Saving places in line at opening

[AmericanItGirl]

I’ll buck the general trend here and say that I do have a problem (but not a big one) with this. If there is 1 person saving places for 9 others that show up at the last minute, I am not a big fan of that. If there are 3 people saving spots for a couple others that still get there 10 minutes early – no problem.

They often open up extra lines a little before opening, and I decide whether or not to try and move up a bit in one of those lines based on the line I am in. If I am 10th in line to start I am not going to worry about moving. If I think I am going to be 10th but end up being 30th because of folks getting there at the last minute and cutting in, then that does not start my day on the best note. I got there early darnit, so can the others!

As someone who does day trips and wakes up before dawn just to get to the parks as soon as the parking garage opens and then moves as fast as possible to buy a ticket and get in line at the entrance gate, I feel the same way (mind you I get to go about once every six months or less). I have no problem when others hold a spot for an equal or lesser number of others or if they hold a spot for one adult and the rest are kids, but last time my aunt and I were 5th and 6th in line only to end up being about 20th and 21st in line while the people who got in line in front of us were adults (and none of them were elderly or had any apparent health problems) who just wanted to take their sweet time coming over five minutes prior to the opening from their hotels. Now it didn't really bother me to the point of where I was going to say something (nothing was going to ruin my day), but it did irk me that they thought that it was perfectly acceptable to triple the length of the line shortly before DL opened when they're old enough to be able to get themselves out of bed and over to the entrance of DL while on vacation in a timely fashion.

 

[Sally_fan]

I am okay with a small number of people arriving & getting into the line but I do not like it at all when we have been waiting there for awhile & a whole bunch of people show up & get into the line in front of us. We got our kids up early & we arrived early so we could have the spot in line that we have. I have seen it happen in a long line for the rides (about 9 people joined 1 person) & we were not directly behind them but I could hear alot of others in the line with us expressing their annoyance as well.

 

[quest4dl]

The biggest issue I see is that the rest of your group getting stuck behind a large crowd at the security check point. And then finding you in a mass of people. It might just be easier to all either get their at the same time. The enterance plaza is pretty large and can be overwhelliming when crowded.

If you choose to do this. Make sure that you bring your ticket and someone in the room has the rest of the tickets. And make a plan B to meet somewhere (ie train station) inside the park.

Hmmmm..... I hadn't considered it would be difficult for them to find me. So, even if they come about 10-15 minutes before the gate opens, it will be sufficiently crowded and hard to get through? I should make myself a little flag just for this!

 

[DSNY4ever]

Wow apparently I am in the minority. I find this extremely annoying when I am there. I feel like you get in line when your whole group is ready. I get up very early, but I would never go claim my spot and have my group of 5 meet me a half hour later, I don't think that it is fair to everyone else that gets in line early.

And sometimes they let people in early and then hold them up on main street and then drop the rope at the opening time, so getting in line early could be a waste. It is also annoying when one parent made it to the front of the rope drop group and then when their family arrives, they all push their way up to meet them.

Just stick together.

 

[Rhonna]

There are always some exceptions but I don't like it either. We have a hard time getting up early too, but if we make the extra effort to be there early and get a place close to the front, it is irritating if a lot of people do this and the line we are in gets longer and longer in front of us right before opening.

 

[quest4dl]

Im not with the crowd on this one either. I dont mind a dad saving places for mom to come with the todlers later or for a senior..etc. .

Well I guess we fall in this category. My brother would be the one going ahead, my mom (the senior) and I would follow with the kids (but they're not toddlers even though my 7 yo can sometimes act like one! )

 

[jessica52877]

Is there a need for someone to be in line so early that we couldn't just go as a family? I have never been to DL and didn't plan on anything like this. Maybe I need to do some more research for the trip!

 

[ballarinamom]

since they no longer let you on main street early, there is no rope drop anymore,


When did this change? We did WDW for our last Disney so it's been almost a year since our last DLR trip. How do they do entrance now? WDW let's you go through the gate and hold you outside the tunnell for the train to come by and do the countdown. What do they do at DLR NOW????? I've only heard that they still let you onto Main Street early.

 

[disneychrista]

It depends on when you go. If the park opens at 8am they don't do rope drop. And someone else mentinoed they don't do it on MM days either (which would be new).

 

[nicolita3]

I don't think that it is fair to everyone else that gets in line early.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

Well I agree if it's a large group I wouldn't like it either. When we did it, it was just me! A few people joining in I don't see as a big deal, but anymore then that and I could see it as rude.

In October we had teens try to cut in front of us at the long security line. They didn't have bags, which I understood, but it's rude to try and squeeze in front of people when there is no room. Not to mention that's the way that line works, everyone waits their turn! They ended up cutting in front of someone a little ways behind us.

 

[LisaZoe]

I've been following this thread with a little interest. Partly because we'll be going with a fairly large group in May so this may be something to consider. I'm also interested because I definitely have issues with line cutting in general. Like others have said, if the majority of the party are in line and a few stragglers join later, I don't think it would bother me. It would definitely bother me if one or two people were in line and then a large group of adults or older kids joined them.

I am NOT a morning person but it's amazing how much I can become one when at Disneyland. Still, I quickly get grumpy (if only temporarily) when it appears that others think their need to dawdle is more important than my DD and me getting our position in line early. I don't let it spoil my enjoyment in being at Disneyland but that doesn't mean I don't find it bothersome.

 

[SANDIEGOFAN]

It depends on when you go. If the park opens at 8am they don't do rope drop. And someone else mentinoed they don't do it on MM days either (which would be new).

The no-rope drop on MM isn't new (Must state that it's been my experience). There's no way to tell who has MM priveleges and who doesn't once they're through the gates unless a person at the rope checks the individual tickets or charge slips. Heck, I've been second in line for MM on a few occasions (when it was EE) when the gates opened and didn't get a rope drop. I'm beginning to believe DL doesn't like me. In other words, I don't doubt your statement dchrista, just stating what I've experienced.

 

[lulubelle]

I am another one who believes that it is not okay. The exception would be one parent with a toddler or an elderly or disabled person. Not able bodied children or adults. Heck, if I can stand there and wait, so can you. And don't even get me started on saving places in lines. It irks me a lot. We are all on vacation and all have to wait (with the exceptions listed above). You are no more special than me. Enough said.

 

[quest4dl]

I think the best plan seems to be to get there a bit early (I think we'll do 30 minutes before gates open) and eat breakfast in line. Might have my brother run to McDonald's so only one person is out of line for a short time - hope that is okay. And we'll cross our fingers that one of the kids doesn't have to use the restroom - are there any restrooms close by?

 

[cmwade77]

Ok, they have not done the rope drop in well over a year to my knowledge thanks to this early entry stuff with the hotels.

No matter what you only gain about an extra 10 minutes worth of park time by being one of the first through the gate rather than a little further back.

I do not recommend trying to be the first ones there, it is near impossible to do so depending on the time of year you are going and not worth the hassle and aggravation. I recommend that you get plenty of sleep the night before and wake up when it is natural for you to do so, this will provide for the most enjoyable day at any theme park, esp. if you want to stay until closing.

 

[SeansMom]

I think the best plan seems to be to get there a bit early (I think we'll do 30 minutes before gates open) and eat breakfast in line. Might have my brother run to McDonald's so only one person is out of line for a short time - hope that is okay. And we'll cross our fingers that one of the kids doesn't have to use the restroom - are there any restrooms close by?

That sounds like a great plan, and I doubt anybody would mind one person coming back with food. As for restrooms, if the kiddos go before they leave the hotel room they should be okay, and there are restrooms on the right after you enter the park, if they are needed. I don't remember a handy restroom outside the park, but I'm sure if there is one somebody will mention it.

 

[LisaZoe]

I think the best plan seems to be to get there a bit early (I think we'll do 30 minutes before gates open) and eat breakfast in line. Might have my brother run to McDonald's so only one person is out of line for a short time - hope that is okay. And we'll cross our fingers that one of the kids doesn't have to use the restroom - are there any restrooms close by?

I doubt anyone but the most easily irritated would be bothered by one or two people doing a breakfast run while the rest of the group stays in line. I have a feeling when my family goes, the youngest (3) won't be easy to keep in line so his dad will likely need to walk around the area with him while the rest of us wait. The same might happen sometimes when ride queues get long.

 

[disneychrista]

The no-rope drop on MM isn't new (Must state that it's been my experience)...In other words, I don't doubt your statement dchrista, just stating what I've experienced.

I guess my experience has been different. I have seen Rope Drop on EE (not MM). They route those with EE through a shop and check the ticket, which was stamped/dated for EE. This was my experience as late Feb '07.

 

[NWPrincess]

You guys are scaring me...

We'll probably be doing a modified version of this when we go. My mom cannot walk very far and my parents do not want to rent a ECV outside of the parks. This means that in the morning my dad has to drop us off, drive back to the hotel to park (we're staying at the HoJo) and walk back. I'll probably wait with my mom. We'll probably want to get there a bit early as we have to rent a ECV and it just takes my DM a little longer.

I thought possibly people would understanding, but from some opinions on the board, I feel like we may be jumped on. Maybe my poor old dad will go to the end of the line...

I can see how people coming into line at the last minute can be frustrating (believe me, this happened big last year at Black Friday--day after Thanksgiving sale and after waiting in line all night it was really frustrating), but IMO I also think there are exceptions like elderly or disabled people. Yeah we could wait until my dad gets back to stay together, but we really want to have a little extra time to take care of things (and my mom wants to ride Nemo).