Official Word on Camping Out on 6/14-6/15

[DLR29]

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2012/06/for-your-information-guests-planning-to-visit-disney-california-adventure-park-when-it-opens-on-june-15/?CMP=SOC-DLRUSENFY12Q2FBDM0375

Disney California Adventure park opens at 9 a.m. on June 15; Disneyland park opens at 8 a.m. on June 15.

• The early arrival queue will open to guests on Disneyland Resort property at 11 p.m. on June 14.
• Parking will be available in the Mickey & Friends Parking Structure, and standard parking rates will apply.
• A select amount of wristbands will be distributed to guests who are waiting in line to maintain the order of arrival. All guests in line will be able to leave the line to use the restroom, purchase food or beverages, and return or retrieve items from their vehicles/hotel rooms until 6 a.m. on June 15.
• Portions of the early arrival queue will be located beyond the guest screening checkpoints, beyond which certain items will not be permitted. Be sure to check the list of prohibited items here.
• Restrooms and ticket booths will be available to guests in the queue.
• The following Downtown Disney District locations will offer extended operating hours on June 14-15:
  -La Brea Bakery Express & Cart: Open all night
  -Café Renee: Open all night
  -Jamba Juice: Open until 12 a.m., reopening at 4 a.m.
  -Wetzel’s Pretzels: Open until 1 a.m., reopening at 5 a.m.
  -Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen Express: Open until 2 a.m., reopening at 6 a.m.
  -Haagen-Dazs: Open until 1 a.m., reopening at 5 a.m.

 

[ArchOwl]

Wow, that sounds crazy. I hope they escort that line all the way to Carsland!

 

[DSNY4ever]

I am exhausted just reading it! Smart to have all the food places open though. I hope someone posts a picture of people camping out. And I hope no fights break out over leaving and re-entering the line!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Thanks for posting the blog. You beat me to it.

I just called the Disneyland Resort to ask about the parking, and she said that they had put it online that the Mickey & Friends parking structure will be open 24 hours.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

wow i am amazed how they will allow ppl to return to cars and rooms till 6am. but i like the wristband idea its smart

 

[BlueBayou]

As somebody who had to work concert ticket sales campouts in the 80s when I was in college, this sounds like a very organized, safe plan.

 

[jory29]

How many hours in advance to 11 PM will people be lining up? Looks like June 14th will be very chaotic as well.

 

[cmwade77]

How many hours in advance to 11 PM will people be lining up? Looks like June 14th will be very chaotic as well.

If it is like for the 50th anniversary, they will disperse people trying to line up before 11 PM. Honestly, this sounds like it will be much more organized than that was. The idea of handing out the wristbands starting at 11 PM makes a lot of sense. During the 50th, there were a lot of people that lined up at the appropriate time, then had their friends join them prior to being given the wristbands (which was not done until a couple of hours before park opening), so this system should massively reduce the chaos. In addition, during the campout for the 50th, anyone that was sleeping in line was asked to leave, hopefully they will do the same for this one as well.

 

[jory29]

If it is like for the 50th anniversary, they will disperse people trying to line up before 11 PM. Honestly, this sounds like it will be much more organized than that was. The idea of handing out the wristbands starting at 11 PM makes a lot of sense. During the 50th, there were a lot of people that lined up at the appropriate time, then had their friends join them prior to being given the wristbands (which was not done until a couple of hours before park opening), so this system should massively reduce the chaos. In addition, during the campout for the 50th, anyone that was sleeping in line was asked to leave, hopefully they will do the same for this one as well.

Good to hear! Sounds like it might pan out for a lot of people to pre-stake their spot, head back to hotel, then go back around 6 am. I feel badly for the locals though who aren't booking a hotel.

 

[cmwade77]

Good to hear! Sounds like it might pan out for a lot of people to pre-stake their spot, head back to hotel, then go back around 6 am. I feel badly for the locals though who aren't booking a hotel.

They said that they don't recommend doing so, as the line will move throughout the night and you might not be able to get back if you are gone too long. They expect that if you leave the line, you are only doing so long enough to go to the restroom, get food, etc.

My guess is they will have a way to enforce this as well.

 

[tinkermomma]

Sounds like they are learning from past mistakes. I have to say though, I'm certainly glad I'm not going to be part of that madness, but my hats are off to those of you that do... Have fun!!!

 

[Hoku]

anyone that was sleeping in line was asked to leave, hopefully they will do the same for this one as well.

I wonder how they expect average people to camp out for 10-hours overnight without sleeping?

 

[cmwade77]

I wonder how they expect average people to camp out for 10-hours overnight without sleeping?

It's what was done for the 50th and honestly, what ends up happening is a lot of people will end up leaving mid-day, which means that a second set of people can come in after that. So, in all honesty, this makes it make a lot of sense to strictly enforce this rule, as it means they will be able to accomodate more people throughout the day.

 

[aan1701]

Just wanted to say that I was waiting inside CA adventure for the 50th under the Golden Gate bridge. I did sleep for a few hours there and no one woke me until it was time to move.

 

[cmwade77]

Just wanted to say that I was waiting inside CA adventure for the 50th under the Golden Gate bridge. I did sleep for a few hours there and no one woke me until it was time to move.

I do admit that my comments ar only based upon what I saw near me, I cannot say that everyone that feel asleep was asked to leave.

 

[aan1701]

I do admit that my comments ar only based upon what I saw near me, I cannot say that everyone that feel asleep was asked to leave.

Fair enough. We had a wristband as well so that maybe the reason, not sure. Anyway I am still an the fence about overnighting. I want some pins so I will have to make my mind up soon.

 

[tinksdreamwishes]

Very confused and curious as too how everyone camps out for these events? Such as I can not imagine standing in line before the line opens at 11 pm... then to stand all night until 9 am... then stand another 4 hours to get on the ride???
That sounds awful. Can you bring folding chairs and then stick em in your car say at 6 am? Can you bring a blanket and sit on the ground? How early do they open the lockers in the middle of the parks? if I camped out I would like to change my clothes from being out all night and atleast reapply make-up and brush my teeth- I could not imagine carrying a backpack all day though and a blanket... so would you recommend renting the locker or store it in the car? Would you have time to do that if you had a another place holder in line? Also... how boring would it get? Can you bring a lap top? would there be wifi? LOL! Just curious if anyone can help me understand this overnight stuff LOL....

 

[tinksdreamwishes]

1 more question.... would you recommend getting a room for tonight and Fri ...if you plan on camping out... and only staying for Friday then heading home Sat? would that be a real waste of money? Just wondering in case we could not get a room avail until say 3 pm on Friday like normal check in hours.... but would hate to waste the money also. But.... could you get in line to get your wristband go back to the room, sleep until 4 then go back in line?

 

[DLR29]

Very confused and curious as too how everyone camps out for these events? Such as I can not imagine standing in line before the line opens at 11 pm... then to stand all night until 9 am... then stand another 4 hours to get on the ride???
That sounds awful. Can you bring folding chairs and then stick em in your car say at 6 am? Can you bring a blanket and sit on the ground? How early do they open the lockers in the middle of the parks? if I camped out I would like to change my clothes from being out all night and atleast reapply make-up and brush my teeth- I could not imagine carrying a backpack all day though and a blanket... so would you recommend renting the locker or store it in the car? Would you have time to do that if you had a another place holder in line? Also... how boring would it get? Can you bring a lap top? would there be wifi? LOL! Just curious if anyone can help me understand this overnight stuff LOL....

1 more question.... would you recommend getting a room for tonight and Fri ...if you plan on camping out... and only staying for Friday then heading home Sat? would that be a real waste of money? Just wondering in case we could not get a room avail until say 3 pm on Friday like normal check in hours.... but would hate to waste the money also. But.... could you get in line to get your wristband go back to the room, sleep until 4 then go back in line?

I'm really not sure how the whole set-up will work. I will try to answer your questions with what I'm planning on doing tonight...

I better not have to wait another 4 hours to ride if I'm gonna be one of the first people standing in that line for that long and overnight! I'll be leaving LA at midnight, so hopefully getting in line a little before 1. Although I don't know what to expect, I'm hoping to get a FP for RSR with a reasonable return time (maybe early afternoon) and head straight to ride it. I'm hoping by then the line shouldn't be more than an hour.

In the blog post it says that certain areas of the line will actually be inside the security tents and certain items will not be allowed past that point. I'm assuming that when I get there, that section will be filled. I know that the blog posted a link to items that are not allowed inside security and that included lawn chairs and "camping equipment" aka sleeping bags/tents/etc. Me and my friend intend to bring blankets.

The blog also explicitly stated that the ticket booths and restrooms would be open for those camping out. It didn't say lockers, but my guess is that the lockers in the esplanade will be available as well (don't quote me though). Since bathrooms will be available, you will be able to change clothes and use them for whatever throughout the night...I certainly plan on doing so.

Not entirely sure how the wristbands will work, but this will probably allow you to wander around (including going back to the car to get stuff/put stuff away) and come back to the same general area of people who arrived around the same time as you. It would probably help to have a placeholder. I will probably (towards the end of the evening/beginning of the morning) head back to the car to drop stuff off, assuming I can do so with the wristband.

As for it getting boring, I definitely plan on making friends with other people in line. I mean, it's a bunch of Disney fanatics all super excited about the same thing! Not sure about the wifi. The blog says that "Cafe renee" will be open all night. Not sure if that place has wifi, but don't most cafes?

As for a hotel room, I'm really not sure how long the wristband allows you to be gone from the line without losing your spot. I probably wouldn't risk it. Someone asked this on the blog and the following response was given:

I wouldn’t recommend it, Stephanie. The line may move at times, and you may not be able to find your place again if you are away for too long.

We're just gonna stick to the line. But my mom does have a place reserved for Friday night.

Hope that helps! Maybe I'll see you there!

 

[Kathymford]

Fair enough. We had a wristband as well so that maybe the reason, not sure. Anyway I am still an the fence about overnighting. I want some pins so I will have to make my mind up soon.

I know; I really just want to go for some of the merchandise!! And of course, to be there opening day. We went to the AP preview over the weekend, so if we don't get on any rides on opening day that's ok. Also, we have reservations at Carthay for dinner. *sigh* I really didn't want to camp out, but...