Early Entry Changes 2024

[JerrodDragon89]

As someone who always stays offsite, this is obviously a good change for me. It makes Peter Pan, Racers and some other rides rope droppable again. I am a bit concerned though that this will give them an excuse to slack on maintenance. Peter Pan was almost never operating at rope drop in 2021-2022 before they brought back EE.

This seems like a simple cost cutting measure. If I actually thought Disney management was competent, I'd expect them to know how this would affect the sale of things like Genie+, hotel rooms, etc but I don't really trust them to have thought through everything thoroughly.

If people really are buying 400+ dollar rooms for 30 mins......then I'd be surprised

I think most just want to stay at a Disney hotel

This is more of a perk but since 90+ Percent of guests aren't at Disneyland hotels, I think it's an overall good change

I'd have paid extra to get inside but more like USH which is 20-30 bucks not something insane like 400 bucks at a hotel.

 

[gelatoni fan]

If people really are buying 400+ dollar rooms for 30 mins......then I'd be surprised

I think most just want to stay at a Disney hotel

This is more of a perk but since 90+ Percent of guests aren't at Disneyland hotels, I think it's an overall good change

I'd have paid extra to get inside but more like USH which is 20-30 bucks not something insane like 400 bucks at a hotel.

It's not a lot but some people definitely book a Disney hotel primarily to get in early at certain times.

If the Disney Channel Fan Fest wasn't canceled in 2020, I would have booked a Disney hotel just to get in early to get celebrity meet & greet wristbands which would have been first-come, first-served. I also have friends from Asia who don't actually like the Disney hotels more than other hotels but are willing to pay more for a worse hotel just because they get in early.

It also doesn't have to be the only factor. For example, it's not uncommon for the Disneyland Hotel to cost around $200 more than the Courtyard. If a family of 4 values the pool at the Disneyland Hotel as $50 and the theming as $100, then it doesn't make sense to pay $200 for $150 of "value" by staying at the Disneyland Hotel. But if getting in early means they save on individual lightning lane on Rise of the Resistance, that could be the deciding factor that tips the scale in favor of the Disneyland Hotel.

 

[Pluto468]

When I saw the title of this thread I was hoping EE was changing back to an hour. Oh, well. But at least the change will help offsite guests at rope drop. I still hope they'll bring back that hour someday!

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

I was surprised to see the reduction of EE especially when they are trying to sell the new DVC villas at the DH. To my mind they should be upping the perks, but maybe the units are selling so well they don't feel the need.

 

[nlenguyen]

It will save money by only having one park staffed early.

I don't think they are looking to add value to staying on site. They could eliminate EE completely and still sell out the on site hotels.

I wonder how much earlier cast members had to come in. If anything, with one park, stay with 1 hour before

 

[nlenguyen]

I was surprised to see the reduction of EE especially when they are trying to sell the new DVC villas at the DH. To my mind they should be upping the perks, but maybe the units are selling so well they don't feel the need.

They are selling at a decent pace. But they did add the DVC lounge, that is about it. I think DL should have done something to announce the end of reservations for ticketed guests

 

[LKing]

I wonder how much earlier cast members had to come in. If anything, with one park, stay with 1 hour before

On one hand, it is supply and demand. How many cast members do they want, or need, to pay for the small number of guests in the park?

Another issue, for those that don't know, is that the Disney may need to start paying resort workers >$18/hour.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/disneyland-workers-could-pay-hike-051740466.html

 

[RoseColored97]

On one hand, it is supply and demand. How many cast members do they want, or need, to pay for the small number of guests in the park?

Another issue, for those that don't know, is that the Disney may need to start paying resort workers >$18/hour.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/disneyland-workers-could-pay-hike-051740466.html

I was surprised they were not already making that.

 

[XTinabell]

TBH the MAIN reason we're staying at DLH this upcoming trip was for EE. Yes, it's nice to be in the bubble but we're planning to only do the mornings so that extra half hour is huge for us. Next trip, with this news, we'll be staying offsite. UNLESS they change it to an hour. So to me, there isn't a huge benefit to staying onsite now especially when comparing costs to offsite hotels that don't have their pools down every time.

 

[Pluto468]

I used to REALLY like that ticket where with three days you got one Magic Morning, even offsite - now that was awesome!

That was such a great perk with the multiday ticket. Wish they'd bring it back someday.

 

[RoseColored97]

TBH the MAIN reason we're staying at DLH this upcoming trip was for EE. Yes, it's nice to be in the bubble but we're planning to only do the mornings so that extra half hour is huge for us. Next trip, with this news, we'll be staying offsite. UNLESS they change it to an hour. So to me, there isn't a huge benefit to staying onsite now especially when comparing costs to offsite hotels that don't have their pools down every time.

Same, we were just talking about this. I think there is still some benefit to on-site when we're going over NYE but for events like OBB and other trips where the crowds won't be insane or we plan to be in the room for an extended amount of time, I think we are going to be staying off-site. Might as well pocket the difference in cost to use on a future trip.

And when you think about it, that lessens GCH's value even more significantly than arguably any of the other on-site hotels. We started in DCA more often when we were staying specifically at GCH even though we prefer starting in Disneyland for the day just because we could use the dedicated DCA entrance. Now, you won't be able to use the DCA entrance in the mornings if you want to take advantage of early entry for at least half of your stay. IDK, the cons are just adding up in my mind which is making me hesitant to even consider on-site for next year.

 

[XTinabell]

Same, we were just talking about this. I think there is still some benefit to on-site when we're going over NYE but for events like OBB and other trips where the crowds won't be insane or we plan to be in the room for an extended amount of time, I think we are going to be staying off-site. Might as well pocket the difference in cost to use on a future trip.

And when you think about it, that lessens GCH's value even more significantly than arguably any of the other on-site hotels. We started in DCA more often when we were staying specifically at GCH even though we prefer starting in Disneyland for the day just because we could use the dedicated DCA entrance. Now, you won't be able to use the DCA entrance in the mornings if you want to take advantage of early entry for at least half of your stay. IDK, the cons are just adding up in my mind which is making me hesitant to even consider on-site for next year.

I know it's wishful thinking, but maybe this will be the start of them being forced to reduce their room prices. Ha. I can't even say it with a straight face.

 

[DontSpamMe]

Yikes. Add this to another con of staying on-site. I'm not sure if there's much of a benefit to staying on-site anymore. Especially for the outrageous price tag.

On the other hand it is a massive (positive) change for offsite guests. We all get a level playing field again.

 

[JerrodDragon89]

It's not a lot but some people definitely book a Disney hotel primarily to get in early at certain times.

If the Disney Channel Fan Fest wasn't canceled in 2020, I would have booked a Disney hotel just to get in early to get celebrity meet & greet wristbands which would have been first-come, first-served. I also have friends from Asia who don't actually like the Disney hotels more than other hotels but are willing to pay more for a worse hotel just because they get in early.

It also doesn't have to be the only factor. For example, it's not uncommon for the Disneyland Hotel to cost around $200 more than the Courtyard. If a family of 4 values the pool at the Disneyland Hotel as $50 and the theming as $100, then it doesn't make sense to pay $200 for $150 of "value" by staying at the Disneyland Hotel. But if getting in early means they save on individual lightning lane on Rise of the Resistance, that could be the deciding factor that tips the scale in favor of the Disneyland Hotel.

We will see

But I have a feeling most DIsney fans that can afford to stay in the Disneyland hotel don't care.

It's not that they won't want it but I doubt less people visit or Disney cares, if Disney wanted the hotel filled they would lower the price or add more perks but this move shows they rather have empty rooms then guests not willing to pay more for less.

 

[OneThree]

Becomes harder and harder to justify staying on-site. I think many, including myself, convince themselves that the exorbitant price of the DLH, GCH, PP are ok to an extent because of the perks like EH but after they reduced the time to just 30 minutes and now to just one park as it was previously I think it’s even more of a stretch to justify any perks included with the price.

To be honest, EH hasn’t been worth all that much our last two trips. There were more EH rides “temporarily closed” then there were open rides during the 30 minute window.

 

[joseph821]

Becomes harder and harder to justify staying on-site. I think many, including myself, convince themselves that the exorbitant price of the DLH, GCH, PP are ok to an extent because of the perks like EH but after they reduced the time to just 30 minutes and now to just one park as it was previously I think it’s even more of a stretch to justify any perks included with the price.

To be honest, EH hasn’t been worth all that much our last two trips. There were more EH rides “temporarily closed” then there were open rides during the 30 minute window.

When was your trip? What attractions were down? During my recent trip, all EE attractions were open. On one morming, Peter Pan was open then closed like 15 minutes later at 745AM and once Alice was closed and reopened at 750AM. I only did early entry in DCA once..everything was open but after riding Guardians and Webslingers - which are good but not my faves - I was unimpressed with DCA early offerings.
I am also wondering will Disneyland keep the same EE schedule so you can make the appropriate park reservations or is it always going to change?

 

[DizMe]

I almost always stay on site and I rarely use EE, so it really doesn't affect my decision about where to stay. However, I do feel like it's a bit of a slap to those who spend the money to stay at a resort hotel. You've just downgraded the experience without anything to balance it out. As others have said, one park is ok if you bumped it up to an hour. That, of course, defeats the (presumably) intended purpose of cutting back on staffing, though.

 

[LKing]

That, of course, defeats the (presumably) intended purpose of cutting back on staffing, though.

I don't think double the people at one park requires double staffing. In addition to the attractions, opening both parks requires twice the staff for stores, restaurants, security, custodial services, ticket takers, guest services, etc. Do you know if the characters are there during EE? What about PhotoPass photographers?

 

[OneThree]

When was your trip? What attractions were down? During my recent trip, all EE attractions were open. On one morming, Peter Pan was open then closed like 15 minutes later at 745AM and once Alice was closed and reopened at 750AM. I only did early entry in DCA once..everything was open but after riding Guardians and Webslingers - which are good but not my faves - I was unimpressed with DCA early offerings.
I am also wondering will Disneyland keep the same EE schedule so you can make the appropriate park reservations or is it always going to change?

January was our last stay. Attempted EE on two days, one to DL and one to CA. DL we saw PP, Alice, Buzz, Space, all down for the 30 mins of EE. At CA only Guardians was available, which as it turned out was fine since we planned to ride that and then get in line to get in line at RSR but still there really wasn’t a bonus being in the parks 30 minutes early from an attractions perspective.

 

[DizMe]

I don't think double the people at one park requires double staffing. In addition to the attractions, opening both parks requires twice the staff for stores, restaurants, security, custodial services, ticket takers, guest services, etc. Do you know if the characters are there during EE? What about PhotoPass photographers?

I agree. This appears to be a move to reduce the number of CMs needed during EE. There is no benefit to the guests except for those staying off site, who will have a shot at rope dropping the non-EE park.

I wish they'd added another half hour to the EE at the one park but I guess that would remove some/most of the cost benefits of reduced staffing.