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

[joseph821]

I wonder how much of this is due to guest dissatisfaction with EE because of the mess at security. Rather than fix the underlying problem (security opening too late with too few lines with antiquated metal detectors) they just get rid of EE. Which will then just push the mess to regular rope drop.

Evening hours would solve the whole security fiasco btw!

I never had problem with security for EE from the GCH...granted I was there by 615/620AM and was within the first 10 people in line usually.

 

[Canchaser143]

We ALWAYS rope drop and have done it dozens and dozens of times @ WDW and DLR over the past 6 or 8 years. Never, ever have I seen anyone pushed or knocked down.

I mean I am being slightly dramatic but still, it is a lot of people and a tight squeeze.

 

[OneTrackMind]

I appreciate that info, but that is not enough to make me even think about it! I was really expecting $500-600 for a standard room, not rounding towards $900.

February 19 is $1110 per night for standard at GCH (before taxes)!

 

[joseph821]

February 19 is $1110 per night for standard at GCH (before taxes)!

That is ********! outrageous!

 

[ComeToSocialize]

I never had problem with security for EE from the GCH...granted I was there by 615/620AM and was within the first 10 people in line usually.

You shouldn't have to stand around waiting doing nothing for over an hour to use a perk.

People showing up at 715 were having a much different experience.

 

[joseph821]

You shouldn't have to stand around waiting doing nothing for over an hour to use a perk.

People showing up at 715 were having a much different experience.

Agreed but I did not set up the system. It is gone now..awful...I will stay late to closing most nights now.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I wonder how much of this is due to guest dissatisfaction with EE because of the mess at security. Rather than fix the underlying problem (security opening too late with too few lines with antiquated metal detectors) they just get rid of EE.

Wow… Well, no wonder Disney figures they can kill EE, raise prices and people will still come.

Security at WDW is such a breeze it’s barely even something to think about, at worse it’s like 5-10 mins if you get snagged for bag check and there is a line. The mind boggles.

 

[LizzyS]

February 19 is $1110 per night for standard at GCH (before taxes)!

I'm about to PASS OUT, what?!?!

 

[joseph821]

I'm about to PASS OUT, what?!?!

Mind exploding!

 

[LizzyS]

The economy is not great for most people right now, so they may be doing a big case of "finding out" in the near future, if you know what I mean. We've already spaced our trips out to every 2 years from yearly.

 

[JerrodDragon89]

The economy is not great for most people right now, so they may be doing a big case of "finding out" in the near future, if you know what I mean. We've already spaced our trips out to every 2 years from yearly.

Maybe but I've seen people pointing out Disney might be trying to save as much money on labor as they can....this program did cost them a good deal..not that they didn't make it back but they are going to see if only 10-20 percent drop and that is more than worth it to loose some people and have to staff less

 

[VGCgroupie]

Wow… Well, no wonder Disney figures they can kill EE, raise prices and people will still come.

Security at WDW is such a breeze it’s barely even something to think about, at worse it’s like 5-10 mins if you get snagged for bag check and there is a line. The mind boggles.

Yes security at DLR is so evasive and over the top. WDW was a breeze even when I got flagged for my eyeglass case.

 

[BriannaRuth]

As someone who usually stays onsite but sometimes stays offsite, I see this as a lose-lose either way. EE has always been one of the main reasons we've stayed onsite, and when we're onsite, we ALWAYS do EE (and we stay 5 days every time). Dropping to 30 minutes was a disincentive, but this is SO MUCH WORSE. Not only do you lose the 30 minutes, but now you're also in line with every other person who's going to DL that morning. You'd probably have to get up at the same time just to try to get near the front of the line at entry for regular entrance as you did for EE! And I'm pretty sure it takes longer to walk from the DLH security entrance to the esplanade than it does from the Harbor security entrance, which puts DLH/PPH hotel guests at a further disadvantage.

But I also see this as a bad thing for the times we DON'T stay onsite. We've always done an "opposite park" strategy, going to whichever park doesn't have EE first, because the lines aren't as long at the opposite park because of all the hotel guests at EE. That's no longer going to be a thing. Not only that, but more people will be probably be booking good neighbor hotels, driving the prices up AND making for longer lines at entry for everyone.

I couldn't care less about the benefit one one (really?!) LL per stay. Doesn't come close to the benefit of EE every day and honestly, the price of one LL is not that important to people who are willing to fork over $600-$1200 a night for a hotel stay. I usually go with 1 or 2 other people, so that LL benefit is worth a whopping $64-$96 on a hotel stay that's going to run me nearly $6K for 6 nights. In the words of one of my favorite TikTok content creators ... We_Do_Not_Care!

 

[VGCgroupie]

The economy is not great for most people right now, so they may be doing a big case of "finding out" in the near future, if you know what I mean. We've already spaced our trips out to every 2 years from yearly.

If this is the case then they need to just say it and not say its because we didnt use EE enough

 

[LizzyS]

Maybe but I've seen people pointing out Disney might be trying to save as much money on labor as they can....this program did cost them a good deal..not that they didn't make it back but they are going to see if only 10-20 percent drop and that is more than worth it to loose some people and have to staff less

Ok, but it would have been nice not to jack up the hotel rates so much considering this perk was disappearing. You're paying more to get even less. I'm generally not a complainer- if I don't want to pay for something, I don't do it, but my head almost popped off when I saw that rate for a STANDARD room at GCH for next year. Nope, I'll probably never attempt to stay onsite ever again (I have twice in the past at PPH and DLH).

 

[joseph821]

Maybe but I've seen people pointing out Disney might be trying to save as much money on labor as they can....this program did cost them a good deal..not that they didn't make it back but they are going to see if only 10-20 percent drop and that is more than worth it to loose some people and have to staff less

Labor and wages Disney takes off its balance sheet as expenses on their corporate taxes. The problem is will hotel resort occupancy rates go down? Yes for DL. The quarter from April May June 2025, theme park profits were over half of Disney's overall profits even though attendance in the US was flat, hotel occupancy onsite was higher and guest spending went up. Getting rid of EE did not help their cause considering WDW makes the lion's share of domestic theme patk profits.

 

[JerrodDragon89]

Labor and wages Disney takes off its balance sheet as expenses on their corporate taxes. The problem is will hotel resort occupancy rates go down? Yes for DL. The quarter from April May June 2025, theme park profits were over half of Disney's overall profits even though attendance in the US was flat, hotel occupancy onsite was higher and guest spending went up. Getting rid of EE did not help their cause considering WDW makes the lion's share of domestic theme patk profits.

We will see, while the numbers are not high they are also not losing money

I think they just rather keep cutting costs like how we have wayyy less shows then pre covid.....so Disney Fans have shown they are down for lesser experiences and will still pay

I'd love to be wrong but Disney fans just seem to be fine with paying for things no matter what, most after night events sell out and even the Keys...the giant 60 dollar keys sold out

So would loveeeee to be wrong but think Disney is fine with "losing money" if it means it cost less to run

 

[katmigordon]

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!

Dang that's a double hit for the pixar hotel!

 

[Wildcat1144]

February 19 is $1110 per night for standard at GCH (before taxes)!

$313 over at the Holiday Inn Express off of Manchester.

 

[OneThree]

We will see, while the numbers are not high they are also not losing money

I think they just rather keep cutting costs like how we have wayyy less shows then pre covid.....so Disney Fans have shown they are down for lesser experiences and will still pay

I'd love to be wrong but Disney fans just seem to be fine with paying for things no matter what, most after night events sell out and even the Keys...the giant 60 dollar keys sold out

So would loveeeee to be wrong but think Disney is fine with "losing money" if it means it cost less to run

This. I think Disney has learned that it doesn’t matter what they do. Guests will keep coming, keep paying higher and higher prices for tickets, food, merchandise, etc…

The cynic in me wouldn’t be surprised if their next move with regard to hotels is to begin getting rid of them entirely. Let the off sites handle the load and reclaim the space for more IP attractions, shops and dining.