what time do you get to the parks?

[sunlver]

Now we never stay on Disney property, so I always check out when the early hrs are for Disney guests. We are early people, we always arrive at least 15 mintues before park opening.I have 3 kids, and the youngest is almost 3. It is important for us to do things early on in the day when everybodys personality is still fresh and happy
We were in Disney last week. It was VERY hot.. The last couple of days it got to be 95. We were glad to be at the parks at opening and do rides with almost no wait. We normally leave the parks between 1-2 and head back to the hotel for a swim and nap(for the youngest). As we are heading out, we are extremely hot, sweating like pigs and all that fun stuff. It amazes me how many people are just coming into the parks at 1 or 2 pm with the heat of 95 and long lines. Yes, Iknow there are fast passes and all that, but normally the fast passes are for hrs later at this time.

I know we are all different, and I know for me, the weather has a big part in it.
So when do you arrive, early in the morning, or later in the day?

Does it bother anybody to arrive at 2pm when its 95 out? Maybe Im just the crazy one

 

[Robo]

We arrive 30 minutes before the gates open, EMH or regular opening time days.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

We try to get there about 20 to 30 minutes as well .

AK we don't worry too much as we enter the alternite gate so we can get there a bit later and still end up front of the rope drop.

I do agree you can get more done in those first 2 to 4 hours then you can get done the rest of the night most of the time.

 

[blessedby3]

We do the same. Arrive before the opening- whatever time it is- and stay all day. We only go in the off season, though, so we dont deal with the heat. My family complains a bit about having to get up early, but they will have time to rest when we get home from our vacation. We stay on property too.

 

[kandmwedding]

I am absolutely not a morning person so even though I might plan to get there early I don't usually arrive to the parks until between 9 and 10. I do take advantage of evening EMH though, so I still get my fill of the rides.

 

[disnee4mygirls]

Now we never stay on Disney property, so I always check out when the early hrs are for Disney guests. We are early people, we always arrive at least 15 mintues before park opening.I have 3 kids, and the youngest is almost 3. It is important for us to do things early on in the day when everybodys personality is still fresh and happy
We were in Disney last week. It was VERY hot.. The last couple of days it got to be 95. We were glad to be at the parks at opening and do rides with almost no wait. We normally leave the parks between 1-2 and head back to the hotel for a swim and nap(for the youngest). As we are heading out, we are extremely hot, sweating like pigs and all that fun stuff. It amazes me how many people are just coming into the parks at 1 or 2 pm with the heat of 95 and long lines. Yes, Iknow there are fast passes and all that, but normally the fast passes are for hrs later at this time.

I know we are all different, and I know for me, the weather has a big part in it.
So when do you arrive, early in the morning, or later in the day?

Does it bother anybody to arrive at 2pm when its 95 out? Maybe Im just the crazy one

I agree! We always get there prior to opening (as early as I can drag my kids out and as early as they will let us in the gates) and then we leave in the middle of the day for a few hours and go back around 5. Back BK (before kids) I would go and stay ALL day! It's important to us to get there early as things get crowded quickly and it's just like my DDs to say 'I gotta potty' after we have already waited in line for over an hour! So the earlier, the better for us! Plus we always try to get an EARLY ADR so we can get in the park BEFORE it opens!

 

[earthfaries]

We also get there early, about 30 minutes before the park opens and stay until it closes! We go in Sept. to beat the high level crowds and some of the heat also. We know that we are not on a relaxing vacation at WDW! We expect and get no sleep, are hot and tired every day, but we love it! We are at Disney We need a vacation from our vacation at WDW!!!

 

[LISAMWDW]

We always get there 15-30 minutes before opening! We know from experience that's the best time to get in the attractions before the crowds.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

We aim for 15 minutes prior to park opening. Sometimes we make it, sometimes we are a bit late. We're usually way too worn out to do morning EMHs, so we try to go against the EMH schedule.

 

[icecrystahl]

In the 14 years I've been going to WDW, (I'm 15!) our family hasn't arrived in the parks at ropedrop. ): It could be a total possibility if my dad would get up and ready each morning because my siblings, mom, and I are always up at the crack of dawn each morning hoping for it to be the day we get to the parks at ropedrop! lol We usually get there at around 9-10AM.

 

[LorilieMarie]

We usually get there around 9:00, but then sometimes hop to another park around 2:00 or 3:00 Maybe that's what the people you saw were doing.

 

[toyotaae86lg]

I would have to say these two 23 yearolds sleep in a bit. We wake up around 9 and get ready. We are at the parks 10:30-11:00 ish.

 

[Magalex]

Yes I promote morning touring constantly especially summer season. We were there 6/8-6/16 and it worked out great. Leave by 1:30, take a rest, swim, then back at the parks at 6. I am really pushing that idea to my sister and her family. She and her DH are taking their grandson next year. They are in their 50's and first time visitors. I hope they will listen. My brother in law takes 2 hrs to move in the morning. My sister would love it in the morning she is a school teacher. I tell her good luck.

 

[nemonoah]

We usually dont get to the parks until about 9:30-10:00, and there's times we think thats too early!!

 

[SqueakyMouse]

Could it be that the folks you saw entering the parks were returning? We try to be at the park with morning EMH when it opens. We stay for a couple of hours then, when the park starts to fill up, either head to another park or back to our resort. Now, if we go back to our resort, we'll head back into another park in the early afternoon. We either have a very late TS lunch or take-in some air conditioned shows/rides in a relaxed manner.

 

[Mariposa]

Another rope drop family here. I've tried touring without hitting the parks at rope drop- it's worth getting up early for! Especially if it's hot.

 

[JennyDrake]

We live on a farm and function on "farm time," so we are up at the crack of dawn regardless. We are there 20-30 minutes before opening.

 

[pooch]

we usually show up around noon and stay til they throw us out!! Always go late Aug or early Sept (late Sept this year) and have no complaints about how much we are able to see and we never encounter long lines (maybe 15 min?). I know I'm in the minority but I don't see the attraction of being first in line

 

[cudworth]

we are at the rope drop a min of 30 mins before for both emh and regular hours. We find we are ahead of the crowd all day. I would rather stand and joke with CM's for 30 mins than stand in lines all day .

 

[jpolak]

We try to arrive 20-25 min before scheduled opening time. We are usually done by 1:30 or so. I love watching those people arrive as we are leaving.