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

[Sydnerella]

What time did you get to HS and how did you get there? Thanks!

We left Riviera via rideshare - not sure if Uber or Lyft - at 7:10, arrived to the line at 7:16 per my pics. We were about 5 families back. They walked us from holding area to security lines at about 7:30. And let us go from there to enter and go to the lines we wanted to wait in. It wasn’t clear if Skyliner was actually bringing people yet at that time, it was moving but seemed like there was not a line up there waiting to enter. But I can’t say for sure.

 

[twoolle]

We left Riviera via rideshare - not sure if Uber or Lyft - at 7:10, arrived to the line at 7:16 per my pics. We were about 5 families back. They walked us from holding area to security lines at about 7:30. And let us go from there to enter and go to the lines we wanted to wait in. It wasn’t clear if Skyliner was actually bringing people yet at that time, it was moving but seemed like there was not a line up there waiting to enter. But I can’t say for sure.

Thanks we are also staying at a skyliner resort next week and I'm worried it won't open soon enough to beat the crowds for RoTR rope drop!

 

[Casey LC]

So those who have taken an Uber to Hollywood Studios….. do they make the driver wait at tolls? Can they enter earlier then just people driving up?

 

[katyringo]

Anyone take an Uber to boardwalk and walked to HS?

 

[GBRforWDW]

So those who have taken an Uber to Hollywood Studios….. do they make the driver wait at tolls? Can they enter earlier then just people driving up?

Anyone take an Uber to boardwalk and walked to HS?

I believe Ride Share drop off was updated earlier this year at Hollywood Studios:

Now, ride share, taxi, and Minnie Van has been relocated to the furthest bus loop. This change will be significant – especially for ride share users who used to utilize the main parking plaza. Here’s a look at the old location.

https://blogmickey.com/2021/05/ride...signs-installed-at-disneys-hollywood-studios/
Has anyone done ride share to DHS? Is that still accurate?

 

[scrappinginontario]

Anyone take an Uber to boardwalk and walked to HS?

No, you may not take a ride share to a Disney resort in the morning unless you have an ADR. This will normally be asked to be seen by security to gain access to the resort.

Ride shares to the parks drop off at TTC for MK and in specific locations at the other 3 parks.

 

[katyringo]

No, you may not take a ride share to a Disney resort in the morning unless you have an ADR. This will normally be asked to be seen by security to gain access to the resort.

Ride shares to the parks drop off at TTC for MK and in specific locations at the other 3 parks.

even though Disney's boardwalk opens at 630am.

 

[katyringo]

even though Disney's boardwalk opens at 630am.

Or mobile order for boardwalk bakery?

 

[scrappinginontario]

even though Disney's boardwalk opens at 630am.

Or mobile order for boardwalk bakery?

There are multiple reports from guests who have tried to be dropped off at Boardwalk and other resorts in the morning since reopening in July 2020 and are turned away. The only guests allowed to enter the resort area must have an ADR for a table service location that they are going to. Security checks every vehicle as guests are trying to shortcut the ways they are supposed to access the parks.

Going to the bakery is not an ADR and driver and occupants will be turned away.

 

[CarolynFH]

Or mobile order for boardwalk bakery?

FYI people used the Boardwalk and then the Speedway gas station as rideshare dropoff points when rideshare vehicles were required to enter the DHS parking lot through the tollbooths. They were not being allowed to enter until a specific time prior to park opening. Rideshare now enters where the buses do and drops off near the bus stops, not in the general guest parking area, so they don't have the same issues with being delayed at the tollbooths. My impression is that there's no longer a need to be dropped off at BW or Speedway because being dropped off at the rideshare dropoff point works just fine for rope drop. If you truly don't want to be dropped off at DHS, have the rideshare drop you off at the Speedway and walk to DHS from there.

 

[katyringo]

Thanks all. I wasn't trying to argue. We took an Uber to the boardwalk in October 2020 at 630am and had no issues and were not stopped by anyone. We got a mobile order for boardwalk bakery and walked to HS- first in line and escorted on to MMRR. I was seeing about my options to recreate that.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Thanks all. I wasn't trying to argue. We took an Uber to the boardwalk in October 2020 at 630am and had no issues and were not stopped by anyone. We got a mobile order for boardwalk bakery and walked to HS- first in line and escorted on to MMRR. I was seeing about my options to recreate that.

Thank you for clarifying. We just wanted to share that things have changed since October 2020 and what you were able to do then would no longer work now so we didn't want others to read here that that was a possibility and then be stuck when it was no longer a valid option to them.

As with many things at Disney, things change and accessing a resort in the morning without an ADR is one of those things.

 

[TheUglyStepsister]

I am just blown away by this idea of getting to the parks crazy early before early entry. If it is recommended that we wait at a bus stop 90 min BEFORE ETPE begins, that is a TON of time already spent waiting in lines (even though they aren't ride lines). Why not just aim to arrive as soon as ETPE begins? You might have to wait a bit longer in ride lines but not to the degree of the additional time spent waiting for the bus and then waiting for the rides to open.

I feel like I should also mention that I am NOT an early riser and I would be very drained throughout the day if I had to get there that early. I mean, is it really worth it to people?? How much time would you really save? (seriously asking)

 

[maryj11]

I am just blown away by this idea of getting to the parks crazy early before early entry. If it is recommended that we wait at a bus stop 90 min BEFORE ETPE begins, that is a TON of time already spent waiting in lines (even though they aren't ride lines). Why not just aim to arrive as soon as ETPE begins? You might have to wait a bit longer in ride lines but not to the degree of the additional time spent waiting for the bus and then waiting for the rides to open.

I feel like I should also mention that I am NOT an early riser and I would be very drained throughout the day if I had to get there that early. I mean, is it really worth it to people?? How much time would you really save? (seriously asking)

Good point! Why not wait in a ride line instead of outside the park in a crowd of people.

 

[elgerber]

Good point! Why not wait in a ride line instead of outside the park in a crowd of people.

Because if you walk in as ETPE begins, all those people that were outside for all that time, will already be in line and on their first ride, and those lines could already be quite long by the time you go through the gates and get to the queue.

 

[scrappinginontario]

With arriving early for ETPE I can get a number of rides done when the park opens (has sometimes been 5 or 6 in the first 90 mins the park is open) as opposed to 2 or 3. It’s all personal choice.

 

[TheUglyStepsister]

With arriving early for ETPE I can get a number of rides done when the park opens (has sometimes been 5 or 6 in the first 90 mins the park is open) as opposed to 2 or 3. It’s all personal choice.

Makes sense! I guess it depends on what time of year too. It just sounds to me like during the busiest park days at HS, not much seems to help (based on what I've read from others, not personal experience).

 

[scrappinginontario]

This picture shows average wait times at DHS today (red) vs 3 weeks ago today (blue).

I think it helps to show a bit of why some choose to arrive early and be at the front of the ETPE crowd.



For those who are not morning people, it also shows how lines drop as the evening goes on.

 

[TheUglyStepsister]

Ok, so for the red line - I'm guessing that if you get a late start, you might not get through everything you wanted to do in the park by closing, even with Genie+. But with the blue line, I would think you could get through everything without arriving early, maybe even without Genie+. I don't know, does that sound right? I've been to all other parks aside from HS.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Ok, so for the red line - I'm guessing that if you get a late start, you might not get through everything you wanted to do in the park by closing, even with Genie+. But with the blue line, I would think you could get through everything without arriving early, maybe even without Genie+. I don't know, does that sound right? I've been to all other parks aside from HS.

It really depends on what you want to get done. Something to add into DHS are the shows which may require wait times between showings.

If all goes well you may get everything done in a day but it depends how many other things come into play for your family - dining, shopping, character cavalcades, breaks, etc.

Personally I’m not sure it’s an either/or situation as there are many variables at play.