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

[scrappinginontario]

I wanted to report that I utilized ETPE at AK on my check-out day, which was last Friday, and there were no problems. The CM's reader flashed green and I was waved through. I was ready to show my resort reservation on MDE in case she said something, but it wasn't needed.

Thank you. All things that are linked to a resort reservation (ETPE, EEH, dining plan credits, etc.) are good from 12:01AM the day you check in through 11:59PM the day you check out.

 

[tom1944]

Is there the possibility or expectation that the new system will have an impact on how EE is used and the ability to get certain rides without a long wait?

 

[scrappinginontario]

Is there the possibility or expectation that the new system will have an impact on how EE is used and the ability to get certain rides without a long wait?

Personally I would not expect it to as I would anticipate the first return time wouldn’t be until after official park opening.

 

[HeiHei2018]

Is there the possibility or expectation that the new system will have an impact on how EE is used and the ability to get certain rides without a long wait?

Definitely no direct impact, but it will be interesting to see. I was one to head to the parks early since I was already up for the 7 am Genie shuffle. But with the new system, it seems to make more sense to start early and keep rolling through LLs all day. So my starting time won’t be any different.

 

[tom1944]

Definitely no direct impact, but it will be interesting to see. I was one to head to the parks early since I was already up for the 7 am Genie shuffle. But with the new system, it seems to make more sense to start early and keep rolling through LLs all day. So my starting time won’t be any different.

My decision will be do I try to get a tier 1 at early entry or will that be what a significant number of the other EE people have in mind.

MK is the park that I keep trying to figure out the most efficient process. Luckily we plan 2 days there so maybe we do each day with a different process to get a feeling on what works best.

I am a let’s ride every ride once but my daughter is a go on certain rides as many times as possible.

 

[melyseb]

For everyone that would normally do PPF for their first ETPE ride — what’s the new strategy? It will be closed starting 7/8 and we’ll be there later that week. I am not sure what to do instead now. Is it worth trying to do 7DMT or is it better to do multiple rides (Winnie the Pooh, Ariel, etc.)?

For what it’s worth, our original strategy was PPF for ETPE, then over to Frontierland for JC as our first ride after the second rope drop for regular park entry. Now I’m feeling lost as to what’s best.

 

[Ariel620]

The best advantage you can give yourself as @lorileahb said, is to arrive at your resort transportation 90 mins before ETPE begins. That is key!

Reporting our results from June 3 to June 6.

Was at the A/S Sports bus stop 90 min before early entry time for resort guests.

We did the bus to DHS and then the SL over to the IG at EP.

So......we were in the first load for Space Mt, Remy, SDD, and FOP.

My experience with rope drop EE is almost a year old, but in the past HS started operating the rides about 30 min before official early entry. Does anyone know if this is still the case? For example, last year, early entry started at 8:30, but they dropped the rope at 8:00, and let us walk to ROTR, we rode it immediately, and were on and off the ride before early entry even officially started, so after ROTR we rode MFSR during the normal EE time.

I know nothing is guaranteed, but if rides are ready, do they still start early at HS? (in my previous experience HS was the only park that did this).

 

[scrappinginontario]

My experience with rope drop EE is almost a year old, but in the past HS started operating the rides about 30 min before official early entry. Does anyone know if this is still the case? For example, last year, early entry started at 8:30, but they dropped the rope at 8:00, and let us walk to ROTR, we rode it immediately, and were on and off the ride before early entry even officially started, so after ROTR we rode MFSR during the normal EE time.

I know nothing is guaranteed, but if rides are ready, do they still start early at HS? (in my previous experience HS was the only park that did this).

Yes, DHS sometimes starts some of their rides before official ETPE but as you say, it's never a guarantee and really no way to know when it might happen.

The 90 mins transportation rule is still the best to have the biggest advantage at ETPE.

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

Here now....(again!)....

DHS has been letting us in about 30 minutes early......and really only SDD loaded the ride significantly early. Sometimes we were off SDD a minute or two before/after official opening time for resort guests.....and then we would scurry to our next ride.

Edit- I have no data for you guys concerning recent Rise operations.

 

[cindianne320]

We rope dropped HS on Sunday. We left our room at CB at 7:30, on skyliner to HS by 7:54, Entrance at 8:03, Chinese Theater at 8:09, in line for Rise at 8:15. The line consistently moved, at first BB8 preshow by 8:30 and we were off by 8:49.

 

[scrappinginontario]

We rope dropped HS on Sunday. We left our room at CB at 7:30, on skyliner to HS by 7:54, Entrance at 8:03, Chinese Theater at 8:09, in line for Rise at 8:15. The line consistently moved, at first BB8 preshow by 8:30 and we were off by 8:49.

What was official ETPE start time that day per the posted hours?

 

[cindianne320]

What was official ETPE start time that day per the posted hours?

Official Early Entry was 8:30 am, park opening 9 am.

 

[tom1944]

I am doing our plan for our 2 MK days and would appreciate people's opinion or experience with the following early entry plan.

Do you think it is possible to do the following during EE. Peter Pan is expected to be closed and we will buy ILL for Tron and Seven Dwarfs on our second day. On our first day we will buy LLMP with Tiana, Pirates and Haunted House as our initial selections.

Ride
Mad Tea Party
Winnie the Pooh
It's a small world

Get to Jungle Cruise prior to 9am for rope drop

On our second EE day

Ride
Buzz Lightyear
Astro Orbiter
Barnstormer
Tomorrowland Speedway

Before any of those 4 have a long wait time

TIA

 

[123SA]

.

Ride
Mad Tea Party
Winnie the Pooh
It's a small world

Get to Jungle Cruise prior to 9am for rope drop

On our second EE day

I think this is tight. Small World isn't a short ride. I don't think you'll make it to JC BEFORE 9am, especially if you're herding small walkers, slow walkers, or strollers.

On our second EE day

Ride
Buzz Lightyear
Astro Orbiter
Barnstormer
Tomorrowland Speedway

Before any of those 4 have a long wait time

TIA

Yes, I think you can start during early entry and finish before lines build.

 

[tom1944]

I think this is tight. Small World isn't a short ride. I don't think you'll make it to JC BEFORE 9am, especially if you're herding small walkers, slow walkers, or strollers.




Yes, I think you can start during early entry and finish before lines build.

My gut is saying that also. I will cut out one of the rides and can add that later to the selection list on our LLMP.

Could Winnie the Pooh and small world be done in time?

 

[scrappinginontario]

I am doing our plan for our 2 MK days and would appreciate people's opinion or experience with the following early entry plan.

Do you think it is possible to do the following during EE. Peter Pan is expected to be closed and we will buy ILL for Tron and Seven Dwarfs on our second day. On our first day we will buy LLMP with Tiana, P and Haunted House as our initial selections.

Ride
Mad Tea Party
Winnie the Pooh
It's a small world

Get to Jungle Cruise prior to 9am for rope drop

On our second EE day

Ride
Buzz Lightyear
Astro Orbiter
Barnstormer
Tomorrowland Speedway

Before any of those 4 have a long wait time

TIA

Just a heads up that until the park opens you will not be able to head to JC. You will be held close to the entry to Adventureland or near HM. You will be heading to JC with those who are entering at park opening.

My gut is saying that also. I will cut out one of the rides and can add that later to the selection list on our LLMP.

Could Winnie the Pooh and small world be done in time?

Probably, if you’re towards the front of both lines and, boats are not backed up on small world. Ride time without backup, loading and unloading on iasw is 10:30.

 

[tom1944]

Just a heads up that until the park opens you will not be able to head to JC. You will be held close to the entry to Adventureland or near HM. You will be heading to JC with those who are entering at park opening.

Probably, if you’re towards the front of both lines and, boats are not backed up on small world. Ride time without backup, loading and unloading on iasw is 10:30.

Thanks.

I was watching Ear Scouts and he seemed to imply that getting to Jungle Cruise from Adventureland at the 9am rope drop was his recommendation.

I might have missed something so I will go back and rewatch.

Rather than cut it close I think not doing Small World until later would be better.

 

[HeiHei2018]

I am doing our plan for our 2 MK days and would appreciate people's opinion or experience with the following early entry plan.

Do you think it is possible to do the following during EE. Peter Pan is expected to be closed and we will buy ILL for Tron and Seven Dwarfs on our second day. On our first day we will buy LLMP with Tiana, Pirates and Haunted House as our initial selections.

Ride
Mad Tea Party
Winnie the Pooh
It's a small world

Get to Jungle Cruise prior to 9am for rope drop

On our second EE day

Ride
Buzz Lightyear
Astro Orbiter
Barnstormer
Tomorrowland Speedway

Before any of those 4 have a long wait time

TIA

Do Winnie the Pooh first. The line builds for that during EE (maybe as people get off Mine Train).

 

[preemiemama]

Thanks.

I was watching Ear Scouts and he seemed to imply that getting to Jungle Cruise from Adventureland at the 9am rope drop was his recommendation.

I might have missed something so I will go back and rewatch.

Rather than cut it close I think not doing Small World until later would be better.

Here now. I agree with PP's advice to do Pooh first. I've also seen firsthand the 9 am crowd lining up at the different "entrances" to the lands. JC's line definitely builds quickly- we saw it around 9:45 as we walked to Pirates and it was across from the Tiki Room. Small World will have a shorter wait in the evening.

2 things to be aware of: timing of the buses/Disney Transportation if using them- you cannot always count on one being there when you want it to be- and rides that are down. If a ride is down, it will affect your plans, or where everyone else may go. It's good to have a plan, just know you may need to be flexible!

 

[neverlandsky]

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 ILL$, 10:30 am 7DMT ILL$, Ariel 10 minutes wait, 11:30 am Tiana’s BA 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.