What time are guests allowed into WDW parks?

[Nick6300]

Most people head to SWGE first. So your best bet is to do TSL first, then RNRC/TOT, and SWGE last.

Thank you. That does seem like a good alternate strategy. Other than me, RNRC and ToT are not important/won't be riding for our group.

So people held at Sunset Blvd sort of line up towards the left if they want to go to SWGE and to the right for TSL I'm guessing. I wouldn't think CMs at RD walk you through TSL to get to SWGE.

 

[Nick6300]

It's to give more room, for security reasons. Guests are much less bunched up in the hub. It's not the confined space that the main entrance is. It doesn't eliminate the possibility of an incident

makes sense.

 

[mtrib]

Thank you. Is 8am the earliest they will get you seated at GG? Better to be downstairs than upstairs for quicker access to Soarin' - despite maybe better viewing of the Land upstairs / a little less busy? What time do you think Soarin' is 1st avail to ride?

Post below answers most of your questions.
We like sitting on lower level for a better view of the Land. And my kids like booths.

Entrance To GG is upstairs so you have to take the escalator down to Soarin. You’ll have plenty of time. We were in line at 8:45 both times even after a quick potty break. Once we were loading at about 8:55. Other time was 9:05 which was frustrating. There are reports of people riding earlier but didn’t happen for us.
I’d say if you can get a TT FP that’s better than trying to run over there after Soarin. We tried it the one time and despite really hustling over the SB line was already 40 minutes. Or some people have actually recommended going to TT after breakfast and coming back to soarin because the SB line is still relatively short during the first hour.

 

[AngiTN]

Post below answers most of your questions.
We like sitting on lower level for a better view of the Land. And my kids like booths.

Entrance To GG is upstairs so you have to take the escalator down to Soarin. You’ll have plenty of time. We were in line at 8:45 both times even after a quick potty break. Once we were loading at about 8:55. Other time was 9:05 which was frustrating. There are reports of people riding earlier but didn’t happen for us.
I’d say if you can get a TT FP that’s better than trying to run over there after Soarin. We tried it the one time and despite really hustling over the SB line was already 40 minutes. Or some people have actually recommended going to TT after breakfast and coming back to soarin because the SB line is still relatively short during the first hour.

If you can utilize the single rider option for TT it works great after the ride on Soarin'
And to OP, no matter what, even if you get on the 2nd ride of Soarin', you'll be in position to be in front of the rope drop crowd.

 

[Nick6300]

If you can utilize the single rider option for TT it works great after the ride on Soarin'
And to OP, no matter what, even if you get on the 2nd ride of Soarin', you'll be in position to be in front of the rope drop crowd.

Thanks Angi and Mtrib. We are bigger fans of Soarin'. We usually do single rider TT, but not sure with group of 4 w/ 3 actually riding this time around. We could decide to go on single rider if line built up by time we're there after Soarin few times. TT and FEA are both checkmarks for us to do 1-2x per trip. I was bit conflicted between TT and FEA and grabbed FEA FP for 9am- hoping to get there by end of FP range. Even though TT is typically the largest wait times, FEA is the tougher FP to secure, and we usually go on it last during am's because of FEA location.

 

[Nick6300]

Post below answers most of your questions.
We like sitting on lower level for a better view of the Land. And my kids like booths.

Entrance To GG is upstairs so you have to take the escalator down to Soarin. You’ll have plenty of time. We were in line at 8:45 both times even after a quick potty break. Once we were loading at about 8:55. Other time was 9:05 which was frustrating. There are reports of people riding earlier but didn’t happen for us.
I’d say if you can get a TT FP that’s better than trying to run over there after Soarin. We tried it the one time and despite really hustling over the SB line was already 40 minutes. Or some people have actually recommended going to TT after breakfast and coming back to soarin because the SB line is still relatively short during the first hour.

What is SB?

 

[Nick6300]

What is SB?

standby line.

 

[Nick6300]

Your times are about right.
AK - let in about 30-60 minutes before and held at the Oasis (if not going into Pandora) or the bridge to Pandora. Let into FoP about 15 minutes early.
HS - let in about 30-40 minutes early. Previously walked to TSL about 20 minutes early. Not sure how SWGE has changed this, if any.
MK - still held at Hub until the opening show.
EPCOT - they may let you enter the main gate early, not the IG.

How are you held at Oasis? If wanting to head to FoP do you now have go up the right path into Oasis or still doesn't matter which path you go?

 

[mtrib]

Thanks Angi and Mtrib. We are bigger fans of Soarin'. We usually do single rider TT, but not sure with group of 4 w/ 3 actually riding this time around. We could decide to go on single rider if line built up by time we're there after Soarin few times. TT and FEA are both checkmarks for us to do 1-2x per trip. I was bit conflicted between TT and FEA and grabbed FEA FP for 9am- hoping to get there by end of FP range. Even though TT is typically the largest wait times, FEA is the tougher FP to secure, and we usually go on it last during am's because of FEA location.

It sounds like you have an excellent plan. I think the FEA FP was the better grab. You should be fine making it by 10:15 I'd think.

 

[gap2368]

Piggyback question - if you are an offsite guest who can't do EMH hour, do they also hold you on Main Street for that hour leading up to regular opening once you are through security? We have always been onsite and utilized early EMH so haven't experienced it, but have friends coming down who are offsite, and due to the early EMH at all the parks(except Epcot) each day that is currently in place, they can't choose to avoid the EMH park each day, so will get to MK early to park, get through security etc anyway, so figured if they got there early they could at least take in Main Street, get some pics(first trip for kids) while they wait. Just wasn't sure how it worked when other guests are already in the park - guessing it was the same as the normal wait before opening - are they still doing opening show with the altered morning hours?

At the MK for EMH for non resorts guest you will be let in Main Street close to 8 am but they scan MB air card to go into the bridge to tomorrowland So you can shop on Main Street or take pictures on Main Street they will have a welcome show 5 minutes before park opens

 

[yorkieteacher]

We were allowed in Epcot at 8am though an entrance marked for PPO breakfasts-our reservation was 815. We had gotten to the gate at 7:30, and about 5-6 families were waiting along with us. We heard security tell a family that had a 9am reservation they would be let in at 830. No one was let in before 8 on that day, which surprised me since it took about ten minutes to walk to Akershus for us-But we were third in line at the gate and third in line at Akershus. We were in the castle by 8:12.

 

[Nick6300]

We were allowed in Epcot at 8am though an entrance marked for PPO breakfasts-our reservation was 815. We had gotten to the gate at 7:30, and about 5-6 families were waiting along with us. We heard security tell a family that had a 9am reservation they would be let in at 830. No one was let in before 8 on that day, which surprised me since it took about ten minutes to walk to Akershus for us-But we were third in line at the gate and third in line at Akershus. We were in the castle by 8:12.

Like everything, I guess it depends on the CMs on a particular day charged with letting PPOs in. We will be ready prior to 8am just in case. You're right, I'd think it would be a fairly long walk to Norway from the entrance, and one of the more popular breakfasts.

 

[AngiTN]

We were allowed in Epcot at 8am though an entrance marked for PPO breakfasts-our reservation was 815. We had gotten to the gate at 7:30, and about 5-6 families were waiting along with us. We heard security tell a family that had a 9am reservation they would be let in at 830. No one was let in before 8 on that day, which surprised me since it took about ten minutes to walk to Akershus for us-But we were third in line at the gate and third in line at Akershus. We were in the castle by 8:12.

That makes sense since 9:00 AM reservations are not PPO. They wouldn't need to get in earlier than 8:30. But 8:40 would be let in earlier
I guess they figure there's no need to get in before 8:00 even if the ADR is at 8:00 since they probably wouldn't be able to check folks in much earlier than when you walked back there. You'd still make the first seating. Akershus is odd in that they operate in "seating times". I learned this when we were late for our ADR due to the monorail breaking down. We were too late to get in for the seating time we had been booked for. They moved us to the next seating time. I think they do it that way since the Princesses come out in a presentation rather than constant roaming.