Phillyoz said: "I am coming from Australia and will be trying the cancellation line for a Wednesday matinee on June 21. Have investigated the best I can and have the following questions:
1. What time do people start these days? I've seen everything from midnight to 6am
2. I read that matinee is often easier to get than evening. Anyone able to comment on this?
3. Can someone please confirm that I will be there until the show starts and that it's unlikely there will be anything available until 1 hour to 30 minutes before curtain call?
4. If I also register for the lottery, what is the time frame for an outcome with this?
5. How bad has the 'line sitter' situation become?
6. Any other suggestions would be most welcome as I am originally from the area but my Aussie partner has never been and this is a bucket list trip.
Thanks! :)
"
Hi Phillyoz, I've numbered your questions so I can answer them more easily.
1. For a matinee, getting there before 6am would pretty much guarantee you a ticket. This would of course also depend on weather conditions - the day I went, it had just rained the night before and the pavements were still quite damp, so perhaps some people who planned to queue did not end up joining it.
2. I think the more common saying is that it allows you more chances for a ticket. This is seeing as on two show days, you would be able to continue queueing for the following show if you aren't able to get the first one. However, I personally see it as "easier" in the sense that you do not have to wait as long as you do for an evening show, and would usually be able to get your tickets by about noon or right after if you are near the beginning of the line.
3. They will likely start calling in the cancellation queue to get tickets after the deadline for lottery tickets has passed. On matinee days, this would be 11am. We got our tickets at about 11.30am, and we were third in line. This could go on till 5 minutes before show time, but if you get there early enough you should have the time to go off and have a good well-deserved meal before catching the show. (Note: If you get your tickets less than half an hour before the show, all parties who are attending the show must be present)
4. Lotteries open at 8am for matinee days, and close at 10am. You will be able to check the outcome immediately after the lottery closes, and if you win you will have to make payment online within the hour (by 11am). For evening shows, the lottery opens at 10am and closes at 1pm, and payment is to be made by 2pm.
5. I think it would depend on the day you are going, but these line-sitters do get there very early (about 3am or earlier). They're very nice though, and are open to telling you about how many tickets they need and all. They may even talk to you about the show as many of them have seen it multiple times.
6. I'm not from New York so I'll leave it up to someone else!
Good luck!!!!! Bring a pillow, it'll definitely help.
Updated On: 5/9/17 at 12:41 AM
did the line today for the matinee on Saturday, May 6th. My boyfriend and I joined the cancellation queue at 5.30am, and were 4th in line. 1st (single) got there at 3.20am, 2nd (line-sitter) got there 3.30am and 3rd (pair) got there at 4am. We were in a pretty good spot and we bought a cheap pillow to bring along after reading about how it helps and it definitely did. Another woman (pair) joined at 6am, then another couple after them at about 7am. The line got longer after that with a couple of singles and pairs at 7.30am and 8am, but after about 9am the line was going past the marquee and people who came by to join the line just walked away - I suppose they thought their prospects were bad? 
