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

[Cruzin’Sisters]

There will be a bus. It is not walking distance between AKL and AK.

If you wish to be towards the front of ETPE crowds it’s recommended you arrive approx 90 mi s before ETPE begins although possibly a little less for AK opening if it opens really early.

Is this the same bus that goes to other parks? Or are there different buses for just AK drop off? Thanks again!

 

[scrappinginontario]

Is this the same bus that goes to other parks? Or are there different buses for just AK drop off? Thanks again!

Each bus only goes to one park. It will be clearly identified in the sign on the bus which park it is going to.

 

[CarolynFH]

Is this the same bus that goes to other parks? Or are there different buses for just AK drop off? Thanks again!

As above, each bus goes to only one park. And AKL has separate stalls for each destination. Both the stalls and the buses are clearly marked, but you can confirm with the driver if you’re not sure.

 

[wdwfan94]

With the recent MK changes are they still holding resort guests before Haunted Mansion until park opening?

 

[scrappinginontario]

Yes. That part of the park is not open until official park opening so guests may not access closed parts of the park until they are open to all guests.

 

[kylenne]

With the recent MK changes are they still holding resort guests before Haunted Mansion until park opening?

We were at MK the other day and they are holding guests at the entrance to Liberty Square right near the Tangled restrooms.

 

[JessiMommy]

As a resort guest with their own vehicle, is it more beneficial to drive ourselves or use Disney buses to take advantage of ETPE for EPCOT, HS & AK?

 

[scrappinginontario]

As a resort guest with their own vehicle, is it more beneficial to drive ourselves or use Disney buses to take advantage of ETPE for EPCOT, HS & AK?

It really is personal choice. Resort transportation starts to arrive at approx the same time parking lots open so both will gain ETPE about the same time.

Personally the only park I would choose bus over car for sure would be MK as when you drive you park at the TTC and then need to take monorail or ferry to MK. All other parks have parking right at the park.

Another consideration is where are you staying? If staying at a Skyliner resort, the Skyliner drops you at the back of Epcot and car at the front. Depending on which attraction you want to visit first at ETPE might alter how I chose to go to the park.

 

[ssgtravel]

With the new entry procedure allowing you to line up at the ride, is it still recommended to arrive an hour before early entry starts, or can you now arrive later, since there is less time walking and you are already in line once early entry starts?

 

[scrappinginontario]

With the new entry procedure allowing you to line up at the ride, is it still recommended to arrive an hour before early entry starts, or can you now arrive later, since there is less time walking and you are already in line once early entry starts?

It is still recommended to arrive at your resort transportation 90 mins before ETPE. Arriving at the park later will mean the attraction lines will be longer when you get there.

 

[Ariel620]

It is still recommended to arrive at your resort transportation 90 mins before ETPE. Arriving at the park later will mean the attraction lines will be longer when you get there.

When you get in line, are you allowed in the indoor queues when they exist (while waiting for ETPE to start)? Or are you held outside in the sun?

For example for MMRR in HS, are you allowed in the queue inside the building or are people lined up outside? Same question for Remy and Peter Pan. I totally don't mind lining up early and waiting before ETPE rides start running, as long as we are allowed to wait in the indoor AC queue.

 

[wdwfan94]

When you get in line, are you allowed in the indoor queues when they exist (while waiting for ETPE to start)? Or are you held outside in the sun?

For example for MMRR in HS, are you allowed in the queue inside the building or are people lined up outside? Same question for Remy and Peter Pan. I totally don't mind lining up early and waiting before ETPE rides start running, as long as we are allowed to wait in the indoor AC queue.

I rope dropped MMRR during early entry about a month ago and we were held outdoors until maybe 8:20 or so. Then they moved us indoors and we stopped at the merge point. Then they stopped us again before the preshow. I was maybe the 10th person in the RD line. I got off shortly after 8:35 or so and still had time to hit RNR and then got in the ToT line just before 9am.

 

[Disneydawg74]

When you get in line, are you allowed in the indoor queues when they exist (while waiting for ETPE to start)? Or are you held outside in the sun?

For example for MMRR in HS, are you allowed in the queue inside the building or are people lined up outside? Same question for Remy and Peter Pan. I totally don't mind lining up early and waiting before ETPE rides start running, as long as we are allowed to wait in the indoor AC queue.

I’ve always been held out in the sun at all the parks.

 

[scrappinginontario]

When you get in line, are you allowed in the indoor queues when they exist (while waiting for ETPE to start)? Or are you held outside in the sun?

For example for MMRR in HS, are you allowed in the queue inside the building or are people lined up outside? Same question for Remy and Peter Pan. I totally don't mind lining up early and waiting before ETPE rides start running, as long as we are allowed to wait in the indoor AC queue.

I would anticipate guests being outside for the majority of the time, similar to how it was in the past. Other than waiting in a large group, guests will be in (outdoor) queues for individual attractions. Opening the indoor queues earlier would require a lot more CMs on duty early.

 

[kylenne]

When you get in line, are you allowed in the indoor queues when they exist (while waiting for ETPE to start)? Or are you held outside in the sun?

For example for MMRR in HS, are you allowed in the queue inside the building or are people lined up outside? Same question for Remy and Peter Pan. I totally don't mind lining up early and waiting before ETPE rides start running, as long as we are allowed to wait in the indoor AC queue.

Just got back and at every park guests were lined up outside the attractions. Some let us inside as we got closer to EE time but tbqh at that time of morning being outside isn't awful because it's not brutal yet.

You also absolutely want to be at security an hour before too, if not more. Queues build very very quickly in the AM.

 

[LSUfan4444]

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

Ive been waiting to see how the summer has effected this strategy because it's what I am thinking of doing but with Remy instead of FEA. I've seen a few Reels where people have been able to knock out Remy and make it to Guardians but their key was either beating the first SkyLiner or being there shortly after the first gondola.

Entering through the IG I would be at a disadvantage over those entering from the front so my choice would either be to arrive about 7:15 and either head to GotG or Remy. I think arriving at 7:15 would put us in a good spot so the goal would be to do Remy as quickly as possible and beat the main non-resort crowd to GotG OR head straight to Guardians, knowing we are at a disadvantage and try to see if we can't get back in line before the main rope drop crowd hits.

 

[disneyfan150]

At AK: As an EE guest, once they let you tap into the park (usually well before EE start) there's CMs stationed just past the tapstiles to check your resort credentials, they just need 1 person from your group to scan with their iPad and then you can head over to the holding area. For Pandora it's the bridge. Idk what it is for the other areas because we always start at Na'vi. But they usually start walking people over to FoP and Na'vi a few minutes before EE starts. I rarely rope drop FoP but if you're near the front and can get on one of the first loads you're almost certain to be done with it before EE even officially begins, as long as it's up and running (and it usually is).

The tapping procedure is the same at all 4 parks though, not just AK. Once you tap into the park guests are divided up based on EE status. Non EE guests will be lined up in one spot (at MK it's by the entrance to Adventureland), EE guests will be directed to the CMs to check credentials. I think AK is the only park left at this point directing EE guests to holding areas after that, everywhere else you can then head to your attraction of choice. They generally are not letting people into the actual queues at that point, just lining folks up outside of them. Closer to EE start they let you into the queues.

I am just NOW studying for my trip in 12 days! It has been a hard year - I am not on my WDW planning game this year!!

So, I am just now reading your post. THANK YOU for this information!!!! What a relief about RD. I am a "belly up" rope dropper with short legs. I fall behind the later arrival rope drop crowd as they run past me. I am so excited about this new line up at the queue proceedure. I wish I was fast like you. I was much faster in my younger days. I hope it is still in place in less than two weeks!

Again, thank you so much for your post! You always have great information.

 

[kylenne]

I am just NOW studying for my trip in 12 days! It has been a hard year - I am not on my WDW planning game this year!!

So, I am just now reading your post. THANK YOU for this information!!!! What a relief about RD. I am a "belly up" rope dropper with short legs. I fall behind the later arrival rope drop crowd as they run past me. I am so excited about this new line up at the queue proceedure. I wish I was fast like you. I was much faster in my younger days. I hope it is still in place in less than two weeks!

Again, thank you so much for your post! You always have great information.

Sounds like you deserve a fun trip! We will be down around the same time. I'm 5'10", most of which is leg, and my partner is much shorter. We always laugh because her step count is always higher than mine because it takes her more steps than me to go the same amount of distance. I was basically the runner for her and my friend. on this trip. When we rope dropped Epcot from IG, I made it from France to Norway in around 5-6 minutes give or take. I texted them to find me in the Frozen line! tbh even though I am pretty fast I vastly prefer the current setup, it's so much less stressful. Rope dropping Mine Train at EE was almost pleasant (granted, some of that is because tons of silly people go to Tron now). For this summer there are also characters out before EE begins and through the duration, we saw Belle while lined up outside of Remy, and Captain Hook and Smee when we were in line for Pan. It was a fun way to pass the time.

 

[disneyfan150]

Sounds like you deserve a fun trip! We will be down around the same time. I'm 5'10", most of which is leg, and my partner is much shorter. We always laugh because her step count is always higher than mine because it takes her more steps than me to go the same amount of distance. I was basically the runner for her and my friend. on this trip. When we rope dropped Epcot from IG, I made it from France to Norway in around 5-6 minutes give or take. I texted them to find me in the Frozen line! tbh even though I am pretty fast I vastly prefer the current setup, it's so much less stressful. Rope dropping Mine Train at EE was almost pleasant (granted, some of that is because tons of silly people go to Tron now). For this summer there are also characters out before EE begins and through the duration, we saw Belle while lined up outside of Remy, and Captain Hook and Smee when we were in line for Pan. It was a fun way to pass the time.

Oh my gosh!! You made my day even better!! Thank you - thank you! DD, my Disney buddy, is loving this news, too!