What time should we get there?

[dbragas]

Headed over to SW for the first time next month. The park opens at 9 AM, but what time should we get there in order to be one of the first in the park? Thx.

 

[RabFlmom]

Headed over to SW for the first time next month. The park opens at 9 AM, but what time should we get there in order to be one of the first in the park? Thx.

Before 8:30. They do not open the parking lot till 9AM so cars are lined up to get in early.

 

[dbragas]

Thanks. Not sure if we're going to drive there from WDW or get a car to take us. Does anyone know how it will work if a car drops us off? Does the car have to wait to get into the parking lot too or can it just drop us off somewhere?

 

[FLOIR]

I believe they do open the parking lot earlier then 9:00. 9 is when the park itself is scheduled to open.

However, they will usually start to let people in the park gates at 8:45, at least into the park area near the gate. This is to allow people to get breakfast at Cypress Bakery, to get park maps, and start to schedule their days. You can also go ahead and make any reservations you may want to make for the day. I can not with 100% confidence say they do this each and every day, but I really think they do.

 

[FLOIR]

Thanks. Not sure if we're going to drive there from WDW or get a car to take us. Does anyone know how it will work if a car drops us off? Does the car have to wait to get into the parking lot too or can it just drop us off somewhere?

There is a separate entrance for taxi and busses and cars dropping people off. If I recall correctly, there is no gate on that road, so they can drive up, drop you off, and leave at any time. You will be very close to the front gate, although not directly in front of it.

 

[RabFlmom]

I believe they do open the parking lot earlier then 9:00. 9 is when the park itself is scheduled to open.

However, they will usually start to let people in the park gates at 8:45, at least into the park area near the gate. This is to allow people to get breakfast at Cypress Bakery, to get park maps, and start to schedule their days. You can also go ahead and make any reservations you may want to make for the day. I can not with 100% confidence say they do this each and every day, but I really think they do.

Whenever I have gone they didn't open the booths for parking until 9 when we have gotten there early. Maybe on busy days and if the lines get really long they let you in earlier????

 

[FLOIR]

I don't know, but I drove by the parking lot today at about 8:45 and cars were being parked. They already had 3 rows filled, so they had been parking for a while.

I normally drive by at about that same time 3 or 4 days a week, and I do not recall the last time I did not see cars being parked before 9. However, I never really paid much attention until this thread. If it has been a while since you have been, maybe they changed the opening time? Or maybe you just had bad luck and they were late opening on the days you were there.

I will continue to check the lot on the days I drive past.