Disney Just Changed Early Entry Rules...Again

One of the biggest perks to staying at a Walt Disney World Resort is Early Entry. Find out how this perk made an unexpected change.

Disney World Early Entry

Early Entry Loses Its Magic at EPCOT — Credit: Donna

It is important to note that the posted park times may not be the actual park times. Guests staying at Disney World Resorts can enter all four theme parks 30 minutes earlier than the official park opening.

First introduced in 2021, Early Theme Park Entry allows guests staying at Walt Disney World Resorts to enter all 4 Theme Parks 30 minutes early. Originally, all other guests were held at the park entrance.

Early Entry has changed a bit over the years. One of the most notable changes was the removal of the rope that held guests at key locations.

Early Entry Changes

NEWS: Operating Hours Given To This NEW Animal Kingdom Experience — Photo Credit: KtP

Each Walt Disney World Theme Park has a different Early Entry protocol, and these can change based on changing trends.

For example, Early Entry was changed at Magic Kingdom for a private event back in December. Due to the popularity of "Pin Tuesday", changes were made to Early Entry at EPCOT back in March.

For quite some time, Early Entry Guests were allowed to check in for Early Entry just past the touch points to enter Disney's Animal Kingdom. All other non-Resort Guests were held at this location.

Early Entry Change at Animal Kingdom

Don't Forget About Animal Kingdom's Third New Attraction — Credit: KtP

This summer, this changed, allowing Guests to walk towards Discovery Island. However, this also leads to changes for Early Entry Guests. Now this has changed once again.

Now, Guests can head into various lands throughout Disney's Animal Kingdom. Guests staying at a Walt Disney World Resort may enter the attraction queue for attractions, while all other Guests may join a standby line for the attraction for when the park officially opens.

Early Entry changes again at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

However, there is one exception at the Land of Pandora. Only Walt Disney World Resort Guests may enter the Land of Pandora during Early Entry. All other Guests must wait on the bridge until Animal Kingdom officially opens.

What do you think of this change to Early Entry? Share your thoughts with us and share this news with your Disney pals.

Donna Farmer

Donna has always loved Disney even at an early age. When she was younger her family would joke that she lived in "Donna Land". Even now as an adult, she loves to plan and make magical vacations come to life as she and her family travel "Home" to Walt DisneyWorld. Join her as she brings a little faith, trust, and a little bit of pixie dust to Disney planning.