Magic Morning on first day?

[txvjc]

Taking our first trip to DL 6/24-6/27 and I have a question about using our MM admission. Would you recommend using it on Sunday the 24th or Tues the 26th? I'm thinking of using it on the Sunday morning and then hitting DCA on Tuesday morning and hoping for less crowds with people next door at MM. My inquiry comes from if using MM the first time ever going into DL will be confusing to someone that has never been there before since I don't know the layout (even after looking at maps). Really don't want to go to DCA on Sunday since I know it will prob be packed with locals being a weekend and Carsland only be open a week and I want my first time in CA Disney park to be DL (hope that doesn't sound weird, I also insisted MK be my first FL park) and a little scared that if we go to DL on that Sunday that the crowds will have already built up some because of the people that used their MM that morning. Being there before rope drop isn't going to be an issue since my little one will still be on east coast time anyway and up and ready to go about 5 or 6. Thanks for any help/advice and sorry for the rambling.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

I like to use Magic Morning as early as possible in a trip since everyone is still fresh and excited. Unless you're the type of family that needs to start by taking it all in or stopping and smelling the roses, I would recommend that you do the Magic Morning on the Sunday and head straight to Fantasyland first. If you don't care for Fantasyland rides at all, then go to Tomorrowland first. Most but not all Fantasyland and Tomorrowland rides are available during Magic Morning, but the other lands aren't open yet.

Also, if you haven't done so already, I highly recommend that you purchase parkhopper tickets. The price difference is not that great and you will appreciate being able to go back and forth between the parks on the same day. The gates for Disneyland and DCA are literally directly across from each other. You don't need to limit yourself to one park per day and will likely be able to get in a lot more touring and rides if your don't limit yourself.

 

[Eeee-va]

I'd do the MM your first day. Most people choose to ride Peter Pan Flight first--it's through the castle and to the right. So that line will get long very quickly. Once you've done that (and Dumbo if you like), you can meander a bit more for the Magic Morning, because speed won't be quite as big of an issue.

You've been to WDW a lot, right? You shouldn't have too much trouble navigating DL, as the basic layout is mostly similar. Kind of creepily so, granted, and the differences are plenty to throw you off. (When I visited WDW I could not get over how Big Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain were right next to each other!) But you have an idea of how the layout is and you should be able to figure things out with a map. Either way, as long as you can find Peter Pan, you should be OK for your first MM in Disneyland.

It's hard to know how crowds will flow at DCA, honestly. I'm not sure we'll know until the first few days Cars Land is open! There are all sorts of aspects that we don't know how they'll work out. For instance, Disney hotel guests MAY get MMs in Cars Land on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday...AP holders MAY get early admission into Cars Land on other days...etc. Since we don't know what's going on with those aspects, there's no sense planning around it. (Unless you're like me and enjoy imagining contingencies for fun. )

One thing you may keep in mind is that MMs are nothing like EMHs as far as crowd flow. Just because DL has a MM does not at all mean that DCA will be less crowded. It probably doesn't even mean that DCA will be less crowded in the morning, as a much smaller portion of guests are eligible for Magic Morning than EMHs and I'd wager a much larger proportion of Disneyland/DCA guests parkhop throughout the day. (There are something like 2,500 Disney hotel rooms--I think that's like 1/10th of the number in Orlando? Folks who have the 3-day+ park hoppers also get a MM, but many of them choose not to use it, don't know it exists, etc.)

But again, we aren't going to know how things go until people start visiting Cars Land in mid-June.

Have a great trip!

 

[Hound 109]

Lots of great info in the past two posts.

The other reason to do it the first day is the time zone difference. You'll be up early anyway. (5:30am will feel like 8:30am)

Be at Security at 6:15am (putting you near the front at the turnstiles), Go immediately to PP.....(do not stop for pics, bathroom or anything else), then follow the recommended MM tourning plan.

You'll do fine.

Have a great time at Walt's Park!

 

[ValpoCory]

Lots of great info in the past two posts.

The other reason to do it the first day is the time zone difference. You'll be up early anyway. (5:30am will feel like 8:30am)

Be at Security at 6:15am (putting you near the front at the turnstiles), Go immediately to PP.....(do not stop for pics, bathroom or anything else), then follow the recommended MM tourning plan.

You'll do fine.

Have a great time at Walt's Park!

Question about Magic Mornings, and Disneyland in general. Back in the 80's, they used to open main street an hour early to let people in to shop and take pictures. Do they still do that? In my recent visits, I haven't been there early enough to find out. But this next time we will be staying onsite.

 

[skiingfast]

Question about Magic Mornings, and Disneyland in general. Back in the 80's, they used to open main street an hour early to let people in to shop and take pictures. Do they still do that? In my recent visits, I haven't been there early enough to find out. But this next time we will be staying onsite.

On MM mornings this only happens when it's busy, on non MM morning this is very regular. Though the gates only open 30 minutes or less before opening.

This is called Rope Drop. Because at the end of Main Street into the Hub is a rope that drops at opening, letting people into the rest of the park.

 

[ValpoCory]

On MM mornings this only happens when it's busy, on non MM morning this is very regular. Though the gates only open 30 minutes or less before opening.

This is called Rope Drop. Because at the end of Main Street into the Hub is a rope that drops at opening, letting people into the rest of the park.

Aah, I always thought rope drop meant they let people start to come in the turnstiles. Thanks!

 

[txvjc]

Thanks for all the great input.

 

[DeluxePrincess]

I guess I'll be the lone voice and vote for the 26th. I took my first trip last year and I remember being so blown away when I walked into the park. We really took our time and noticed all the details, taking in the atmosphere. I would rather be in the rush mode after I've had a chance to take it all in.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

Magic Morning always the first day there. And I am always the first one at the gate. Literally. Before bag check even sets up.