Is main street at MK now closed until opening?

[JessetheCowgirl]

On our latest trip (Mar 12-18), we arrived at MK 30 minutes prior to opening on two separate days. One day was EMH, the other was not.

We were held outside the main entrance until park opening. You couldn't rent your stroller or anything until after the opening show/countdown, then you were let through the turnstiles.

I remember last year being able to go through the turnstiles, get a stroller, and walk to the end of Main Street for the rope drop.

So, is this the new norm?

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

I have visited 5 times at various times of the year since 2000, and this has always been the procedure. I do remember being able to rent strollers prior to opening though.

Some guidebooks persistently say that Mainj Street is routinely open before the official opening, but I have not heard even anectdotal evidence of this.

 

[shellybaxter]

I've only ever been allowed on Main Street prior to opening at DisneyLAND. Everytime we've gone to Magic Kingdom we've been held at the entrance plaza. If it's not EMH then there is that cute train thing opening, if it is EMH just a countdown. I've only been three times since November 2003, but it's been that way each time

Shelly

 

[Shells9]

This has been our experience, too, on every trip in the past several years.