EPCOT extra magic hours park entry

[locodemickey]

When the EM hours are 8am, what time do they actually start letting people in the park? We are doing the Disney portrait session there and need to meet at back entrance at 7:45 (I know I can take a taxi to Beach Club Resort but it is just as easy to get monorail). On a side note, has anyone who has gotten the portrait package been able to meet the person at another location in EPCOT? We can more quickly meet at a specific country rather than at back entrance. TIA

 

[BillPA]

with EMH at 8 am, that's when they let you in, 8 am. Not sure if you can get in early with the portrait session, I would ask whomever you set it up with, to see what, if any ID/paper work you need to get in early. The back entrance doesn't sound so easy to get to early.

 

[locodemickey]

I thought they may let in early since the international Gateway let’s in at 7:45 (according to the Disney studio and our previous experience). Also, I seem to remember a huge crowd moving toward the Frozen ride 10 - 15 minutes before official opening(coming from the front entrance). This was the summer after it opened though. I’ve also heard of them letting people in before official opening at Animal Kingdom.

 

[BillPA]

They use to let you in to a point, where the rope was blocking the path, hence the term, "rope drop". You could get up to that point but not past unless you had confirmed dinning reservations. I have no idea if they still do this or not, we have been so many times, it just isn't worth getting up that early for it.