Header photo by Cameron Watkins
Everything you need to know about Early Theme Park Entry at the Disney World parks
While Disney World used to offer Extra Magic Hours, that’s no longer available since the post-Covid re-opening. Now Disney World is offering Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours. These options are completely different from Extra Magic Hours. We’ll cover Early Theme Park Entry here. For Extended Evening Hours visit here.
Here’s what you need to know about Early Theme Park Entry.
What is Early Theme Park Entry to the Disney World parks?
This is designed to help you save time. Every day, certain guests are permitted to enter any of the 4 main theme parks 30 minutes before the park is opened to everyone else. This is for Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom and Epcot. This gives you a great opportunity to beat the crowds to the most popular rides. While it’s not a lot of time, it might be enough to help you save time getting on one or two of the more popular rides.
How can the Early Theme Park Entry save you money?
Let’s say you were going to buy a Lightning Lane pass for a very popular ride, such as Avatar Flight of Passage. If you choose to go directly to that ride during the Early Theme Park Entry instead of buying a pass, you’ll save money!
Who can participate in Early Theme Park Entry to the Disney World parks?
This program is only for Disney World resort guests, which includes all the Disney Vacation Club resorts. It also includes other select resorts we’ll share below.
The Disney-owned resorts included in the Early Theme Park Entry program are:
- Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
- Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
- Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
- Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
- Disney’s Pop Century Resort
- The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
- Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
- The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Disney’s Beach Club Resort
- Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
- Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
- Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
- Disney’s Beach Club Villas
- Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
- Disney’s Old Key West Resort
- Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
- Disney’s Riviera Resort
- Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
- The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Those from other select area resorts who can participate in Early Theme Park Entry include guests at the following resorts:
- Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
- Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
- Walt Disney World Swan Reserve
- Shades of Green® on Walt Disney World® Resort
- DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando
- Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace
- Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista
- Holiday Inn Orlando
- Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista
- Wyndham Lake Buena Vista
- Four Seasons Resort Orlando
- Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
- Waldorf Astoria Orlando
- Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista
- Renaissance Orlando Resort and Spa
If you wish, you can check Disney’s Early Theme Park Entry page for the most up to date lists.
What rides and attractions are running during Early Theme Park Entry?
During Early Theme Park Entry, not every ride, attraction, store, restaurant or food service booth will be opened. Still, we find that there’s plenty to choose from to get a good head start on your day.
We’ll list the rides and attractions that are currently available, but this is subject to change any time. Check Disney’s Early Theme Park Entry page for the most up-to-date lists. But again, they can change that at any time. We’ll also list some of the more popular rides that you might want to head towards during the Early Theme Park Entry period. We’ll note those that offer a Lightning Lane pass for purchase.
Epcot rides and attractions currently available during Early Theme Park Entry:
- Beauty and The Beast Sing-Along
- Frozen Ever After
- Mission: SPACE
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
- Soarin’ Around the World
- Spaceship Earth
- Test Track
- The Seas with Nemo & Friends
Popular rides: Frozen Ever After, Test Track, Soarin’, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
Magic Kingdom rides and attractions currently available during Early Theme Park Entry:
- “it’s a small world”
- Astro Orbiter
- 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
Popular rides: Peter Pan’s Flight, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Space Mountain
Animal Kingdom rides and attractions currently available during Early Theme Park Entry:
- Avatar Flight of Passage
- DINOSAUR
- Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
- It’s Tough to be a Bug!
- Na’vi River Journey
- TriceraTop Spin
Popular rides: Avatar Flights of Passage (Lightning Lane Single Pass), Na’vi River Journey
Avatar Flights of Passage is super popular and one of Disney’s more spectacular rides. It’s a great choice, but it’s on the long side. You may not get to ride anything else during Early Theme Park Entry. Though, you’re right near Na’vi River Journey. So, depending on how long you wait for Avatar, it may be possible to get a place in the queue for Na’vi at the end of the Early Theme Park Entry period.
Hollywood Studio rides and attractions currently available during Early Theme Park Entry:
- 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!
Popular rides: Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, Slinky Dog Dash, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™, Star Wars Rise of the Resistance (Lightning Lane Single Pass)
Star Wars Rise of the Resistance is a great option here, because it’s super popular and a Lightning Lane Single Pass ride. However, keep in mind that it’s a long ride. You won’t be able to get other rides in.
How will Disney Know if you qualify for the Early Theme Park Entry?
Of course, Disney requires valid theme park admission. They will use either your MagicBand, Key to the World Card or Disney MagicMobile pass to verify your information.
To learn about Evening Extended Hours at the Disney World parks, visit here.
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