What time do the gates REALLY open?

[Meech Loves Mickey]

Are the posted times on the official website the actual times that DL and DCA open their gates?

Do they ever open earlier than what is posted?

I'm talking about regular hours, not EMH or MM.

Thanks!

 

[ImDMous]

Usually they do open early, about half an hour, but they hold you in certain areas before releasing everyone at the official opening time. IN DL they hold you at the end of Main Street. At DCA, the end of Buena Vista Street. Cast members will be there holding everyone until rope drop at the opening time. In DCA, the line for RSR fast passes will start forming as soon as the gates open and at rope drop the line will be lead intact to the fast pass machines.

 

[figment_jii]

From my experience, they do open the turnstiles early (about 30 minutes sounds right), but none of the rides are open yet. However, the shops and places serving breakfast within the waiting area (e.g., Fiddler, Fifer, and Practical Pig Cafe over at DCA) are open for business.

 

[Meech Loves Mickey]

Usually they do open early, about half an hour, but they hold you in certain areas before releasing everyone at the official opening time. IN DL they hold you at the end of Main Street. At DCA, the end of Buena Vista Street. Cast members will be there holding everyone until rope drop at the opening time. In DCA, the line for RSR fast passes will start forming as soon as the gates open and at rope drop the line will be lead intact to the fast pass machines.

Where does the RSR FP line start forming? I need to make sure I am in that line!

 

[figment_jii]

Where does the RSR FP line start forming? I need to make sure I am in that line!

There is usually a CM with a sign indicating where the line ends. Unless you're one of the very first people in the park, you probably will see the line of folks standing in front of the Carthay Circle Theater. Just follow that line until you see the CM with the sign.

It's on the left side of the walkway past Buena Vista Street. It goes in front of the Carthy Circle Theater, then heads down Hollywood Blvd (in front of the Playhouse Disney) and often keeps going!

 

[Meech Loves Mickey]

There is usually a CM with a sign indicating where the line ends. Unless you're one of the very first people in the park, you probably will see the line of folks standing in front of the Carthay Circle Theater. Just follow that line until you see the CM with the sign.

It's on the left side of the walkway past Buena Vista Street. It goes in front of the Carthy Circle Theater, then heads down Hollywood Blvd (in front of the Playhouse Disney) and often keeps going!

Many thanks!!! We leave in 3 days, and I'm uber nervous about my son getting to ride RSR. I know I shouldn't stress, but I can't help it!

 

[Girimama33]

You can't miss it. When you go up BVS towards CCT, you will see the line forming down to Hollywood Blvd. We seemed to get in line right at CCT the days we arrived early.

 

[cats mom]

You can't miss it. When you go up BVS towards CCT, you will see the line forming down to Hollywood Blvd. We seemed to get in line right at CCT the days we arrived early.

But don't stress if you don't arrive early and are back farther than that. I've had to trek all the way to the end of the street, where the line turned and started back toward Tower of Terror, and we still got FP's. Granted our return time was late in the evening, but don't be discouraged if you end up way back in a really long line.

 

[mrswh]

Many thanks!!! We leave in 3 days, and I'm uber nervous about my son getting to ride RSR. I know I shouldn't stress, but I can't help it!

Don't stress about it! Just get there at opening and you'll get a FP for sure. Have fun!!

 

[lsulindy]

Are there characters out in the 30 minutes between when you can get in and rope drop? I seem to remember reading somewhere that this would be a good time to meet characters?

 

[figment_jii]

Many thanks!!! We leave in 3 days, and I'm uber nervous about my son getting to ride RSR. I know I shouldn't stress, but I can't help it!

As PPs have said, don't worry if you see a really long line! In general (and there are obviously going to be exceptions and days when this isn't true), RSR FP tend to run out between 60 and 90 minutes after regular park opening. So if you're there at opening, you should be fine.

Are there characters out in the 30 minutes between when you can get in and rope drop? I seem to remember reading somewhere that this would be a good time to meet characters?

That's a good question. Two weeks ago, I don't recall seeing the characters out around BVS before the official park opening (but I wasn't really looking for them either). I remember seeing them not long after opening (as I headed over to DLR after getting my RSR FPs).

 

[lucysmom]

If you are staying on property (Grand Californian) and you have an early entry morning, do the gates still open a half hour early?

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

Are there characters out in the 30 minutes between when you can get in and rope drop? I seem to remember reading somewhere that this would be a good time to meet characters?

Last week DL had a lot of characters out early in the morning. I don't recall seeing any at CA other than the actual cars.

 

[coaches24]

In DL I remember seeing characters out on main street before the rope drop every time.

 

[ValpoCory]

If you are staying on property (Grand Californian) and you have an early entry morning, do the gates still open a half hour early?

I don't think there is 30 minute shopping period for EMH.

 

[figment_jii]

If you are staying on property (Grand Californian) and you have an early entry morning, do the gates still open a half hour early?

The gates for DLR didn't open until the MM/EMH time started (9 am in the case of the day I went). It took almost half an hour to get into the park. I didn't see special gates for hotel guests.

 

[mrswh]

If you are staying on property (Grand Californian) and you have an early entry morning, do the gates still open a half hour early?

No. They open at the beginning of EMH and there is no "rope drop."

 

[Malcon10t]

If you are staying on property (Grand Californian) and you have an early entry morning, do the gates still open a half hour early?

For Early Entry to either park, the gates open at the time stated. The gates generally open 30 mins prior to park opening at either park, this is subject to change daily.

 

[brockash]

We were there the first week of November, and they never opened earlier then the posted opening times. I thought it was really odd, since all the parks at WDW generally do, but we were always the the first few in line at a gate, and not once did they open early. In fact twice they started letting ppl. through about 5 mins. late. I'm not a fan of the way they do openings at Disneyland. They don't open bag check very early either (maybe 15-20 mins.) before the parks are scheduled to open. We've never had to wait for bag check to open at WDW, and there are times we're there very early.

 

[mrswh]

We were there the first week of November, and they never opened earlier then the posted opening times. I thought it was really odd, since all the parks at WDW generally do, but we were always the the first few in line at a gate, and not once did they open early. In fact twice they started letting ppl. through about 5 mins. late. I'm not a fan of the way they do openings at Disneyland. They don't open bag check very early either (maybe 15-20 mins.) before the parks are scheduled to open. We've never had to wait for bag check to open at WDW, and there are times we're there very early.

I think this would be better - this way you don't have to wake up as early! If nobody else is getting into the parks early, you don't need to either.