Early park entrance

[marinejjh]

I might have misunderstood today when we went into Magic Kingdom. They let us in early but held everyone after the main entrance and would let you pass that area unless you have a pass or access for early entry. I was always under the impression that if you stayed on site you automatically had early entrance and didn't have to pay extra for this.

 

[Tom_E_D]

I might have misunderstood today when we went into Magic Kingdom. They let us in early but held everyone after the main entrance and would let you pass that area unless you have a pass or access for early entry. I was always under the impression that if you stayed on site you automatically had early entrance and didn't have to pay extra for this.

You don't have to pay extra. They just wanted you to prove you were staying onsite. Use your magicband, room key, MagicMobile, etc. (linked to your hotel reservation) and they will let you in.

NOTE: People who can prove they are staying at certain non-Disney hotels qualify too. They just have to prove they are staying at those hotels.

 

[R&RsMom]

They let everyone in through Main Street and to the hub. At the hub, usually on the right, there are cast members scanning Magic Bands or hotel keys - people scanning in as on site are held until the start of early entry, then are let into Tomorrowland and Fantasyland. No extra cost. Offsite guests are held at the hub up until regular park open.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

You don't have to pay extra.
You have to make your way to where they tell you to go for early theme park entry (in MK this is up Main Street and to the right. They are loudly announcing it as you approach) and they scan one person's band/card from each room so they can see you are stying onsite.
If you arrive too close to regular park opening they will hold you with everyone else though.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

held until the start of early entry, then are let into Tomorrowland and Fantasyland.

Not anymore. They let you back to the attractions now and you can form lines outside of the ride queues. If a line is getting too backed up and the ride is operational they will actually start letting you in the actual queue and even start the ride prior to the start of early entry.

 

[wighty]

Not anymore. They let you back to the attractions now and you can form lines outside of the ride queues. If a line is getting too backed up and the ride is operational they will actually start letting you in the actual queue and even start the ride prior to the start of early entry.

So basically the 'rope drop' would be more like occurring at the main gate then, right?

 

[scrappinginontario]

So basically the 'rope drop' would be more like occurring at the main gate then, right?

Not really. Guests are not really held at the front gate to the best of my knowledge. Once transportation begins to arrive and parking lots open, it is very close and possibly when, guests are allowed to enter the parks. (I’ll hopefully find out more this week if we get to a rope drop.)

In the MK all guests may enter the park then eligible ETPE guests can enter Tomorrowland and Fantasyland when they arrive at the hub, check in en with an ETPE CM and proceed to their attraction of choice.

 

[kylenne]

So basically the 'rope drop' would be more like occurring at the main gate then, right?

There really isn’t a “rope” anymore as pp said. They don’t actually hold you anywhere anymore at MK, and they start letting you tap into the park fairly early before the start of EE since you go line up at the attractions now. I want to say they let us tap in at 8 for 8:30 EE last month, but I’d have to check my notes.

 

[Simba's Mom]

If the "rope" is essentially at the front gate, what time does that open? Say, EE is officially at 8:30, but they let people enter the park before that, and line up at the attraction, which will open at 8:30, will they open the front gate at 8:00? Just trying to be sure of when to get to the park-I'm definitely a rope dropper.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

If the "rope" is essentially at the front gate, what time does that open? Say, EE is officially at 8:30, but they let people enter the park before that, and line up at the attraction, which will open at 8:30, will they open the front gate at 8:00? Just trying to be sure of when to get to the park-I'm definitely a rope dropper.

For a normal day where park opening is 9am and EE is 8:30am you can usually start entering the park at about 7:45am.
I'm not sure EXACTLY what time they start letting onsite guests back to line up for attractions but I walked in about 8am and took a few pics and then went and scanned in and went back to Fantasyland by probably 8:10am.
There were a number of families in front of me waiting in the line outside of the queue.

 

[MainMom]

I am here now and did EE at MK as a resort guest on Saturday. We arrived at the ticket tap points around 7:20am for an 8:30 EE. Everyone was held there until they did the family of the day. We started going through the tap points around 7:40-7:45. We then proceeded up Main Street and checked in with a Cast Member to verify we were resort guests and then went to line up at 7DMT.