Magic morning hour

[misdizadict]

Hello there! I'm headed to the parks next weekend and we are staying at the DLH. I would like to take advantage of the magic morning hour and it looks like while we are there it will start at 7am! How early should we get to the park? I was thinking about getting there at 6:30? Also is it best to go straight to the monorail/Grand entrance or head over to the main gates? Thank you

 

[JadeDarkstar]

If you go at 630 you may not be in the gates for 15 mins or so after opening I am planing on getting to the gates an hour or 45 mins at the latest, before my MM in NOV. I like to get in as one of the firsts that day so I am willing to line up a little early so i can get to some of the 3* rides before the crowds get bad and get fp's if i use them.
This is just my 2 cents and some may have other answers.

 

[misdizadict]

If you go at 630 you may not be in the gates for 15 mins or so after opening I am planing on getting to the gates an hour or 45 mins at the latest, before my MM in NOV. I like to get in as one of the firsts that day so I am willing to line up a little early so i can get to some of the 3* rides before the crowds get bad and get fp's if i use them. This is just my 2 cents and some may have other answers.

Thanks for the tip! I was thinking of getting there at 6 but wasn't sure if that was too soon. Better to be early though to maximize time!

 

[Nonsuch]

Early Admission (MM/EMH/APEE) Super Thread

 

[Geemo]

When it's that early, we like to get breakfast in a bag and eat while we are waiting. There are a few shops around DTD where you can get a drink and a pastry.

Being at the gates about 45minutes or more should get you at the front of the lines. Be sure to read the sign above each gate. Sometimes NOT all gates open for early entry. You wouldn't want to get there early and be in the wrong line.....



Geemo

 

[HydroGuy]

Hello there! I'm headed to the parks next weekend and we are staying at the DLH. I would like to take advantage of the magic morning hour and it looks like while we are there it will start at 7am! How early should we get to the park? I was thinking about getting there at 6:30? Also is it best to go straight to the monorail/Grand entrance or head over to the main gates? Thank you

30 minutes is fine for DL. DCA I would do 40 minutes early.



ETA: Best to not use the monorail. See EA Superthread linked by NonSuch.

 

[Dream.Finder]

If you're not staying at a Disney resort hotel, Magic Mornings will not work for you at DCA. You'll only get one and it will have to be used at Disneyland Park.

 

[Tasia]

If you're not staying at a Disney resort hotel, Magic Mornings will not work for you at DCA. You'll only get one and it will have to be used at Disneyland Park.

OP is staying at DLH they said

 

[misdizadict]

Early Admission (MM/EMH/APEE) Super Thread

Wow awesome information! Much appreciated!

 

[sleepymouse]

I have a hard time lining up 45 minutes early in order to have a slightly shorter wait at the first few rides in the morning. It kinda defeats the purpose of not waiting in line longer than necessary. I would rather sleep an extra 30 minutes and arrive 15 minutes early. That being said, I accept that I will not be first in line at the gate. We usually end up being the third group of people in line though because more CMs eventually come out to open more entrances, and we shift to one of those.

 

[Kristina4109]

I recommend using the main gates for both parks. The last 2 times we went to DL we used early entry and it started at 7:00 am. AMAZED how much we got down before it got crowded.

 

[HydroGuy]

I have a hard time lining up 45 minutes early in order to have a slightly shorter wait at the first few rides in the morning. It kinda defeats the purpose of not waiting in line longer than necessary. I would rather sleep an extra 30 minutes and arrive 15 minutes early. That being said, I accept that I will not be first in line at the gate. We usually end up being the third group of people in line though because more CMs eventually come out to open more entrances, and we shift to one of those.

It depends on what one's goal is. If one's goal is to not wait in lines very much then they can just show up at 2PM and leave at 3PM. Presto! Hardly waited in any lines!

On the other hand, if one's goal is to get on more rides then showing up 30-45 minutes before rope drop allows one to do that. And it does not mean a few minutes less time in line. It is the difference between a one minute wait for Peter Pan and a 30 minute wait an hour after the park opens. Then a two minute wait for Alice rather than a 25 minute wait two hours after the park opens.

We personally have not done 45 minutes early at DL since the Nemo Subs opened in 2007. Usually we do 20 minutes early at DL and that is fine. Since we are usually there in summer that means 6:40AM.

For DCA we have done 30 minutes early. But depends on how urgently one wants to get RSR FPs.