How useful is the 30 minute before opening benefit?

[JennCa]

I was considering staying at a hotel that has the get into parks 30 minutes before opening, does anyone find it is really that useful or does everyone have it?

How early would I have to go to HS if I can get in 30 minutes earlier and the park opened at 9am? I know there is security, etc.

Jenn

 

[SheSingsAlong]

If you are a rope dropper and/or especially if you are wanting to avoid paying for lightning Lane access, then the 30 minute early entry is a must. Anyone staying onsite can use the benefit, but since it is available at all parks everyday, the crowds disperse among the 4 parks. To be at the head of the pack, you probably want to arrive 1 hour before early entry (at HS and MK, maybe not so early for EP and AK).

 

[gharter]

If you are there early enough to toward the front, we found the 30 minutes to be much more helpful then expected.
AK - FoP near walk on. We were able to get on Navi before the park opened. Everything else was near walk on for the next hour after the park opened again as the masses headed.
HS - short wait for RoTR. Can then ride other rides while the masses head there.
MK - 7 DMT have to be toward the front or you will have a long wait. BTMRR, PP and Splash very short wait.

 

[JennCa]

Thanks! I was considering staying a hotel that has this benefit.

Jenn

 

[teachmedis]

I remember when this 30 minutes was announced, and there were a lot of complaints. I was thinking, folks, I can get a lot done in 30 minutes. Think of it this way, if you're there an hour ahead, you should be able to hit a headliner or two then you can do the second tier rides while the other guests are just arriving and scrambling for headliners. I can't wait to get to try this out in June!

 

[Sabine W.]

MK - 7 DMT have to be toward the front or you will have a long wait. BTMRR, PP and Splash very short wait.

Are you able to ride BTMRR before park opening? It's not on the list of early entry attractions.

 

[Meriweather]

Are you able to ride BTMRR before park opening? It's not on the list of early entry attractions.

Only Fantasyland and Tomorrowland are open for the early entry

 

[Meglen]

Just remember to use the 30 min early the way folks here are saying you need to be at the park an hour + early. They let you in the park befor the 30 min starts and the lines grow every minute.

 

[kverdon]

It tough at MK. I would take the bus. We took the first ferry at 8:15 and got to the entry just before 8:30. They let others in too and then hold them so lines get long fast. They then do the crazy second armband check which sucks out more time so it was 8:45 before we actually got a chance to do anything.

 

[loves to dive]

I think it depends on the park and crowd levels. I used it my last trip the week of Dec. 17. The parks were crowded. At HS I was about 15 min. before the early entry time, there was already a 45 min wait for MMR and RoTR was down but still had a 120 min. line. On the other side, same week I got to AK right at the tail end of the 30 min., like 2 min. before regular rope drop, walked right on Safari (I rarely ride FoP). I got to MK about 10 min. before regular rope drop one morning and decided to just head toward JC and there was already a rope drop crowd waiting from other early people. JC and PoTC were walk ons, BTMRR was about 10 min. wait after I did those two and by the time I was done with those 3, HM was about 30 min. I never did it at Epcot but even with insane crowds I never waited longer than 20 min. for anything toward late afternoon. Another morning I actually go to MK right at the 30 min. mark, headed to Tomorrowland because all I wanted to do was get some coffee then ride People Mover. The longest line in Tomorrowland was a Jeoffrys so it took the entire 30 min. get a cup of coffee.