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

[traveler9]

I have seen this on two FB sites now, but none of the usual Disney news pages. Does anyone know if it's true? If so, I love the idea as it cuts down the chaos of RD and also gets you on the ride at 8:30, instead of walking to it at 8:30.

"There is a new Rope Drop procedure at Magic Kingdom with what has been described to us as a “tweak”
On-site resort guests can now go to Fantasyland or Tomorrowland as early as 7:45 A.M. and get in line for their favorite attraction. That’s right, no more waiting behind a rope on the bridges
When Early Entry officially begins - typically 8:30 A.M. - they’ll be able to directly board the attraction.
Off-site/daily guests will still be held behind ropes and allowed into the lands when the park officially opens - typically 9:00 A.M.
Hollywood Studios has already implemented this but no word on other parks yet. This change is already in place and active."

This would be a welcome change for 7DMT instead of the shuffle that it has been from the rope to the line.

 

[scrappinginontario]

I have seen this on two FB sites now, but none of the usual Disney news pages. Does anyone know if it's true? If so, I love the idea as it cuts down the chaos of RD and also gets you on the ride at 8:30, instead of walking to it at 8:30.

"There is a new Rope Drop procedure at Magic Kingdom with what has been described to us as a “tweak”
On-site resort guests can now go to Fantasyland or Tomorrowland as early as 7:45 A.M. and get in line for their favorite attraction. That’s right, no more waiting behind a rope on the bridges
When Early Entry officially begins - typically 8:30 A.M. - they’ll be able to directly board the attraction.
Off-site/daily guests will still be held behind ropes and allowed into the lands when the park officially opens - typically 9:00 A.M.
Hollywood Studios has already implemented this but no word on other parks yet. This change is already in place and active."

This is the first I’ve heard of this and no reports here that I’m aware of. It would be great but I wouldn’t count on it until if/when we hear more sharing personal experiences.

I’d be surprised if this is happening and nobody reporting it here.

 

[cruising spud]

There is a new Rope Drop procedure at Magic Kingdom with what has been described to us as a “tweak”
On-site resort guests can now go to Fantasyland or Tomorrowland as early as 7:45 A.M. and get in line for their favorite attraction. That’s right, no more waiting behind a rope on the bridges
When Early Entry officially begins - typically 8:30 A.M. - they’ll be able to directly board the attraction.
Off-site/daily guests will still be held behind ropes and allowed into the lands when the park officially opens - typically 9:00 A.M.
Hollywood Studios has already implemented this but no word on other parks yet. This change is already in place and active

We were at Disney this past January and we followed this procedure at Hollywood Studios. About a half hour before early entry was to begin, we were walked to Slinky Dog by a cast member. It was great. No running, no pushing. Our party arrived, got in line, and once 8:30 arrived, the ride started. Wonderful.

 

[Tom_E_D]

I have seen this on two FB sites now, but none of the usual Disney news pages. Does anyone know if it's true? If so, I love the idea as it cuts down the chaos of RD and also gets you on the ride at 8:30, instead of walking to it at 8:30.

"There is a new Rope Drop procedure at Magic Kingdom with what has been described to us as a “tweak”
On-site resort guests can now go to Fantasyland or Tomorrowland as early as 7:45 A.M. and get in line for their favorite attraction. That’s right, no more waiting behind a rope on the bridges
When Early Entry officially begins - typically 8:30 A.M. - they’ll be able to directly board the attraction.
Off-site/daily guests will still be held behind ropes and allowed into the lands when the park officially opens - typically 9:00 A.M.
Hollywood Studios has already implemented this but no word on other parks yet. This change is already in place and active."

Here's a blog article that says it is happening: https://www.earscouts.com/post/magic-kingdom-debuts-new-early-entry-procedures

 

[scrappinginontario]

Thanks so much @Tom_E_D! Ear Scouts is definitely a reliable source of information. This is a great change as those who get to the parks first will be the first in line, as it should be! Excited about this change!

 

[Familyof14]

"There is a new Rope Drop procedure at Magic Kingdom with what has been described to us as a “tweak”
On-site resort guests can now go to Fantasyland or Tomorrowland as early as 7:45 A.M. and get in line for their favorite attraction. That’s right, no more waiting behind a rope on the bridges

An annual passholder and DVC member just told me that this is official. Anyone know where we will be checked to make sure we are resort guest? For some reason my party always ends up getting stuck behind the wrong line (for non resort guest) and our timing is all thrown off.

 

[traveler9]

An annual passholder and DVC member just told me that this is official. Anyone know where we will be checked to make sure we are resort guest? For some reason my party always ends up getting stuck behind the wrong line (for non resort guest) and our timing is all thrown off.

Usually they check before you get to the Tomorrowland or Fantasyland bridges.

 

[traveler9]

Anyone know where they are stopping people at MK now? I know they don't hold at the bridge any more but are they letting you walk all the way through the queue at 7:45 or do they stop the first person in line outside of the entrance to the ride?

 

[Familyof14]

They will be free to go directly to the line of their first attraction or explore these lands as soon as they show proof of eligibility in the hub area in front of the castle.

 

[CaroM8]

Is this new change in MK still only applicable to Tomorrowland and Fantasyland? Or could you do early entry, walk to any ride in Adventureland (for example) and wait in the queue until it opens?

 

[traveler9]

For Epcot would it be possible to be one of the first ones in line for FEA and then make it to Guardians before the park opens? I feel the wait would be shorter, hopefully no more than 30 minutes or so

 

[scrappinginontario]

Is this new change in MK still only applicable to Tomorrowland and Fantasyland? Or could you do early entry, walk to any ride in Adventureland (for example) and wait in the queue until it opens?

No, this is not possible. You will be held inside the park, around the Rapunzel restrooms, until official park opening. That portion of the process has not changed at all.

For Epcot would it be possible to be one of the first ones in line for FEA and then make it to Guardians before the park opens? I feel the wait would be shorter, hopefully no more than 30 minutes or so

I doubt it. By the time you walk to FEA, ride the attraction and walk back to Guardians, it would likely be after park opening. If you choose to go to FEA first I would do Guardians later in the day as the biggest crowds of the day continue to be at park opening.

 

[Leahc117]

Has anyone done Early Entry from the Epcot international gateway and gone right to Guardians? Is that doable or are you at a big disadvantage from those entering from the front of the park?

 

[scrappinginontario]

Has anyone done Early Entry from the Epcot international gateway and gone right to Guardians? Is that doable or are you at a big disadvantage from those entering from the front of the park?

This post from the previous page shows that IG guests are at a disadvantage.

Yes, there is a disadvantage for IG guests wishing to ride GotG at rope drop due to the natural distance there is to walk from the holding point to the attraction. Red line is IG guest distance. Purple line is guests entering the front of the park.

View attachment 949363

At the same time, there is a definite advantage for IG guests who wish to ride Remy first.

Hope someone can share their experience with you though as I'm sure some have tried.

 

[forsberg21]

We are staying at FW and want to rope drop DHS and we're going for Clark Griswold "first ones here" status! How can we be the first guests (or as close as possible) to enter the park? We have a car and also a driver who won't be going to the park with us so can be dropped off. I read you can be dropped at Boardwalk and walk to DHS but is that quicker than DW driving us directly to DHS? We are open to any and all modes of transport and will get going as early as necessary because "we are on a quest, a quest for fun!" Thanks!

 

[traveler9]

We are staying at FW and want to rope drop DHS and we're going for Clark Griswold "first ones here" status! How can we be the first guests (or as close as possible) to enter the park? We have a car and also a driver who won't be going to the park with us so can be dropped off. I read you can be dropped at Boardwalk and walk to DHS but is that quicker than DW driving us directly to DHS? We are open to any and all modes of transport and will get going as early as necessary because "we are on a quest, a quest for fun!" Thanks!

They probably won’t let you in at Boardwalk. I would get dropped off at Swan.

 

[scrappinginontario]

We are staying at FW and want to rope drop DHS and we're going for Clark Griswold "first ones here" status! How can we be the first guests (or as close as possible) to enter the park? We have a car and also a driver who won't be going to the park with us so can be dropped off. I read you can be dropped at Boardwalk and walk to DHS but is that quicker than DW driving us directly to DHS? We are open to any and all modes of transport and will get going as early as necessary because "we are on a quest, a quest for fun!" Thanks!

If you are being dropped off, you can go directly to DHS. Ride drop-off at DHS enters where the buses enter. That is likely the easiest way for early drop off.

 

[forsberg21]

This was our original plan but have seen reports that DHS opening for drop off won't get you to the gate as early as those who walk via the BW path. If it were about ease and comfort, I would do drop off in a heartbeat but with a goal of being first, trying to determine if the drop will "slow" our progress

 

[T.G.I.Friday]

You could easily grab the walking path at the intersection of Epcot Resorts Blvd and East Buena Vista Drive, so you don’t even have to try to get into a resort lot. Just hop out of the car and be on your way. I think that would be the fastest and then you aren’t waiting for parking lot to open.

 

[forsberg21]

You could easily grab the walking path at the intersection of Epcot Resorts Blvd and East Buena Vista Drive, so you don’t even have to try to get into a resort lot. Just hop out of the car and be on your way. I think that would be the fastest and then you aren’t waiting for parking lot to open.

What a great tip! Thank you!