Disney alters Early Entry Hotel eligibility list, limits some to end of 2023

May 30, 2023 in "Early Theme Parks Entry and Extended Evening Hours"

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

Posted: Tuesday May 30, 2023 6:36pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Just ahead of 2024 Walt Disney World vacation packages going on sale tomorrow, Disney has updated the list of eligible hotels for its Early Theme Park Entry benefit.

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

Several non-Dsney operated hotels are now listed as only offering Early Theme Park Entry through December 31, 2023. Disney has previously said that its own hotels will offer Early Theme Park Entry through 2024.

Although these hotels are not currently listed for eligability beyond 2023, it is likely that they will be added later. A similar situation has occured in previous years as contracts are negotiated. Here are the hotels that are currently offering the Early Entry benefit through December 31 2023.

B Resort & Spa Lake Buena Vista
Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista
Wyndham Lake Buena Vista
Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
Waldorf Astoria Orlando
Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista

Early Theme Park Entry was introduced with the start of Walt Disney World's 50th anniversary in October 2021, and replaced the former Morning Extra Magic Hours.

The benefit is available to all Walt Disney World Resort hotel guests and guests of other select hotels (listed below) each day at each park, and offers 30 minutes of additional time through the end of 2024.

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
DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando
Four Seasons Resort Orlando
Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace
Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista
Holiday Inn Orlando
Shades of Green on Walt Disney World Resort

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DCBakerApr 16, 2026

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!