Need answers to easy questions re: park opening

[J. Galt]

Okay... I'm sorry.... I'm impatient. I tried looking up this info on the site and I guess I am just lazy or unfocused tonight because I can't find it (granted... I didn't look incredibly hard). Can anyone take pity on me and answer a couple of questions for me regarding park opening? I was there last year, but I can no longer remember the answers to these:

1. How long before the official park opening are you allowed to enter Main Street... ie. If the official park opening is 10 am, can I enter Main Street at 9 or 9:30?

2. Does this rule hold true for MM days? (ie. if MM official opening is 9, can I enter Main Street 1 to 1/2 hour early?)

Thank you soooo much for your help!!!!!

 

[ballarinamom]

On MM's, there is no earlier entry. You go through the turnstilea and straight to the rides. But if you do not have MMs on your passes, you can mill around Main Street until rope drop. There will be a rope with a CM checking for MMs. If it's a non MM day, it can be hit or miss depending on attendance. I have been there when we got into Main street 30 minutes early. But then other times it is just the time that is scheduled.

 

[J. Galt]

Thank you, thank you!!!!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

When we were there in September, they wouldn't let us through the turnstile until 8 am on Saturday since we were not using our MM.

 

[sonnyjane]

When we were there in September, they wouldn't let us through the turnstile until 8 am on Saturday since we were not using our MM.

Yeah, I think it's not a definite rule that they open Main Street 30 minutes prior, because when I was there two weeks ago it was an MM morning at 9, park to open at 10, but they didn't open the turnstiles up to go to Main St. for non-MM people until 9:50.

 

[DLR29]

Yeah, I think it's not a definite rule that they open Main Street 30 minutes prior, because when I was there two weeks ago it was an MM morning at 9, park to open at 10, but they didn't open the turnstiles up to go to Main St. for non-MM people until 9:50.

This seems to be the more common occurance because they can't "check for MM" at a rope because some people have it encoded on their ticket, some have an onsite hotel key, etc.

OP, I would bet on this situation on MM days. However, on non-MM days, they might let everyone in to just Main Street around 9:30. You can definitely get into DCA at 9:30 to ride Soarin and line up for rope drop.

 

[JustAKid]

Forgive me, but I'm a little confused now!

If you are there on a MM day FOR MM they will not let you in to mill about Main Street? So if I get there at 6:30 I wait until 7, get let in, and go directly to my first ride?

If you are there on a MM day NOT FOR MM do not expect to be let in prior to official park opening time? So if I've already used my MM for the trip, and I'm at the entrance at 7, they most likely won't let me in until 8ish?

On the other days it is common for them during peak seasons to let you mill about Main Street until rope drop?

TIA!

 

[perlster]

My 2 cents: Sunday in June - no one without MM privileges let in the gates before official opening time

 

[disneymum58]

My experience is that only those with MM are let in through the gates.

 

[J. Galt]

Thanks everyone! This is very helpful! I will have my two little ones with me by myself for a couple of days while my hubby is working. I want to squeeze all the fun we can out of things, but push the kids too hard (I won't have back up support, lol!). I only have one day of MM (staying offsite), so sounds like on MM days that I don't have my MM left, don't bother getting there early. On non-MM days, might not hurt to get there early... you never know.

Thanks!

 

[HydroGuy]

Forgive me, but I'm a little confused now!

If you are there on a MM day FOR MM they will not let you in to mill about Main Street? So if I get there at 6:30 I wait until 7, get let in, and go directly to my first ride?

If you are there on a MM day NOT FOR MM do not expect to be let in prior to official park opening time? So if I've already used my MM for the trip, and I'm at the entrance at 7, they most likely won't let me in until 8ish?

On the other days it is common for them during peak seasons to let you mill about Main Street until rope drop?

TIA!

I believe you are correct on everything. The only possible exception is the first one. If MM is not at 7AM but later because of a 9AM or 10AM park opening you may get let onto Main Street early if you have a MM pass.

DL does not seem to have a hard and fast rule on how they do this.

 

[Kayla's Mom]

If you are there on a MM day FOR MM they will not let you in to mill about Main Street? So if I get there at 6:30 I wait until 7, get let in, and go directly to my first ride?

If you are there on a MM day NOT FOR MM do not expect to be let in prior to official park opening time? So if I've already used my MM for the trip, and I'm at the entrance at 7, they most likely won't let me in until 8ish?

This has been my experience.

 

[BCholly]

We are here now. Yesterday, non MM day we were let in 1/2 hour early.

 

[disneymum58]

In the past, on non-MM days, when the park opened at 9 or 10, we were let on to Main Street 1/2 hour early and the shops were open. The actual "rope drop" was at the end of Main Street near the Plaza Inn.

 

[ballarinamom]

This seems to be the more common occurance because they can't "check for MM" at a rope because some people have it encoded on their ticket, some have an onsite hotel key, etc.

OP, I would bet on this situation on MM days. However, on non-MM days, they might let everyone in to just Main Street around 9:30. You can definitely get into DCA at 9:30 to ride Soarin and line up for rope drop.

When we were there last November (the Thursday before Thanksgiving) they had a rope going across Main Street and a CM by the Penny Arcade. She checked our ticket to see the MM on the back.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Thanks everyone! This is very helpful! I will have my two little ones with me by myself for a couple of days while my hubby is working. I want to squeeze all the fun we can out of things, but push the kids too hard (I won't have back up support, lol!). I only have one day of MM (staying offsite), so sounds like on MM days that I don't have my MM left, don't bother getting there early. On non-MM days, might not hurt to get there early... you never know.

Thanks!

Good trick if you are arriving before reg. park opening on a MM day....hang out by the MM entrance. At reg opening, it will switch to a reg. entrance...with NO LINE!! We did this (DH was a skeptic and waited in the line at the next gate) and we were first through the turnstiles closest to the left tunnel.

 

[J. Galt]

Ooh... that is a good trick. Thanks so much! The less time I have to wait in line with the little ones, the better!

 

[bumbershoot]

When we were there last November (the Thursday before Thanksgiving) they had a rope going across Main Street and a CM by the Penny Arcade. She checked our ticket to see the MM on the back.

So odd. What MM on the back? They don't mark things off, so how would they know if it had already been used? Strange!



OP, you want to be ahead of the pack anyway, so being there well before opening time even on a MM day can be helpful. Just don't expect short lines at Peter Pan or Dumbo, when you're coming in after an MM that you're not part of; probably best to head towards Pirates, Pooh, etc.

 

[Brady's Mom]

Our experience for MM - go to the gates that say Magic Morning and present your ticket to be scanned, CM hands you a big paper ticket thingy that you take with you to the CM at the end of Main Street and you present that big ticket to be let through to Fantasyland or Tomorrowland.

Everyone else mills about and waits until the CM's let the rope down and DL officially opens.

 

[sonnyjane]

Our experience for MM - go to the gates that say Magic Morning and present your ticket to be scanned, CM hands you a big paper ticket thingy that you take with you to the CM at the end of Main Street and you present that big ticket to be let through to Fantasyland or Tomorrowland.

Everyone else mills about and waits until the CM's let the rope down and DL officially opens.

Yup. The entry was on the far left, right by Coke Corner. You just hand the big ticket to the CM standing there and they let you through.