Early Entry Ending at DLR

[tjkraz]

Am I missing something - how can a 1-Day LL replace early entry every day?

It doesn't...for people who use Early Entry.

But based upon Disney's claim that early entry was very lightly attended--and the positive feedback from guests who have attended and found very light crowds--a lot of people aren't taking advantage of EE. If that's the case, getting one LL is an upgrade for them. Though I think it's unnecessarily stingy to not make it one LL per night rather than one per reservation.

 

[kes601]

LLMP - At WDW, can make 3 selections 7 days in advance + stay length
LLMP - At DLR, can make selections after entering park; advantage to those who entered during ETPE, but that advantage is going away

This one I don't really see as a fair comparison between WDW and DLR. The systems are completely different. I actually prefer the way it works at DLR since the 2 hour stacking rule is still in play and it is next available time vs selecting any available time. Pre selections would not work.

 

[Flash_Sloth]

Also, unless I'm doing something wrong with how I make my park reservations at DLR, here is one more difference between WDW and DLR, but it only applies for Annual Pass or MagicKey holders:

WDW - park reservations don't count against your AP's limit when staying onsite
DLR - your MagicKey's park reservations limit is the same whether staying onsite or offsite

Maybe there is an extra bucket of park reservations available for those staying onsite in DLR?

And one more thing I just thought of.

WDW - MNSSHP, MVMCP, JN tickets can be purchased a week earlier if staying onsite
DLR - OBB tickets open for sale to everybody at the same time; no onsite advantage

 

[toesmom]

1 lightning lane for the entire length of your stay is better than early entry?

It was announced as a permanent closure. Who knows though.....

Could also be about staffing. That is a lot of extra staff for short time and people will still book the resorts. So they don’t really need to offer the early entry

 

[achinforsomebacon]

I haven’t visited VGC or DL yet so not familiar with the layout, why would closing Pixar Place entrance be so detrimental to VGC owners?

Besides convenience in the morning, my best use of this was when all my kid wanted for dinner was a hot dog from our room. We were able to run upstairs, eat a few dogs each for less than the cost of one in the park, grab some drinks, use our own bathroom, and get back in the park before the rest of our group had finished eating what they got in the park. It was so convenient when staying DVC.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Could also be about staffing. That is a lot of extra staff for short time and people will still book the resorts. So they don’t really need to offer the early entry

Thanks, Chapek.

I genuinely hopes this backfires on them with reduced cash price room attendance and the cohort that suggested and approved these changes gets fired.

I hope they lose more money by having to discount the hotel rooms than the cost of 30 minutes of extra time in a park every other day…

 

[kes601]

Thanks, Chapek.

I genuinely hopes this backfires on them with reduced cash price room attendance and the cohort that suggested and approved these changes gets fired.

I hope they lose more money by having to discount the hotel rooms than the cost of 30 minutes of extra time in a park every other day…

I fully think this change was put into motion 2 year ago when they change from both parks being open for early entry and just going to 1. Slowly take it away......

 

[intamin]

Could also be about staffing. That is a lot of extra staff for short time and people will still book the resorts. So they don’t really need to offer the early entry

Seems like with everything with Disney these days it's not about the experience, it's how can we get the same amount of money while providing less rather than making the experience better to warrant increasing prices. They tried for a long time to hold off on the return of live entertainment but thankfully that is somewhat returning but still not back to prepandemic form. In WDW it's the loss of Magical Express and free delivery to your room for merch and room service. Things that cost money but definitely made the guest experience seamless when needed. I promise I really do hate all those "the magic is gone" posts but it does make me sad to see all the things they've stripped over the years, just kind of seems like the pandemic gave them an excuse to do it.

 

[dunkindonut]

Bumping since this is happening soon, I feel like this is such a huge bummer for anyone who reserved DVC very far in advance.

Not sure if I'd ever stay at a Disneyland Resort hotel ever again. As much as I love being near Trader Sam's at DLH, early entry for me was like getting possibly 2 or 3 big rides in. It basically saved me the cost of a lightning lane MP.

Pixar to me is just way too far away, for the distance you could stay at Westin and literally probably have a much nicer stay and not have to deal with the whole elevator situation.

Never have stayed at Grand Californian and not sure if I would ever splurge to do it, the location is obviously the most convenient but it's not really a compelling offer when the hotels on harbor are basically as close.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Bumping since this is happening soon, I feel like this is such a huge bummer for anyone who reserved DVC very far in advance.

Not sure if I'd ever stay at a Disneyland Resort hotel ever again. As much as I love being near Trader Sam's at DLH, early entry for me was like getting possibly 2 or 3 big rides in. It basically saved me the cost of a lightning lane MP.

Pixar to me is just way too far away, for the distance you could stay at Westin and literally probably have a much nicer stay and not have to deal with the whole elevator situation.

Never have stayed at Grand Californian and not sure if I would ever splurge to do it, the location is obviously the most convenient but it's not really a compelling offer when the hotels on harbor are basically as close.

Things tend to be viewed differently when you are staying with your DVC points and not cash. While EE going away completely sucks it doesn’t mean VGC is any less desirable to a DVC member.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Things tend to be viewed differently when you are staying with your DVC points and not cash. While EE going away completely sucks it doesn’t mean VGC is any less desirable to a DVC member.

Yeah, I don’t think I’d ever look at this and think “I’d rather pay for a cash room at an offsite hotel instead of using my DVC points”.

Now…. would I pay cash for an onsite hotel…. that would be tough compared to the rates I can get at the Westin that include breakfast and a dining credit with my Chase SR when using CC points…..

 

[Canchaser143]

Bumping since this is happening soon, I feel like this is such a huge bummer for anyone who reserved DVC very far in advance.

Not sure if I'd ever stay at a Disneyland Resort hotel ever again. As much as I love being near Trader Sam's at DLH, early entry for me was like getting possibly 2 or 3 big rides in. It basically saved me the cost of a lightning lane MP.

Pixar to me is just way too far away, for the distance you could stay at Westin and literally probably have a much nicer stay and not have to deal with the whole elevator situation.

Never have stayed at Grand Californian and not sure if I would ever splurge to do it, the location is obviously the most convenient but it's not really a compelling offer when the hotels on harbor are basically as close.

I am sorry that you did all that planning ahead to secure DVC and EE will be gone EE will be greatly missed with our fam, since most of the rides we do are not LL. It is a big blow to families with young kids/babies who I think are the main users of EE at DLR. Looking at the Rope Drop crowds at our last trip earlier this month made me even less thrilled lol I am hoping this is a short term thing, we will just have to wait and see. WDW has gained more of my interest these days since they seem to appreciate those who want EE lol (at least for now!)

 

[Genie+]

This is a DOUBLE hit.

ETPE taken away.

Less inventory when you buy LLMP because they’re giving all onsite guests one out of that inventory.

It’s really 2 knocks.

We’re WDW eastcoasters and so far only visited DL once. Want to take our grown children. Planning a Sept trip for 2027, but possibly 2026 or 2028.

This news definitely removes some of the urgency on our part. I’m likely better off waiting for more changes because hopefully there will be a correction back into the guests’ favor.

What are they doing with VGC? Reminds me of car companies removing previously standard things to make the higher models look better in comparison. If I didn’t know better I’d think they are intentionally trying to make VGC look less shiny in effort to make VDH look more valuable to give active sales a boost.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I am sorry that you did all that planning ahead to secure DVC and EE will be gone EE will be greatly missed with our fam, since most of the rides we do are not LL. It is a big blow to families with young kids/babies who I think are the main users of EE at DLR. Looking at the Rope Drop crowds at our last trip earlier this month made me even less thrilled lol I am hoping this is a short term thing, we will just have to wait and see. WDW has gained more of my interest these days since they seem to appreciate those who want EE lol (at least for now!)

I don’t believe he owns DVC and he rented VDH but that stay is already over when EE was still available.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I don’t believe he owns DVC and he rented VDH but that stay is already over when EE was still available.

I think people who didn’t buy into VGC and VDH when EE existed (which it has in some form at DLand for as long as I can remember) don’t have as much of a complaint as those of us who did.

 

[Canchaser143]

I think people who didn’t buy into VGC and VDH when EE existed (which it has in some form at DLand for as long as I can remember) don’t have as much of a complaint as those of us who did.

IMO they really could keep EE at Disneyland and just do away with DCA. That's the park where EE feels like a waste with most people just going to wait in line at RSR. With so few attractions open during EE, it's just been silly lol Come on Disneyland, you are my heart park and I cannot help but still feel bitter about this

 

[AstroBlasters]

IMO they really could keep EE at Disneyland and just do away with DCA. That's the park where EE feels like a waste with most people just going to wait in line at RSR. With so few attractions open during EE, it's just been silly lol Come on Disneyland, you are my heart park and I cannot help but still feel bitter about this

Oh, I completely disagree. EE into DCA when staying at VGC and using the PP entrance was absolutely fantastic.

There is nothing like walking past the line of people queueing up for the Guardians walk (where a lot of them are “saving a spot” for friends) and strolling right past them….

 

[cruisehopeful]

I definitely didn't buy VGC and VDH for early entry, but it was something I used often at DCA when staying at VGC. Between early entry and that first hour of park opening, I was able to do all the headliners that I was interested in.

For DL, I never had luck on getting rides that I wanted (they weren't open) and I started having breakfast at carnation cafe via walk-up. It was nice, but I won't miss it like I'll miss DCA early entry.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Oh, I completely disagree. EE into DCA when staying at VGC and using the PP entrance was absolutely fantastic.

There is nothing like walking past the line of people queueing up for the Guardians walk (where a lot of them are “saving a spot” for friends) and strolling right past them….

We find we also like DCA better. While we love ROTR getting in RSR is amazing. Best ride at any park. I know a lot of people like DLR for things like Peter Pan but we don’t care to wake up early for it.

 

[cruisehopeful]

Reading the replies makes me wish that they continued to offer it for even just 2 or 3 rides. They said people weren't using it enough or that they were only using it to get a coffee. I wonder why they didn't try to contain it to a smaller area.

I've been to some after hours events at DCA. One only had Guardians, soarin and maybe Monsters Inc open. Guardians may have been Hollywood Tower of Terror at the time.

The special preview after hours for the launching of Guardians may have only had that ride open. There were other things happening, but it seems like they know how to open a small area and keep people contained in it.....