entering parks before official opening- Xmas time

[MARRAR]

Hi
Doing some advance planning. Saw many recommendations in books and "webguides"- during Xmas week to arrive at least 45 minutes prior to official opening of each park,even when the park is on EMH . ( eg you would be allowed on Main Street prior to" ropedrop"), and that sometimes parts of the parks would be open already!
For anyone who was just there,I was wondering if this was still true?? Do they do this anymore??
(We were at WDW in August and arrived say 15 minutes before opening and we were held outside at the turnstiles until the "official" opening times,which was fine but....
I just don't want to Hang outside the parks at the turnstiles for 45 minutes...
Thanks in advance for the info

 

[CamColt]

For opening at MK on EE day, 12/28, they let us in right at 7:00. Getting there much before that really wouldnt have mattered

For regular opening on 12/25 they started letting us in the turnstiles early, but not into the park. The opening show was at 7:45 and ended in about 5 minutes. Then they let us into the park, but only to the ropes at each land. We were at Adventureland and they didnt allow us to enter until the opening announcement was made right at 8:00.

At MGM on 12/26 they let us in early, but only up to the rope, until exactly 8:00.

AK EE on 12/22 they let us through the turnstiles, but only in enough(the walkway to the Tree of Life) to see the opening show, until 8:00 when they let us in all the way.

Hope that helps some.

 

[MARRAR]

Thanks the info helps a lot.
We will be travelling w/ a 7 &10 yr old( and grandma) so time spent riding and not standing around is good...