How Early is Early Entry?

[TallandGoofy]

Ok...pardon the dumb question....

I know it's an hour before opening BUT I got the impression from some posts that it's even earlier sometimes...???

We've got one night booked at a partner hotel through Universal so we will have the early entry privilege. I was going to have us at the gates by 7:45 or so but then I think I've read where people were getting onto FJ BEFORE 8 am so wondering if that's correct/consistent?

I want to cram in as much Harry Potter goodness as possible!!

Thank you!

 

[tinydancer09]

One hour before opening time. If opening is at 8 you get in at 7. If it's 9 then you get in at 8. So yes, it's earlier sometimes

Would also recommend getting there at 7:30 (if you get in at 8) depending on time of year you're going. Bring breakfast or something along so you won't be wasting time.

 

[TallandGoofy]

Good advice - thank you!

I thought I'd read where for a 9am regular opening, the early entry folks were actually let in at 7:40ish...

But, that may have been an assumption on my part (or wishful thinking).

 

[Metro West]

Good advice - thank you!

I thought I'd read where for a 9am regular opening, the early entry folks were actually let in at 7:40ish...

But, that may have been an assumption on my part (or wishful thinking).

If the crowds outside are especially heavy, the gates will sometimes be opened a little earlier. They do the same thing at HHN at the Studios.

 

[TallandGoofy]

Cool....so I won't COUNT on it, but will plan to be there by 7:30 just in case or, at the very least, to jockey for a better position once they do let us in.

 

[MamaKate]

I'm going to piggy back onto your question .

Is early entry everyday or just certain days ?

 

[TallandGoofy]

I'm going to piggy back onto your question .

Is early entry everyday or just certain days ?

It's every day for people at the onsite hotels and those who bought one of the vacation packages that include it.

 

[heidijanesmith]

Good advice - thank you!

I thought I'd read where for a 9am regular opening, the early entry folks were actually let in at 7:40ish...

But, that may have been an assumption on my part (or wishful thinking).

When we went in July- the official Early Entry time was 8:00 AM. We arrived at 7:00 and entered 7:30. We were the 1st people in line and by 7:30, there was a huge line behind us.

Pic of the non-early entry crowd being held at the entrance:

 

[tinydancer09]

Heidi- Wasn't it a completely different area in the AM when the dew was still settled over everything and there was a light nip in the air? (then again you went in july I dont think "cool" is even in the vocabulary)

When we entered it was right at or right before 8AM in Sept, no one was there. I had been reading about the lines for even butter beer and was expecting the worst. To my surprise we walked next to a BB cart and had to ask the girls if they were even open! Loved it, glad you had this experience too!

 

[TallandGoofy]

When we went in July- the official Early Entry time was 8:00 AM. We arrived at 7:00 and entered 7:30. We were the 1st people in line and by 7:30, there was a huge line behind us.

Nice! Thanks for the pics, too! Sounds like it definitely pays to be early for Early Entry. (huh?)

 

[Scott2tune]

We are planning IOA on Saturday April 23rd and staying on property (Lowe's Portofino)- regular opening that morning is at 8:00am- so that means early opening is at 7:00am with possible line-ups as early as...gulp...6:30am? Anyone ever done that?!

 

[Jalva22]

So for early entry, are you lined up out in the sun on the concrete? We will be there on June 6, and this will be our first morning of the trip. Staying onsite. I can just picture the mood of my bunch if we get there at 7:30 and stand in the June sun and humidity for an hour and a half to start the trip.

I've thought about waiting until evening to tour WWOHP just because of that.

 

[christophfam]

So for early entry, are you lined up out in the sun on the concrete? We will be there on June 6, and this will be our first morning of the trip. Staying onsite. I can just picture the mood of my bunch if we get there at 7:30 and stand in the June sun and humidity for an hour and a half to start the trip.

I've thought about waiting until evening to tour WWOHP just because of that.

Why would you be standing for an hour and a half? If you get there at 7:30, you may wait 15-20 minutes before they let you in just before 8. You could show up right at 8 and be fine just don't expect to be at the front of the line. Besides, if you can't handle the heat at 8AM, you're going to have a very long day when the sun really comes out in the afternoon.

 

[Jalva22]

Why would you be standing for an hour and a half? If you get there at 7:30, you may wait 15-20 minutes before they let you in just before 8. You could show up right at 8 and be fine just don't expect to be at the front of the line. Besides, if you can't handle the heat at 8AM, you're going to have a very long day when the sun really comes out in the afternoon.

D'oh! Yeah, you're right! Sorry, I had brain freeze there! Ok, a half hour in the line we can handle! As to handling the sun, we've been to WDW many times and know what to expect. I have no worries as long as I'm not expected to stand in a loooooong line out in the heat. Which is why we are staying onsite for the express privileges. I just know my group's limitations and do a lot of planning to maximize our enjoyment, knowing the heat is going to be part the puzzle. If it's an hour wait outside, we go do something else, knowing not to be in line for Dumbo at 1pm, KWIM? (Actually, we wouldn't be in line for Dumbo at any time, because it's not our thing, but you get the picture!)

 

[tinydancer09]

D'oh! Yeah, you're right! Sorry, I had brain freeze there! Ok, a half hour in the line we can handle! As to handling the sun, we've been to WDW many times and know what to expect. I have no worries as long as I'm not expected to stand in a loooooong line out in the heat. Which is why we are staying onsite for the express privileges. I just know my group's limitations and do a lot of planning to maximize our enjoyment, knowing the heat is going to be part the puzzle. If it's an hour wait outside, we go do something else, knowing not to be in line for Dumbo at 1pm, KWIM? (Actually, we wouldn't be in line for Dumbo at any time, because it's not our thing, but you get the picture!)

Thats one thing Ive noticed. I don't mind waiting in lines.... I mind waiting in Sun. I live in south Georgia and am used to the humidity and heat.. but geez. Just that still standing and *groans* ... don't even get me started. Thats why I hated SFO-GA so much. We went in July (not my choice) and ALL the lines were in sun or tunnels with no ventilation... I vowed to never go back unless it was 40 degrees outside

 

[damo]

D'oh! Yeah, you're right! Sorry, I had brain freeze there! Ok, a half hour in the line we can handle! As to handling the sun, we've been to WDW many times and know what to expect. I have no worries as long as I'm not expected to stand in a loooooong line out in the heat. Which is why we are staying onsite for the express privileges. I just know my group's limitations and do a lot of planning to maximize our enjoyment, knowing the heat is going to be part the puzzle. If it's an hour wait outside, we go do something else, knowing not to be in line for Dumbo at 1pm, KWIM? (Actually, we wouldn't be in line for Dumbo at any time, because it's not our thing, but you get the picture!)

Going in early June and staying onsite, you won't be standing in many lines out in the sun. In fact, you probably won't be standing in any lines out in the sun (do Ollivander's first thing).

 

[heidijanesmith]

Heidi- Wasn't it a completely different area in the AM when the dew was still settled over everything and there was a light nip in the air? (then again you went in july I dont think "cool" is even in the vocabulary)

When we entered it was right at or right before 8AM in Sept, no one was there. I had been reading about the lines for even butter beer and was expecting the worst. To my surprise we walked next to a BB cart and had to ask the girls if they were even open! Loved it, glad you had this experience too!

HA! Your right about not being cool. It was HOT, sweating as soon as we left our hotel, HOT. I really did like being 1st there and no line at all ahead of us. It was a great morning

 

[heidijanesmith]

Nice! Thanks for the pics, too! Sounds like it definitely pays to be early for Early Entry. (huh?)

Thanks!

Definitely worth it, we went back in the evening and found this:

Huge crowds, huge waits for all the shops, BB and FJ

We ended up riding FJ using the single rider line, about a 25 min wait. I loved taking pics at night and touring in the AM.

 

[tinydancer09]

Thanks!

Definitely worth it, we went back in the evening and found this:

Huge crowds, huge waits for all the shops, BB and FJ

We ended up riding FJ using the single rider line, about a 25 min wait. I loved taking pics at night and touring in the AM.

11 months huh? Im glad we're not the only ones that plan a year+ahead! My family has been mocking me for months!

 

[Pembo]

We were at IOA Mar 31-Apr 2. Early entry was at 8, we were in line by 7:35 every day and let in the park at 7:45. We had very little wait for FJ. We also ended each evening in the HP area. By 8 pm (on a 9pm closing) we could again walk on FJ.

However my best tip is hope for rain! ON the 31st it was t-storms and tornados most of the day. When the storms moved out around 5 and it was just rain we headed to IOA. We had to stop ourselves from running through the castle. There was literally NO line. We waited 2 mins for Ollivanders. It was an AMAZING start to our adventure.

All told my ds rode FJ 10 ten times in 3 days.