Early Entry

[disneyfav4ever]

Is it true the parks open at 8:30 for onsite guests?

 

[Purseval]

No, however it is true that the parks sometimes open early for everyone and it's typically just a couple of rides in each park. Onsite guests don't really need EMH or any variation of that because the have front of the line access,

Once WWOHP opens and we find that it doesn't have an express line early entry would make a nice perk for resort guests. That's just speculation on my part.

 

[Coach81]

Agree, Purseval.. that would be very nice!

 

[Rags]

and on my invoice it state early entry for IOA. I spoke to a Universal CSR and she told me I can enter at 8:30 am and can ride the Hulk and Spiderman.

I asked about WWOHP being included and she stated since it wasn't open yet she wasn't sure.

 

[Coach81]

Is this something new??? Or is this the same thing that they've always done?

 

[Rags]

I know last year you could enter Universal 30 mins before to opening and Shrek was open.

 

[cieslack]

I was just browsing on the Universal reservation site linked from the new Harry Potter section of the site and it mentioned early entry to the parks as one of the perks for staying onsite. I had never seen that mentioned prior, but I've never stayed onsite.

 

[Purseval]

I've had early entry into the parks plenty of times and I haven't stayed onsite in years. They must let resort guests in and when it tails off, which apparently doesn't take very long, they let everyone in.

 

[donaldduck352]

I've had early entry into the parks plenty of times and I haven't stayed onsite in years. They must let resort guests in and when it tails off, which apparently doesn't take very long, they let everyone in.

 

[keishashadow]

jmho, best part of staying onsite/fotl is that u don't need to wake up early. 1 day during stay we'd make sure to get to pteredon flyers to get our fix, otherwise; so nice to be able to relax & not be slaves to am park schedule. HP will probably throw a wrench into that thinking though unless they have fotl @ least once/day for onsite

 

[Coach81]

Great point, Keisha! We are so looking forward to our trip in two weeks, going to be so laid-back.. stress-free as we are staying club-level at RPH!!!!

 

[pixeegrl]

Great point, Keisha! We are so looking forward to our trip in two weeks, going to be so laid-back.. stress-free as we are staying club-level at RPH!!!!

Make sure you come back and do a trip report! We are staying club level for the first time in August and can't wait to read your experience with it. We stayed at RPR December 2008 but it wasn't club level.

 

[Purseval]

They would also have to specifically open WWOHP early for you to make it worthwhile. As it stands now only a couple of rides in each park open early.

 

[TagUrIt]

So, when you get early entry into the parks, do they have folks there to verify you're staying onsite and then let you through the main gate? Or is there an alternate entrance?

 

[ChuckGA]

So, when you get early entry into the parks, do they have folks there to verify you're staying onsite and then let you through the main gate? Or is there an alternate entrance?

When we were there during the beginning of Thanksgiving week, everyone entered the normal entrance and no checking was done. Entry was around 8:45am or slightly later. On the right side entrance they were letting some people in early but it looked like you needed a special pass or it was for a special event, not just on-site. During that time there was hardly anyone in line. It was nothing like Disney where there are typically hundreds to a thousand people waiting before EE. I don't think there was even 100 people waiting.

US and Disney are a bit different at the start of the day. Disney holds to a specific time and then when they let people in, the rides that are supposed to be open are open, which is either the entire park or the morning EE rides for EE. US seemed more like "we'll let you in when some says to let you in and if a ride is open before 9am then that is a ride open early." Also not every ride that was supposed to be open at 9am was operating at 9am and there are a number of attractions that open well after 9am. It is weird to have non-show attractions start operating hours after normal opening.

 

[Pink Flamingo]

So, when you get early entry into the parks, do they have folks there to verify you're staying onsite and then let you through the main gate? Or is there an alternate entrance?

When we were there in June we had to show our room key ~ we went to a turnstile on the far right hand side. Some people ahead of us tried to get in early, but didn't have a room key, so they were not allowed in.