Opening day strategies?

[V & S]

Coolibar makes a great sun umbrella. I just bought one that will be delivered Weds. And I got a little handheld fan, too, just in case. Cooling towels are a must IMO.

 

[707MickeyGirl]

Now you guys have me considering buying some of these umbrellas. Do they really help?

They do help. I have one that is rated SPF 50 and it's great. You'll still be hot because of the radiant heat from the pavement, but it won't be blasting you from above.

 

[evilmommie]

I use my Coolibar umbrella when traveling in the Mediterranean. Ie, Spain, Italy, Greece. It has helped me quite a bit when standing in direct sun and can't get to shade.

 

[Kender]

Now you guys have me considering buying some of these umbrellas. Do they really help?

They really do especially when combined with a cooling towel and/or a misting fan. They aren't a miracle worker, you'll still be hot, but they help take the edge off so you aren't completely miserable. And in my case help get the sun off me a little better as my skin and the sun are not friends. I still wear sunscreen, of course, but it's good to just not be in direct sunlight if it can be helped.

There's a ton of options out there. I would look into the ones available and go with what looks the best to you if you decide to try one

 

[ycsteves]

Thanks you you guys I just bought a personal sun umbrella for Friday!

 

[birdmom]

I am starting to wish I had bought tickets for may 1st instead, that way I knew what to expect. Hubby made us cute buttons to wear. SO EXCITED!!

 

[coaches24]

I am starting to wish I had bought tickets for may 1st instead, that way I knew what to expect. Hubby made us cute buttons to wear. SO EXCITED!! View attachment 570758

Love the button. I thought it was something Disney put out till I read your post.

 

[birdmom]

I hadn't heard there wouldn't be lockers. Has this been confirmed?

There is no way Disney is going to have staff to clean the screen every time someone opens a locker. I think they will be closed for sure.

 

[Kender]

Add to general "to bring list" for all folks, but very important for you opening day folks: tissues. Lots of tissues. Get the good super soft kind, too.

Also only wear waterproof makeup if you wear any that day . There's going to be a lot of tears if that short little live broadcast was any indication of how many of us will react.

 

[mlggator22]

I just chatted with a castmemebr who said the harbor side will be "open" 30 minutes before park opening. So it looks like they won't be opening that side at the same time as the parking structure! So I guess parking structure it is!

So Mickey and Friends opens at 6 am and Harbor side opens at 8:30 am. What time do you think security for Grand Californian opens? We are going to be coming from the hotel and need to make plans. I really won't be too happy if the security for the grand doesn't open until 8:30 like Harbor side.
Is there any way to get from the hotel to the queue coming from Mickey and Friends by walking if worse comes to worse?

Also, I did have to call in about something today and the cast member said (although she admitted it was pure speculation) that the hotels may have their own queue to get into the parks.

 

[Skyegirl1999]

So Mickey and Friends opens at 6 am and Harbor side opens at 8:30 am. What time do you think security for Grand Californian opens? We are going to be coming from the hotel and need to make plans. I really won't be too happy if the security for the grand doesn't open until 8:30 like Harbor side.
Is there any way to get from the hotel to the queue coming from Mickey and Friends by walking if worse comes to worse?

Also, I did have to call in about something today and the cast member said (although she admitted it was pure speculation) that the hotels may have their own queue to get into the parks.

I don’t think I believe that Harbor is opening 2.5 hours after Mickey and Friends. I think someone is misinformed.

I also can’t imagine that security coming from the Grand would open later than Mickey and Friends. Why would the penalize their hotel guests?

I WISH the hotels were getting their own queue, but I don’t see how that would logistically work.

 

[crystal1313]

I don’t see harbor opening that much later either. Maybe staggering a bit, but waiting until 8:30? I guess I will find out on Friday!

 

[ycsteves]

I don’t think I believe that Harbor is opening 2.5 hours after Mickey and Friends. I think someone is misinformed.

I also can’t imagine that security coming from the Grand would open later than Mickey and Friends. Why would the penalize their hotel guests?

I WISH the hotels were getting their own queue, but I don’t see how that would logistically work.

CM said harbor will be half an hour before on chat today

 

[ycsteves]

I don’t see harbor opening that much later either. Maybe staggering a bit, but waiting until 8:30? I guess I will find out on Friday!

It would just be nice if all entrances opened at the same time, because right now the website doesn't specify and people could be getting dropped off on the harbor side and possibly waiting there until 8-8:30

 

[Skyegirl1999]

CM said harbor will be half an hour before on chat today

Yeaaaaahhh...

That’s not reading with a lot of confidence to me.

I mean, we truly won’t know until it happens, and I’ve been surprised by some of their other choices (no coffee in the Esplanade?). But I would be quite surprised if Harbor security hasn’t moved before 8:30 on Friday. ‍♀

 

[BadPinkTink]

bit late with the umbrella conversation, I used to always bring one with me. My pale Irish skin and body does not like the California heat and sun and having an umbrella was defiantly a lifesaver for me. I tried sunhats but they didn't work as well.

 

[Kender]

CM said harbor will be half an hour before on chat today

The first one just says "at least 30 minutes". Not definitely 30 minutes. Second one says they only know the garages are opening at 6am. But there's a lot of time between 6am and 8:30am

Plan for the worst, hope for the best in this situation I think. It would be nice to have a little more info about this before people show up, but it sounds like CMs haven't been given anything beyond the earlier time for the structures. So it's safest for them to assume the minimum half hour before time that's known.

Plans may also change if a huge crowd lines up at the Harbor entrance.

My fingers are crossed it's more than a half hour before . Only a few more days and we'll know!

 

[Skyegirl1999]

I imagine that Disney is trying to be as vague as possible so they can adapt to whatever crowd situation develops on Friday.

I will say that I think opening parking at 6 seems like kind of a mistake. For a 9am opening, 7 seems like it would have given people plenty of time... but now that they rang the “6am” bell, that’s what it sounds like everyone is aiming for. And that’s three hours of containing crowds when they could have had two.

 

[evilmommie]

It’s cast member opening today and many of them are posting updates on Instagram. It gives you a great idea of how things are set up. This gal is fun to follow. She’s live there now. https://instagram.com/mrs.disnerd?igshid=g1dl6xgmbhij

 

[BlueRibbon]

I will say that I think opening parking at 6 seems like kind of a mistake. For a 9am opening, 7 seems like it would have given people plenty of time... but now that they rang the “6am” bell, that’s what it sounds like everyone is aiming for. And that’s three hours of containing crowds when they could have had two.

Agreed, but on the flip side, we need to be situated by 7 for RotR!