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

[Nordic4tKnight]

Does the arrive at transit 90 minute before early entry rule also apply to the Skyliner?

 

[Disturbia]

Are CMs restricting when you can start lining up?

 

[Nordic4tKnight]

The 90 min rule of thumb is based on guest experience.

So with AK opening at 7am for ETPE lately it is recommended to get to the bus stops around 5:30?!? Or is AK less crazy than places like MK for ETPE.

 

[Disturbia]

So with AK opening at 7am for ETPE lately it is recommended to get to the bus stops around 5:30?!? Or is AK less crazy than places like MK for ETPE.

We prefer to stay late at AK as pandora is beautiful in the evening. There are very few rides. During the day, it wasn’t as crazy as HS (Nov); not sure about rope drop but we lined up for FOP with a posted 45 min wait 30 mins to close and actual wait was 60;

Current waits

Seems like people are going to AK in the morning and park hopping in the evening.

 

[bambialways4ever]

So with AK opening at 7am for ETPE lately it is recommended to get to the bus stops around 5:30?!? Or is AK less crazy than places like MK for ETPE.

Tacking onto this: If we want to ride Safari as our first ride, do we really need to be rushing through the gates at 7:30 am?

 

[GBRforWDW]

Tacking onto this: If we want to ride Safari as our first ride, do we really need to be rushing through the gates at 7:30 am?

This is Thrill Data info for today:

and over the last month:


Kilimanjaro Safari isn't open for ETPE and looks like it starts 15 minutes after park opening, at least it was today when park opening was 7:30.

Looks like, based on data, you'd have at most a 25 minute wait taking your time to get back to KS and getting in line in the first hour.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Does the arrive at transit 90 minute before early entry rule also apply to the Skyliner?

Yes

Are CMs restricting when you can start lining up?

Can you please clarify where you’re asking about lining up?

 

[Disturbia]

Yes
Can you please clarify where you’re asking about lining up?

Sorry, I meant lining up for the skyliner. June 2021 trip we were told we couldn’t line up at the skyliner until 1 hour prior to park opening at AOA/Pop. There was no 30 min early entry back then.

 

[bambialways4ever]

This is Thrill Data info for today:
View attachment 653632
and over the last month:
View attachment 653633

Kilimanjaro Safari isn't open for ETPE and looks like it starts 15 minutes after park opening, at least it was today when park opening was 7:30.

Looks like, based on data, you'd have at most a 25 minute wait taking your time to get back to KS and getting in line in the first hour.

Thank you! This is incredibly helpful.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Sorry, I meant lining up for the skyliner. June 2021 trip we were told we couldn’t line up at the skyliner until 1 hour prior to park opening at AOA/Pop. There was no 30 min early entry back then.

I’ve never heard of that in this thread or the Pop thread.

I know people line up more than 90 mins before park opening because we did and there are many reports of others who have too.

They used to have (and may still have) a 1 hour rule for lining up for parking at the parks but your experience is the only one I’ve heard of for the Skyliner. Did you try to line up and were told you could not?

I would not be at all concerned about arriving at the Skyliner 90 mins before park opening and honestly at 90 mins you will probably join a line.

 

[Gentry2004]

Trying to see if we focus on 2nd tier rides during ETPE how many could we knock out? I thinking things like Buzz, Speedway, Dumbo, Small World, etc.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Trying to see if we focus on 2nd tier rides during ETPE how many could we knock out? I thinking things like Buzz, Speedway, Dumbo, Small World, etc.

Possibly 2? Allowing time to walk to attraction, through queue and ride I would guess 2 and on a good day get in line for a third before the park opens to all.

if you ride the same attraction over and over you might possibly get in 3 rides?

 

[acarsme123]

We’re at the parks this week and I must say I’m glad we followed the getting to the bus stop 90 mins before early entry advice. Doing this allowed us to be darn near the front of the crowds for early entry. You’re able to knock out at least 2-3 rides with minimal wait by doing this.

 

[scrappinginontario]

We’re at the parks this week and I must say I’m glad we followed the getting to the bus stop 90 mins before early entry advice. Doing this allowed us to be darn near the front of the crowds for early entry. You’re able to knock out at least 2-3 rides with minimal wait by doing this.

Thank you for sharing your experience. 90 mins is what we use and what has been recommended by many but it’s always good to hear current experiences to see if anything has changed. Sounds like 90 mins is still the way to go to arrive towards the front of the ETPE crowds.

 

[KayKayJS]

Can anyone tell me how crowded Main Street and fantasyland are during ETPE? i am not interested in the typical rope drop experience. I’m assuming it’s busy and prob not worth it for me (we’re local and don’t need to knock out rides necessarily but would love to wander around with less crowd)

 

[Gentry2004]

Thank you for sharing your experience. 90 mins is what we use and what has been recommended Dec by many but it’s always good to hear current experiences to see if anything has changed. Sounds like 90 mins is still the way to go to arrive towards the front of the ETPE crowds.

what time did you arrive at the tapstyles? Just wondering for those of us driving/ubering.

 

[scrappinginontario]

what time did you arrive at the tapstyles? Just wondering for those of us driving/ubering.

Sorry, not positive. Once we were on our way I didn’t really monitor times. Info re: driving and Uber is in post 1. We don’t have a car when we’re at Disney so I don’t have personal experience with those times but info from others is there.

 

[acarsme123]

what time did you arrive at the tapstyles? Just wondering for those of us driving/ubering.

I can’t provide that info, sorry. I wasn’t really paying attention to what the times were doing once we were on the bus. They did open the area to Fantasyland a little early…5-8 mins before the official 8:30am early entry start.

 

[adrock1212]

Can anyone tell me how crowded Main Street and fantasyland are during ETPE? i am not interested in the typical rope drop experience. I’m assuming it’s busy and prob not worth it for me (we’re local and don’t need to knock out rides necessarily but would love to wander around with less crowd)

ETPE is offered every day so it is part of the norm. The current MK ETPE allows for all guests to enter Main Street up to the Hub. From there, ETPE eligible guests are directed to Tomorrowland Bridge or Tea Cups. If you just want to walk around and go into the shops, it’s pretty manageable because most guests are either at Peter Pan or 7DMT

 

[KayKayJS]

ETPE is offered every day so it is part of the norm. The current MK ETPE allows for all guests to enter Main Street up to the Hub. From there, ETPE eligible guests are directed to Tomorrowland Bridge or Tea Cups. If you just want to walk around and go into the shops, it’s pretty manageable because most guests are either at Peter Pan or 7DMT

Thanks! We may give it a shot and see.