What time will you start standing in line for the 24 hour event?

[Kristie808]

HI,

I will be at DCA on 5/22 for one day only. As the park opens at 6am... what time will most people start standing in line from? My main goal is to ride RSR and California Screamin.. and of course to look around Carsland. I do want to get in early so that I can beat some of the crowds...

Anyone who went last year, do you know how the lines were at 6am? We are staying right across the street at the BWPPI hotel, so not a problem to get there early.

Thank you!

 

[iKristin]

I'll probably get there at 6AM when the line starts moving.

 

[SMD]

I don't think very many people will start in DCA. If there is an exclusive item for sale or a free giveaway, it will most likely be given at DL only. If that does happen, people will line up the night before, in which case, you'll be waiting in a line to get onto the esplanade, not specifically for DCA. I'd show up at 6 or 6:30 for DCA.

 

[thmcdonald1]

I'll get there whenever my baby wakes up that morning. We're in Arkansas, so I don't know if she'll experience jet lag or not, but I expect to get to the esplanade about 9 am

 

[Gisele]

1/2 past the small hand of Mickey. Just before Cinderella's coach turns back into a pumpkin, but before Minnie becomes sleepy, not to be confused of course with Sleepy, one of the infamous, that is famous Snow White's dwarves. He won't be going to the park until much later in the day, because he really isn't much of a morning person. Now Happy on the other hand is an entirely different bag man..... Lol

 

[Gisele]

I'll get there whenever my baby wakes up that morning. We're in Arkansas, so I don't know if she'll experience jet lag or not, but I expect to get to the esplanade about 9 am

She is but a wee bit of a baby, so the jet lag will fly right by her. Now when she is much older?

 

[figment_jii]

This year is likely to be different because it's the kick-off to the 60th anniversary so I expect that the crowds will be much higher at opening. Last year, they had a dance stage set up in the middle of the Esplanade, about parallel to where the compass is located. I'd say the lines to get into DL was about 2/3rd of the way to the stage (so about 3/4ths of the way to center of the Esplanade). The DCA lines were shorter, but about similar. They didn't allow guests to start lining up inside the Espanade until 3:00 am last year. I got there around 5:00 am and the lines were about half way from the monorail beam to the center of the Esplande, so they grew in the last hour, but not by huge amounts. That might be very different this year.

 

[beachdreamr1229]

I will wake up at 4AM, get dressed, and walk over from my hotel, so however long it takes to walk there (guessing I'll be in line by 4:45 or so). But, I haven't decided if I want to start in DL or DCA. If I go to DCA first, I may come closer to 5:00 or later.

 

[mrsskehan2013]

I am planning on getting there around 515-530. We are gonna to DLR first to hit up fantasyland before it gets to bad.

 

[jkolkemo]

We are hoping by 4:30, however 6 women in one huge suite with 1 bathroom. Should be interesting. How cold do you think it will be in the wee hours of the morning? Figment, what was the weather like last year?

 

[figment_jii]

It wasn't bad...I think I was wearing shorts (or light weight long pants) and a sweatshirt at that point. It was kind of one of those things...lots of people in a small(ish) area...not terrible cold. This photo was taken around 5:00 am and you can see most folks were in sweatshirts, but a fair number are in shorts.

 

[Gisele]

It wasn't bad...I think I was wearing shorts (or light weight long pants) and a sweatshirt at that point. It was kind of one of those things...lots of people in a small(ish) area...not terrible cold. This photo was taken around 5:00 am and you can see most folks were in sweatshirts, but a fair number are in shorts.

Omg! Holy shish kabob!
Looks like a million people are there.

 

[figment_jii]

It was hard to tell how many folks were actually in the Esplanade area before opening, but they were giving out lanyards to the first 2,000 people that went through security. They ran out somewhere a little before 5:00 am. I don't know if people showed up, got the lanyard, and then left, but that would mean there could have been up to 2,000 individuals within the Esplanade area at that point. I know it looks busy, and if you were trying to move around near the ticket gates, it was busy. However, further out, towards the center of the Esplanade, it was less busy.

This is what it looked like a bit earlier in the morning. See...lots more open space!

 

[Gisele]

Oh how I can't wait until I can finally rent the park all to myself. Ok I would invite some people not too many though I don't want to wait in any lines. Lol

 

[xjay]

I'm aiming to be there by 4am. Bf and I are going to do a short park day the day before so that we can be well rested for the 24 hour event

 

[iKristin]

How does parking in the structure work before they're open though? NM! I asked the DL help chat and they said it usually opens at 3AM to allow people to line up.

 

[1rockinmama]

Depending on how early I get to bed...shooting for 10pm...I will get up at 4am to walk over and be in line by 4:30...just to be safe.
Capris, t shirt, sneakers, light jacket with change of clothes in backpack JIC. Can't wait!!!