Verona Opera Tickets

Arena di Verona performances – how long to queue up?

If anybody’s been to the Arena di Verona for opera or other performances, can you let me know how long I’m likely to have to queue up for un numbered seats but with tickets in hand? I’ve been told the gates open at 7pm for the 9pm performance, but since I have children (teens) I need to work out which parent stands and for how long… Also, where do I hire the cushions, are there any toilets inside and (I forgot to ask when I bought the tickets) are there likely to be intervals & can one buy eg. ice cream inside (like in UK theatres).
Thanks!

The Gradinata
If your seats are at the top in the unnumbered seats, (stone bleachers)first come first serve seats, bring a seat cushion to sit on and a blanket, and your snacks, or a picnic and wine. Those in the unnumbered seats/ unreserved seats tend to dress more casual than those in the reserved seats. You cannot bring glass inside the arena so if you bring wine put into a plastic bottle and bring plastic glasses. If you buy your wine at the local shops around the arena, they will put it in plastic bottles for you and may even give you plastic glasses as well.
It is a lot of fun in the “gradinata”. I saw La Tosca in 1999 with my Italian friends and we sat in the gradinata. We had a great time.
The lines/queues begin at 4pm and the gates open at 6pm for the performance at 9pm
There are bathrooms in the arena… They are located as you enter the arena under the seating area( I was in Verona in May 2008 and went on a tour of the arena.)
Yes, there are vendors who sell ice cream and other things. Food and drinks inside the arena are expensive.

Here is the website

http://www.arena-verona.com/

Helpful information

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/notes/northern/dean_opera01.htm

http://www.italywithus.biz/main_pages/Archive/operaverona.htm

WeekendaLaCarte – Verona