Do parks open earlier than posted times?

[KalBen]

We will be at Universal over Easter, staying at RPR. Do the parks open earlier than what is posted on the website? (like most parks at Disney) Also, with FOTL would it still be a good idea to get to the parks as early as possible? Thanks for any advice!

 

[damo]

With FOTL it doesn't matter. The parks do open earlier at peak times than what is advertised.

 

[phamton]

I've been to Disney hundreds of times and not once have they opened early. WDW parks sometimes open the gate a little early but they then keep you in a holding area until official park opening.

Universal usually opens a few minutes early and you can go right to the rides. IOA typically doesn't open much earlier than the offical time.

 

[KalBen]

Last year, over Easter break, we stayed at the Poly and MK opened at 7 am. I thought maybe it was the same for onsite Universal guests. Glad to hear we won't have to get up so early this year.

 

[phamton]

Last year, over Easter break, we stayed at the Poly and MK opened at 7 am. I thought maybe it was the same for onsite Universal guests. Glad to hear we won't have to get up so early this year.

Oh early magic hours for hotel guests at WDW---I forgot about that.

 

[robvia]

Doesn't matter if the park opens early or not.
The key is to be at the front of the gate.
Arrive the parking garage at 8am, and you'll be there.

If they open at 08:45am, great, you have a head start. Otherwise, you're first into the park when they open. Just show up early and be first in line.

 

[Motherfletcher]

I've been to Universal when they opened 45 minutes early but normally its 15 - 30 minutes early.

 

[robvia]

Right, on real busy days, they open early, but don't officially announce it.

I once walked up at 08:30am and the gates were already open. Other times, they open at 08:45am.

It's really fun to ride Hulk, Dr. Doom, and Spiderman before 9am. It makes my day when that happens. I come back a couple hours later, see wait times of 1 hour, and laugh.

 

[VanishedPsycho]

Disney resort guests do get 'magic mornings' during the year when the parks do open early to resort guests on certain days.
Universal resort guests get complimentary Universal Express at their convenience every day at both parks by showing their room key at each attraction. Since they get what is normally sold to guests at anywhere from $20-50 per person they do not open the parks early for on-site resort guests. the parking garage opens at 8am and starts letting people in and you can line up at the front gate of either park starting at that time as well. generally somewhere between 8:30 and 8:45 (on average) once the majority of the attractions call in and say they're ready to open, they do go ahead and open the entrance gates and start letting people into the parks. this not something advertised, but it happens every day. during certain peak periods there may be days where the gates open as early as 8am. like i said it all depends on when the majority of the attractions call admission and say they are up and running and ready to go.

 

[La2kw]

The best part of FOTL is that you don't have to be there at park opening. Sleep in, enjoy the great breakfast buffet at Islands Dining Room, and then make your way over to the park at your own pace. You'll be able to hit all the rides you want, as often as you want, with very little wait. It's a completely different experience than WDW.