Arrival time question based on last year's intel

We got there at 9am and got in line. We got in, set up camp and made it to the first show as well.It was really a crap shoot about when you got there and when you got in. We will be arriving earlier this year... with about 50,000 other people.

You are probably correct.

Looks like we can either not sleep at all or end up in the field of broken dreams. Grr!

Maybe we'll win those VIP tix from Sheetz or something. I don't even care about the rest of the package; I just want an easier entrance.

This is pretty well documented on some old thread around here. Since this topic has, and is likely to, rear it's head again, I'll throw in what I heard during lockn last year from a guy who was involved.

The organizers did have a plan in place that would have worked if not for some breakdowns. It's known by the organizers where the breakdowns were last year. First, they did not have paid/trained staff far enough down the line. This resulted in confusion and frustration among both patrons and, importantly, volunteers. The volunteers took off thier vests and bailed, leaving no direction or organization in the field. Mob rule took over and organized entry in a way that did not exactly result in first in, first out. Some were lucky, some were sacrificial (and we love and appreciate you) but what did happen was the line started to move. Second, the entry search was supposed to be a thirty second cursory search. Not the five to ten minute thorough search most of us had. Anyone good at math can figure out how many more cars/minute can be moved if five to ten minutes per are shaved.

Now my $.02. I have every confidence that these will be corrected and we will have an easier (didn't say easy, easier) time getting in. Hoping it is one that's fair to those who follow instructions. If they say dont show until 9, don't show until 9. If you come at 3am and end up in a penalty box, you made that choice. We are a great at many things. Strict rule following aint 'zactly one of them. <raises hand> I'll be coming down Wednesday night.

I too am coming from N,Y, I intend to drive over night on Wednesday arriving very early Thursday morning hoping that by the time we get in line things are moving as if this is what they were born to do. What are my chances of this happening?

I just just doubtful that what happened last year is going to be at all predictive of what we are going to encounter this year. Hopefully the system will be totally revamped and run a lot smoother.

Maybe this is just wishful thinking.

When we rounded the corner about 9:30am in to the VIP entrance road last year, I remember saying, "How f---ing many of these tickets did they sell?!"  I guess it was probably easier than the GA entrance for most of those people, but damn, it still sucked.  I'm holding onto weak hope we will be allowed in Wednesday night.   

If only my crystal ball were working...

Last year I had planned on arriving around midnight, but there was talk that the Stateys were going to turn people away for coming too early. So I held off for a few hours and got there around 6am or so.

A lot of us partied in the field, but when I saw that it was 9am, I got in my car right away. Unfortunately a lot of people hadn't noticed what time it was and were nowhere near their cars when it was time to head on in.  I was then able to get around the parked and unmanned cars and went in with no problems.

Recently I heard that they are going to open up sooner but no definite time has been announced. But I'm thinking they might possibly open at 6am. Don't know. I'm just going to do like last year and play it by ear.

There will be no consensus on a message board. I think it is physically impossible. That being said. I left Baltimore airport last year around 1:45 pm on Thursday and drove straight to the venue arriving around 4:45. Then sat in the field til after 9. There were far worse places to be that given Thursday than that field for 4 hours, but I hope that I can eliminate that. So this year I told my cousin if he wants to ride with me we are going to Charlottesville Wednesday night. I plan on sleeping in a bed Wednesday as I think the good sleep outweighs showing up at 1 am to get in earlier. We hope to be there around 7am and set up before music starts. Crazy optimists are we........

That's my plan also, already reserved a hotel nearby for wednesday night, getting up early and heading in around 7..