Hi Michael,
Welcome back to planDisney. Thank you for continuing to trust us with your planning questions! Your Disneyland Resort trip is just around the corner. I can smell the gingerbread and popcorn already!
An early start is a wonderful way to maximize your time in the parks, especially if you’re planning to rope drop. Before entering the parks, you’ll first need to go through security.
Security typically opens about an hour before the parks. If you’re walking from a
Good Neighbor Hotel, you’ll want to arrive early, as lines do form at security with other Guests eager to start their day. There are several security checkpoints around the Resort, so be sure to factor in your walking time and choose the closest access point. There is one on the west end of
Downtown Disney and another on the east side of the Esplanade between the two parks.
In my experience, Guests can usually begin entering the parks around 7:30 a.m. After scanning into your selected park, you’ll wait in a roped-off area until the official opening time of 8:00 a.m. There’s a lovely, welcoming announcement just before the rope drop. Once those ropes drop, everything the light touches is your kingdom! Just remember to walk, not run; safety first!
When it comes to rope dropping, I personally like to head for the Mountains first: Space Mountain, Matterhorn Bobsleds, or Big Thunder Mountain. While many Guests aim for Indiana Jones Adventure or Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, I’ve found that those attractions can be down at the start of the day. The Mountains tend to be more reliable in my experience.
I hope this information is helpful, Michael! If you have more questions or need tips for your upcoming trip, don’t hesitate to come back and ask us. We’d love to share more advice and sprinkle a little extra pixie dust on your Disneyland Resort vacation!
Happy planning!
—Melinda