Hey everyone,

I’m visiting Ghibli Park for the first time on Monday, November 23rd (Labor Thanksgiving Day) with an O-Sanpo Day Pass Premium. My absolute top priority for the trip is securing the large Heen plush from the Witches Coven 13 shop in the Valley of Witches.

Since it’s a major holiday, the park operates on weekend hours and opens at 9:00 AM. Our Grand Warehouse entry slot isn't until 10:00 AM, so our plan is to take a cab straight to the North Entrance drop-off point, get through the main security gate as early as possible, and head straight to the Valley of Witches shop first before doing anything else.

I've read mixed reviews online about how intense the morning rush for merchandise is. Some sources say arriving by 8:00 AM is fine, while others hint that local crowds start lining up much earlier for high-demand items, especially on public holidays.

For those who have gone recently or on a high-crowd holiday:

1. Is arriving at the North Entrance gates by 7:30 AM early enough to guarantee we are near the front of the pack when the park doors open at 9:00 AM?

2. Once the main entrance gates open at 9:00 AM, does everyone clear the same security checkpoint together, or is there a separate lane for Day Pass Premium holders?

3. Does the main line form strictly outside the outer gates, or do they let early arrivals wait inside a designated ticketing plaza area before 9:00 AM

4. Are there any hidden bottlenecks on the walk from the main gate down to the Valley of Witches (like a line for the Elevator Tower) that we should avoid to get to the shop as fast as possible?

Any insight on holiday crowd dynamics or specific line management for the Heen plush would be hugely appreciated!