Is an hour and half too early to arrive at gates?

[XTinabell]

If the park opens at 10 and I'm there at 8:30 on a non MM day is that too early? I don't want to drag my family that early to the park just to have them mad at me because there is no line.. Would arriving at 9 be more realistic? It's been awhile since I've done this, I want to be one of the first in FL to hit PP.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

id say dont leave the hotle till 8.50 and get there at 9 if you want to be one the firsts in

 

[avalon451]

Yes, that's too early. What dates will you be there? Weekend or weekday?

If you get there 45 minutes before opening, you can line up at the security tables because they likely won't be open yet. There might be a few people in front of you, but not many. Have your bags open and ready to go when security opens. You can hurry to the gates, and you will probably be first in line at one of the turnstiles. The other thing is, for Peter Pan, you don't really need to be first at the turnstiles. Everybody else will be rushing for Nemo, Space or Indy on a non MM. You will walk onto PP in the first 10 minutes, no problem. After that it might get a pretty good line.

When we went during spring break this year, it was record breaking crowds. We decided we had to be there very early for the Nemo Stampede on MM, which started at 7 a.m. So we got to security at 6:10, and we were third. We were first in line at our turnstiles. But that was a really busy time. I don't think you'd need to be that early, not just for PP.

Hope that helps!

 

[disney-inspired]

If the park opens at 10 and I'm there at 8:30 on a non MM day is that too early? I don't want to drag my family that early to the park just to have them mad at me because there is no line.. Would arriving at 9 be more realistic? It's been awhile since I've done this, I want to be one of the first in FL to hit PP.

I think it's a tad too early When are you going?

 

[nutshell]

Keep in mind that if you arrive too early security won't even be up yet. You'll be asked to leave the area and go through security.

 

[DLR29]

If the park opens at 10, then the crowds are not going to be high. I say get an extra 30-45 min of sleep.

 

[Sherry E]

If the park opens at 10 and I'm there at 8:30 on a non MM day is that too early? I don't want to drag my family that early to the park just to have them mad at me because there is no line.. Would arriving at 9 be more realistic? It's been awhile since I've done this, I want to be one of the first in FL to hit PP.

I am the wrong person to comment here because I always lean on the 'the earlier, the better' side of things. Whenever we have aimed for showing up at a later time, it usually sets the precedent for the rest of the day and everything goes wrong! If your family would really be mad, then don't bother getting there early. If they can live with an hour early or 90 minutes early without too much bloodshed, why not go to one of the hotels and have breakfast first, so at least you are doing something with your time before the park opens, and then you can make sure to show up at the gates/security table at 9:30 a.m.?

A previous poster was right - people will not be running to get on Peter Pan. That may have a line most of the time, but everyone will be preoccupied with getting on Nemo and the other 'newer' rides or rides that are notorious for huge lines, like Indy. Over at DCA, they will be racing to get on TSMM.

 

[XTinabell]

haha, I figured as much. Thanks everyone. It's been awhile since I've done this and couldn't remember how early I usually do this. So yes, I think we'll get some extra sleep, maybe grab something to eat and then wander over around 9:15. Do they still open the gates half an hour early and let you onto mainstreet?

We're going in September during the week.

 

[LynneDurham]

Along the same lines:

If we are one of the first people to the security tables, how will we know which ones will be open (or will it be quite obvious)?

I know there have been times that we've arrived at WDW and not all security tables were open (although we've never been the first ones in line there).

Thank you so much for everyone's help and input!

Lynne

 

[Mililani Mouser]

downtown disney will be open!! get some yummy beignets with coffee!!

 

[Plantlady]

haha, I figured as much. Thanks everyone. It's been awhile since I've done this and couldn't remember how early I usually do this. So yes, I think we'll get some extra sleep, maybe grab something to eat and then wander over around 9:15. Do they still open the gates half an hour early and let you onto mainstreet?

We're going in September during the week.

They didn't let us on main street early last month. We arrived 30 minutes early... DS11.. wanted to know why.. we explained.. so we don't have to wait in a line! As we stood there.


Our biggest complaint during these mornings, was when waiting for the gate to open... one person would hold the place for a group of 10 or so. On our last day.. this happed with two separate groups in front of us. So, our nice spot, which was like 10 people back from the gate turned into about 30 people.. complete with a million and one strollers. But, that is a bit OT.

 

[Danauk]

Along the same lines:

If we are one of the first people to the security tables, how will we know which ones will be open (or will it be quite obvious)?

I know there have been times that we've arrived at WDW and not all security tables were open (although we've never been the first ones in line there).

Just bumping this questions as I would like to know the answer to this too.

 

[samkj]

If we are one of the first people to the security tables, how will we know which ones will be open (or will it be quite obvious)?.

I would go with the tables on the right side,(DL side) when walking from Harbor, of the entrance plaza. These have always been open when we've gone. The security gates on the left when walking from Harbor are not always open. It really shouldn't be hard to tell which will open, there are only a couple posibilities.

 

[DangerMouse]

I would go with the tables on the right side,(DL side) when walking from Harbor, of the entrance plaza. These have always been open when we've gone. The security gates on the left when walking from Harbor are not always open. It really shouldn't be hard to tell which will open, there are only a couple posibilities.

I have had the exact opposite experience. I have always found the tent on the left open. We were first in line at security in June and it was on the left. There was a CM there waving people through the esplanade to go to the DLH and GCH for breakfast.

If no one is at one of the tents, there are normally some CM's or security mulling around in the esplanade at that time, so you could ask.

 

[Amy&Dan]

As far as I know, Main Street will open a half hour early if the offcial opening time is later than 8:00 a.m. On the days when the park opens at 8:00 you cannot get in early unless it happens to be Magic Morning. At least that is the way it was for all of my trips but its been six months, so who knows!

 

[Danauk]

When we go in 2 weeks time we will be coming from the Grand Californian side, so which tents will be open then, or will there be CM's wondering around that area as early as 6am?

 

[avalon451]

Let's see if I remember this right. When we stayed at the GCH in March, we were the third family to get to security at 6:10 a.m. The other mom with a stroller stood by a table in the second-to-right-hand tend, and we stood by another table in the right-hand tent. The guy behind her stood near her, talking. Within ten minutes each of us had a long line formed behind us. When security came at 6:30, they just looked at where the lines had formed, and manned those tables. There were 2 security people at first. Seems like 1 or 2 more showed up about the time they opened, so probably 3 or 4 tables were open. I don't think you'll need to worry about where to stand if you're first in line; I don't think they would go to a different table than you're at and smirk at you and say, "Sorry, you picked the wrong table!"

I know why you want to get this figured out; I am very visual, and before I went on our first trip, I wanted to know exactly how everything worked, how it was laid out and would look!

 

[LynneDurham]

I know why you want to get this figured out; I am very visual, and before I went on our first trip, I wanted to know exactly how everything worked, how it was laid out and would look!

You are *exactly* right! We're printing maps, planning walking routes...oh geez, do we sound obsessive or what?!

 

[Danauk]

You are *exactly* right! We're printing maps, planning walking routes...oh geez, do we sound obsessive or what?!

I have been doing this too, except I have been using the live earth map so you can see the exact overhead image of the park and see exactly what you would see in the park!! It's great you can zoom in really close!!

 

[bennyb98]

Thanks for all the tips! Hopefully getting there about 45 minutes early during the off-season during the week will be enough time.