WASHINGTON – As the D.C. area prepares for Inauguration Day in January, many are hoping to have a better experience this time than attendees did four years ago.

In 2009, some attendees with tickets did not get in, others stood in line for about three hours and there was a delay in opening up checkpoints.

Many people with tickets to the purple section for Obama’s first inauguration were packed into the 3rd Street Tunnel, which became known as the Purple Tunnel of Doom, because of a crowd control mix-up.

Organizers are tight-lipped about preparations this year. Tickets will be available through members of Congress, who will hand them out in January. However, there are also many areas where tickets aren’t required to see the event.

Kids old enough to walk will need their own ticket and attendees are discouraged from bringing younger children due to winter weather concerns.

WTOP’s John Aaron contributed to this report. Follow @JohnAaronWTOP and @WTOP on Twitter.

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