Thanks for the feedback!
Could you elaborate on what exactly you did to be first in line for A&E?
My DH and I were travelling with our 4 kids (ages 1-8) and also 3 other adults - 2 of my brothers and my SIL. My two brothers were willing to run to get to a good spot in line. My DH was willing to stand and wait in line if necessary while we waited for our turn in the M&G (which I hoped wouldn't be necessary). We went on a Monday morning, no EMH hours.
My original plan was to arrive at security at 6:30 for 8am opening. However, the night before, my brothers informed me that they didn't think it was necessary to arrive until 7am. They were the runners so I had to somewhat oblige but I told them I thought we would be leaving too late. We arrived at the gates at 7:03 according to my brother. When he saw the number of people heading to the gates through Downtown Disney, he ran ahead. I had already told them to head to gate 13/14 since 14 is hiding behind the tree. The lines were already somewhat lengthy (we weren't going to be front of the line like I had wanted) but the 2 of them went right up in front of that tree at gate #14 though all the rest of the lines were much further back, they were probably the 2nd group in that line. The other 7 of us lined up further back because we wouldn't have really fit. Before they opened the gates at 7:45 though, they forced those 2 lines to merge into one line and my brothers lucked out and kept their close spot. If they wouldn't have been that close up because of going to that line, we wouldn't have made it in the front of the line.
I had also told them to be on the lookout for CM holding signs for the meet n greet. It turns out the signs are quite small (just small black Mickey shapes with a Frozen picture on them) but there are quite a few of them holding signs pointing the way.
Brother #1 got held up by an elderly gentleman in a wheelchair at the gate, and Brother #2 hustled up ahead going through the entryway on the left hand side. He sped walked and was almost instantly up front. 30 seconds later, Brother #1 sped up, got close enough to yell that brother #2 could slow down since he was way ahead of people. The rope was right around Walt, and escorts for AE MnG were probably 50 yards before that. You can probably get away with sprinting until right about the firehouse.
They immediately got to the front spot. They told the CM that they were holding a spot for us. I assumed that we would join them in the line at the meet and greet location but brother #1 came back and found us and told us we were first in line and we were able to go right to the front of the line before it ever headed into the park.
The Anna and Elsa line is waiting further ahead than regular rope drop. And the AE line is escorted in before rope drop occurs. Everyone has to get on the sidewalk and form a single file line. It appears that they are very careful to make sure that no one gets into or out of that line before they are supposed to.
On the day we were there, the A&E line was actually forming on the right side of Main Street. However, later in the week when we were there, it was on the left side. They escorted the A&E line in a few minutes before 8am. When we arrived at the location about 8am, the CMs were saying they weren't quite ready. Looking at the time stamps on my camera, we were taking pictures with Anna and Elsa at 8:08, were in there for a few minutes taking pics and talking with the kids. Then we were riding Dumbo by 8:16am! Then we did the Carousel and Mad Tea Party. It was great. Towards the end of that first hour, we made the mistake of getting in line at Storybook Canal. The line didn't look too long BUT they must have only been running 1 or 2 boats up until about the time we got on. Once we got in that line, it was HARD to try to get out of with a big group so we stuck it out.
I guess the things to know -
1. Go early. I still think arriving at 6:30 -6:45 would have been better if my brothers hadn't lucked out with the line.
2. Gates 14 and 19 are worth checking out (though our larger group with stroller and 4 kids would have been tight to get in, it worked with only 2 of them though)
3. Hurrying in and knowing what to look for with the Anna and Elsa line is very important. We saw another dad at the same spot in line as us and other people that were rather close, and they must not have entered and gone with a purpose! If they knew what to look for and to hurry, they would have avoided quite a bit of a wait.
Good luck!
