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

[scrappinginontario]

Best type of thumb continues to be to arrive at your resort transportation 90 mins before ETPE begins. All parks allow you in the gate prior to ETPE and they also allow you to start filling the queues of the attractions that are open during ETPE.

This is a better way to plan than ‘what time do they open the gates’ as by the time transportation begins to arrive they’re either open or, very close to opening and you’ll be towards the front of the group when they allow guests to enter the parks.

 

[Isabelle12345]

hi
We will be going to MK as a group on a Saturday in April, open 8-11PM (EE 7:30)
We have a mixed group with part that will ride thrill rides and part that are less comfortable with speed.
We are all hoping to ride SDMT
our plan would be to line up for SDMT first, then split so one half goes to TRON and the others go do Peter Pan, and then join back in future land for Buzz.
If we want to achieve that before 8:30, is arriving at MK around 7:00 enough?

 

[scrappinginontario]

hi
We will be going to MK as a group on a Saturday in April, open 8-11PM (EE 7:30)
We have a mixed group with part that will ride thrill rides and part that are less comfortable with speed.
We are all hoping to ride SDMT
our plan would be to line up for SDMT first, then split so one half goes to TRON and the others go do Peter Pan, and then join back in future land for Buzz.
If we want to achieve that before 8:30, is arriving at MK around 7:00 enough?

Arriving at MK at 7AM on a day when it opens at 7:30 will put you behind a lot of people so those times are likely too ambitious..

Trying to ride 3 headliners (2 for each group) in 1 hour is extremely unlikely unless you’re some of the first people in the park and those guests will enter as soon as the park opens to guests who will start to get in line at all of those attractions.

I would recommend arriving at your resort transportation at 6AM to get you towards the front of the crowd. That will give you the best opportunity to ride those attractions in the shortest amount of time. You might be done in 1 hour but I would be prepared for it to take longer.

 

[Leahc117]

Any suggestions for RD guardians at Early Entry? We will be at the Riviera but I am tempted to drive to enter through the front of the park.

 

[Isabelle12345]

Is tron now open door early entry or does it still open at regular park opening?

 

[scrappinginontario]

Is tron now open door early entry or does it still open at regular park opening?

Regular park opening but people start to line up as soon as the park opens for EE guests.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Any suggestions for RD guardians at Early Entry? We will be at the Riviera but I am tempted to drive to enter through the front of the park.

Arrive as early as you can enter the park. Some are successful getting to the line in a reasonable time if you're at the front of the IG EE crowds and walk quickly but if it's an option, driving to the front of the park will be an easier entry. You would want to arrive at the Epcot parking booths approx 70 mins before EE begins.

 

[PetePanMan]

How does ETPE work for guests?
Magic Kingdom: (Updated Mar 22, 2025) All guests will be allowed access to the park approx. 60-90 mins (time fluctuates based on the day) before posted park opening time. Those eligible for ETPE will have their bands scanned at the hub entrance to Tomorrowland or Fantasyland approx. 40 mins prior to posted park opening time when they reach the hub, and be permitted to access lines for attractions participating in ETPE. When an attraction is ready to open (approx. 30-45 mins before official park opening) attractions participating in ETPE hours will begin operation

I’m still confused as to when you can access the actual ride line ups now given the struck out portion above. It appears you are no longer held back. Can you actually get in 7 Dwarves line up an hour or more before official park opening (and half an hour before official start of ETPE) or are you still held back?
TIA for any clarification.

 

[scrappinginontario]

I’m still confused as to when you can access the actual ride line ups now given the struck out portion above. It appears you are no longer held back. Can you actually get in 7 Dwarves line up an hour or more before official park opening (and half an hour before official start of ETPE) or are you still held back?
TIA for any clarification.

Yes, you can get into the physical queue for each attraction that participates in ETPE.

In the past everyone was held in a big group then once the park opened to ETPE everyone rushed to the attractions, trying to arrive as quickly as possible. This caused challenges for CMs trying to move a large group of people in an orderly manner.

Now, guests arrive at the hub, have their bands scanned and immediately go to their first attraction they wish to ride and join the queue.

Rather than one large group, each attraction has a queue.

Please let me know if further explanation would be helpful.

 

[PetePanMan]

Yes, you can get into the physical queue for each attraction that participates in ETPE.

In the past everyone was held in a big group then once the park opened to ETPE everyone rushed to the attractions, trying to arrive as quickly as possible. This caused challenges for CMs trying to move a large group of people in an orderly manner.

Now, guests arrive at the hub, have their bands scanned and immediately go to their first attraction they wish to ride and join the queue.

Rather than one large group, each attraction has a queue.

Please let me know if further explanation would be helpful.

Super helpful, Thank you. I had no idea the process changed.

 

[Tigger42]

Yes, you can get into the physical queue for each attraction that participates in ETPE.

In the past everyone was held in a big group then once the park opened to ETPE everyone rushed to the attractions, trying to arrive as quickly as possible. This caused challenges for CMs trying to move a large group of people in an orderly manner.

Now, guests arrive at the hub, have their bands scanned and immediately go to their first attraction they wish to ride and join the queue.

Rather than one large group, each attraction has a queue.

Please let me know if further explanation would be helpful.

I didn't know this! So glad I saw this post.
10 days until I can make our LL etc.
This is so hopeful to my planning strategy!

 

[CJK]

Hi all! Have people still been able to ride Rise of the Resistance 30 minutes before early theme park entry technically begins?

 

[srauseo]

At MCO waiting for flight home and thought I would share a report of our experience with ETPE at Studios and Magic Kingdom.

Tuesday we did ETPE at Studios. We walked over from the Swan Reserve and arrived a little before 7:30 to a line of about 30 people being held before security. Folks with strollers were directed to the side security screening to the left as you look at the entrance. Right around 7:30 we were sent through security and queued up at the tapstiles. We were probably 5-6 in line. Right at 8:00am tapstiles opened. There was a limited edition pin drop and most of the crowd was headed straight there. We walked toward Toy Story land with a few other people. They did resort screening near the entrance to Toy Story land and all non-resort guests were held there in a queue to the right. We continued on to Sleepy Dog and were held before the entrance for a few minutes. Around 8:15 they slow walked us through the queue to just before the loading platform. At 8:30 we were loaded onto the first ride of the day. After the ride we walked over to Midway Mania and basically walked into the loading area with no wait. By 9:00am we were back in the hub to meet up with the inlaws who slept in.

Wednesday we did ETPE at MK. We left the Reserve at 7:00am and walked over to Boardwalk and got a 7:15AM bus. We arrived at the park around 7:30 and passed through security to wait at the tapstiles. There had started queueing folks on the left side but kept opening additional lines so we ended up a few deep at a tapstile facing the tunnel on the right. We tapped in around 7:50. We walked up main street to the resort guest screening point to enter Tomorrowland. It is VERY IMPORTANT that you pay attention here and don't use the wrong bridge/path or they will send you back. There will be a cast member holding a sign pointing you in the correct direction. We screened in and headed toward Seven Dwarfs and ended up about 20th in line. We were held outside the queue until about 8:20 until we were slow walked up to the vault door. They let us in a few minutes after 8:30 and we were on the second ride of the day. After the ride, we walked over to the entrance of liberty square. (Folks still don't realize that Disney doesn't open the whole park early. Adventureland does not open early.) A castmember told us the Mansion would be a delayed opening but we were headed to Tiana anyway. After they dropped the rope, we walked over to the bridge and were held there for an additional few minutes until Tiana opened (late) around 9:07. Then we were walked into the line and were off the ride around 9:30.