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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pigglewiggle21 days ago

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

wdwmagic21 days ago

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

Chip Chipperson21 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.

spectromagic0421 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.

pigglewiggle21 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?

StarWarsGirl21 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.

DCBaker21 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

TuvaluJan 29, 2024

Hours for the first week of April 2024 have been posted in the Disney app. The website currently shows hours through the end of March - not sure why it is behind. https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/calendars/day/2024-03-25/#/animal-kingdom,hollywood-studios,epcot,magic-kingdom/ Disney Resort guests (and those staying at participating hotels) receive early entry admission 30 minutes prior to official opening time at each park every day of the week. Disney Deluxe Resort guests are eligible for extended evening hours, for two hours past park closure. The typical schedule is Epcot on Mondays (9-11 pm) and MK on Wednesdays. Since MK’s hours often change, extended evening hours could be 9-11, 10-12, or 11-1 am, depending on regular closing time.

SheribellJan 29, 2024

Hi how do we find out extended hour information for April 2024 ....how much extra time do you get and how many days during the week? TY fizzeoatsympaticodotca