Park opening times, are they firm?

[ErinInCT]

I have read a bunch of books & most of them talk about the importance of getting to MK early b/c sometimes they open b4 the published time (I am not talking about EMH for resort guests). Is this true? Is this only during busy times? I have not seen this mentioned on the boards. I have seen some posts where people talk about the "opening ceremony" with an actual countdown clock & rope drop so it sounds like the opening times are pretty set in stone. Can anyone clarify this for me?
Thank you!

 

[Amirah95]

We call Disney the evening before to confirm park openings. (407) 824-4321

 

[WDSearcher]

Originally posted by ErinInCT
I have read a bunch of books & most of them talk about the importance of getting to MK early b/c sometimes they open b4 the published time (I am not talking about EMH for resort guests). Is this true?

During the heyday of travel (pre-9/11), the parks would often open earlier than posted if there were a lot of people at the turnstiles. Not by much ... a half-hour maybe. But when attendance started going down and money was tighter (meaning staff was cut), they stopped doing that. It very seldom happens any more. The parks will often let guests through the turnstiles and into a holding area just inside the park, but they very rarely open early any more.