Simple question regarding entrance wait

[MICKEYFIL]

I have always been at the park early in the morning and usually the first in line. I am arriving for the next trip earlier in the day and decided to go to the park for 1pm. What are the lineups like trying to get into the park at that time of day in the middle of February? Just want to prepare myself mentally if the lineups are time consuming.

 

[SMD]

There's really no rhyme or reason to when security will be really backed up versus a breeze. It has a lot to do with how prepared for the checks the other guests are. Plus, the checkpoints will be changing between now and then. As far as getting into the parks, I've gotten in a line 1/3 of the way across the esplanade and been in the park in under 5 minutes and I've gotten behind a party of 3 that has an issue and waited just as long. If there's a parade or show ending in one park and/or starting in another, you can expect a few minute delay.

 

[dshimel]

As SMD said, Disney adjusts the number of security gates and park gates in operation based on expected crowd. Summer may have 2x the guests, but will also have 2x the gates open.

It is hard to say when crowds will, and will not hit.

 

[Darkbeer1]

With the changeover on Thursday, the west side gates will increase from 16 to about 40 stations, which is expected to speed things up for the Mickey & Friends Structure guests, and the DLH and PPH guests that use the checkpoints next to the ESPN Zone.

Alas, the Eastern side is about 2 years away from expansion. (There is only so many stations you can place between the parks (about 16)

 

[dshimel]

With the changeover on Thursday, the west side gates will increase from 16 to about 40 stations, which is expected to speed things up for the Mickey & Friends Structure guests, and the DLH and PPH guests that use the checkpoints next to the ESPN Zone.

Alas, the Eastern side is about 2 years away from expansion. (There is only so many stations you can place between the parks (about 16)

Expand from 16 to 40 "max open".... but middle of February, they are not going to be operating at max.

 

[Darkbeer1]

Expand from 16 to 40 "max open".... but middle of February, they are not going to be operating at max.

But much more spread out, which will help,and if it is something like the Presidence Day Holiday Weekend, I can see more than 16 open at the beginning of the day.

 

[dshimel]

But much more spread out, which will help,and if it is something like the Presidence Day Holiday Weekend, I can see more than 16 open at the beginning of the day.

Oh yeah, forgot president's day. Yeah, I can see a lot of screening open that weekend.

 

[Rabb it]

If I head to the parks around midday or at night I try to GET TO the parking structure at least 45 minutes before I need to be in the park. So if my girlfriend and I have reservations at Café Orleans at 8, I know I need to be driving into the structure at like 7:15 to make it to our reservations on time. I know I'm going to potentially have to wait in line to park, wait in line for a tram, maybe a line at security and then a small line at the turnstiles.