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"

Gallery / 6 Photos
Early Theme Park Entry process at Magic Kingdom

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.

EarlyTheme Park Entry sign at Magic Kingdom

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.

Guests arriving for Early Theme Park Entry at Magic Kingdom

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.

Walt Disney World Resort hotel guests head to the right side of Main Street U.S.A. for Early Entry

Walt Disney World Resort hotel guests head to Tomorrowland and Fantasyland for Early Entry

Check point to verify Early Theme Park Entry for resort hotel guests

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

Resort hotel guests waiting at the Tomorrowland Rope drop at 8:25am ahead of the 8:30am rope drop

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

Discuss on the Forums

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DCBaker23 days ago

Disney has confirmed Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours will continue through 2027: Guests staying at Disney Resort hotels and select other hotels can take advantage of a 30-minute early entry into Walt Disney World theme parks every day of their stay (including check-in and check-out days). This popular benefit will continue through 2027! Enjoy extended evening hours on select nights in select theme parks when you stay at a Disney Deluxe Resort, Disney Deluxe Villa Resort or other select hotels. This popular benefit will continue through 2027!

JABMar 27, 2026

Of course, but I was simply responding to a post asking why anyone would go to PhilharMagic during Early Entry.

dmc493Mar 27, 2026

There's still plenty of attractions you can pull of that strategy with

JABMar 27, 2026

People used it as a "burner" LL to unlock Tier 1 selections, and because of the fact that you can tap into LL 5 min early, Early Entry guests could tap in before the park opened to non-resort guests, giving them a head start on picking up a 2nd Tier 1 LL.

SingleRiderMar 27, 2026

Who would want to do that during early entry anyway?

DCBakerMar 27, 2026

Disney has removed Mickey’s PhilharMagic from the list of attractions open during Early Theme Park Entry at Magic Kingdom:

nickysMar 04, 2026

In light of the After Hours at DHS on the 14th, that’s interesting that they decided to do EEH there. I know there’s also an After Hours at MK on the 11th, so they’ve “run out” of parks to use! I assume maybe it takes less CMs to staff DHS.

DCBakerMar 04, 2026

According to posted park hours, Extended Evening Hours on Monday, May 11, will be held at Disney’s Hollywood Studios instead of EPCOT. Also, on Wednesday, May 13, Extended Evening Hours will be at Disney's Animal Kingdom instead of Magic Kingdom. Here's a look at the current schedule in May so far: Monday, May 4: Disney's Animal Kingdom Wednesday, May 6: Magic Kingdom Monday, May 11: Disney's Hollywood Studios Wednesday, May 13: Disney's Animal Kingdom

MissingDisneyFeb 24, 2026

Might as well skip it.

nickysFeb 23, 2026

Gartner are having their Orlando conference from 4th to 6th of May. My money is on a corporate buyout of Epcot that night.

DCBakerFeb 23, 2026

According to posted park hours, Extended Evening Hours on Monday, May 4, will be held at Disney’s Animal Kingdom instead of EPCOT.

ToTBellHopNov 24, 2025

Great. Now we can beat the crowd… …marching toward the exit.

DCBakerNov 24, 2025

Disney has added Zootopia: Better Zoogether! to the list of attractions available during Early Entry and Extended Evening Hours.

PianoWithSamNov 19, 2025

These EEH have really thrown off our planning…! We expected (and semi-planned for) EPCOT on Monday and MK on Wednesday, so have had to shift everything around. Hopefully back to normal the week after for our second week!