, so I don't know how long it ended up being.

They did open up two security lines and all three (or is it four?) turnstiles for entry, so they are doing everything they can to ensure people get through as quickly as possible.

We ended up in the RSR queue by 7:15, walking straight there with everyone else. We were maybe 100 people back? Of course, this was one of the days that the ride did not begin operations until almost 9:00! We stuck it out and were glad we did, especially since we were leaving that afternoon so would not have another opportunity. It's great fun!

Maybe more info than you needed, but sometimes it helps to hear from someone who has done it!

 

[taaren]

We were at the EMH on the 18th, and we were downstairs by 6:30, and about halfway back in line (wrapped around the corner by Whitewater Snacks) at the private entrance. We were in the park at 7:14a.

If I had to do it again, I would have gone to the main entrance gates since there's multiple gates open there/multiple bag checkers they seemed to get in a lot faster than those who went through the private GCH entrance.

 

[skiingfast]

I would say 6:15 to 6:30 which the other replys seem to indicate as well.

Here is a great tip. If you are going to CL first, don't assume you should go to the GCH entry. If you want to get in the fastest go to the main gate, which you can also use. This is a shorter distance to Route 66, the main entrance, and just as close to the RSR attraction entry. If you want the nicest view go in through the Pacific Wharf which is closer from the GCH entry. The bigger advantage of using the main gate is at 6:30 the security check is open and then you can wait as the gate untl 7am, at the GCH entrance a small part of the crowd gets through the security check by 7am and the rest of that crowd is stuck behind making for slower entry at 7am.

 

[Minnie824]

Thanks for all the info, its very helpful! Our DCA day is our second day there so we'll have some time to look around and get a feel for everything first. Sounds like we may try the main gate by 6:15-6:30. Thanks again!

 

[minniecarousel]

Here's what I wrote about our experience on Wed., June 20:

Staying at the Grand, I went downstairs to the Hotel entrance to DCA at 6:15. There were about 20 people already in line. Within 20 minutes, there was quite a line behind me. My family joined me by 6:45. (many more people joined those ahead of me in line. I feel that's to be expected - one family member goes and holds a spot for the whole family. this didn't appear to cause a problem.)

There were 2 people checking bags and 3 scanning tix. They requested one hotel key per group. Once in the Park, we turned left & walked past Soarin'. It didn't look like those who came in the main entrance had an advantage or a disadvantage. We could see them join the small crowd in front of us. It was all very orderly. We were off Radiator Springs Racers by 7:30 and went right to the snigle-rider line. That was a terrific idea! We then went over to Toy Story and were able to do that with a short wait. While my family did Screamin', I went back to get RSR fastpasses, but they were gone by 9:10!