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

[DizMe]

I like this perk, but I can see why they would want to eliminate it. Relatively few people use it, though many like the idea that they can. That extra half hour likely means an extra hour of staffing within the park and at security and I'm sure that represents a lot of money for what is probably perceived as an underused benefit.

However, it was a very poor decision IMO to remove it and replace it with a relatively worthless LLMP. The key is to give people the sense of genuine value that would make staying on site more attractive given the high price. What that might be, I'm not sure, but few, if any, are going to be swayed to stay on site with a crappy LL pass.

 

[Pluto468]

You're paying more to get even less.

I think this is a frustrating issue that's been going on at Disneyland for a while, like eliminating free fast pass, dining packages practically required to get good seats for Fantasmic etc. Yet prices keep going up. To me, that's what makes it feel even worse that they're doing it with the hotels, too.

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).

I know what you mean.The only times I stay at the Grand are for my Dapper Day trips because it's $549 a night instead of $800/$900. But with EE gone I might just stay at Candy Cane Inn for Dapper Day this time. It costs a few hundred $ less plus I get a great breakfast delivered right to my room and shuttle to the parks.

The resort hotels should try to be more competitive with their perks, not abandon them all. It's already a stretch to justify staying there when you look at all the great hotels around Harbor that offer breakfast, shuttles, better prices etc. Plus you save enough to buy LL for every day of your trip, not just get one measly little freebie for staying onsite.

I guess the thing that DOES draw me back onsite is the Disney magic. The magic is what's kept me coming back to the parks for so many years even with all the changes.

 

[joseph821]

I like this perk, but I can see why they would want to eliminate it. Relatively few people use it, though many like the idea that they can. That extra half hour likely means an extra hour of staffing within the park and at security and I'm sure that represents a lot of money for what is probably perceived as an underused benefit.

However, it was a very poor decision IMO to remove it and replace it with a relatively worthless LLMP. The key is to give people the sense of genuine value that would make staying on site more attractive given the high price. What that might be, I'm not sure, but few, if any, are going to be swayed to stay on site with a crappy LL pass.

The security people are needed since the hotel checkpoints open at 645. As for the cast members for the attractions all rides have to go through testing 30 to 45 before opening.
The cast members are needed anyhow.
This decision was just about giving less and cutting it to cut it. The fact that they did this during the 70th just shows corporate Disney does not care about resort hotel guests and Disneyland visitors.

I know everyone the majority say nothing will change. There is a point for any business where they hit a wall and that is approaching for Disney. I do not think they will be changing the times for the parking garages and main esplanade and security checkpounts. Disney cut this because they wanted to.
When I was there on May, a GCH hotel cast member told me. For GCH guests over 70% used early entry for Disneyland and between 40 and 50% used it for DCA. So it not being used in wrong.

 

[Wesley815]

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.

Exactly.

Your reply hit the nail on the head. Disney has zero reason to lower prices if guests continue to pay and book hotel rooms (not saying I agree but sad general 'corporate world' viewpoint.)

Had a feeling early entry would eventually be cut when it went down from 1 hour to 30 minutes, along with the nearly empty Pixar gate.

 

[evilmommie]

Locals don't start arriving until 10 am or so. That's part of the reason that EE and early mornings are so nice at Disneyland.

As a local who has stayed at Dland Hotel & GCH many times, I still don’t arrive through the turnstiles until after 9am as a hotel guest…enjoying coffee on my balcony at GCH is my perk…
Just not the way we roll these days.

But, totally get the EE perk for tourists. Especially young families on schedules.

 

[disneychrista]

I also think people conflate these message boards with reality.

That is very true. Ask people on a Disney centric message board and a question about Disney trips you will get different answers than if you polled the general public about the same thing.

 

[irlandaise]

My guess is that a very large portion, if not a majority of employees are not full time. It’s fairly simple that reducing this 30 minute time pan will reduce operating costs.

Are you saying that under California labor laws, Disney can just take away 1/2 hour of a part-time worker's shift?

That still leaves any fulltime workers who are assigned to ride preparation and opening just having their shifts moved 1/2 hour later, leaving their pay the same, unless Disney is allowed to shorten their shifts.

 

[Wesley815]

Are you saying that under California labor laws, Disney can just take away 1/2 hour of a part-time worker's shift?

That still leaves any fulltime workers who are assigned to ride preparation and opening just having their shifts moved 1/2 hour later, leaving their pay the same, unless Disney is allowed to shorten their shifts.

Yes they are allowed to shorten or eliminate shifts the same with any business. Time clocks calculate pay by the minute.

Not sure I understand your message. Disney isn't cutting shifts on same day after clock in. For new schedules they simply don't need to staff during unneeded time. Part time means 0 to 40 hours a week, and they have less full time Cast in general anyways. I believe FT is 32 hours minimum but could be mistaken, with many different union rules.

 

[disneychrista]

Are you saying that under California labor laws, Disney can just take away 1/2 hour of a part-time worker's shift?

That still leaves any fulltime workers who are assigned to ride preparation and opening just having their shifts moved 1/2 hour later, leaving their pay the same, unless Disney is allowed to shorten their shifts.

Of course they can, they can do this for full time employees as well. Short of a labor agreement stating that an employee is guaranteed a certain number of hours they can schedule an employee however it works to fit the employers needs.

 

[Tomorrowland 67]

I can't get over how insulting it is to replace EE with one Lightning Lane pass.

 

[Kestryl]

Legit the tipping point for us booking the Disneyland Hotel vs. a hotel across the street for this fall was for early entry. For the briefest moment, before I saw this started in 2026, I was thinking, "OK, time to cancel and move elsewhere."

 

[OlliePop27]

As a local who has stayed at Dland Hotel & GCH many times, I still don’t arrive through the turnstiles until after 9am as a hotel guest…enjoying coffee on my balcony at GCH is my perk…
Just not the way we roll these days.

But, totally get the EE perk for tourists. Especially young families on schedules.

The morning at DL is amazing for those of us coming from a time zone in the eastern parts of the country. It's easy to be up early and the crowds are light! This is still true even without EE.

 

[joseph821]

The morning at DL is amazing for those of us coming from a time zone in the eastern parts of the country. It's easy to be up early and the crowds are light! This is still true even without EE.

Totally agree...i go crazy in the morning at Disneyland coming from JFK Long Island East Coast time!

 

[Howry]

Im ok with them eliminating early entry if Lighting Lane is included for each day of your stay for all members in your party up to 4 per day. I mean, if there were "few" people using the early entry perk and they can save on cast member wages etc for that time then surely it wont hurt them much to offer this since so few were using it anyway.

 

[buzlite]

I also think people conflate these message boards with reality. My neighbors down the street in DFW who might book a Disneyland trip will default to booking on-site. They don't care whether or not there's EE. Also, even though many of us on here arrive at RD and use EE, many of the on-site guests simply do not use it. There are many people who do not want to wake up at 6:30 or 7:00 on vacation. I am not one of those people, but many of our friends are shocked when I tell them we get to the parks by 7:30!

I've been thinking of this. Overall it feels like Disney is trying to make things less gameable and more pay2play. Ie reducing to benefits to "value based" guests to open up more inventory to "experience" based guests. I think most people don't realize that the most hardcore fans aren't generally the highest net income guests since they tend to look for value. However experience based guests with less knowledge will usually be willing to spend more without the focus on return on spend.
Guest A Value based guests may calculate the cost of an onsite resort vs offsite plus LLMP. Decide staying on resort forn1-2 nights might be the better value with a big family. Eat an on the go breakfast, line at opening, minimize shopping and jump in line for ROTR.
Guest B - experience based guests will book onsite since they wanna stay in Disney. They will have a buffet breakfast and get to the park at 10. They'll realize the lines are super long so grandma and grandpa will splurge for LLMP for the family. They'll realize ROTR isn't included but the kids need to do it so they'll buy LLSP since it's a can't miss. They will eat either quick service or a sit down restaurant in the park and buy souvenirs after fireworks. They paid for photo pass as well.

I feel like Disney is trying to cut services valued by Guest A and focus on increasing access to Guest B. To reduce the benefits of excessive planning and basically require you to pay for an improved experience.
Just a thought

 

[irlandaise]

Yes they are allowed to shorten or eliminate shifts the same with any business. Time clocks calculate pay by the minute.

Thanks for the explanation.

Not sure I understand your message. Disney isn't cutting shifts on same day after clock in. For new schedules they simply don't need to staff during unneeded time.

That's all I meant. They would start assigning people to come in later. So it would be a change to their normal shift hours.

Part time means 0 to 40 hours a week, and they have less full time Cast in general anyways. I believe FT is 32 hours minimum but could be mistaken, with many different union rules.

Wow, it sounds like they really can do whatever they want with PT employees.

 

[irlandaise]

Of course they can, they can do this for full time employees as well.

I'm sure there are minimum weekly hour requirements for FT employees under state laws.

Short of a labor agreement stating that an employee is guaranteed a certain number of hours they can schedule an employee however it works to fit the employers needs.

Many CMs at DL are working under union contracts.

 

[irlandaise]

Im ok with them eliminating early entry if Lighting Lane is included for each day of your stay for all members in your party up to 4 per day. I mean, if there were "few" people using the early entry perk and they can save on cast member wages etc for that time then surely it wont hurt them much to offer this since so few were using it anyway.

I think if they had done that people would be much less upset. Instead, it's apparently only one LL entry per guest per hotel stay. And only one ride, not a full LLMP.

 

[DizMe]

Honestly, I'd be happy with a per-party gift card, amount dependent on length of stay.

 

[irlandaise]

Honestly, I'd be happy with a per-party gift card, amount dependent on length of stay.

Yeah, there are any number of things Disney could have done to say, "We appreciate that you chose to stay at a Disney hotel" that would have been better than one ride entry.