How Early Theme Parks Entry works for Walt Disney World Resort hotels guests and those staying offsite

Sep 26, 2021 in "Early Theme Parks Entry and Extended Evening Hours"

Posted: Sunday September 26, 2021 8:41am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Walt Disney World's Early Theme Park Entry begins today, giving its resort hotel guests 30 minutes early access to attractions.

Here is a rundown of how the process works at the Magic Kingdom for both Walt Disney World Resort hotel guests and those staying offsite.

The Transportation and Ticket Center for Magic Kingdom parking opens at 7:45am for those arriving by car. The security bag check opens at around 7:55am.

Guests traveling from Walt Disney World hotels can board Disney transportation approximately 45 minutes before the start of Early Theme Park Entry.

The main entrance tapstyles allow all guests onto Main Street U.S.A. as soon as they arrive. Everyone can walk the length of Main Street U.S.A. and enter any open locations.

Walt Disney World Resort hotel guests are directed to the right side of Main Street U.S.A. to a checkpoint at Tomorrowland or Fantasyland. Cast Members at this point scan Magic Bands or tickets to verify a resort stay.



Once clear of the checkpoint, those guests join a rope drop at either Fantasyland or Tomorrowland.

The left side land entrances off the hub, including Adventureland and Liberty Square, have a traditional rope drop that does not open until the official park opening time for both resort and non-resort guests.

Wait times during the 30 minute Early Entry period were very low, mostly walk-on. Although expect this to change as more guests become aware of the benefit.

Early Theme Park Entry is expected to run through at least the duration of the 18 month-long Worlds's Most Magical Celebration, but no end date has been announced. 

Here is a list of all the open attractions during the 30 minute Early Theme Park Entry time.

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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DCBaker20 hours ago

Here's a look at the Extended Evening Hours schedule for January 2025: Wednesday, Jan. 1: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Friday, Jan. 3: Disney's Hollywood Studios Monday, Jan. 6: EPCOT Wednesday, Jan. 8: Magic Kingdom Monday, Jan. 13: EPCOT Wednesday, Jan. 15: Magic Kingdom Monday, Jan. 20: EPCOT Wednesday, Jan. 22: Magic Kingdom Monday, Jan. 27: EPCOT Wednesday, Jan. 29: Disney’s Animal Kingdom

DCBaker20 days ago

According to updated park hours, Extended Evening Hours return to Magic Kingdom on January 8, 2025.

DCBaker26 days ago

The first Extended Evening Hours in January 2025 have been added to the calendar: Wednesday, Jan. 1: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Friday, Jan. 3: Disney's Hollywood Studios

DCBaker30 days ago

The Extended Evening Hours schedule is out for the remainder of 2024: Monday, Oct. 21 - Disney’s Animal Kingdom Wednesday, Oct. 23 - Disney’s Hollywood Studios Monday, Oct. 28 - EPCOT Wednesday, Oct. 30 - Disney’s Hollywood Studios Monday, Nov. 4 - EPCOT Wednesday, Nov. 6 - Disney’s Animal Kingdom Monday, Nov. 11 - EPCOT Thursday, Nov. 14 - Disney’s Animal Kingdom Monday, Nov. 18 - EPCOT Wednesday, Nov. 20 - Disney’s Animal Kingdom Monday, Nov. 25 - EPCOT Wednesday, Nov. 27 - Disney’s Animal Kingdom Monday, Dec. 2 - EPCOT Wednesday, Dec. 4 - Disney’s Animal Kingdom Monday, Dec. 9: EPCOT Wednesday, Dec. 11 - Disney’s Animal Kingdom Monday, Dec. 16 - EPCOT Wednesday, Dec. 18 - Disney’s Animal Kingdom Monday, Dec. 23 - EPCOT Wednesday, Dec. 25 - Disney’s Animal Kingdom

aladdin2007Sep 24, 2024

This! or at least rotate it throughout the day, get rid of the daycare abomination that they insist on continuing to show like its some golden wonder. Cast has nothing much good to say about it either. I think everyone would like a piece of real France back via Impressions.

dmc493Sep 23, 2024

Maybe I’m going crazy but on my past few trips Impressions de France was playing for like the first 30 minutes of the day. I remember seeing it had limited hours in both the AM and PM in the app. I was able to do Remy during early entry and then catch the last show before it switched over. Regardless, bring back Impressions full time please someone.

MisterPenguinSep 23, 2024

I'd pay $49.99 if it was on reclinable easy-chairs and you can extend your nap through the next showing.

mattpetoSep 23, 2024

It'd be nice if EEH included Living with the Land, especially during the holidays but I realize that they may have to limit operating hours due to maintenance. I still think Epcot overall is mess for EEH. Better than nothing, but everything is so spread out.

ToTBellHopSep 23, 2024

I am convinced 90% of the people in this theater at 8:35 am thought they were in line for Rat.

DznyRktektSep 23, 2024

I would early entry or rope drop Impressions de France. Heck, make it a $29.99 per person upcharge by including a croissant and coffee.

DrdcmSep 23, 2024

I would would honestly not be surprised if it was single digits… at least for the first show. I could see maybe getting some business from the people getting off Remy, or choosing not to walk somewhere else after seeing the Remy line too long.

PurduevianSep 23, 2024

True... but Tiana's is currently the newest thing in MK and is the hardest to get LL in the park. Once it's standby opens I imagine it will be the biggest rope drop crowd.

SingleRiderSep 23, 2024

It was the same way with Splash when it was open. Nothing outside of Tomorrowland or Fantasyland was available.

PurduevianSep 23, 2024

I'm surprised Philharmagic, COP, and ITTBAB are still holding on. It will also be interesting once Tiana's is more stable and on Standby that JC, Tiana, and Big Thunder will all not be available.