Early Admission?

Last year I attended the park after staying at the Breakers on Monday, August 26. We arrived at the north side entrance (near the magnum) for early admission at 9:15am.

There was a fairly long line that didn't start moving until a bit after 9:30am, and even then it moved very slowly. We did not enter the park until 9:50am or so and when we did neither Millenium Force OR Wicked Twister were running. When we passed through the gates, incidentally, noone asked even to see the pass we were given from the hotel. Within 5 minutes of entering the park ALL the rides started running (though MF remained closed for the early part of the day).

So what happened to me last year? Is this the norm for early admission or the exception? I'm asking because I'm going again this year and I'm uncertain whether to stay at an offsite motel for $50 or pay the extra $20 for Breakers Express.

I would love a half hour of ERT but I'll feel really stupid if I get "fooled again." Anyone know what happened last year or if I should roll the dice again this year?

Early admission and ERT is from 9:00 to 9:30 am only, so if you entered the park at 9:50 am it is not surprising that the employees did not check to see if you had a Resort Card. (At 9:30, after "God Bless America" has played, all guests are allowed to enter the park so we no longer are looking for Joe Cool passes or Resort Cards).

Rides, other than the two chosen for ERT, open at 10 am, so it makes sense that they opened approximately 5 minutes after you entered. You weren't fooled; you just need to arrive earlier to the park to take advantage of the offered ERT.
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~Lee~

Group Sales ATL '01
Group Sales TL '02
Park Admissions Zone 5 Supervisor '03
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"The greatest leaders don't take credit for their actions; they don't have to."

RATS!

It must have been the park hours 10am -8pm that confused me. (i see now at least that they let GP in at 9:30 even though it says park hours 10-8)

So I guess I was standing in line with the non-resort guests and didn't realize it? Grrrr...

Yeah - You have to arrive at 8 am to be one of the first inside the gates at 9 for ERT.

Ok, we've decided to splurge and are staying at the Breakers, thanks to your response letting us realize we screwed up last year.

So, out of curiousity, what 2 rides on average are people getting ERT on in the morning? I know the park won't say which 2 rides it will be, but I was curious as to which 2 it will likely be based on what it's been mostly so far this season.

On Tuesday the rides that were open for ERT were Dragster and MF. On Wednesday it was MF and Magnum.

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TTD launches 2 (first launch in front row, second in fourth row)
*** This post was edited by wingnut 7/31/2003 12:31:07 PM ***

was dragster open at the very beginning of ert?

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Guess what? I got a fever! And the only prescription... is more cowbell!

Yeah, it was open from ERT til around 11:30 or so. Half hour wait including front row wait thanks to ERT. The workers at the gate said it was the first time that Dragster was open for ERT.
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TTD launches 2 (first launch in front row, second in fourth row)

i hope it happens again when i go. do you think it is much better shape and will start to open for ert on a more regular basis?

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Guess what? I got a fever! And the only prescription... is more cowbell!

on Tuesday can't remember the time it had a roll back with people and I didn't see it run the rest of the day.
Wednesday it opened around 4 had a couple of breakdowns of about 15 minutes, but was running solid. We left about 9:30 so I am not sure what happened after that.
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TTD launches 2 (first launch in front row, second in fourth row)
*** This post was edited by wingnut 7/31/2003 3:10:01 PM ***