Disneyland Eliminates Early Entry for Resort Hotel Guests Beginning January 5, 2026

[LKing]

So what Perk do you actually getting for staying at a Disney hotel now? Disney bubble? The rooms arent any better then many of the good neighbor hotels. What are you paying for?

This is a common discussion. A lot of people like the customer service, rolling out of bed and into the parks, etc. There have been quite a few posts on this board about the limited value of a 30 min EE, especially when certain attractions don't open until park opening. Give it 30 seconds and I'm sure that people will come up with a list of reasons why they prefer to pay more for Disney owned hotels.

I wonder if they will expand operating hours during regular days. Like DL to 12 Midnight DCA to 11PM.

That is what I was wondering. Cut morning hours, add in the evening? Or cut at both ends?

 

[bakofarmgirl]

if you look up dates for 2026 for all hotels it still shows early park entry lol someone needs to fix that then

 

[Pluto468]

That's such a bummer. I mean, half an hour wasn't as good as the one hour early entry they used to have, but at least it was something. One LL per visit is ridiculous. Why not one per day?

I heard they're also getting rid of the Pixar Place entrance. Bad news all around!

 

[DontSpamMe]

Watching how far the parks have fallen since we first started going in 2017 is sad. The 30 minutes for early entry was ridiculous, but to go away from it completely is asinine and another slap in the face to their customers.

 

[joseph821]

This is a common discussion. A lot of people like the customer service, rolling out of bed and into the parks, etc. There have been quite a few posts on this board about the limited value of a 30 min EE, especially when certain attractions don't open until park opening. Give it 30 seconds and I'm sure that people will come up with a list of reasons why they prefer to pay more for Disney owned hotels.



That is what I was wondering. Cut morning hours, add in the evening? Or cut at both ends?

Or maybe have after hours party events like WDW - open to hotel guests for an additional price?

 

[BrianL]

Ugh, I hate this. Not that I ever stayed on-site at DL, but I see it as a downgrade. Maybe if it were a free LL per day, or even one use for a Single Pass attraction, but one for the entire stay? Lame. I really hope they don't pull this nonsense at WDW!

 

[joseph821]

Expect aggressive sales and marketing from the offsite hotels now...free Disney gift cards etc/ They will benefit just watch!!

 

[gottalovepluto]

I’m in shock. EE has been a staple of staying on-site at DLR outside Covid. That is a very serious downgrade, especially in light of their obscene prices.

Like, I get it. If everyone keeps booking or even if idk, 10-20%? of people quit booking it will probably be worth it math wise but… wow.

 

[Howry]

Expect aggressive sales and marketing from the offsite hotels now...free Disney gift cards etc/ They will benefit just watch!!

And I hope they do.

 

[VGCgroupie]

This is a common discussion. A lot of people like the customer service, rolling out of bed and into the parks, etc. There have been quite a few posts on this board about the limited value of a 30 min EE, especially when certain attractions don't open until park opening. Give it 30 seconds and I'm sure that people will come up with a list of reasons why they prefer to pay more for Disney owned hotels.



That is what I was wondering. Cut morning hours, add in the evening? Or cut at both ends?

I would LOVE extra evening hours.

 

[joseph821]

And I hope they do.

They will. Trust me. Disneyland is going to lose $$$ from their hotels. I always stay onsite and early entry was a perk I used. But why not look at the higher-end offsite hotels now if it is a great deal. The market always dictates.

 

[joseph821]

I’m in shock. EE has been a staple of staying on-site at DLR outside Covid. That is a very serious downgrade, especially in light of their obscene prices.

Like, I get it. If everyone keeps booking or even if idk, 10-20%? of people quit booking it will probably be worth it math wise but… wow.

Yes I agree and it is very very sad.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Scott Gustin is reporting the benefit “was not widely used” and that DVC will not get the single free LL.

Hotel guests should at a minimum get 1 LL per day. Per stay is cheap as all get out.

ETA: Scott has since changed his mind- or did someone higher up at Disneyland tell the new Disneyland Chapek that was a step too cheap…

 

[gottalovepluto]

LOL and the best attractions are blocked…

 

[LKing]

Expect aggressive sales and marketing from the offsite hotels now...free Disney gift cards etc/ They will benefit just watch!!

You know, that is a good point. I still think this is a budget/staffing cut, but it could also be part of the Disneyland Forward negotiation with the Good Neighbor hotels. Do they give EE back to Good Neighbor or cut it for all?

 

[gottalovepluto]

You know, that is a good point. I still think this is a budget/staffing cut, but it could also be part of the Disneyland Forward negotiation with the Good Neighbor hotels. Do they give EE back to Good Neighbor or cut it for all?

Cut it for all. No way they give that to Good Neighbor hotels. Back in the day it used to be on-site plus 1 EE if you bought a fancy enough ticket. The fact that they didn’t re-introduce the 1 EE for PH/Longer duration tickets means I call baloney sandwich on this being a demand thing. It’s cost cutting. Probably to save for the DL Forward investment they’ve committed to.

 

[joseph821]

Scott Gustin is reporting the benefit “was not widely used” and that DVC will not get the single free LL.

Hotel guests should at a minimum get 1 LL per day. Per stay is cheap as all get out.

Scott is wrong it was used and he gets tips from Disney all the time. By that statement he shows he has become a corporate Disneyland follower. BS that it was not widely used.

 

[Brandonius]

Cynical good side of me: Maybe this means that in January, EE comes back to a wider range of people? Like how 3+ day tickets and some neighboring hotels used to have it?

The other 99% cynical evil of me: LOL. One lightning lane? For a multi pass attraction? For an entire stay? For a mediocre hotel? Actually highway robbery.

The businessman side of me: The perk of 30 extra minutes at one park was already pretty hilariously bad. Maybe 2% of our guests are actively deciding between our hotel and a neighboring one based on paying $200-400 more / night for 30 minutes of time super early in the morning. We save a ton on staffing and barely lose occupancy.

Gotta admit, they have quite a vice grip on me... charge 5 star prices for 2 star service. And deep down I still kind of want to stay there LOL

 

[gottalovepluto]

Scott is wrong it was used and he gets tips from Disney all the time. By that statement he shows he has become a corporate Disneyland follower. BS that it was not widely used.

Oh he’s quoting the corporate line here. But now we know what the corporate line is.

 

[joseph821]

You know, that is a good point. I still think this is a budget/staffing cut, but it could also be part of the Disneyland Forward negotiation with the Good Neighbor hotels. Do they give EE back to Good Neighbor or cut it for all?

Cut it for all. If they give EE back to GN - it would have to be through WDTC packages only. It is pure money and staffing and it will backfire on Disneyland big time.