Early Entry at Disney World is one of the best perks of staying at a Disney hotel. But, what is Early Entry? How do you get it? And how do you make the most of it? When planning your Disney World vacation, many questions can arise. Don’t worry—we’re here to help! We’re breaking down everything you need to know about Early Entry at Walt Disney World.

What is Early Entry at Disney World?

Early Entry is a new perk that allows guests staying at a Disney World Resort or select off-site hotels to enter any of the four theme parks up to 30 minutes before the official park opening every day of the week.

This Disney Resort guest benefit replaced Extra Magic Hours in 2021, providing you with more flexibility to make the most of your park time. Unlike Extra Magic Hours, there are no specific dates and times that you need to pay attention to—just show up 30 minutes before the park you’re visiting for the day is set to open and start riding!

Anyone staying at any of the eligible resorts with their names on the room reservation automatically gains this perk. So no extra work or sign-up is needed.

And, the best thing about it? You get to start your day before the lines for rides can get too long! So, if you plan strategically, Early Entry at Disney World can save you a lot of time and allow you to ride the most popular rides with little to no wait time!

Which Hotels Are Eligible for Early Entry in Disney World?

Not everyone can take advantage of Early Entry in Disney World. You must be staying at one of the following resorts to qualify.

Value Resorts

• Disney’s All Star Movies Resort
• Disney’s All Star Music Resort
• Disney’s All Star Sports Resort
• Disney’s Pop Century Resort
• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

Moderate Resorts

• Disney’s Port Orleans – Riverside
• Disney’s Port Orleans – French Quarter
• Disney’s Coronado Springs
• Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
• Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground

Deluxe Resorts/Villas

• Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Disney’s Polynesian Resort
• Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Yacht Club
• Disney’s Beach Club
• Disney’s Boardwalk Inn
• Disney’s Saratoga Springs
• Disney’s Old Key West Resort
• Disney’s Rivera Resort

In addition to the resorts on Walt Disney World property, a select number of non-Disney-owned hotels also qualify for Early Entry. These include:

• Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
• Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
• Walt Disney World Swan Reserve
• DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando
• Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista
• Four Seasons Resort Orlando
• Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace
• Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista
• Holiday Inn Orlando
• Renaissance Orlando Resort and Spa
• Shades of Green on Walt Disney World Resort
• Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
• Waldorf Astoria Orlando
• Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista
• Wyndham Lake Buena Vista

What Rides Are Open During Early Entry at Disney World?

Although all four theme parks participate in Early Entry, not all of the rides open early. It’s important to know what rides are (and aren’t) open so that you can use your extra 30 minutes wisely!

Here is a FULL LIST of the rides available during Early Entry for each park:

Magic Kingdom

• “it’s a small world”
• Astro Orbiter (Closed for Refurbishment through Summer 2025)
• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• Mad Tea Party
• Mickey’s PhilharMagic
• Peter Pan’s Flight
• Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• Space Mountain
• The Barnstormer
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• Tomorrowland Speedway
• Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
• Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid
• Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress

EPCOT

• Frozen Ever After
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
• Mission: SPACE
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
• Soarin’ Around the World
• Spaceship Earth
• Test Track (Closed for Refurbishment through Summer 2025)
• The Seas with Nemo & Friends

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

• Alien Swirling Saucers
• Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
• Slinky Dog Dash
• Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
• Toy Story Mania!

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

• Avatar Flight of Passage
• DINOSAUR
• Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
• Na’vi River Journey

How Does Early Entry at Disney World Work?

Early Entry allows guests staying at any of the above resorts to enter the parks 30 minutes before the park officially opens. That means you’ll have an early wake-up call! So, you’ll have to be an early riser (or consume extra coffee) to take full advantage of the perk. While hours of operation vary depending on the days, parks, and season, early entry can begin quite early.

To give you an idea of how Early Theme Park Entry actually works, let’s say that the park you’re going to opens at 8AM. This means that hotel guests can start riding attractions at 7:30AM. To take fully advantage of this extra time. You’ll actually need to arrive at the park earlier than that so you’re in the park and ready to go at 7:30AM.

Disney transportation begins one hour before Early Entry. So, in this case, you would ideally leave your hotel room around 6:30AM to get to the park and through the entrance before the rides open for Early Entry guests.

To utilize Early Entry, you’ll need the same ticket you enter the park with, whether that be a physical card, a MagicBand, or your mobile device. However, some parks’ procedures are slightly different than others. Luckily, there is plenty of signage directing guests on where to go.

Magic Kingdom Early Entry Logistics

At Magic Kingdom, everyone enters through the main gate early, regardless of whether you’re a hotel guest or just getting to the park early.

Once inside, those with early entry must follow the signs toward the Tomorrowland and Fantasyland entrances from the hub. A Cast Member there will then scan your ticket, verify you are staying at a resort, and let you through!

EPCOT Early Entry Logistics

At EPCOT, everyone enters through the main gates, and Early Entry guests are immediately directed to the right (just follow the signage!). All other guests wait in front of the entrance to Spaceship Earth.

If you’re coming to the park from the International Gateway entrance, you’ll just need to follow signage.

Animal Kingdom Early Entry Logistics

The same procedure as EPCOT applies to Animal Kingdom, where everyone is allowed through the main gate. Early entry guests then proceed to one side of the Tree of Life while regular guests wait at the roped-off area on the other side.

Hollywood Studios Early Entry Logistics

Hollywood Studios tends to have a different setup for Early Entry compared to other parks. Here, hotel guests scan in for Early Entry outside the main gate, directly following the security exit.

Please note that these early entry logistics are subject to change in all four theme parks. Be sure to follow signage or ask a Cast Member for directions if you’re unsure of where to enter for Early Entry.

Is Early Theme Park Entry Worth It?

Overall, Early Entry at Disney World is worth it for early risers or parkgoers who are set on riding an attraction without purchasing Lightning Lane entry or waiting in a long line. The thirty-minute head start can substantially affect ride queues for major rides like Avatar Flight of Passage, Slinky Dog Dash, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.

We utilize Early Entry whenever we can during our stays, enjoying rides with low wait times. Then, to make up for the early wake-up call, we like to head back to the resort for a mid-day break and return later in the evening for more!

This works well for us because we’re early risers by nature. Early Entry might not be as beneficial if you already have Lightning Lanes purchased for your park days and have the essential rides secured, especially if you don’t enjoy waking up early.

Comments

Have you used Early Entry at Disney World? What ride are you starting your day at? Let us know in the comments if you think the perk is worth staying at a Disney hotel for!