Early Morning Hours is it really a perk?

[BcIcemen]

With the early morning hours only a half hour before park how are they going to keep people not entiled to early entry out of the parks? Most people are there a half hour before park open if they are planning that park for the day. Do we really think this can happen? Also really what is a half hour going to give you in a park like AK?

 

[crvetter]

I'm not entirely certain how they will do this. Disneyland held non-resort guests (and those with out the ticket entitlement) at the gate (pre-covid). However, I could see with Disney World they open the park to everyone and resort guest go through the "Lightning Lane" until park open and non-resort guests stand in the standby queue. Or do what they do at Universal, allow resort guests to get further than the main shopping area when they open but the non-resort guests can't even get into the standby queues.

I hope they go with the Disneyland or Universal route rather than let them fill into the standby queues, because technically that would make it a little less of a perk (can't hop into a short line right at park open because it is already filled with non-resort guests).

 

[thanxfornoticin]

This is really no different than EMHs previously, so they have handled early entry for specific guests before. I'm sure this will be no different - there will be lines to verify your resort reservations (they can verify park ticket, park reservation, and resort reservation on your magic band/MDE). Of course, if the early entry lines are too long, they could take 30 minutes to get you through some days!

The other question about what 30 minutes will do? Well, that's potentially going to save folks some waiting time for 1, maybe 2 of the larger attractions. Guess we'll see.

 

[CarolMN]

I'm sure it will be handled appropriately. They've done it before.

We'll use it to rope drop one or two of our favorites in each park. I'm not planning to use Genie+ unless the majority of the reviews say it's absolutely necessary, and I very much doubt I'll be willing to pay LL prices more than once for one or two of the newer attractions - we no longer do the roller coasters /jerky rides, and REMY looks to be cute, but mostly a "kiddie" attraction. Well see.

 

[Sandisw]

I think since all parks will have them it will be easier to manage than before since people will be spread out.

They did it before so I am sure they can figure it out.

 

[zavandor]

I'm wondering if it's really doable in Covid times. If there are too many off site people waiting to enter, will they let them in to avoid a large crowd to form?
If this is enforced well, it could be a very good perk for onsite guests. And since it's the last one remaining, Disney should really try to make it work.

 

[808blessing]

I guess it will save me 1 up to $20 add on premier attraction rip-off cost, per person. Provided my entire family who likes to relax at DVC whisk like to rearrange their entire sleeping patterns.

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

I am so sick and tired of early morning BS. Some of us take sleeping medications and some of us just don't want to spend our vacation up at the crack of dawn. I will miss FP+ and will likely enjoy Genie or Lightning Lanes if it's done ahead of 7:00 a.m. on the day of. This isn't an agricultural society anymore - get it over it. Please have something at night for those of us that want to sleep in and/or don't have 3 year olds that are up at 5:30 a.m.

 

[CarolMN]

I am so sick and tired of early morning BS. Some of us take sleeping medications and some of us just don't want to spend our vacation up at the crack of dawn. I will miss FP+ and will likely enjoy Genie or Lightning Lanes if it's done ahead of 7:00 a.m. on the day of. This isn't an agricultural society anymore - get it over it. Please have something at night for those of us that want to sleep in and/or don't have 3 year olds that are up at 5:30 a.m.

Hoping the evening extra magic hours are expanded to include all four parks. If those rotate between parks and continue to be a deluxe/villa perk only, it will be a valued perk!

 

[gharter]

As long as they only let onsite guests in 30 minutes early, it could save you a lot of time at FoP and RoTR. The real issue will be if the park opens officially at 9. You get in at 8:30 staying onsite and then they let everyone in at 8:45.You have some benefit, but lost some.
I wonder how strict they will be with opening times? On our last trip, most parks were opening 30-45 minutes earlier than posted. If that continues to happen, that makes planning early entry more difficult.

 

[Nabas]

I'm wondering if it's really doable in Covid times. If there are too many off site people waiting to enter, will they let them in to avoid a large crowd to form?
If this is enforced well, it could be a very good perk for onsite guests. And since it's the last one remaining, Disney should really try to make it work.

Disney has pretty much abandoned all COVID protocols, other than masks indoors.

Cast Members now actively encourage Guests to "fill all available space."

 

[WilsonFlyer]

What Disney figured out was that trying to look like the cool kids on the block was costing them millions of dollars.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I'm just grumbly about it only being 1/2 hour. As the OP said, how much advantage is 1/2 hour, really?

 

[CookieandOatmeal]

For DVC/Deluxe extra hours at night, do you need a ticket for that park for that day to get in? I know a PH would get you in no problem but what if I used my tix for MK but the extra hours are at Epcot that night?

 

[Douglas Dubh]

As the OP said, how much advantage is 1/2 hour, really?

It’s a pretty big advantage. Tokyo only has 15 minutes but that allows you to bypass all the offsite guests waiting for the park to open and walk onto a headline attraction right at opening.

 

[Marionnette]

For DVC/Deluxe extra hours at night, do you need a ticket for that park for that day to get in? I know a PH would get you in no problem but what if I used my tix for MK but the extra hours are at Epcot that night?

If you don't have a park hopper, you need to have a park reservation for the extra evening hours (EEH). If you have a park hopper you must tap in at the park for which you had a reservation before hopping to the EEH park.

 

[larsonb74]

For DVC/Deluxe extra hours at night, do you need a ticket for that park for that day to get in? I know a PH would get you in no problem but what if I used my tix for MK but the extra hours are at Epcot that night?

As long as you are staying at a deluxe and have an AP or park hopping ticket you should be able to get in. Also would need to ticket in at that first park prior to hopping after 2 pm.

 

[Sandisw]

For DVC/Deluxe extra hours at night, do you need a ticket for that park for that day to get in? I know a PH would get you in no problem but what if I used my tix for MK but the extra hours are at Epcot that night?

A one park per day ticket will only work for night EMH if that is your park that day.

So, if you don’t buy the park hopper, or have the AP, then you will have to make it your park of the day.

These hours will not be a way to get around having the park hopper option.

 

[cjlong88]

They have done Early EMH for years, so it is likely they will implement a similar system. Everyone will be able to get through the turnstiles, but off-site guests you won't be able to get past the spot where they filter on-site guests through to the attractions.

If you think about a standard morning rope drop, 30 minutes ahead of the crowd is huge. Even if I only get on 1-2 attractions, we can hopefully stay slightly ahead of the wave so we can continue to enjoy minimal waits longer. We won't really know, though, until it happens.

 

[CookieandOatmeal]

If you don't have a park hopper, you need to have a park reservation for the extra evening hours (EEH). If you have a park hopper you must tap in at the park for which you had a reservation before hopping to the EEH park.

As long as you are staying at a deluxe and have an AP or park hopping ticket you should be able to get in. Also would need to ticket in at that first park prior to hopping after 2 pm.

A one park per day ticket will only work for night EMH if that is your park that day.

So, if you don’t buy the park hopper, or have the AP, then you will have to make it your park of the day.

These hours will not be a way to get around having the park hopper option.

I've always had a PH or AP but now that we have a toddler with us, we're not sure we will really make good use of the PH.