Tell me how you take advantage of EE

[OlliePop27]

Even if you scan in and do EE you can’t start making lightning lanes until 8 am right?
How about buying ILL? Also 8 am even if you’re scanned in EE at 7:30?

You can make LL selections as soon as each person in your party has scanned in. If you scan at 7:30, this is when you can start making selections for 8:00 and after.

 

[GrimGrinningGuy]

You can make LL selections as soon as each person in your party has scanned in. If you scan at 7:30, this is when you can start making selections for 8:00 and after

Awesome thanks!

 

[Weber Prof]

We have done EE twice (Sept 22, Nov 23). Each time we entered using DTD and esplanade entrance. We were near front of line for security, gates, and EE rope drop. Both times we had two grandchildren with us.
DCA:
7:32 Rode Webslingers
7: 43 Rode Guardians
7: 55 in line for Racers (Nov) rode Maters (Sept)
We then rode Incredicoaster, Jessie's Carousel, Toy Story Mania, Swings, Inside Out, Goofy, and Little Mermaid before 10:30 for both trips, stopping for picutres, breakfast and bathroom breaks along the way.
DLR:
7:33 Peter Pan
7:40 Alice
7:50 Dumbo
7:58 Pix in front of castle before reg rope drop comes in
8:00 Snow White (Nov we rode Mr. Toad because White was down).
In Nov we then went to Toon Town and rode Gadgets, Roger Rabit and MMRR before going to BTMR Indy, and Pirates. In Sept we rode BTMR, Indy, Pirates, haunted Mansion, and Winnie the Pooh by 10:30 stopping for pictures, breakfast at Jolly Holiday, and bathrooms along the way.

I can't remember when we started making G + reservations. We waited for ILL until the time was around when we wanted to go.

We are going the end of June for the third time with two more grandchildren (we hope we can make it with all 12 of our grandchildren two at time!). Our plans are very similar becuase it seems to work well for us.

 

[mrsashbaugh]

She was cheesed because they opened it early for EE and there were no waits.

I'm starting to think to just check there first anyhow to see if they happen to be open. Or maybe talk with a CM to see if they happen to know if they are running it early. That is nice that she was able to get on with no wait! I've heard that happening to others at times being open before 8am.

 

[VicgirlBC]

We have done EE twice (Sept 22, Nov 23). Each time we entered using DTD and esplanade entrance. We were near front of line for security, gates, and EE rope drop. Both times we had two grandchildren with us.
DCA:
7:32 Rode Webslingers
7: 43 Rode Guardians
7: 55 in line for Racers (Nov) rode Maters (Sept)
We then rode Incredicoaster, Jessie's Carousel, Toy Story Mania, Swings, Inside Out, Goofy, and Little Mermaid before 10:30 for both trips, stopping for picutres, breakfast and bathroom breaks along the way.
DLR:
7:33 Peter Pan
7:40 Alice
7:50 Dumbo
7:58 Pix in front of castle before reg rope drop comes in
8:00 Snow White (Nov we rode Mr. Toad because White was down).
In Nov we then went to Toon Town and rode Gadgets, Roger Rabit and MMRR before going to BTMR Indy, and Pirates. In Sept we rode BTMR, Indy, Pirates, haunted Mansion, and Winnie the Pooh by 10:30 stopping for pictures, breakfast at Jolly Holiday, and bathrooms along the way.

I can't remember when we started making G + reservations. We waited for ILL until the time was around when we wanted to go.

We are going the end of June for the third time with two more grandchildren (we hope we can make it with all 12 of our grandchildren two at time!). Our plans are very similar becuase it seems to work well for us.

Wow! Sounds like an incredible trip. What a fun idea to take all your grandchildren. You will be experts by the time you get to the last set ;-)

 

[onatrek]

This insight is invaluable, thank you! We will have Genie+ and I hope to try fishing and accelerating too. I don't mind waiting 20-30 for RSR if it's open, but I will keep in mind that single rider may be the best way to go. I will plan to do Guardians, Webslingers, and maybe Soarin' at EE.

I just rope dropped DCA from GCH Friday (my kiddo slept in, so I was alone, which worked great, as they didn't want to ride Guardians and I did).

I was in line for security at 6:35, about 40 people back. And because I didn't head towards Pixar Pier, I was the 6th person in the other direction and went straight to Guardians (and was in the first ride of the day)

Then I headed to RSR to do the SR line.

Wednesday and Thursday they were announcing times much of the day and SB was about 90-120 minutes from about noon on, and SR was 45-60 every time I heard them giving a time Wednesday, but 60-90 much of Friday (we rode it a few times).

When I went from Guardians to RSR to do SR right as the park opened, I was 1st in the SR line!

They started warming up the cars at 7:55, let people into SB at 7:57 and opened SR at 7:59. Only the first load of cars went out without opening the SR line (they said they always let one batch go before they add in SR line people). I should have gone right back and done SR again b/c it was still very obviously empty (could see it exiting the ride and there were under a dozen people in there - everyone else was in SB wanting to ride with their party)

I 100% would do the same thing again.

Then I did TSMM x2 and then Soarin' x2 and went back to GCH and got my kiddo going and our bags to bellcheck.

We went back to Soarin' and it was still a walk on up to where they split you for the theaters, even from SB at nearly 11 am.

We then went and did Webslingers from there at about 11:30 and it was only about 20 minutes SB.

If you want to do RSR and are willing to do SR, at least on Friday what I did worked exceptionally well - especially since I was just walking onto TSMM and Soarin' repeatedly after that.

I probably could have added in Webslingers earlier easily, but we had done in twice the previous two days and my kiddo likes it more than I do, so I just didn't bother and wanted to capitalize on things my kiddo won't ride or doesn't like as much (plus Soarin', which we both love and so I ride as much as possible regardless)

 

[twodogs]

We are on our way home today. We almost always stay at GCH and use EE. For DCA, we usually do the entrance from the hotel, but sometimes the main gates. We got to the hotel DCA entrance at 6:45am and the line was over 100 people (almost to the doors back into the main hotel). I ran over to the PPH DCA entrance. Less than 20 people in that line. Our family changed plans and went to PPH entrance. They opened security at 7:20am and had both bag check lines open, moved very quickly. We were scanned in about 1 minute later, and they held us at the gift shop. They let us in right at 730 am and we were off. Kids wanted GOTG, so they went to that. I went to WS and was third person on. We then rode WS standby 4 times in a row without any wait at all!! Not bad!

In conclusion, the PPH DCA entrance line was MUCH shorter than the one in the GCH. GCH usually has 3 bag check tables versus 2 at PPH entrance, but I still think it saved us a bunch of time.

 

[DisneyAndreaM]

We are on our way home today. We almost always stay at GCH and use EE. For DCA, we usually do the entrance from the hotel, but sometimes the main gates. We got to the hotel DCA entrance at 6:45am and the line was over 100 people (almost to the doors back into the main hotel). I ran over to the PPH DCA entrance. Less than 20 people in that line. Our family changed plans and went to PPH entrance. They opened security at 7:20am and had both bag check lines open, moved very quickly. We were scanned in about 1 minute later, and they held us at the gift shop. They let us in right at 730 am and we were off. Kids wanted GOTG, so they went to that. I went to WS and was third person on. We then rode WS standby 4 times in a row without any wait at all!! Not bad!

In conclusion, the PPH DCA entrance line was MUCH shorter than the one in the GCH. GCH usually has 3 bag check tables versus 2 at PPH entrance, but I still think it saved us a bunch of time.

Thank you for the tip! Does security usually open at 7:20?

 

[twodogs]

Thank you for the tip! Does security usually open at 7:20?

I think it is frustratingly variable. I have seen it open really close to 7:30am and sometimes at 7:15am, sometimes earlier. But not that much earlier! Especially at the PPH and GCH hotel entrances because they don’t have the most room to hold people until EE starts at 7:30am.

 

[VicgirlBC]

I think it is frustratingly variable. I have seen it open really close to 7:30am and sometimes at 7:15am, sometimes earlier. But not that much earlier! Especially at the PPH and GCH hotel entrances because they don’t have the most room to hold people until EE starts at 7:30am.

This is why I think I will plan to use the DTD security, as I believe they open at 7am. Someone please correct me if I am wrong though. This is my first time staying on-site, so EE is new to me and I am so excited!

When I was last there in January of this year, we stayed at Marriott Courtyard Themepark, we arrived at security on Harbor Blvd around 7am most days. There was a barely a line, and it went very quickly.

 

[Jawwdoc]

We have rope dropped many times from the GCH-DTD security. The line typically starts forming around 6:00 am with the very early risers saving spots for family members, we typically aim to arrive at the GCH-DTD entrance between 6:15-6:30. We are usually in the first 10-15 people through security and walk briskly to the esplanade. We have managed to position ourselves at the front of the line at the main gates using this method which allow you to have your park tickets scanned while waiting for the gates to open, this also allow you to be at the front of any rope drop and puts you in prime position for Peter Pan @ DL or GotG @ DCA.

 

[VicgirlBC]

We have rope dropped many times from the GCH-DTD security. The line typically starts forming around 6:00 am with the very early risers saving spots for family members, we typically aim to arrive at the GCH-DTD entrance between 6:15-6:30. We are usually in the first 10-15 people through security and walk briskly to the esplanade. We have managed to position ourselves at the front of the line at the main gates using this method which allow you to have your park tickets scanned while waiting for the gates to open, this also allow you to be at the front of any rope drop and puts you in prime position for Peter Pan @ DL or GotG @ DCA.

Perhaps the first morning I can convince my kids to be in line at 6:30am but my guess it we won’t get down there until closer to 7am the rest of the days. But I would love, at least one morning, to be some of the very first people through the turnstiles!

 

[BriannaRuth]

If you're the first in line at any of the turnstiles (I think there are 20?), you have a chance of being chosen as the opening family, or whatever it is they call it. Happened to us one time. They call you up just past the turnstiles and take your picture before opening. Seems like they may have had us yell something, too, but I don't remember for sure. Been a while.

 

[VicgirlBC]

If you're the first in line at any of the turnstiles (I think there are 20?), you have a chance of being chosen as the opening family, or whatever it is they call it. Happened to us one time. They call you up just past the turnstiles and take your picture before opening. Seems like they may have had us yell something, too, but I don't remember for sure. Been a while.

What a fun experience that must have been! Did they give you a head start too? ;-)

 

[BriannaRuth]

Ha, I wish! But it didn't really matter because we were already in front.

 

[Disney Dad ADL]

So just as a follow up to this, we did early entry this morning at DCA (Monday June 16), staying at GCH. We went slightly late so went to the direct GCH/DCA entrance at 7:38, there was no line by then (Early Entry started at 7:30).

We went straight to Cars Land. Initial plan was to go on Mater to kill some time and then try to get on RSR early, but Mater was closed. Then we noticed They were allowing people to enter the RSR queue even though the ride had not yet started, so we just got in line. At 7:52 they announced the ride was open and started the ride a bit early, which was nice.

 

[VicgirlBC]

So just as a follow up to this, we did early entry this morning at DCA (Monday June 16), staying at GCH. We went slightly late so went to the direct GCH/DCA entrance at 7:38, there was no line by then (Early Entry started at 7:30).

We went straight to Cars Land. Initial plan was to go on Mater to kill some time and then try to get on RSR early, but Mater was closed. Then we noticed They were allowing people to enter the RSR queue even though the ride had not yet started, so we just got in line. At 7:52 they announced the ride was open and started the ride a bit early, which was nice.

I'm thinking we may just do this one morning and see if the lines are fairly short. I'm so glad it worked out for you and that you rode RSR with barely a wait!