Long wait at security for early entry

[AustinTink]

We just got back last week, were there over Easter. We walked to the parks for Early Entry one morning from RPR and were quite surprised by the long line for security. It ate up 20 minutes of our Early Entry time. Not cool at all. They really need to work on that.

 

[damo]

We just got back last week, were there over Easter. We walked to the parks for Early Entry one morning from RPR and were quite surprised by the long line for security. It ate up 20 minutes of our Early Entry time. Not cool at all. They really need to work on that.

Oh no! What time were you at the security?

 

[AustinTink]

Oh no! What time were you at the security?

We left the room at 6:50, so it was right at 7am. This is the security post right by Margaritaville. They had one line that went on forever.

 

[chmurf]

We left the room at 6:50, so it was right at 7am.

I think that was cutting it a bit too short

To make the most of EE you'd want to be at the gates at least 10 to 15 minutes before EE start

When we do EE from RPR we try to leave the room around 6:30 for a 7am EE.
Lazy stroll to CW with hardly one party at the checkpoint.

 

[damo]

If EE starts at 8, we're at the gates at least by 7:30. They start letting people in by 7:45.

I wouldn't do a 7am EE, lol.

 

[macraven]

when i go in october, it is dark outside at 7 am.......

some dates had that early entry time but rest of my stay was ee at 8.
but you still are getting there before it is very light outside.

 

[dixonsontour]

We found they let you in before posted early entry time. I know we were entering diagon alley at 7am so must have been in the park 10 minutes before that.

One perk of being a UK visitor is 7am early entry in October is easily doable for the first few days, 12 midday to our bodies.

 

[chmurf]

Last october EE was at Universal Studios on HHN days with an 8am opening, meaning 7am EE
As above, one perk of coming from europe is that makes it easier to get up at silly o'clock, lol
7am Florida is 1pm for us. Almost zpunds like sleeping in for those first few days
Most of us are awake at 4am after a transatlantcic flight anyway

Back on topic. Be there well before the start of EE or face the lines ...

 

[AustinTink]

Security shouldn't be a hindrance. It's necessary these days, but Universal should expect the back up of guests and adjust their manpower to meet the need and move people through.

 

[AustinTink]

I think that was cutting it a bit too short

To make the most of EE you'd want to be at the gates at least 10 to 15 minutes before EE start

When we do EE from RPR we try to leave the room around 6:30 for a 7am EE.
Lazy stroll to CW with hardly one party at the checkpoint.

Two lazy guys didn't want to get up at 6am.

 

[damo]

I wonder if there was an issue of some sort. I've never seen the line be more than a few people long.

 

[keishashadow]

We left the room at 6:50, so it was right at 7am. This is the security post right by Margaritaville. They had one line that went on forever.

we had 'enhanced' security at the RPH boat launch end of Feb/March for EE. worked well as we'd have just been waiting for boat anyway.

 

[Kivara]

I have. We go during "off-times"/spring season. It's never CROWDED in the parks; but there have been a few times where it seemed like everyone got out of their rooms at the same time as us.
Most days we'd breeze right through security, a couple times we were in a line 30-50 people long (and half of them packed bulging bookbags), oh the fun!

I'm not sure how well staffed it should be...I didn't care for those long lines either, but most of the time it was completely empty. I'm sure Universal doesn't want to pay extra staff all day for a few moments of busy-ness.

BTW, just my personal experience, not of my waits at the security points were near as bad as waiting for a Disney monorail or get into MK...but I am a little biased

 

[macraven]

anytime you leave the hotel at the last minute, you will run into lines that make you wait.
there will always be at least one or two people ahead of you in the line.



if i wanted to do EE set at 7:00, i would not be leaving my hotel room at 6:50

if i wanted to catch a show at the city walk cinema for a 5:00 pm show, i would not leave my hotel room at 4:50 pm

 

[tinydancer09]

Security has been so vamped up since that incidence at Disney that it's backing it up. Do they do extra men at morning hours to deal with the rush? They metal detector everything now right not just looking in bags.

I know the boats don't run that early (right?) but I hear the security for the boats doesn't take as long and doesn't involve metal detectors... yet. Or maybe it does and I missed that somehow. I'll find out next week.

 

[squirrel]

Metal detectors! Yikes! I have a silver bangle on my wrist that I can't get off. It always sets off the metal detectors at the airport. I guess my goal is to loose some weight and hopefully remove it before my trip. I don't want to have to keep setting off metal detectors.

 

[tinydancer09]

Metal detectors! Yikes! I have a silver bangle on my wrist that I can't get off. It always sets off the metal detectors at the airport. I guess my goal is to loose some weight and hopefully remove it before my trip. I don't want to have to keep setting off metal detectors.

I feel like they would easily be able to tell that it's your bracelet and be able to wand you and realize it's not inside your clothing. They have them on the big coasters and my jewelry never sets it off... But I also don't wear a lot.

 

[schumigirl]

Boats will start to run 30 minutes before EE.

 

[VacaPlanner2012]

I am not a big fan of lines, but I am ok with the enhanced security. As long as it is for EVERYONE...same treatment, all people. I have nothing to hide, check me out, but do the same to all. It's nice to know, though, so we can plan and understand.

 

[AustinTink]

anytime you leave the hotel at the last minute, you will run into lines that make you wait.
there will always be at least one or two people ahead of you in the line.



if i wanted to do EE set at 7:00, i would not be leaving my hotel room at 6:50

if i wanted to catch a show at the city walk cinema for a 5:00 pm show, i would not leave my hotel room at 4:50 pm

We weren't trying to catch every minute of EE by leaving at 6:50, but we didn't like having to waste 20 minutes of it in the security line. There has to be a more efficient way that doesn't punish the later risers. More manpower would be a simple fix.