Dodger Stadium Early Entry Review: Waymo, Yamamoto Bobblehead & Ohtani Two-Way Game

Day two of our Dodgers experience was one of the highlights of our Los Angeles trip!

This time,

we traveled to Dodger Stadium in a Waymo self-driving car

and tried Early Entry, which allowed us to enter the stadium about 90 minutes earlier than general admission.

We also received a Yoshinobu Yamamoto bobblehead

and had the incredible experience of seeing Shohei Ohtani as both a pitcher and hitter — plus a home run!

It turned into an unforgettable day.

Here is our firsthand Dodgers game-day experience from the perspective of a traveler in her 60s.

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Taking a Waymo Self-Driving Car to Dodger Stadium

One of the most interesting transportation experiences in Los Angeles is Waymo,

a fully autonomous ride service.

Since we were already in LA,

we thought,

“We have to try it at least once!”

So we decided to use Waymo on our way to Dodger Stadium.

How Waymo Works and What It Was Like

Using Waymo was very easy.

Like Uber,

you request a ride through an app.

Our vehicle was a Jaguar,

and the seats were comfortable.

Relaxing background music was playing inside,

which made the driverless experience feel even more unusual.

One thing we learned was that the pickup point may not be directly in front of where you are standing.

After requesting the ride,

the app told us to board within two minutes,

so we hurried toward the designated pickup point.

It is a good idea to request your ride with enough time to reach the pickup location comfortably.

Starting the ride was simple.

When the car began moving automatically,

we were genuinely impressed.

The car traveled at normal road speeds

and stopped smoothly at traffic lights.

Watching it drive itself felt surprisingly natural,

almost as if a person were behind the wheel.

Another thing we appreciated was that no tip was required.

Since there is no driver,

there is no need to think about tipping.

During our trip,

we were also able to use a 30% discount for our first ride.

We Were Dropped Off Somewhere We Did Not Expect!

We had selected a drop-off point near Dodger Stadium,

but when we arrived,

we found ourselves in a quiet area with almost nobody around.

Because Waymo can only use certain pickup and drop-off locations,

the actual location was different from what we had imagined.

We had even checked beforehand and thought the location would be fine,

so we were a little nervous at first.

After walking for about five minutes,

we finally saw Dodger Stadium and felt relieved.

Based on this experience,

we recommend checking the exact pickup and drop-off location in advance,

using the app and tools such as Google Street View if necessary.

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What Is Dodger Stadium Early Entry?

Dodger Stadium offers an Early Entry option that can be purchased in addition to a regular game ticket.

We liked that it could also be added after purchasing our game tickets.

Early Entry: What We Paid and How Early We Entered

With Early Entry,

we were able to enter the stadium three and a half hours before the scheduled game time.

The price varies depending on the game,

and special promotional games such as Bobblehead Days can be more expensive.

For our game,

Early Entry cost $62.25, approximately ¥12,250 at the time.

We also saw lower-priced dates starting at around $45.

Because Early Entry allowed us to enter about 90 minutes earlier than general admission,

we had more time to watch pregame practice,

receive promotional items,

and explore the stadium before it became crowded.

We waited near Gate A.

However,

we arrived too early and ended up waiting for about 90 minutes.

Arriving very early did not mean we could immediately enter the dedicated Early Entry area.

How Early Entry Worked and What We Learned

There is a dedicated entrance for Early Entry.

Because Gate A was the closest gate to the area where our Waymo dropped us off,

we waited there.

From Gate A,

however,

we had to walk for about 15 minutes to reach the actual Early Entry entrance.

For travelers in their 60s and older,

this was a surprisingly tiring walk.

The stadium grounds are enormous,

and it felt like we were walking forever!

When we finally arrived,

there was another line.

We waited again

and then went through the security check.

Security can be strict,

so be sure to check the current stadium entry rules before visiting.

We passed security without any problems using the clear bag we had prepared.

SHEIN clear PVC tote bag

SHEIN clear PVC tote bag in pink

 

Based on our experience,

the route from Gate A to the Early Entry entrance

may be difficult for travelers who have knee or mobility problems.

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Getting a Yoshinobu Yamamoto Bobblehead

This game was Yoshinobu Yamamoto Bobblehead Day.

Because we entered early,

we were able to receive our Yamamoto bobblehead without worrying about missing out.

Depending on the promotion,

bobbleheads may be distributed to all eligible guests

or may be available only in limited quantities.

If quantities are limited,

entering early can give you additional peace of mind.

And of course,

it makes a fun souvenir to display at home.

Check Your Bobblehead as Soon as You Receive It

Bobbleheads can be fragile.

After receiving yours,

we recommend opening the box and checking immediately for cracks or damage.

If you notice a problem much later,

an exchange may no longer be possible.

What Early Entry Let Us Experience: Practice, Photos and More

Thanks to Early Entry,

we had plenty of time to watch pregame practice from inside the stadium.

There is something special about the atmosphere before a Major League Baseball game,

especially for fans.

We watched pitching practice as well.

Shohei Ohtani did not appear during the earlier part of our Early Entry period.

He came out to practice closer to game time,

so unfortunately,

we were not able to watch him up close during the early session.

Another advantage of Early Entry

was that fewer people were inside the stadium.

That made it much easier to take photos at popular photo spots.

Places that become crowded later

were much easier to enjoy during this quieter period.

We also found an AR photo experience where you could take photos with Dodgers players such as Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

We heard that the wait during regular hours can sometimes become extremely long.

With Early Entry,

we waited only about 20 minutes.

For Dodgers fans,

this was one of the experiences we were especially glad we tried.

We were able to choose two players for the photo experience.

We also had an unexpected and happy surprise.

We happened to meet Los Angeles Loco Yuta,

a YouTuber who shares a lot of information about the Dodgers and Los Angeles.

We had watched many of his videos before our trip,

so meeting him in person was exciting.

It was another memorable part of our Early Entry experience.

View from Section 2RS: A Great Seat for Watching Shohei Ohtani Pitch

Our seat for this game was in section 2RS.

Our conclusion:

it was an excellent location for seeing the entire field

and especially good for watching the pitcher.

What the View from 2RS Looked Like

Because 2RS is relatively central,

we could see the entire field very well.

The large video board was also easy to see,

so we could clearly watch replays.

From this angle,

Shohei Ohtani was almost directly in front of us when he pitched.

We could really get a sense of the speed and power of each pitch.

Using a smartphone zoom,

we could take photos of Ohtani at about this size.

Things Older Travelers Should Know About Section 2RS

The seating area around 2RS has a fairly steep incline.

Some people may feel nervous going up or down the stairs.

We recommend using the handrail and moving slowly.

Also,

if you choose a seat in the middle of a row,

getting out to use the restroom can be inconvenient.

For travelers who prefer easier access,

an aisle seat may be more comfortable.

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Seeing Shohei Ohtani as Both Pitcher and Hitter — Plus a Home Run

This game felt almost like a dream.

We Saw Both Pitcher Ohtani and Hitter Ohtani

Shohei Ohtani played both ways during this game.

We were able to see him on the mound as a pitcher

and at the plate as a hitter.

And then,

he hit a home run!

We even saw him return to the dugout

and celebrate with his teammates.

It was an incredible feeling.

Ohtani vs. Tomoyuki Sugano

Japanese pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano also appeared for the opposing team.

That created a memorable Japanese pitcher-versus-hitter matchup between Sugano and Ohtani.

The entire stadium became even more exciting.

We never expected to see such a matchup in person.

Watching a game live offers a kind of excitement

that television simply cannot recreate.

And to make the night even better,

the Dodgers won!

Returning by Free Shuttle to Union Station, Then Uber to the Hotel

As we had done on our first game day,

we left during the ninth inning

and headed toward the free shuttle pickup area.

This time,

the line was shorter than the previous day.

We waited for about 20 minutes

before boarding the bus.

After the bus arrived at Union Station,

we requested an Uber back to our hotel.

For us,

this was less expensive than requesting an Uber directly from Dodger Stadium.

The ride back to Courtyard by Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE

cost approximately ¥2,000 at the exchange rate at the time.

Final Thoughts: Our Second Dodgers Game Was an Incredible Day

Our first Waymo ride,

Dodger Stadium Early Entry,

a Yoshinobu Yamamoto bobblehead,

Shohei Ohtani pitching and hitting,

an Ohtani home run,

and a Japanese matchup between Ohtani and Sugano —

it is hard to imagine fitting much more into one day!

Dodgers games can absolutely be enjoyed by travelers in their 60s and beyond,

but we strongly recommend planning your transportation

and choosing your seats carefully in advance.

If you want to reduce the amount of walking

or avoid handling transportation yourself,

a private car or organized tour may be more comfortable.

If you are planning a Dodgers game in Los Angeles,

we hope our experience helps you prepare.

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You can read about our first Dodgers game day in the article below.

We actually recommend attending more than one game if your schedule allows,

because the experience can be completely different from one day to the next.