Is it worth it to pay for 2nd early entry?

[CinderellaDreamer]

So I can't make up my mind about the getawaytoday.com tickets with the 2nd early entry. Its $10 more with the $10 handling fee. We will be going 11/15-11/18 (Thursday-Sunday), so our two opportunities for EE would be Th and Sat. Park hours are 10-8 Th, and 8-12 Sat. We are coming from the east coast and will be used to 3 hrs. earlier rising time. My kids are early risers.

If I get the tickets through Disney, do I actually get the tickets without having to go to the window to exchange vouchers like getawaytoday?

And I could use my 300 Disney Visa rewards towards the four tickets I am purchasing at Disney.

So what do you think? Is it worth it? And if not, which day would I use the one early entry the most?

TIA!

 

[silence]

Just something to think about....

where are you staying? walking or taking a shuttle to the parks?

our ART route did not have drop off to allow us to REALLY use both of our EE, so it was a big bummer. We got to the parks about 15-20 min after EE started.

 

[bumbershoot]

What time are you getting there on Thursday. Unless you're getting in the night before, I would think that the likelihood that you would USE that Thursday would be pretty low.

We did have two EE days, b/c we stayed on-site (and there were two days of EE during our stay). We used one for Finding Nemo (which took half of the hour) and then some Tomorrowland rides. The second EE we used to run around Fantasyland. But there are many here who say that to use EE for Nemo is silly...I didn't find that to be true, but we were there two months before your dates, and there were no holidays happening before or after our stay. So it might be true for your days, that Nemo is best done outside of EE.

BUT by the time Saturday hits, and the reality of getting up so that you can get to the gates by 6:30 starts sinking in along with slowly getting used to the time change...that EE might be tough, so if you ARE getting in early enough to go on Thursday, maybe it would be a better idea.

Oh great, I'm a HUGE help aren't I?

Anyway, I personally felt that EE was so worth it, that $10 would have been good, IF I knew for sure that I was going to be able to use it. I mean, I stayed on site, partially for the extra EE, so obviously I was willing to pay more.

About the voucher, I don't know. Sorry.

 

[Hound 109]

To bad the 7am EE isn't your first morning. (w/ the time change)

Is it $20 bucks per ticket? or $12.50 per ticket (divide the handling charge by 4?) & are we correct in assuming you're not staying at one of the 3 DLR hotels?

My opinion is... if you all are able to get up at 5:30am for a 7am EE, then the second EE is worth it. But then again I'm an EE geek. (if you're unable to get up & be at the gate at 6:30am on Sat, then don't spend the extra $$) But do get there at 7:30 - 7:45am for the 8am rope drop.

Even if i used the first EE to do all of FL rides, (& had my fill of the dark rides...which would never happen ) I would use the second EE day to ride SM twice & Buzz 4 times. (& maybe toadie again, or alice, or matterhorn, or pinocchio).

(& point of info - SM & Buzz are both much better at DL than that Florida park & we won't even talk about Matterhorn, Pinocchio, Toadie or Alice. )

Also on that Sat (whether you do EE or not), you should tour early & pick up FPs, then rest for a few hours when the park is more crowded & then go back later. EE of course makes it easier to do this.

Have fun at Walts park.

 

[CinderellaDreamer]

We are staying across the street at Desert Inn. Or Tropicana. Not sure, have reservations at both.

And we are getting in on Wednesday evening, which is why I think we will likely be able to use the early entry on Thursday. Just wondering if we will still get up early on Saturday.

It is only $10 TOTAL for all 4 tickets (handling charge) for this extra early entry. So the extra early entry would cost me $10, plus going to the window early to exchange the voucher.

I think you can get a refund from getawaytoday.com too, if you end up unable to go on your trip, but I don't know if you can get that from Disney.

So I guess I should just pay the $10 so that I can have the EE if I am able to get up in time on Saturday?

Thanks for the great advice. I do love those EMH at WDW and think that I would enjoy them at DL too. I love ALL of the FL rides, and have never been on the unique ones to DL, so I doubt I will tire of them. And Buzz is my favorite ride, so its probably worth it just for Buzz!

I guess I hesitated because I thought we would do a breakfast one morning in the interest of saving money on a character meal (over a dinner). But to waste that valuable early entry time...doesn't seem so smart.

 

[Hound 109]

Ten Bucks? Total? No Brainer.....do it.

Even if all you do is stroll in at 7:45am & ride Buzz twice, & then get a 8:00 am FP at SM before the Sat. hordes pile in, it's worth it.

& think about the nanny-nanny-boo-boo opportunities..... as you walk by the thousand people in the Gen. Admin. line with your EE tickets at 7:45 (or whatever) & into the park on Sat. morning.

When we did the will call "pick up the tickets thing" on one trip, we arrived at noonish & waited about 32 seconds for the tickets. I'll let others comment about what to do if you need to pick up the previous night or early in the morning. (But with a 9am EE opening on a Thurs, I can't imagine it being too bad.)

But BE IN the DL LINE at 8:15 - 8:30am for that 9am EE. Heck that's 11:30 eastern. & it'll only take you 5-7 minutes to walk there from your motel(s) on Harbor Blvd.

 

[HydroGuy]

Ten Bucks? Total? No Brainer.....do it.

I agree.

 

[samkj]

I agree.

I agree too. We have annual passes for the first time and I am really going to miss EE on our next trip. We used it three times last time since we stayed at the PPH. This time we're a the HoJo so we are out of luck.

BTW, if you're planning on character meals, the Getawaytoday price is lower the the DLR price, so if you're ordering tickets anyway you can make up some/all the $10.

 

[DangerMouse]

EE mornings are some of my very favorite times in DL. Something about being the first rider on Peter Pan just makes my vacation more magical.

I agree, just do it!

 

[allimaree]

Hi! I'm a total newbie but I was wondering how it is possible to get EE passes when you are not staying at the DLR hotels? We are going next week (just planned it today ) and I am looking for as many tips as I can get. I have been to D-Land many times but never Calif. Adventure. I have read Trey's thread and found many helpful hints but if anyone has any other links to particularly helpful threads, I would really appreciate it!! TIA!

 

[Hound 109]

Hi! I'm a total newbie but I was wondering how it is possible to get EE passes when you are not staying at the DLR hotels? We are going next week (just planned it today ) and I am looking for as many tips as I can get. I have been to D-Land many times but never Calif. Adventure. I have read Trey's thread and found many helpful hints but if anyone has any other links to particularly helpful threads, I would really appreciate it!! TIA!

Welcome Allimaree!

A few "tips":

- 3 day Park Hopper ticks while staying at a good neighbor hotel gets you one day EE.
- Possibly purchasing tickets thru Getaway (check some other threads) 3 day or more will get you 2 days EE. (Whether you stay at a good neighbor or not).
- Check out HydroGuy's tip thread on the sticky at the top of the DL page. Read all of his threads.....essential reading.
- Post this request as a new thread. Also include your dates, the hotel you are staying at, the ages of those coming, & any other questions you might have. People will be happy to help newbies.

But most of all, have fun at Walt's park.

hound -

 

[HydroGuy]

- 3 day Park Hopper ticks while staying at a good neighbor hotel gets you one day EE.

Doesn't matter at which hotel you stay. No hotel of any kind is required. All 3+ day tickets include one day of EE (except for some special discount tix like those bought thru the military). You can get additional EE days per Hound's post.

 

[drag n' fly]

I don't think you can ever go wrong with EE. IMO it is the best use of your park time