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

[scrappinginontario]

Which attractions should we focus on first?

For us it would be Remy as we enter via International Gateway. If we were entering from the front of the park it would either be Test Track or Frozen. Probably Frozen for our family.

 

[Skbak]

So from skimming through much of this thread it sounds actual early entry may be significantly earlier than just 30 minutes before

what time should I plan to arrive at the 4 parks to best take advantage of this perk? Don’t want to be the FIRST in line since we have little kids with us but would like to be there early enough to maximize our time

 

[scrappinginontario]

So from skimming through much of this thread it sounds actual early entry may be significantly earlier than just 30 minutes before

what time should I plan to arrive at the 4 parks to best take advantage of this perk? Don’t want to be the FIRST in line since we have little kids with us but would like to be there early enough to maximize our time

Have you checked out post 1? Tons of information there summarizing what people have shared.

 

[CookieandOatmeal]

Not sure if I should put this in the Restaurants forum but how do you fight through the ETPE crowds when trying to get to CRT for a pre-park ADR? Is there a pretty clear path to that part of the castle?

 

[scrappinginontario]

Not sure if I should put this in the Restaurants forum but how do you fight through the ETPE crowds when trying to get to CRT for a pre-park ADR? Is there a pretty clear path to that part of the castle?

Hopefully someone here might know but I think this is a great question for the restaurants board or possibly ask on the 'Here Now and Just Back' thread.

Are pre-park ADRs being offered right now? I know for a while they were limited to times that the parks are open but possibly that has changed? Do you have one booked before the park opens?

 

[GBRforWDW]

Not sure if I should put this in the Restaurants forum but how do you fight through the ETPE crowds when trying to get to CRT for a pre-park ADR? Is there a pretty clear path to that part of the castle?

If you have a pre official opening ADR to CRT, I'd take the shortcut that runs along where Merida meet n Greet used to be up to the castle.



Once you turn the corner, you shouldn't have much of a crowd that would be stopping to figure out where to go, etc

 

[CookieandOatmeal]

Hopefully someone here might know but I think this is a great question for the restaurants board or possibly ask on the 'Here Now and Just Back' thread.

Are pre-park ADRs being offered right now? I know for a while they were limited to times that the parks are open but possibly that has changed? Do you have one booked before the park opens?

If you have a pre official opening ADR to CRT, I'd take the shortcut that runs along where Merida meet n Greet used to be up to the castle.

View attachment 650106

Once you turn the corner, you shouldn't have much of a crowd that would be stopping to figure out where to go, etc

Thank you! My ADR is at 8am in April where park hours currently have MK opening at 9am.

 

[T'Lynn]

Not sure if I should put this in the Restaurants forum but how do you fight through the ETPE crowds when trying to get to CRT for a pre-park ADR? Is there a pretty clear path to that part of the castle?

Last time i had a pre-park ADR they had a CM guide you where to go so you may not need a strategy. Mine was for BoG (so it was a while ago) but there was kind of a chain of cast members they would send you to to get to the restaurant efficiently.

 

[GBRforWDW]

Thank you! My ADR is at 8am in April where park hours currently have MK opening at 9am.

If they don't change the opening time, when you arrive, definitely seek out a cast member and let them know you have a breakfast reservation at 8am. Hopefully they can get you through the tapstiles quickly.

 

[moorish]

If you have a pre official opening ADR to CRT, I'd take the shortcut that runs along where Merida meet n Greet used to be up to the castle.

View attachment 650106

Once you turn the corner, you shouldn't have much of a crowd that would be stopping to figure out where to go, etc

Is this shortcut open for people rope-dropping during ETPE? We want to head straight to Peter Pan and I'm wondering if it's open as it seems like it'd be faster.

 

[GBRforWDW]

Is this shortcut open for people rope-dropping during ETPE? We want to head straight to Peter Pan and I'm wondering if it's open as it seems like it'd be faster.

Should be available to anyone. I haven't done ETPE, but I would imagine anything beyond the bridge is available for anyone to access.

 

[preemiemama]

Not sure if I should put this in the Restaurants forum but how do you fight through the ETPE crowds when trying to get to CRT for a pre-park ADR? Is there a pretty clear path to that part of the castle?

Last time i had a pre-park ADR they had a CM guide you where to go so you may not need a strategy. Mine was for BoG (so it was a while ago) but there was kind of a chain of cast members they would send you to to get to the restaurant efficiently.

If they don't change the opening time, when you arrive, definitely seek out a cast member and let them know you have a breakfast reservation at 8am. Hopefully they can get you through the tapstiles quickly.

When we have done this in the past (pre-pandemic), there was a CM posted at a dedicated tapstile for PPO ADRs. It was pretty easy to find and then were able to get you through without an issue. This was when the opening show was at the train station, but I believe once it moved to the HUB, there were also CMs with signs for PPO ADRs to help get you to the correct location from there. As @GBRforWDW said, ask a CM once you get to that area and they should be able to direct you to where you need to be.

 

[joy13]

Not sure if I should put this in the Restaurants forum but how do you fight through the ETPE crowds when trying to get to CRT for a pre-park ADR? Is there a pretty clear path to that part of the castle?

I was going to ask a similar question, we don’t go until May so I don’t have any ADR’s yet. In the past we’ve done a pre-park ADR at Be Our Guest which is nice because you’re in Fantasyland, I was coming here to ask how that worked for the early entry after our meal, I hadn’t even thought about getting to the ADR in the first place. I didn’t realize they weren’t doing pre-park ADR’s for a while. In the past they had separate entry points for guests with early ADR’s, so hopefully that will be the case if they’ve started them back up.

 

[mjf]

I've read the pinned post and a lot of this entire thread and have a timing worked out for AK 7:30am park open (ETPE for 7am) and arriving at 6:15am. We totally understand the value of early morning access but it just seems crazy early for a vacation day If anyone has experience with a 7am ETPE AK day would love to hear about it.

We are staying at Kidani village, have a car, and we are "fast" walkers. Our priority is on riding FoP.

So following the advice here the timing would be something like this

~5:30am wake up
~5:50am depart AK Kidani Village (car)
~6:00am at parking lot

Driving
Parking lots open about an hour before ETPE. Guests arriving more than an hour before ETPE may be turned away.

~6:15am in queue for park entry
~6:30am turnstiles open
~6:50am in queue for FoP

Animal Kingdom: Eligible resort guests will be granted access to the park approx. 60 mins before posted park opening time. They will be held on the bridge leading to Pandora. Approx. 40 mins prior to posted park opening time guest will be permitted to access the open attractions. (Attractions listed below). Guests not staying at a Disney resort will be held at park gate until posted park opening.

Thanks.

 

[soniam]

I've read the pinned post and a lot of this entire thread and have a timing worked out for AK 7:30am park open (ETPE for 7am) and arriving at 6:15am. We totally understand the value of early morning access but it just seems crazy early for a vacation day If anyone has experience with a 7am ETPE AK day would love to hear about it.

We are staying at Kidani village, have a car, and we are "fast" walkers. Our priority is on riding FoP.

So following the advice here the timing would be something like this

~5:30am wake up
~5:50am depart AK Kidani Village (car)
~6:00am at parking lot



~6:15am in queue for park entry
~6:30am turnstiles open
~6:50am in queue for FoP



Thanks.

Be sure to head to the left after the tapstiles to have your band scanned for ETPE. The right is for offsite guests. Basically, follow the herd. They are all heading to FOP. Our ETPE opening was technically 7:30am (regular open at 8am). This was Thanksgiving week. We arrived by about 6:30am. We would have been fairly close to the front of the FOP line, but we bought the ILL and chose to do Everest first. Good luck.

 

[Pirate1+Princess4]

~5:30am wake up
~5:50am depart AK Kidani Village (car)
~6:00am at parking lot

~6:15am in queue for park entry
~6:30am turnstiles open
~6:50am in queue for FoP

When is your trip? I have similar timeline but we are taking bus from POP. Planned arrival at bus stop 5:45 AM. Will be at AK 3/8

 

[mjf]

When is your trip? I have similar timeline but we are taking bus from POP. Planned arrival at bus stop 5:45 AM. Will be at AK 3/8

Mar14

 

[Skbak]

What time does the first monorail run from resorts?

i know grand Floridian has one that ran at 730 for magic kingdom this am—but since I need to transfer to get to Epcot, I would probably need to leave at 715 with new hours

anyone know when they start now?

 

[orltrip]

I have a couple Early Entry Hollywood Studios questions: 1) Anyone have a feel for how often ROTR is down for early entry rope drop? (i.e. half the time? a fourth of the time? etc.) 2) When ROTR is down at rope drop how long does it usually take to start up? and 3) Is the back pathway from Galaxy's Edge to Toy Story Land open during early entry and can you go both ways? Thanks! This forum is so incredibly helpful!

 

[GBRforWDW]

I have a couple Early Entry Hollywood Studios questions: 1) Anyone have a feel for how often ROTR is down for early entry rope drop? (i.e. half the time? a fourth of the time? etc.) 2) When ROTR is down at rope drop how long does it usually take to start up? and 3) Is the back pathway from Galaxy's Edge to Toy Story Land open during early entry and can you go both ways? Thanks! This forum is so incredibly helpful!

Here's the Thrill Data mapping for RotR availability:



It doesn't look like it's down that often (gray areas are down time), but it certainly does stink when it happens on your day.