Early Theme Park Entry at Walt Disney World to soft open before official October 1 start

Sep 24, 2021 in "Early Theme Parks Entry and Extended Evening Hours"

Posted: Friday September 24, 2021 11:25am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Walt Disney World's Early Theme Park Entry will begin few days ahead of the official start date of October 1 2021.

Disney Resort hotel Guests and guests of other select hotels will be able to use Early Theme Park Entry from September 26 2021.

Early Theme Park entry benefit is available to all Walt Disney World Resort hotel guests and guests of other select hotels each day at each park, and offers 30 minutes of additional time. Here is everything that will be operating during Early Theme Park Entry for Walt Disney World Resort hotel guests. You can also see the Extended Evening Hours attraction line-up.

Magic Kingdom

  • “it’s a small world”
  • Astro Orbiter
  • Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
  • Dumbo the Flying Elephant
  • Mad Tea Party
  • Mickey’s PhilharMagic
  • Peter Pan’s Flight
  • Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
  • Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
  • Space Mountain
  • The Barnstormer
  • The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
  • Tomorrowland Speedway
  • Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
  • Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid
  • Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress

Epcot

  • Beauty and The Beast Sing-Along
  • Frozen Ever After
  • Mission: SPACE
  • Soarin’ Around the World
  • Spaceship Earth
  • Test Track
  • The Seas with Nemo & Friends

Disney's Hollywood Studios

  • Alien Swirling Saucers
  • Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
  • Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
  • Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
  • Slinky Dog Dash
  • Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
  • Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
  • The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

Disney's Animal Kingdom

  • Avatar Flight of Passage
  • DINOSAUR
  • Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
  • It’s Tough to be a Bug!
  • Na’vi River Journey
  • TriceraTop Spin

Early theme park entry participating Hotels

Early theme park entry is a benefit for registered Guests staying at Disney Resort hotels and select other hotels, which include:

  • Disney's All-Star Movies Resort
  • Disney's All-Star Music Resort
  • Disney's All-Star Sports Resort
  • Disney's Art of Animation Resort
  • Disney's Pop Century Resort
  • The Campsites at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort
  • Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort
  • Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
  • Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter
  • Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside
  • The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort
  • Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
  • Disney's Beach Club Resort
  • Disney's BoardWalk Inn
  • Disney's Contemporary Resort
  • Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
  • Disney's Polynesian Village Resort
  • Disney's Wilderness Lodge
  • Disney's Yacht Club Resort
  • Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort
  • Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge
  • Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge
  • Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Jambo House
  • Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Village
  • Disney's Beach Club Villas
  • Disney's BoardWalk Villas
  • Disney's Old Key West Resort
  • Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
  • Disney’s Riviera Resort
  • Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
  • The Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
  • Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
  • Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
  • Walt Disney World Swan Reserve
  • Shades of Green® on Walt Disney World® Resort
  • Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
  • Waldorf Astoria Orlando
  • B Resort & Spa Lake Buena Vista
  • DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando
  • Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace
  • Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista
  • Holiday Inn Orlando
  • Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista
  • Wyndham Lake Buena Vista
  • Four Seasons Resort Orlando

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surfsupdon7 days ago

The Cabins used to be lumped in as a Moderate, so it's nice to see a change with the higher price point. I would love Evening Hours to come back for other Resorts. Now with the parks opening so very early, and closing relatively early, I imagine a lot of the early rope droppers, especially with kids, wouldn't make it to late night. Just last week, the parks were opening at 7 and 730am (except for Epcot) which sure is early when you do it day after day.

pigglewiggle31 days ago

This was informative, thank you. I realize it may not be the same this year, but gives me an idea.

wdwmagic31 days ago

This will help give you an idea of the changes https://www.wdwmagic.com/other/extra-magic-hours/news.htm

Chip Chipperson31 days ago

There were some nights during Christmas season in 2023 where the deluxe resort Extended Evening Hours benefit was at Animal Kingdom instead of Magic Kingdom and I think there were some weeks where they just doubled up on the extended hours at Epcot instead.

spectromagic0431 days ago

Last year it was Epcot and DAK with evening hours. Hollywood got a couple during the that time but was heavily Epcot and some weeks DAK.

pigglewiggle31 days ago

What schedule happens during the party season - MK for Halloween and potentially MK and DHS for holidays? Does MK still have the benefit?

StarWarsGirl31 days ago

@wdwmagic On the main page article for this announcement, Tron is missing from the list of available MK attractions for Extended Evening Hours; it is definitely available.

DCBaker31 days ago

Disney has confirmed Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours will be available through 2025. https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2024/02/walt-disney-world-adds-water-park-perk-for-2025-resort-guests/

UNCgolfJan 29, 2024

The company that built EPCOT claimed that part of the agreement gave them exclusive rights to operate convention hotels on Disney property, and Eisner wanted to build a convention hotel. They could have fought it out in court, but Disney must have decided that either they would probably lose or that it wouldn't be worth the costs and time involved even if they eventually won -- it could have delayed adding a hotel for years and years. Plus Disney gets a share of the revenue and they have a say in the exterior and interior design.

Dad 2 M & MJan 29, 2024

Was curious as to why Disney would enter in to an agreement as such

MisterPenguinJan 29, 2024

The Dolphin opened on June 4, 1990, as part of a joint venture between the Walt Disney Company, Tishman Hotel Corporation, MetLife and Starwood Hotels and Resorts, which was merged into Marriott International in 2019. The land the resort occupies is owned by the Walt Disney Company, while the buildings themselves are leased by Disney to the Tishman Hotel Corporation and MetLife but operated by Marriott International under the Sheraton Hotels and Resorts brand. The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin are a part of the Walt Disney Collection of resorts; because of this they are Disney branded and guests of the resort have access to special Disney benefits available to Disney Resort Hotel guests only. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Disney_World_Dolphin

nickysJan 29, 2024

Because it wasn’t built by Disney and isn’t operated by them. It was an agreement reached wirh the owners at the time.

Dad 2 M & MJan 29, 2024

Would be curious as well.... Would also like to know details on how exactly it was able to NOT be a Disney Hotel being geographically in the middle of the crescent