That was very helpful. Thank you.
We did not. And let me just say that in the scheme of things, I know this is not a real life problem. Being in the park when the news came out about Kobe Bryant, really put it in perspective. However, we were pretty crushed not to get on the ride! I told my girls we were on an emotional roller coaster, which was not the ride we wanted! LOL I’m actually amazed they were able to get through the regular boarding groups (up to 81). They didn’t board any of the back-up groups. At 8:00 ish the ride was down again and still only up to something like group 79(?). People who got into the park several minutes before we did had group 87 and they went home disappointed as well.
I think a lot of folks bailed from DL and went to DCA. The lines getting into DCA around 10:00 AM looked like what you’d see for park opening! And we were part of that rush. I think the Lunar New Year stuff was also a big draw (and it’s totally cool and worth it).
I also heard they didn’t start scanning people into the park until 7:40 AM which seems later than they had been doing - especially opening weekend. That would also account for the long lines in the esplanade. Honestly, the sheer numbers of people and the chaos were overwhelming. I think if we had burrowed into the center a little more we might have gotten in sooner, but not sure how much sooner. We did hop lines a couple of times and shaved off minutes. The real issue was the parking back-up.
Speaking of which … words of wisdom … if you are turning left off of Ball Road onto Disneyland Drive and into the parking garage, stay in the right-most left turn lane. We were in the far left turn lane and our lane is maybe the only lane entering the garage that does not splinter into two or more lanes as it enters. Cars to the right of us and cars to the left were going so much faster and we realized after we got into the garage that it was because their lane and had become two or even three lanes. We were not in a place to change lanes and in any case every lane was backed up by 6:30 way outside the garage. Add to that, we had a cashier in our lane that was not a parking garage regular and quite chatty. I usually appreciate friendly CM’s, but I just wanted to park. This 40 minute delay at the parking garage is really what cost us. I thought we’d be at the esplanade by 7:00 and we hadn’t even parked.
So now I’m already thinking … when can we go back? LOL Thanks for all of your data crunching and stats gathering and advice. (Actually the procurement process of the BG went very smoothly. We probably had our BG within seconds of scanning in.)
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Oh, this story is so disheartening! We are going to be there Wed-Sat this week, long planned, and I am wondering what time we need to get in line in the morning to get into the park and have a shot. Parking won’t be an issue, since we’re in a hotel across the street. Does anybody have a sense of the “safe” time to be in line? 90min early? 2 hours?
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I think if you arrive at security an hour early you should be fine. Try for a boarding group each day and if the first day doesn’t work out, arrive earlier the next.
The main reason I wouldn’t recommend arriving earlier than that is because even if you’re in the park, it’s still a crapshoot and the more time you’ve invested, the more disappointed you will be if you don’t get one.
That said, I haven’t seen anyone say they arrived at least one hour early to the main gate and didn’t make it in by park opening (arriving at a parking structure is a different story and can complicate things).
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Don’t be disheartened! Even with all of our troubles we got boarding group 105 which on most days would have gotten us on the ride. It just happened to coincide with the worst day of operations to date. Unfortunately we only had one day in the parks because we were trying to take advantage of my annual pass before it expired (today!) and both of my daughters needed to be back at school Monday (well one missed Monday and is back today). If you have several days, I’m sure you’ll get to ride more than once. The truth is that we could have been in the park by 8:00 and still gotten a backup boarding group. It is very random. I also don’t think you’ll have the crowds on the weekdays. Good luck and let us know how it goes!
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Day 11 Timeline 1/27/20
Link to OP
Red line is 1/27/20. Yellow is presumed downtime.
Yesterday was a great day for RotR at Disneyland! Only one instance of measurable downtime (about 40 minutes) and they got up to BG 122! Let’s hope for another day like that.
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Way to keep perspective about it all @Julianne_fki. So sorry you didn’t make it on the ride. I’ve had my best laid plans ruined by parking too. Wishing you the best of luck for your next trip. 
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Hey, is this forum open to the public or is it just for subscribers? I wanted to post the link to the RotR How To in my DL Meetup group cuz they’re attempting RotR on Saturday.
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This forum is fully accessible with a free Touring Plans subscription (posting, bookmarking). You can read no LaCava topics without a subscription.
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Got it. Thanks!
Well, here we are! We got in line 65 minutes before park opening and are about 20 people back from the turnstiles. Security was quick and easy. It’s 45 before park opening now, and the lines are about halfway to DCA behind us.
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Can someone clarify entrance procedures on days Disneyland has Extra Magic Hours? Do they allow everyone to get inside and hold non-resort guests at Main Hub? Or do they hold people behind the tapstils?
Fast fingered husband got us into BG 31! Park opened at 7:30, we sat at the Jolly Holiday until 8. My app froze, but he got in, though not before he had to remove some random ticket# from our family’s group?!? Anyway, much relief all around.
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Yes I would like to know this too. I haven’t heard a specific answer, but I presume that they make EE people show their room key or admission before getting through the ropes at the hub. It’s easier when they are only admitting EE because if you don’t have it you won’t make it through the turnstiles.
Fantastic! Congrats and hope you have a great ride!
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Day 12 Timeline 1/28/20
Link to OP
Red line is 1/28/20. Yellow is presumed downtime.
Yesterday was another great day for RotR! Just one instance of 1.25hr downtime in the morning, then steady till the evening. Topped out at BG 115 for a 9pm closing.
For reference, Backup BGs lasted only 1 minute yesterday (1/28). As of 8:28am today (1/29), Backup BGs are still distributing.
I asked at the ticket booth. They will allow non-EE people into the park about 20 min early as usual and hold them with a rope. In her words, “it’s just two rope drops.”
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I was there Saturday and we were let in about 7:30 (EMH/MM at 7. regular open at 8). We were just held in the hub. I was shocked at the huge number of people who were still waiting to get in through the EMH/MM gates at 7:30- guessing most of them missed all of their EMH/MM as they were not there early enough to get any benefit due to long lines to enter.
Saturday there were 3 of us and we got BG 38. Sunday there were 8 of us and we got BG 10. Monday just 2 of us and we got BG 25.
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Thanks for the info!
Were there separate lines for EMH/day guests? What time did you arrive to be allowed in at 7:30am? I will be working with a 9 hours jet lag, so waking up early should not be an issue (this day in Disneyland has 3 goals: RotR, coasters and forcing my body to adapt to California time by staying awake).
Yes, all of the gates on the Harbor Blvd side were labeled Magic Morning/Extra Magic Hours. All of the gates on the Downtown Disney side were for regular admission. I got there at 7:15 I think, but my friend was already there and in line so I joined her. I would be at the gates at least 45 min early I think.
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At the hub, how did they allow EE people through? Any scanning or just showing admission?