Park Entrance

[swimrsal]

I called and found out that Disneyland does not open until 10am the week that we get there.

I'm trying to remember back to when we first went... does that mean the gate opens at 9:30? What time should we get in line?

Also... on our early entry day that means early entry is at 9am. Do the gates actually open at 8:30am for early entry?

Thanks for helping me remember?

-Sally

 

[northshoremama]

it really depends. i've heard them sometimes letting people in 30 minutes before "rope-drop" to walk around main street. but that hasn't happened when we've been there. if the park opens at 10am, then i'd start lining up around 9:30am...maybe even 9:40am.

early entry is an hour before the park opens, so if the park is scheduled to open at 10am on tuesday and thursday, early entry would be at 9am (then i'd probably be in line by 8:30am or so). if you're doing early entry on saturday or sunday, the park normally opens a bit earlier than 10am, so double-check the schedule (early entry could be as early as 7am!!!).

remember you have to go thru the security line before going into the esplanade to wait in line, so give yourself a few extra minutes for that.

i hope this helps!

 

[got2travel]

I haven't seen DL open Main Street early for years. Then again, it's been about 3 years since I've been there with a 10 am opening. I don't know if they still open early on their 10 am days.

 

[Husker Mickey]

When we were there in Oct. they had a 9am opening I believe. We were in line by 8:15am and they let us head down main street at 8:45am to the rope drop which was at exactly 9:00am.

 

[KrazyKat4DIS]

We went in February and the park opened at 9 and they just let you in the turnstiles starting at 9. There wasn't any sort of "rope drop", which was kinda disappointing, as I am never usually there right at opening.

 

[Belle Ella]

Well, if Main Street doesn't open early, I have no idea how we'll be getting to our PS for breakfast at the Plaza Inn. Park doesn't open until 9 that day and our PS is for 8:45

 

[northshoremama]

I haven't seen DL open Main Street early for years. Then again, it's been about 3 years since I've been there with a 10 am opening. I don't know if they still open early on their 10 am days.

the DL website has magic morning hours posted on the "entertainment schedule". i would think they would still have magic morning/early entry at 9am, but best to verify with the website!

When we were there in Oct. they had a 9am opening I believe. We were in line by 8:15am and they let us head down main street at 8:45am to the rope drop which was at exactly 9:00am.

really? when in october were you guys there? we were there 10/9 - 10/11 and not once did they let us in early. on thursday 10/9, the park opened at 9am, so we were there for our magic morning at 8am!

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

Well, if Main Street doesn't open early, I have no idea how we'll be getting to our PS for breakfast at the Plaza Inn. Park doesn't open until 9 that day and our PS is for 8:45

If you go to a CM at the turnstiles, I believe, and let them know you have a PS they will let you in. I think they have a CM walk you to Plaza Inn to make sure you get there safely.

 

[got2travel]

the DL website has magic morning hours posted on the "entertainment schedule". i would think they would still have magic morning/early entry at 9am, but best to verify with the website!

Sorry, wasn't specific. I didn't mean early entry as in Magic Morning. I meant early entry as in letting you in to Main Street before the official park opening time.

 

[pixiewings71]

Well, if Main Street doesn't open early, I have no idea how we'll be getting to our PS for breakfast at the Plaza Inn. Park doesn't open until 9 that day and our PS is for 8:45

If you go to a CM at the turnstiles, I believe, and let them know you have a PS they will let you in. I think they have a CM walk you to Plaza Inn to make sure you get there safely.

Courtney is right, you just tell a CM at the turnstile that you have a PS at M&F and they will let you in and escort you to the restaurant. They should have a list of people with ressies that morning so they will check your name off and let you go in. To be safe by at the gates around 8:30 so you can get all checked in and make your PS time.

 

[northshoremama]

Sorry, wasn't specific. I didn't mean early entry as in Magic Morning. I meant early entry as in letting you in to Main Street before the official park opening time.

ahhh...got it! LOL!

 

[bumbershoot]

During our early December trip we had two mornings when they let everyone it before proper opening time. Of course it's no biggie, b/c then you're just standing on Main Street waiting for them to lower the rope to let you into the Lands...not much different than waiting outside. (except that you can grab a coffee if you're willing to brave the crowds at the bakery)

But if you weren't in at the very first, or if you're not shoving your way to the front, or if you're not 6'9" tall, you don't even see (or hear) whatever is going on when they drop or pull the rope (I'm not even sure if there's an actual rope!) to let people in, b/c of the mass of humanity blocking your view.

 

[alvernon90]

During our early December trip we had two mornings when they let everyone it before proper opening time. Of course it's no biggie, b/c then you're just standing on Main Street waiting for them to lower the rope to let you into the Lands...not much different than waiting outside. (except that you can grab a coffee if you're willing to brave the crowds at the bakery)

I haven't been in many years, but unless things have changed I would strongly disagree with this statement. Getting to go to Main Street is infinitely better than standing outside the turnstiles. You can start getting in some pictures early. You can browse through the stores with no crowds compared to later in the day. And it's just a prettier and happier experience than standing in line like cattle staring at iron bars. I hope they let us in early when we go in May...

 

[bumbershoot]

I haven't been in many years, but unless things have changed I would strongly disagree with this statement. Getting to go to Main Street is infinitely better than standing outside the turnstiles. You can start getting in some pictures early. You can browse through the stores with no crowds compared to later in the day. And it's just a prettier and happier experience than standing in line like cattle staring at iron bars. I hope they let us in early when we go in May...

Different opinions.

I'm short and there's nothing to take pictures of b/c I can't get anything other than strange angles of shop buildings. If I got there early to get well into the parks early I'm not going to do any shopping and lose my "place" or area in the crowd. I also don't find the esplanade to be unattractive, in fact I find the wait for the gates to open to be extremely exciting and happy, unlike the cattle-herding, stepping on feet, bumping into people experience on Main Street.

You're waiting in once place or the other. UNLESS, as I did say, unless you want to go get coffee or whatever. But we don't do that, b/c we don't want to lose our spot/general area in the crowd, since we did get up early and all.

And I'm not talking about sleeping in so you're at the gates well behind people who were let in early...I like getting there early no matter what!

I like both ways (let in early or not let in early), and having someone bump into me on Main Street isn't the worst thing ever, LOL, but it's all individual about what you prefer and what your family enjoys! Since I've never been able to SEE whatever happens up there at rope drop, that experience is lost on me.

However, and I can't remember if it was done on days with MM, or normal days when we were let in on time or normal days when we were let in early, but I've been there on days when they had big families "open" the parks, and THAT was cool to see and hear, however again, unless you are at the front of the lines at the turnstyles, you see nothing and hear nothing meaningful. You could be there at the time that people are opening the park, but not be at all aware of it, b/c they aren't hooked up to microphones and the crowd in front is big! (and I don't know if that was something just for Million Dreams or if it's always done)

 

[prncssmel]

I haven't been in many years, but unless things have changed I would strongly disagree with this statement. Getting to go to Main Street is infinitely better than standing outside the turnstiles. You can start getting in some pictures early. You can browse through the stores with no crowds compared to later in the day. And it's just a prettier and happier experience than standing in line like cattle staring at iron bars. I hope they let us in early when we go in May...

Really? I actually find the crowds in the stores to be worse when they let you in early. No one has anything to do while waiting, so they go in the stores. And I have never been able to take any pictures because it is just a mass of people on Main St.

I agree with bumbershoot that it doesn't give you much of an edge because you're all just crowded together at the rope drop than at the gate. I actually like without the rope drop better because people are more spread out entering the park.

 

[Michelle2]

When I was there in August, they never once opened the turnstiles earlier than when the park opened. I have been many times at the rope at the end of main street, but that has usually been at slower times. And my sister who went last September (a slow time), said that they opened from the turnstiles on MM days and from the rope on non-MM days, so who knows the logistics that they use now???
I am thinking and assuming that during the spring break weeks since it will be busier, they will just open from the turnstiles and not let us in early to Main Street...but I prefer it that way anyway, so that is what I am hoping!

 

[Rivergallery]

I just got back, at the 10:00 opening the turnstiles opened at 9:30. Most stores on mainstreet were open, the photostore and those connected to it and the bakeries for sure.
The rope drop was at 10:00 sharp, there is a countdown.

For PS for Minnie and Friends Character Breakfast. Arrive about 15 minutes before your PS reservation and go to GATE 1, They will take your name and give you buttons saying Breakfast in the PArk with Minnie and friends. Then go through the stores on the left of the park to be let through the door near the Photoshop. They will again ask your name and # of guests. Then you are let into the rest of the park, but go stand in line at the Plaza inn with the rest of the guests with PS ressies.

Have fun!

 

[northshoremama]

I just got back, at the 10:00 opening the turnstiles opened at 9:30. Most stores on mainstreet were open, the photostore and those connected to it and the bakeries for sure.
The rope drop was at 10:00 sharp, there is a countdown.

interesting...i'm excited to see how it'll be like for us when we are there. the park hours are supposedly 10am - 8pm the monday thru thursday we are there in early may.