30 minute early entry?

[Cookie Princess]

So I have read the new announcement regarding the 30 minute early entry at each theme park for on-site guests. Does anyone know when this will begin and how it will work with the parks already opening to all guest 45-60 minutes early? THANKS!

 

[lanejudy]

No further details have been released as yet. I believe the announcement indicated it would be part of the 50th anniversary, so I’d think no earlier than summer, possibly fall.

 

[kathi]

Can someone clarify the 45-60 minute early? We had not planned to go this year, but just booked 5 days in March. Trying to plan/come up to speed. Are the parks opening that much earlier with no notice?

 

[lanejudy]

Parks are opening early to prevent crowds from gathering. It has generally been about 45 minutes prior to posted opening time. Parking lots have been opening about the same time.

 

[kathi]

Are the rides open or they just holding you once inside?

Parks are opening early to prevent crowds from gathering. It has generally been about 45 minutes prior to posted opening time. Parking lots have been opening about the same time.

 

[disneygirlsng]

Are the rides open or they just holding you once inside?

They don't hold you. Some rides are open, though there is no set list as to which rides as it varies. And there is no guarantee that any ride will be open early.

 

[gharter]

I'm hoping it will be in place for our next trip, but doubt it will be until closer to fall.

 

[MalkaR]

Parks are opening early to prevent crowds from gathering. It has generally been about 45 minutes prior to posted opening time. Parking lots have been opening about the same time.

Has this been for all guest or just resort guests?
Edit: Never mind, I see that it's for everyone.

 

[Upatnoon]

So I have read the new announcement regarding the 30 minute early entry at each theme park for on-site guests. Does anyone know when this will begin and how it will work with the parks already opening to all guest 45-60 minutes early? THANKS!

I speculate it will continue to work the way it does now, only it will be advertised to on-site guests as a perk.

 

[mamaofsix]

Can someone clarify the 45-60 minute early? We had not planned to go this year, but just booked 5 days in March. Trying to plan/come up to speed. Are the parks opening that much earlier with no notice?

At non-EMH parks, gates have been opening this much earlier for all guests for years and years, long before COVID. This is what is meant by being there for "rope drop." Rope drop is often 45 -60 min before official opening.

 

[Robo]

At non-EMH parks, gates have been opening this much earlier for all guests for years and years, long before COVID. This is what is meant by being there for "rope drop."

Sorry but that info is incorrect.

 

[bdiddy]

Our last trip was in 2019 so with the EMH's gone, there's not really a reason to plan out which day at which park like we used to I guess?

 

[Robo]

Our last trip was in 2019 so with the EMH's gone, there's not really a reason to plan out which day at which park like we used to I guess?

There are very recent threads on this board with "Which day-Which park" kind of discussions.
Just look through the list of titles a bit and read some of the current opinions.

 

[mamaofsix]

Sorry but that info is incorrect.

Not sure what you mean by incorrect? For the past 10 years, we have been showing up for rope drop at non-EMH parks 45-60 minutes before official opening and are on and off rides before the park opens. We are offsite guests. The only exception would be MK rides for the past couple years - since the opening show changed from the train station to the castle stage. But, they definitely let you into MK well ahead of opening time. HS, AK and Epcot have all "unofficially" allowed guests in and start rides early for years. Coming from offsite, we'd be on and off FOP by 8:50a.m. on days when the park "opens" at 9:00 a.m. This was long before COVID.

The early arrival / entrance practice has been a common strategy quoted by touring plans and other planning sites for years and years.

 

[yulilin3]

Not sure what you mean by incorrect? For the past 10 years, we have been showing up for rope drop at non-EMH parks 45-60 minutes before official opening and are on and off rides before the park opens. We are offsite guests. The only exception would be MK rides for the past couple years - since the opening show changed from the train station to the castle stage. But, they definitely let you into MK well ahead of opening time. HS, AK and Epcot have all "unofficially" allowed guests in and start rides early for years. Coming from offsite, we'd be on and off FOP by 8:50a.m. on days when the park "opens" at 9:00 a.m. This was long before COVID.

The early arrival / entrance practice has been a common strategy quoted by touring plans and other planning sites for years and years.

this is true. Again these decision are made on a day to day basis and anyone going to the parks should not expect attractions to be open before official time, but this statement is true especially for DHS and AK since the opening of Pandora and TSL/SWGE/MMRR

 

[heresabe]

Will Magic Bands allow resort guests to access rides thirty minutes early while non resort guests cannot? Do Magic Bands provide any Park perks whatsoever anymore? They had been valuable in terms of Extra Hours, FP access...

 

[Upatnoon]

Will Magic Bands allow resort guests to access rides thirty minutes early while non resort guests cannot? Do Magic Bands provide any Park perks whatsoever anymore? They had been valuable in terms of Extra Hours, FP access...

Right now, there are no perks for using a magic band unless you count using it to pay for things and your room key.

As for how the 30-minute access will work. it is unknown. However, the window is so small I suspect they will just slightly delay people arriving via the parking lot instead of using Disney transportation from the resorts.

The process of checking people would time-consuming and labor intensive, which for a 30-minute window seems unlikely to me.

As time goes on, I'm sure Disney will roll out changes. They can always add perks if they are having trouble filling their resorts.

 

[KrazeeK120]

Will Magic Bands allow resort guests to access rides thirty minutes early while non resort guests cannot? Do Magic Bands provide any Park perks whatsoever anymore? They had been valuable in terms of Extra Hours, FP access...

It doesn’t have anything to do with Magic Bands. They haven’t announced specifics, but any ticket media should allow access (into the park or onto a ride, depending on how they do it).

Magic Bands have never provided any special perks.

 

[wdw&sonny]

It doesn’t have anything to do with Magic Bands. They haven’t announced specifics, but any ticket media should allow access (into the park or onto a ride, depending on how they do it).

Magic Bands have never provided any special perks.

This is nothing new. 30 minutes early for resort guests is just like EMH, only it was one hour.
All guests were let into the park. At MK, they had CMs at each spoke of the hub, if you wanted to pass, they asked you what resort you were staying at, scanned your MB to confirm. If it showed you were a resort guest, they let you through to go on rides. If it did not, you were asked to wait until official park opening.

The 30 minutes early, will likely be slightly variable, just like park entry is, and has been. There is no guarantee that the park will open early-or even on time, but it was not uncommon for it to open even just 10 minutes ahead of posted,. Currently, they are opening far earlier than posted, as others have said, to spread the entry crowd thinner.

 

[yulilin3]

This is nothing new. 30 minutes early for resort guests is just like EMH, only it was one hour.
All guests were let into the park. At MK, they had CMs at each spoke of the hub, if you wanted to pass, they asked you what resort you were staying at, scanned your MB to confirm. If it showed you were a resort guest, they let you through to go on rides. If it did not, you were asked to wait until official park opening.

The 30 minutes early, will likely be slightly variable, just like park entry is, and has been. There is no guarantee that the park will open early-or even on time, but it was not uncommon for it to open even just 10 minutes ahead of posted,. Currently, they are opening far earlier than posted, as others have said, to spread the entry crowd thinner.

Just to clarify that mk opened FL and TL only for EMH not the entire park. Obviously no details have been given for early entry