People: Get There Early!

[Disney Anna]

This has got to be the no. one tip for visiting any Disney Park, but especially the DL and MK.

I was just reading the posts and was struck at one commenting on how overwhelmingly crowded it was this past Sunday, Feb. 10. I too was at DL that day. I left San Diego at 7:30 and arrived at 9. In the park by 9:20 or so.

I rode Storybook Land, Mr. Toad, Snow White, Pinnocchio, Mark Twain, Pirates...I then hopped to DCA and looked at the Snow White art work in Animation area, then I hopped back to DL, watched the DL band and rode the Omnibus, Horseless Carriage, picked up a package from Disneyana store and met my aunt and uncle for lunch in DTD.

I did all of this by 1 p.m.

The key is being there early. There was absolutely no one in line when I got there. Pirates was a 5-8 minute line and that was the longest. Now, when I left, it was getting more and more crowded.

 

[blackjackdelta]

This has got to be the no. one tip for visiting any Disney Park, but especially the DL and MK.

I was just reading the posts and was struck at one commenting on how overwhelmingly crowded it was this past Sunday, Feb. 10. I too was at DL that day. I left San Diego at 7:30 and arrived at 9. In the park by 9:20 or so.

I rode Storybook Land, Mr. Toad, Snow White, Pinnocchio, Mark Twain, Pirates...I then hopped to DCA and looked at the Snow White art work in Animation area, then I hopped back to DL, watched the DL band and rode the Omnibus, Horseless Carriage, picked up a package from Disneyana store and met my aunt and uncle for lunch in DTD.

I did all of this by 1 p.m.

The key is being there early. There was absolutely no one in line when I got there. Pirates was a 5-8 minute line and that was the longest. Now, when I left, it was getting more and more crowded.

Definately agree, its the best time of the day anyway.

Jack

 

[Disney Davo]

I was there too. That was the day I saw Harrison Ford, Calista Flockhart and family. I thought it was crowded only for this time of year, but I contribute it to the great weather that day and most schools being out on Monday.

 

[DLR29]

I agree with you 100%. I have always said that arriving early is the best tip for Disney parks. Especially during high seasons. On our trip to WDW (1st one) this past summer we got to the parks 3/5 rope drops. One day we arrived only 15-20 minutes after DHS(MGM at the time) had opened and Great Movie Ride already had a 20-30 minute line (so did ToT and RnRC). It really is that important.

 

[AndyLL]

Yes #1 tip is go early - You can ride as many rides in the 1st 2 hours after opening as you can the rest of the day.

except..

#2 - Stay late. Not only are many rides walkons after the entertainments done but Disneyland is a different and special place late at night.

#3 - Learn how to use fastpasses... there is a good sticky up above.

Andy

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

Until reading that tip on the DIS I never paid too much attention to getting there early. Ever! I might be there an hour after opening, maybe 2, maybe only 15 minutes late. But I never realized how much I could get done if I was there right at 9 already inside the gates! We did that both Sunday and Monday and it was very helpful.

I do love a late night too when I can!! I agree, you can accomplish a lot in that last hour, especially when DL is open until midnight. Lots of families have packed it in by 10-10:30!

 

[Dukland]

I totally agree! For a family like mine, with young ones, you can always come early, then go back to the hotel for lunch and a long family nap. That's always a very busy time in the parks. Then, you can go back to the parks refreshed, and really stay late. (Everyone else always poops out on me when I want to close the parks. Usually dh takes the youngest, and I make my poor dd stay with me)

 

[AndyLL]

I totally agree! For a family like mine, with young ones, you can always come early, then go back to the hotel for lunch and a long family nap. That's always a very busy time in the parks. Then, you can go back to the parks refreshed, and really stay late. (Everyone else always poops out on me when I want to close the parks. Usually dh takes the youngest, and I make my poor dd stay with me)

That's one of the reasons we still have a stroller at DL. DS will sleep and the wife and I can stroll around and maybe single ride a few attractions.

Andy

 

[trodrigue]

This last trip, I finally made the decision to just send my husband and the kids back to the room when they were tired, at 9. I stayed and did the snow (fireworks were cancelled), and then the late Fantasmic, and then a bit of shopping, etc. It was delightful!

 

[kelmac284]

I 100% agree with this advice. Whether it is low season or high I always can't sleep when I go. I am always up raring to go but partly because that is how I am at home anyway LOL. But we are there waiting at the gates an hour before they open anyway and we get a LOT done in those first few hours. We usually can get at least 10 rides done and collect several fast passes in those first few hours. It is the BEST part of the day!

 

[mindylovesmickey]

We are going to really really try hard to make it right as the parks open for MM or just regular time everyday that we are there. I don't know that we will make it with all the kids, but we are really going to make the effort in hopes that we will be able to ride quite a bit in the morning.

 

[LindaOwl1]

Don't forget that if the park opens a 9, and you arrive at the gates at 9, you will still be in back of a large line waiting to get in. The trick is to be First at the gate. Sometimes this means getting there 20 min before opening, and sometimes 60min before! We had breakfast while waiting in line & chatted with other early birds who were just as commando as us!

 

[minniecarousel]

DH & I do the early morning, nap in the afternoon and go back to close the Park down! And we're two adults! Anyone who goes with us know that we insist on this routine. We'll stop and "smell the flowers", but we gotta do the early morning, especially. We left the Park on Saturday, Feb. 9 at 10 am, with many people still coming in. (we had to get on the road that day.)

 

[Disney Anna]

I was reading the other post re seeing celebs at DL and thinking to myself how I've never seen a celeb at the park (except one who was doing a signing or something that day, like Marie Osmond) all the thousands of visits I've made. And then I read that Disney Davo saw Calista Flockhart and Harrison Ford the same day I was there!

I must just be too swept up doing my own thing not to see anyone else, celeb or otherwise.

Back to original point, it's just amazing how much you can do if you go early. Same thing was true - maybe even more so - when I went to WDW a few weeks ago. I went on almost every ride at the MK, 90% before 11 a.m. I left the park and hopped to EPCOT. I then returned later to MK to see fireworks and the place was a NIGHTMARE. Packed to the gills.

I just don't get it. Get there early, take it easy in afternoon, maybe leave parks if you are at hotel, then hit it again for evening. Just makes sense.

 

[CandCMommy]

I agree 100% on getting there early. On my first trip with my DH's family to WDW they insisted on getting to the parks early. I was really frustrated with them because this was vacation and you're suppose to sleep in on vacation, right. Well after the experience I had going at park openings with them I'm now a convert and wouldn't have it any other way. Now that we have our own family we've kept up the tradition. Since I'm a SAHM, I can always catch up on my sleep when we get back home.

 

[Cinerbelle]

DL opens at 9am on Feb. 21.st (Thur.)...since this is a MM, will Mickey and Friends be open earlier too?? I want to be at the gates as early as I can. I do not have a MM pass...so want to park as early as I can so that I can be as close to the front of the line for the reg. opening at 9am. Anyone???

 

[DLR29]

DL opens at 9am on Feb. 21.st (Thur.)...since this is a MM, will Mickey and Friends be open earlier too?? I want to be at the gates as early as I can. I do not have a MM pass...so want to park as early as I can so that I can be as close to the front of the line for the reg. opening at 9am. Anyone???

Yes, the parking lot opens earlier on MM days.