I haven't read the whole thread (but you guys have a great house here!).
I am visiting US and IOA next week!
Wondering if anyone can tell me what time I should get there (off property, no FOTL) to be at the Disney equivalent of rope drop. We like to arrive well before the crowds and do a few big things while the snoozers are just thinking of breakfast.
If opening is at 9:00, what time would YOU be there (if you were a commando park tourer).
Thanks!
first we roll out the welcome mat.....
to the newest homie
turning40withMickey
so glad you stopped in.
haven't had time to tidy the joint up yet but it's still presentable here.
now to your questions:
this is what i do when i have stayed off site.
be at the parking garage at 7:45.
you will be in a line but a very short one. probably about 10 cars back.
the garage opens at 8 sharp.
you will be in the garage and parked by 8:08.
go thru city walk.
first ride is the moving sidewalk thru the exit of the garage which empties into city walk..
i suggest you go to IOA first as it is closer to the city walk walkway and more rides are open at 8:30 over there than the studio side.
(if you haven't driven but took a shuttle, be at the turnstyle at 8:15-20)
get in line at the turnstile by 8:20ish.
if the line gets long, the tms will let you enter around 8:30ish.
no rope drop like the mouse has, when you are in , you are in.
pick up the park guide map for times of different character events and show times.
once thru the ioa walkway area, veer left and go across the bridged area and steer left for the Hulk.
you can get first row without breaking a sweat.
you can do multiple rides without a wait in the regular line.
if you have items with you, veer left to the free lockers which is along side of the hulk ride.
then go to the line for the ride.
if you have cargo pants on, stuff your pockets.
no carry on items allowed on this ride.
hulk is done, go left after you leave this area and do spiderman.
after spidey, follow the walk area and get half way around the park to dueling dragons.
you can do both sides of this ride ice and fire. use the secret passageway, it is marked, and repeat the ride on the other coaster.
those are the biggies and will get crowded by 11ish.
i stay on site and get at the park around 8:15ish each time and enter early and don't even need to with the fotl i get.
switch over to the studios side around 11:30.
you might want to eat lunch around 11ish as the park will start getting crowds then.
the crowds at the studio side will be at simpsons, MIB, mummy, jaws most likely.
do those if the regular line is 30 minutes or shorter.
the lines for those rides will increase as the afternoon progresses.
if you are going for more than one day, do ioa one day and switch over after lunch and the next day do the studios first and switch after lunch to ioa.
on the day you do studios first, hit simpsons. its new and has long lines if you get there late.
the studios side will open early also if many are in the line at 8:30.
please note that not all rides at this side open early or at 9.
jaws opens around 10, mummy 9 terminator 2 i think first show could be around near 11..........check the park guide map for that info as it changes per season.
next question please........
Disney
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... hope you're enjoying your Saturday 
)
