When to Enter DL to avoid crazy entry lines- but still get relatively low crowds?

bayareadisneyland

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Oct 21, 2008
Messages
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My husband is not a fan of lines. AT. ALL (he will literally sit on a bench and people watch and sit out rides w/ a long line). How long does it take to work through the initial lines to get into the park. He balked last time we arrived to get into DL and the entry lines were back past the midway point of the plaza.

Yes, I know, arrive 30-45 mins before gates open, but have a large party, five day hoppers, small kids and on Sunday, 4/22, we aren't going to get to the DL gate at 7:15 for a 8am opening (or utilize EE at DCA at 7am either). This is our first full day and I can't burn everyone out- they really want a leisurely pace (would be different if it were just me!).

Is there a sweet spot where entry lines die down, but the local crowds have not arrived? 8:30am? 9:00am? I would imagine things get worse before they get better?

Thank you!
 
I want to know too! Our kids can’t handle waiting in the bag check line. We need das to wait in a ride line and for some reason bag check has more pushing and jostling for position and they can’t handle it.

We tried it go latish last time 10:30 at a 10 am opening and things hadn’t died down yet. This is our first trip with 8 am opening. Not sure when to get there.
 
My husband is not a fan of lines. AT. ALL (he will literally sit on a bench and people watch and sit out rides w/ a long line). How long does it take to work through the initial lines to get into the park. He balked last time we arrived to get into DL and the entry lines were back past the midway point of the plaza.

Yes, I know, arrive 30-45 mins before gates open, but have a large party, five day hoppers, small kids and on Sunday, 4/22, we aren't going to get to the DL gate at 7:15 for a 8am opening (or utilize EE at DCA at 7am either). This is our first full day and I can't burn everyone out- they really want a leisurely pace (would be different if it were just me!).

Is there a sweet spot where entry lines die down, but the local crowds have not arrived? 8:30am? 9:00am? I would imagine things get worse before they get better?

Thank you!
On a weekend in early November we arrived at the gates about 15 minutes before 8am EMH, and had only a few people in front of us in the line on either day. No uber-early arrival needed. That was for EMH, though, not regular park opening.
 
On a weekend in early November we arrived at the gates about 15 minutes before 8am EMH, and had only a few people in front of us in the line on either day. No uber-early arrival needed. That was for EMH, though, not regular park opening.
Was that at the bag check 15 min early?
 

My husband is not a fan of lines. AT. ALL (he will literally sit on a bench and people watch and sit out rides w/ a long line). How long does it take to work through the initial lines to get into the park. He balked last time we arrived to get into DL and the entry lines were back past the midway point of the plaza.

Yes, I know, arrive 30-45 mins before gates open, but have a large party, five day hoppers, small kids and on Sunday, 4/22, we aren't going to get to the DL gate at 7:15 for a 8am opening (or utilize EE at DCA at 7am either). This is our first full day and I can't burn everyone out- they really want a leisurely pace (would be different if it were just me!).

Is there a sweet spot where entry lines die down, but the local crowds have not arrived? 8:30am? 9:00am? I would imagine things get worse before they get better?

Thank you!

When we were leaving for midday naps around 1:30 the security lines were super short
 
It seems that once they open the gates and the lines start moving that things ease up - up until that point the lines can do only one thing - grow! That can make people feel a bit stressed as there is no relief from the lines.

The trip before this past one we showed up super early - we were like right at the gate - my DD was determined to be first in line - and honestly unless it's early entry it gets you nowhere doing that. This trip we did not do that as it honestly is not worth it. We'd arrive to security just after 8:30 for a 9:00 opening and the lines for security were not that long, then once we got into line for the parks the lines were already moving well - then since we are a party of 4 without any strollers or slow walkers we passed a LOT of people once in the park to get close to the front of rope drop. Once in line for rope drop we bought MP and booked our first fast pass to use after getting on rides with a short wait. The only day we showed up earlier than that was for the MM at DL where we showed up around 6:30 for the 7:00 opening and we were the second party in line and we had maybe a handful of people ahead of us on Peter Pan. You really don't have to show up super early - if you are in the crowd at rope drop when they open the park, then you will get plenty done!
 
I just want to point out the April 22 is Dapper Day. Dapper Day will be very busy getting busier as the day goes on. It’s probably worth it to get there as early as you can on that day.
 
Yes, I know, arrive 30-45 mins before gates open, but have a large party, five day hoppers, small kids and on Sunday, 4/22, we aren't going to get to the DL gate at 7:15 for a 8am opening (or utilize EE at DCA at 7am either). This is our first full day and I can't burn everyone out- they really want a leisurely pace (would be different if it were just me!).

Is there a sweet spot where entry lines die down, but the local crowds have not arrived? 8:30am? 9:00am? I would imagine things get worse before they get better?

I know you won't want to hear this, but in most cases arriving at the DL gate before opening is the only way you will get both a short security line and short ride lines. You don't necessarily need to get there at 7:15, but try to be through security and at the DL gate by 7:40.

8:30am or 9:00am? Well, I guess that depends on if you are staying onsite or not. If you are going through security from Harbor Blvd, the bag check lines can be enormous during that time frame. We stayed at BWPPI in mid February, and at around 8:30am those bag check lines looked to be at least an hour. Luckily we had no bags, so we got to use the no bag line and walked right through. We normally stay onsite, though. The security lines won't be as bad coming from the GCH or the DLH end of Downtown Disney.

I don't mean to be a downer. But, Disneyland is a crowded place. You're best chance to beat the crowds is to get there before they do. Some people get to DL gate 30 min early and only wait 10 minutes or so for rides such as Space Mountain, Indiana Jones, Peter Pan, etc. Other people show up at lunchtime and wait 1-2 hours for the same rides.

I know it's hard to get going that early. But, you will have a huge advantage if you do.
 
8:30am or 9:00am? Well, I guess that depends on if you are staying onsite or not. If you are going through security from Harbor Blvd, the bag check lines can be enormous during that time frame. We stayed at BWPPI in mid February, and at around 8:30am those bag check lines looked to be at least an hour. Luckily we had no bags, so we got to use the no bag line and walked right through. We normally stay onsite, though. The security lines won't be as bad coming from the GCH or the DLH end of Downtown Disney.

Yeah, you mentioned not using a DCA early entry, so that leads me to believe you are staying on site? If so, and if you are using security on that side, you'll be in better shape than you would be on the Harbor side... but you're still likely going to have long lines to get into the actual parks, especially on Dapper Day. I'm sure that the line ebbs and flows, but it does not do so in a predictable manner.
 
To me, arriving way before the park opens to avoid a long line is the same as being in a long line. I may be first in line, but I am waiting as long or longer than if I came after park opening. Not worth it to me. I like to get there 30 minutes after park opening.
 
To me, arriving way before the park opens to avoid a long line is the same as being in a long line. I may be first in line, but I am waiting as long or longer than if I came after park opening. Not worth it to me. I like to get there 30 minutes after park opening.
It depends on how much park time you have available to you. If you live close by and can come back other days, it's not a big loss to be in line outside while the park is open. I just prefer to maximize my park time so I don't care as much about waiting before the park is open. Especially since we're from another time zone and up anyway.
 
OP, if you are on the DTD side of things and plan to come after park open, then see how long the monorail line is and consider hopping on there. I wouldn't do that if you want to be there right at rope drop, but 30 minutes to an hour later, it might be a good option.
 


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