Park opening madness - Sunday 6/24

[JLS]

Hi everyone -

We went today (Sunday 6/24). We are locals and go all the time, but today we had out of town cousins visiting us for their one and only trip to DLR so we needed to make the most of the day. We got up VERY early with the goal of being one of the first ones in the park and to Nemo. We arrived at the Mickey & Friends parking garage at 7:12 a.m. and there was already a pretty long line of cars. We were able to pass a few cars by going in the shorter line on the far right. The far left lanes were closed. We turned off our engine, as the garage did not open to cars until 7:30. By 7:40 we were parked on the first level (Chip and Dale) next to what is normally handicapped parking. By the time we walked to the tram we just missed one leaving (probably the first tram out, possibly the second). Unfortunately, the next tram took a LONG time (probably 10 minutes, which is really unusual in my experience, as usually the next tram pulls up pretty much right away). By the time all was said and done, we were just through the security check point at 8:00 a.m. when they opened the park. We found a line extending about halfway back to Ca Adventures from each turnstile. Took about 10 minutes for us to get inside the park. Needless to say, the Nemo line already seemed enormous by the time we got up to the rocketships (you could see the line stopped at that point, perhaps waiting to be escorted). So we chose to go on other rides and enjoy the rest of the park rather than join the Nemo madness and spend all morning in line. I think it was a good decision.

BOTTOM LINE: If it is really important for you to be among the first few guests in the park, DO NOT plan to park at Mickey & Friends. Since they don't even start taking anyone's money until 7:30 a.m., then you have to park and tram it over, there is no way that you are going to be in the front of the line of people waiting at the gates (or at the rope drop on a rope drop day). All resort guests, walkers from local hotels, and others getting dropped off at the front gates will have a big lead on you assuming they got an early start.

For what it is worth, as they first let people into the park we saw a packed monorail entering the park. I wonder if those people got to Nemo before the runners from the front gates.

It was a very crowded day today overall. I'm glad we devoted our morning to riding and collecting fast passes because by noon all lines were pretty long. Nemo was holding steady at 180 minutes most of the time we were there. I wonder how accurate that was.

 

[HeatherH]

We have an out-of-town relative coming this week and would NEVER head to DL in the summer, despite APs...but we're going to brave it. We plan to go very early as well, so thanks for the heads up.

BUT, where else can you park besides Mickey & Friends? Would any other lots even be open earlier?

 

[Leofoenget]

We have an out-of-town relative coming this week and would NEVER head to DL in the summer, despite APs...but we're going to brave it. We plan to go very early as well, so thanks for the heads up.

BUT, where else can you park besides Mickey & Friends? Would any other lots even be open earlier?

Just a thought: Is it worth it for out of town guests, to all pitch in on an inexpensive hotel on harbor to be able to walk to DL? Most of those hotels let you stay parked until check in @ 2pm. IF being first in line at nemo is that important, stay across the street one night, hit the lines early early then maybe come back and park the car later on.

Also: Do you think the people on the Monorail pretty much dominate the line before even the first guests of EE make it in?? I am going in Sept on a random Thursday 20th. I am going to have EE. Park opens at 10am. When should I be in line?? I am staying across the street so walking in will not be an issue.


any info?????

 

[imaki]

I was there today as well. My wife, son (in stoller) and I were part of the "runners" group. We arrived at the esplinade at 7:00, and had to wait until 7:15 for the security to start checking bags. After a dash to the gates we were about 3 groups back from the front at gate 22 (I think). Prior to countdown the friendly ticket man scanned the first 20 or so folks in his line. Countdown, then everyone runs to Main Street before getting told no running. Now I had read some things about how bad they were handling the line for Nemo. Not today, at least not for us. There were plenty of CMs at the entry to tomorrowland and every other junction directing Nemo riders the right way.

Once entering the line "behind" Matterhorn we navigated the switchbacks until the loading station. We were on the 3rd sub out. We got to the park at 7:00, and were off Nemo by 8:35 or so.

A couple clarifications for things I have read. They do let you take a stroller through the line. Right before the loading area a CM will take it and park it for you. The folks who enter via the monorail do not make it in before the "runners." At least not today (non EE 8:00 AM opening). They even have to walk all of the way around to the line entrance, which, by the time they get there, is being inundated by a steady stream of people power walking from the front gate.

Hope this helps!

 

[JLS]

Imaki - where did you park? (or did you walk?). How did you like the ride?

It is clear that the strategy of arriving at the front gates by 7 or 7:15 (at the latest) and going quickly and directly to Nemo via the Matterhorn route is successful. It is also clear from my experience today and other posts recently that those people who are paying to park at the DLR will not be able to employ this strategy on a crowded day due to Mickey & Friends not opening until 7:30 a.m.

 

[bouncy54]

The more I read about the madness that surrounds Nemo, the more determined I am to not even attempt to ride the attraction during our upcoming trip. DH and I have already decided that if the line is longer than 30 minutes, we'll wait until our next DL vacation to visit Dorie and Nemo, even though we absolutely love the movie.

 

[sandgrace]

I'm considering a 2-pronged attack for getting in line, please let me know what you all think. Since we'll be staying across the street I'll send a couple of people in our party to do the regular entrance through Main St. at opening, probably the teenagers. Then, the rest of us will try the Monorail route, and we'll see who gets there first. Does anyone know what the criteria for getting on the Monorail is now? Do you get on in the Downtown Disney area or at the Disneyland Hotel?

 

[disneyscootergal]

The more I read about the madness that surrounds Nemo, the more determined I am to not even attempt to ride the attraction during our upcoming trip. DH and I have already decided that if the line is longer than 30 minutes, we'll wait until our next DL vacation to visit Dorie and Nemo, even though we absolutely love the movie.

This is how I feel, too, Bouncy. I'd reaaaally like to go on it, but I just refuse to devote the time in line to get on it.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

Walking in to the park and getting in line as early as possible seems to be the best way to go. That's what we did, we were second in line at the gates. Made the mad dash to Nemo and got on the second sub going on that morning. The line gets LONG really fast, a few minutes can make all the difference. So I can't imagine for a while it being worth trying if you park in Mickey and Friends. Late at night before closing, I've heard is another time to try it.

But if you get in the front of the lines at the gates in the morning you have a very good chance of little wait. I had my DH and DS, who walk faster then I do, get a good place in line. While I did my best to meet up with them as quick as I could (short legs, not a fast walker! LOL). They were coming down on people last week for running too.

Glad to hear they are managing the line better. At one point last week a line was forming up where the Buzz counter service (can't think of what it's called) is. Right up at where people would line up for food. A CM asked what they were lining up for, and was shocked when they said Nemo. He told them there was no line for Nemo here. It was pretty long already and the people didn't want to believe him (I was sitting near there waiting for DH and DS). They really did need more direction. Nemo can be a real mad house!

 

[HeatherAnn23]

We had great luck with the head straight towards Nemo on a non EE day as well. We just returned from a five day trip - and after seeing the lines those first couple of days, we decided, and told our kids it just wasn't going to happen. We did decide to give it a shot on the non EE day, and it worked out great. Our party separated at entry, with my dh and 6 yo son "running" for Nemo, with me and our other stroller bound son joining them in line. There were plenty of CMs ushering the croud all the way around the Matterhorn and into line. The funny thing was that when we finally got over to the ride we were only a couple of people apart. Park opened at 8:00 - we were done and riding other rides by 9:00. We liked the ride, but wouldn't have devoted more time than that to it! It was cute - but didn't even impress my 6 year old Nemo fan!! Strike that, he did ask for a stuffed crush after the ride, another merchandising success for Disney! (No, he didn't get it!)

 

[imaki]

Imaki - where did you park? (or did you walk?). How did you like the ride?

We actually stayed at the Residence Inn so we could avoid Mickey and Friends. We left the hotel about 6:45 for the mile walk in the morning. I thought the ride was very cool. I probably wouldn't wait more than an hour or so for it though, so much else to do. It did scare my 2 1/2 year old. He is getting into a timid stage and lots of things scare him.

Overall if you can get to the gate early on a non-EE day, go for it. It is not as crazy as it seems, just be prepared for a brisk walk to the ride.

 

[DLR29]

Also: Do you think the people on the Monorail pretty much dominate the line before even the first guests of EE make it in?? I am going in Sept on a random Thursday 20th. I am going to have EE. Park opens at 10am. When should I be in line?? I am staying across the street so walking in will not be an issue.

Probably to be safe, I'd get to the gates around 8:30. By being there a half hour early, you can be at the front of the pack and head straight to FL or Nemo for EE. And I also believe that while the Monorail guests are dropped off right next to FNSV, it doesn't actually leave the station until official opening or EE time. SO by the time it travels around the track, they may arrive around the same time as main gate guests.

 

[amjt660]

imaki: Walk (run) me through the path you took.
Through the gates/ under the railroad/down Mainstreet/ then ??

did you go into Tommorrowland?
did you go passed T Land entrance, past Ariel's grotto toward matterhorn
then turn right and walk past Matterhorn to the subs?

I am going in August and want to visualize what my DD10 and I are going to do and tell me wife where to walk to catch up (when she and DD12 fall behind the wave)

Thanks
Drew

 

[imaki]

imaki: Walk (run) me through the path you took.
Through the gates/ under the railroad/down Mainstreet/ then ??

We lined up at the right most gate we could. Later they opened two that were marked as exit, but we were only 2 open gates away from the right most. We were around the 12th - 14th people in the line. The gate attendent scanned probably the first 20 people in prior to opening, so we were able to go right through after the countdown.

Since we were on the far right we went under the train on the right side, through main street and followed the parade route until passing Matterhorn on the right. Check the online PDF version of the map, or one handed out at the park (if you have one) for the parade route. We went around Matterhorn (passing the Matterhorn station) and entered the Nemo line. There were plenty of cast members directing the traffic, and everyone was going to the same place so it was very easy.

Just a note about people thinking about the monorail route.... If the monorail leaves downtown disney at park opening you will not get in line before the people at the front. I would recommend avoiding that option. The monorail takes more time to get to tomorrowland station then the people in line will take to get back to the entrance to the Nemo line. Especially now that the monorail is running the full circuit, the longest portion of which is on the DD to Tomorrowland section. Once exiting the monorail, you will have to walk quite a bit to get to the entrance to the line as it is a ways away from the actual ride. Then you will have to somehow push yourselves in to a steady stream of people coming from the front gate.

Good luck!

 

[Leofoenget]

Ok so you followed the parade route until you had Matterhorn on your right and Alice on your left and you turned right at the Matterhorn, passed Matterhorn enterence and lined up?? Now I understand. Is this the normal route so far? You can't line up any other way right? Will they let you go through Tomorrow land or do they pretty much direct you around the Matterhorn?

 

[imaki]

That is correct. Again we just followed the directions of the CMs. They were at every turn directing people the right way. I am not sure if this is the normal route as we were only there one day, but I think they have learned from the issues and this is how they are now directing the traffic. Everyone that was in the "runner" group with us went the same way as directed. After exiting the ride I saw some monorail folks coming from the tomorrowland side, but if you come from the main gate, they should direct you the right way.

 

[fairycat]

Some one here mentioned trying for Nemo at night and I wanted to pre-warn you not to try that option if you really want on the ride. My niece and her friends went last week and they told me the line was huge (to Small World) and because it was HOURS long they closed the line early so they could actually get through the whole line by closing.

Sadly I will have to wait to make memories on this ride and hope this insane line will cut some of the wait for Space Mountain, Splash Mountain and all the other rides.

 

[Rapunsel]

Rode it liked it waited 2hrs 9 minutes. From getting in line to getting off the ride.

You basically start the line in the "smoking Area" by the matterhorn and Autopia...


It is not a smoking area at this time. The smoking area has been moved to where you catch the train by autopia. That was nasty having to walk through that part..

Liked the ride will ride again in a few years when the line is manageable..

Thankfully the kids were home with the grandparents.. So it was nice just being the adults. As the kids rode a few weeks ago at the preview..

 

[wendypooh22]

We were there last Thursday (6/21) and Friday (6/22).. From the stories that I heard, we opted to do Nemo on Thursday to avoid the morning madness. My sister met up with us at around 6:30 and we headed to Nemo first.. The sign at the entrance to the line said 90 minutes... It was pretty shaded for the entire way so I took that as a good sign. We got in line and 61 minutes later, we boarded the sub. I think that the shortened wait time was due to not using the switchbacks at the line entrance. It was a straight shot down towards the lagoon..
Now Friday morning was CRAZY!!!!! Since we already rode nemo, I wasn't in soo much of a hurry to get to the lines... We stayed at the Carousel Inn (FANTASTIC) and we got to the security checkpoint at 8:15 and waited about 5 minues to go thru.. The lines were almost to the california letters.. We were in line for gate 21 and it had to be the fastest line ever (it split into 2 gates when we got to the front) We were headed down mainstreet at 8:38. I was surprised to see that the moved the rope drop out to the entrance to each "land". But I guess they needed the extra room to accomodate those headed towards Nemo. We waited on the bridge and watched the sea of people lining up for tomorrowland and the back way near arial's grotto... I could not believe how many people were on that side A couple was in front of us and told me that they were going to Nemo and were going to go thru FL instead. I wonder how they did Friday morning was great and we walked on to just about everything. The afternoon was busy, but with our FP's we didn't have to wait but a few minutes...
A side note... We stayed at the Carousell Inn and were very pleased. The staff were very friendly and helpful. Our room (233) was very clean and large enough for a roll away if needed.. The beds were super comfortable! I slept like a baby The walk wasn't far and there are some good choices for food...