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

[disneychrista]

I just saw this. Thought it was a joke a first. And ONE LL per stay? that is a sucky replacement. Should at least me one per day.

 

[StarlitNight05]

Go to Hawaii!!! You will love it!

I went to Oahu as a teenager with my parents but didn't appreciate it, so I definitely want a new experience as an adult!

If you get the chance to go to Aulani I would do it. It's Hawaii meets Disney in the best way. I agree that cash prices are very very high, renting points from a DVC member here on the boards https://www.disboards.com/forums/dvc-rent-transfer.29/ or through a rental broker is a great way to go much cheaper. I will be there this weekend and I am so so excited to go again and see Mickey in his Hawaii fit.

It is super tempting and that's a great idea to rent points. The resort looks very nice and of course Mickey always adds to the magic of any situation! In addition to price, I was also hesitant to be away from the main Waikiki area, but maybe that's a good thing. I wanted to be at one of the "real" oceanfront properties, probably Outrigger Reef. But I'm going to look into Aulani more...that's definitely oceanfront too!

 

[katyringo]

Hate it.

 

[joseph821]

Good thing I already booked for next year!

It will be interesting to see what the new Harbor access will be when the eastern gateway is over. It looks like it will still be pretty similar from the renderings, but I'm curious where security will be with much of it being moved to the new garage.

Where do you usually stay and how is it? Just curious.

 

[nursemelis374]

I am definitely a fan but can also be a critic and will say that this is fine with our family. We never stayed because of the EE perk and only used it once in many years. I guess the extra LL will be nice?

 

[irlandaise]

More competitive. All the off-site hotels will have deals to lure new hotel guests especially those who stayed on-site.

They may not have to offer any deals. As someone else suggested, they could actually raise prices due to increased demand. Disney is doing the promotion for them.

 

[joseph821]

They may not have to offer any deals. As someone else suggested, they could actually raise prices due to increased demand. Disney is doing the promotion for them.

Agreed and Disneyland Resort Hotel occupancy rates will go down.

 

[midnight star]

We're a Harbor Blvd family and while I feel bad for on-site guests it just make me wonder how much more competitive it will be to get rooms on Harbor now.

I think Harbor will be more competitive now. There are alot of people who use EE as a justification for spending more to stay on property.

More competitive. All the off-site hotels will have deals to lure new hotel guests especially those who stayed on-site.

This also may cause rope drop to become more competitive for those on Harbor blvd, ticket holders w/o a hotel stay, and magic key holders. Since there won’t be EE lines.

 

[deedubb]

Honestly, EE sucked. We stayed at Grand Cal last summer and it was so chaotic trying to use the entrance to Downtown Disney at rope drop. The crowd was insane and at some point, they started re-routing the line to another exit point into DD. They started this right after us, and when we tried to enter the other line (which would have been much quicker), they would not allow it. By the time we got through security, EE was basically already over. It is still beyond comprehension why they don't use the scanners like they do at WDW, and since they don't, why they don't at least have a line for those without bags.

I also remember in the past that Radiator Springs Racers was included in EE, but that seems to have been removed in recent years.

That said, at least EE was something. Now there is little to no reason to spend hundreds of dollars per night more to stay on-site. Just another reason to not only avoid staying on-site, but to avoid going back to Disneyland. After our last trip, I had vowed not to return until they improve security screening. It's a $hit show every time.

 

[BrianL]

Honestly, EE sucked. We stayed at Grand Cal last summer and it was so chaotic trying to use the entrance to Downtown Disney at rope drop. The crowd was insane and at some point, they started re-routing the line to another exit point into DD. They started this right after us, and when we tried to enter the other line (which would have been much quicker), they would not allow it. By the time we got through security, EE was basically already over. It is still beyond comprehension why they don't use the scanners like they do at WDW, and since they don't, why they don't at least have a line for those without bags.

I also remember in the past that Radiator Springs Racers was included in EE, but that seems to have been removed in recent years.

That said, at least EE was something. Now there is little to no reason to spend hundreds of dollars per night more to stay on-site. Just another reason to not only avoid staying on-site, but to avoid going back to Disneyland. After our last trip, I had vowed not to return until they improve security screening. It's a $hit show every time.

It has always baffled me how WDW can be so much better at the logistic type suff than DLR is. When I first went ot DLR I was surprised that they were still using paper tickets, when WDW had the Key to the World cards. The fingerprint system was so much easier than them taking your picture. Security screening has improved greatly at WDW with those new scanners. It just seems like DLR is always behind the curve on that stuff.

 

[Obi-J Kenobi]

I have strong emotional ties to DL, that's why I go. Once in a blue moon, I get hit with some fairy dust and it makes it all worthwhile. But it hasn't been the place of my youth for A LONG TIME...and it makes me sad that they just keep cheapening the value of the experience for young families just starting out.

AMEN!

 

[catloaves]

I am definitely a fan but can also be a critic and will say that this is fine with our family. We never stayed because of the EE perk and only used it once in many years. I guess the extra LL will be nice?

Our family is in the same position — we have some late sleepers and never take advantage of EE when staying onsite — but it's still incredibly grating that the replacement is a single LL... per stay.

Let's be very generous to Disney and assume a $36 LL Multi-Pass price and the fact that most people with Multi-Pass use 6 lightning lanes during their park stay. That means the value of this EE replacement is literally a single $6 fast pass — even for people staying 3, 4, 5+ nights.

Even if folks like us don't care about EE, you can't deny how miserable this change is directionally. It would have been trivial to offer one LL per day, rather than per stay. But they intentionally went with the bare minimum, for hotels that routinely cost $700+/night.

 

[Canchaser143]

This is so disappointing. I loathe rope drop. People basically running you and your children over to beat you to a ride. It is an awful experience, far from magical. EE was perfect for doing Fantasyland with littles and not having to tackle massive crowds. It would be one thing if Disneyland was like it was in 90's, but now? Gosh this is going to be chaos in the mornings. I am so sad.

If anything why not just cut out EE at DCA? Very few attractions are running there for EE.

 

[JerrodDragon89]

This is so disappointing. I loathe rope drop. People basically running you and your children over to beat you to a ride. It is an awful experience, far from magical. EE was perfect for doing Fantasyland with littles and not having to tackle massive crowds. It would be one thing if Disneyland was like it was in 90's, but now? Gosh this is going to be chaos in the mornings. I am so sad.

If anything why not just cut out EE at DCA? Very few attractions are running there for EE.

They wont but for Pan they should have a line started before Rope drop and that would help alot

A CM should lead you to the wishing well and let you in. Someone will always run but this would help I thin the most because for Pan getting in line at the start can save you so much time people go crazy and most other rides can handle most people coming in at rope drop

 

[DL1WDW2]

I guess this will also “ train “ more guests to use and decide to pay for LL next time.
If they learn to use it just once and decide it was worthwhile .
Sometimes that is all it takes

 

[VGCgroupie]

I guess this will also “ train “ more guests to use and pay for LL …
If they learn to use it just once and decide it was worthwhile .
Sometimes that is all it takes

I think it will make using LL even harder. Alot more people trying for the hardest to get rides. If thats the goal it may back fire on them significantly. Ive had LL's run out at DCA mid day more than once, now add in all the hotel guests that are getting a LL for free and I likely will never buy LL at DCA again.

 

[joseph821]

This is very insulting. 1 LL per guest. That is worth a couple of bucks at best. The next thing is a cheap "exclusive" pin!

 

[Smugpugmug]

EE was perfect for doing Fantasyland with littles and not having to tackle massive crowds.

I don't even have kids but that was my early entry strategy. You could knock out all of those Fantasyland rides minus Peter Pan. That's my plan for my trip next month too.

I never saw people knocking down others during rope drop in Disneyland but I saw that in the Tokyo parks. Was wild to witness.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I think it will make using LL even harder. Alot more people trying for the hardest to get rides. If thats the goal it may back fire on them significantly…

Higher demand for LL = higher prices
No downside for the Mouse there. (In light of today’s announcements, Guest Feedback isn’t exactly a concern for them.)

 

[gottalovepluto]

This is very insulting. 1 LL per guest. That is worth a couple of bucks at best. The next thing is a cheap "exclusive" pin!

I think you’re the second or third person I’ve seen mention that. Interesting. Like it would have been better to have simply eliminated it completely than to announce something so lame?