Official vs. real opening

[Ann]

I read in an old guide book that the parks really open 1 hour before published times. Is this still true, and if so, do they just get you thru the turnstiles to await the rope drop or can you actually get on the rides? We're staying offsite so I'm avoiding EE parks and trying to be at the others at opening. Oh, does this apply to the waterparks too? We're going the last week of April if that affects anything.

 

[Trena]

I have been to the parks early and have gotten in...but only to the ropes, not onto any attractions or rides.

I hope someone else will post on this.

Trena

 

[Disbug]

I have been a lot lately and it really depends... One morning we went to MK on an early entry morning and they HELD us at the turnstiles until 8AM! By the time we got through the turnstiles and down Main Street we only had 40 minutes of "Early Entry" Left before the rest of the public was allowed in... And this was at the end of July and a busy time of year.

I have never seen AK let you in early, as they have the "Awakening" out front.

Epcot and MGM Studios seem to be better at letting you in early, but not more than 15 minutes early... The rope drops stay up until the actual official opening time.

I try to be at the turnstiles no later than 30 minutes before scheduled opening, so we are not so far back in the lines to get in.

This has been my experience! Hope this helps you!

 

[Geoff_M]

Recently, that habit seems to be a thing of the past at MK. Last June there was no early opening when we were there. Like was previously mentioned, plan on being at the gates about 30 minutes or more beforehand so you can be closer to the mass of people waiting for the turnstiles to open.

At Epcot and MGM, they did let us "in" early, but there was a rope drop set up that then stopped us a short distance past the gate (before Spaceship Earth at Epcot, and before the first intersection at MGM") and there was no early rope drop.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Each of the parks open one hour early on certain days. This is called the Extra Magic Hour and is only open to WDW Resort guests. If you stay off the property, you cannot get in during these early times. You have to show a resort ID to enter early. Unless it is an extremely busy time (like during Christmas week), only the EMH park will open early. Sometimes they will let people through the gate, only to hold you up at a rope, just inside the gate. The waterparks will open a little bit before the true opening time, but again, you will be held up at a rope until exactly the opening time. You will be able to go to the locker areas at BB, but at TL, you are held up on the path into TL.

 

[Ann]

Thanks for the info! I'll plan to be in line 30 min. before the scheduled opening.

 

[Ronda93]

On our trips during the 90's (eight or ten, I lose track) we were usually allowed through the turnstiles 60 minutes before the posted opening, but you were still held back by the ropes and ropedrop was at the posted opening time (MK, Epcot, MGM). You could usually shop and get snacks, but no rides.

In the last few years (post 9/11 really) they may let you in early, but our experience has been it will be 15 minutes at most. There's still a rope drop to wait for as well. The wait to get into MGM is the worst for me - here the turnstiles are closest to the ticket booths and the area in between can get packed.

We've become less commando in recent years, and a big reason was that getting up at the crack of dawn and getting to the MK at eight in the morning just meant you waited at the TTC for someone to let you board the monorail/ferry at 8:50. There's nothing in it for us early birds anymore.

Ronda