Everything Early Theme Park Entry (ETPE) - Please Read Post 1

[scrappinginontario]

Also here now, out the door at 7:20 am. Resort bus to MK. At EE Mad Hatter EE drop by 7:40am. Highly recommend Pooh first. It was walk on. We were 40 feet from EE rope drop and 7DMT was already 75 minutes wait. So we immediately bailed on 7DMT for Pooh instead.

After Pooh we walked on IASW. Then it was a 10 minutes wait at Haunted Mansion. Afterwards Pirates was also 10 minutes wait.

Was able to do in order Pooh, IASW, Haunted Mansion, Pirates, train to Fantasyland, 10 am TRON LL, 10:30 am 7DMT LL, Ariel 10 minutes wait, Tiana’s BA 11:30 am LL, train from Frontierland to Main Street. Left MK at noon for resort, lunch, & rest.

Yes definitely be flexible. Rides down first thing this morning were Ariel, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, & Tron. IASW went down after.

Clarifying for the sake of others - Tron and 7DMT were paid ILL$, correct?

 

[neverlandsky]

Clarifying for the sake of others - Tron and 7DMT were paid ILL$, correct?

Yes I’ll fix that

 

[scrappinginontario]

Yes I’ll fix that

Thank you so much!

 

[123SA]

EE at DHS -- we like to head down Sunset Blvd. RNRC or TOT first? We usually manage to be with in the first 20 people in line.

 

[lmross]

Has anyone roped dropped RNRC since reopen?

I have a LL+ booked for TOT for 9:30 hoping to rope drop RNRC (maybe ride twice if that's feasible?) then tap in for TOT.

 

[scrappinginontario]

It was shared recently (possibly in the Here Now and Just Back thread) that guest was successful doing both RNRC and TOT during ETPE.

 

[123SA]

When MK opens at 8am, EE is at 730am. (August 16, staying at AOA) Do I still arrive at bus stop at 90 minutes before, so 6:00am?

 

[traveler9]

When MK opens at 8am, EE is at 730am. (August 16, staying at AOA) Do I still arrive at bus stop at 90 minutes before, so 6:00am?

Yes, 6am

 

[scrappinginontario]

When MK opens at 8am, EE is at 730am. (August 16, staying at AOA) Do I still arrive at bus stop at 90 minutes before, so 6:00am?

If you wish to be towards the front of the crowd, yes. Last year when leaving for the airport I saw about 15 people boarding a bus from Pop to the MK around 6:20. Found out later they were already the second bus of the day.

You don’t ‘have’ to be there at 6:00AM but it’s safe to say there will be others who will be there at 6:00AM.

With the very early park openings the crowds grow slower but they do grow.

I remember back in 2019 being on a packed Hollywood Blvd at 5:30AM in the days when you had to be inside DHS to get a VQ, and many did it!

 

[kylenne]

Trying to work out logistics for our Epcot day. Coming from the Grand Floridian, we would normally hit Test Track first but with that down, how feasible is it to rope drop Frozen from the front entrance?

 

[scrappinginontario]

Trying to work out logistics for our Epcot day. Coming from the Grand Floridian, we would normally hit Test Track first but with that down, how feasible is it to rope drop Frozen from the front entrance?

Frozen is about same distance from both entrances so I think you’re good. Many entering from IG will head to Remy.

 

[familyman123]

For Animal Kingdom with 7:30am, what time do they typically start scanning tickets?

 

[Marek Zyskowski]

For Animal Kingdom with 7:30am, what time do they typically start scanning tickets?

The Kilimanjaro Safaris does not start until later in the morning. AK is my favourite park but I never really rush to get there.

 

[kylenne]

For Animal Kingdom with 7:30am, what time do they typically start scanning tickets?

Not sure if it’s changed at all recently but it’s pretty consistent, a little bit after 7 they’ll start letting people in and will hold folks on the bridge to Pandora.

The Kilimanjaro Safaris does not start until later in the morning. AK is my favourite park but I never really rush to get there.

The point of getting there that early is to hit Pandora first. Our SOP for EE there is to walk onto both Pandora rides, by the time we’re done with that the safari is just about ready to open/has opened unless they’re having operational delays and it will still have a decently low wait and active animals.

 

[Simba's Mom]

The Kilimanjaro Safaris does not start until later in the morning. AK is my favourite park but I never really rush to get there.

Whenever I've done EE at AK, the park opened at 7:30, and KS began at 8:00. Some people walked directly to KS at 7:30 and stood in line, so when I got there around 7:45, there was a line, and when they opened KS, I had about a 10 minute wait. Since AK is also my favorite park (and KS is my favorite ride) I think that next time, I'll join the "direct" people at 7:30 and be glad I have a Kindle app for the half hour wait.

 

[TEK224]

On the day we go to AK, the park is scheduled to open at 8AM. We're staying at SSR, so have early entry access at 7:30am. I know in the past, they started walking people in a few minutes early (particularly to line up for avatar), so we plan to get to the gates by
7-7:15am. We're going to be driving to AK, so was wondering what time the parking lot opens.

 

[scrappinginontario]

On the day we go to AK, the park is scheduled to open at 8AM. We're staying at SSR, so have early entry access at 7:30am. I know in the past, they started walking people in a few minutes early (particularly to line up for avatar), so we plan to get to the gates by
7-7:15am. We're going to be driving to AK, so was wondering what time the parking lot opens.

Please see post 1 for recommended travel times. Although this thread was created a few years ago, the recommended times still stand.

 

[TEK224]

Please see post 1 for recommended travel times. Although this thread was created, the recommended time still stand.

Thank you

 

[Artygal90]

I know 90 minutes is enough for WDW transportation but has anyone had luck using the shuttles from the Disney Springs hotels to get to the parks in time for early entry? Assuming they start running early enough - I know a 7:05 shuttle wouldn’t be enough time for a 7:30 early entry but would it be ok for a 8:30 early entry? I’m staying specifically at the Doubletree but I know they share the shuttle with a couple nearby hotels. Would love to save a little $$ on Ubers this trip if I can get away with it.

I searched the thread and I don’t think anyone else had this question answered.

 

[AngieInOH]

I know 90 minutes is enough for WDW transportation but has anyone had luck using the shuttles from the Disney Springs hotels to get to the parks in time for early entry? Assuming they start running early enough - I know a 7:05 shuttle wouldn’t be enough time for a 7:30 early entry but would it be ok for a 8:30 early entry? I’m staying specifically at the Doubletree but I know they share the shuttle with a couple nearby hotels. Would love to save a little $$ on Ubers this trip if I can get away with it.

I searched the thread and I don’t think anyone else had this question answered.

Like you said, the hotels share shuttles and the Shuttles stop at 2 parks, or at least they did when I used them. After the first day we were using Lyft. Sorry to say, but I would be using an Uber if early entry was important to you. Maybe others will have experiences.