Originally Posted By 999ghosts When we go to DL we stay at the Embassy Suites. We leave for the park early enough to be first or second in line at the parking garage. We are generally on the first tram but by the time we arrive at the turnstiles to the park, the lines are generally about halfway to DCA. I understand a lot of people walk from their hotels. My questions are how early does every one walking leave their hotel when the park is scheduled to open at 9 am? Does anyone ever get dropped off at the gate while other members of their party go park their vehicle? How early do you get dropped off? Just curious.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ Oh wow! I've never understood the urge to be first through the turnstile. 10 minutes waiting in the line at the gate doesn't make or break my day. I simply can't imagine dropping off people while someone parks the car unless there are mobility issues involved.
Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM We stay at the BWPPI across the street...a 5 minute walk at most. (my personal best is 1 minute, 27 seconds) If the park opens up at 9, I'm up and pacing the floor of my room at 5:30....making noise to awaken DD and DH by 6:30....shoving them out the door and to the continental breakfast at 7:00...squawking at them to hurry up and finish eating at 7:30...refilling my coffee cup and grabbing a muffin at 7:35...walking (almost running) across the street and getting to the gates at 7:40. We then spend the next hour or so laughing, singing silly Disney show tunes, jumping up and down like fools, chatting with other Disney line standers(making some new friends, usually), deciding on which ride to go on first, talking about grabbing a Mickey Mouse pretzel and a Churro, then laugh some more. But, people say I'm not normal, so maybe I'm not the one to give an opinion on this matter.............
Originally Posted By x Pirate_Princess x MOLLYSMOM --> I could have written that exact same thing!!! I've been in line at 7:15am at the parking garage, waiting to enter, because it didn't open until 7:30 for an 8am opening. Yes, the lines to get in were long, but that's because they're stacking..basically, the gates aren't open. YOu'll get in quick once they open up the gates. Sometimes, we stay nearby in Buena Park, about a 5 minute drive to Disneyland on the freeway. Other times, (like when we go on Mother's Day), we'll stay at my grandma's which is about an hour away. We still get to the parking lot early before opening. Unless you're walking, you won't make it to the gates before everyone else. They won't open the parking lot until 30-45 minutes before opening, and the first tram may not leave until it's full, especially on slower days. Once everyone's in the gates, you'll never know it looked so crowded.
Originally Posted By danmcmartin We usually stay at Hojos and we usually leave the room an hour earlier than opening. We usually are in line at or in front of the monorail tracks. We don't try and be first, but we do like to towards the front.
Originally Posted By grammy954 I think the earliest we ever got there was about 45 minutes before opening. Not worth the wait to me - if you go just after opening, then you only have 10-15 minutes in line, even on the busiest days.
Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM disneymamaof3...sure you can come! We're gonna be there for a week this august. (12th-18th) How's your singin' voice????????????
Originally Posted By mtq2223 Staying on property has its benefits, however, a little off topic, I have always felt that with the premium price you pay to say on property that Disney hotel guests should get to enter the park earlier than everyone else. I know there is early entry, but Disney opens that up to the local area hotels as well I hear. Why should I continue to pay $350 a night when someone paying $59 across the street gets the same early entry as I do. The $300 price difference = 100 Churos.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ If all you are looking for is a place to sleep (and one that might not be very clean or great), then save your $$. If you want a great resort experience, it's worth the bucks to stay on property. (BTW, I've never paid more than $209 to stay on property. And that include the GCH)
Originally Posted By mtq2223 Well you must have an inside deal, because if I wanted to stay 1 night starting tomorrow, I would pay $380 at the Grand California and $184 at the Disneyland Hotel.
Originally Posted By disneysnout I always go early 10 min before opening, thats the only way you can get on most of the fantasyland rides..
Originally Posted By Lisann22 There are no inside deal mtq2223. You can get AP rates, deals on Expedia.com, kayak.com, etc. I believe even getawaytoday.com. You have to start your planning early and shop around.
Originally Posted By disneymamaof3 Mollysmom ~ um, er, ah good singing voice? Do I get points for spirit?
Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM disneymamaof3...let me put it this way...DH loves to sing Disney tunes, but unfortunately for everyone within ear-shot, he can't carry a tune to save his life. When you compound that with the fact that he doesn't know all the words to ANY song ever sung on the planet, but makes up his own words as he goes............ You'll fit right in!!!!!!!!!!!
Originally Posted By TrixieBel I would love to join you in the queue too! I LOVE singing (sing with a band at church a couple of Sundays a month) but my family won't join in... :-( Rgds Jenn in Sydney, Australia 15 days until we fly out for the USA!
Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM pirate princess...we could do a DNA test to be certain if you're that worried. Ok, TrixieBel, since you obviously have previous experience, you may join us in our "line singing"...it's like "line dancing" but different. You must promise to sing off-key at least a couple of times, otherwise you'll make the rest of us look bad. 15 days...how wonderfully exciting! I have a good friend that went to Sydney for a vacation after we graduated from high school...he loved it so much he never came back. He's lived there 30 years now. He comes to visit every 3 years or so, but he talks funny. We spend most of our time trying to get him to lose the accent before he heads back. He usually does, but then when he gets back there, he'll call us all and say that he's being told that he talks funny. LOL It's a viscious cycle! Anyway, have a safe and happy flight, and if you see Donald Duck, give him a pinch on his tail feathers for me, and tell him I'll see him in about 4 months.
