Everything Early Theme Park Entry (ETPE) - Please Read Post 1

[shawthorne44]

Just be aware that even though the lot opens 1 hour before early entry, other forms of transportation may get you there earlier. We drove to DHS on the morning of Saturday October 16th from Wilderness Lodge to avoid the bus. The road to the parking lot was blocked until 7:30 am. We were the first car stopped at that roadblock at 7:15am. They moved the cones at 7:30 am. Then we had to stop at the toll gate, and proceed through the whole parking lot. We were the first car in the lot, so they directed us to park in the first spot at the far end of the row. We had to walk the whole length of that row, then over to the front gate of the park. Got there at 7:40 am. Meanwhile, the Skyliner had been dropping off guests since 7:15am. Our rope drop of ROR was useless that day.

Would the bus have gotten you there earlier? We'd be Fort Wilderness, so thinking car for everyone except MK.

 

[Pookie9922]

Just out of curiosity, if you're RDing RotR, which way do they take you? Through Toy Story land or past Star tours?

 

[CJK]

Just out of curiosity, if you're RDing RotR, which way do they take you? Through Toy Story land or past Star tours?

Star tours

 

[Mapletree1]

Star tours

We walked past Star Tours. The line ran out through the tunnel and over to the right of the tunnel into a backstage area.

 

[Mapletree1]

Would the bus have gotten you there earlier? We'd be Fort Wilderness, so thinking car for everyone except MK.

No idea. We could see busses arriving, but not sure where they were coming from.

 

[dcrunner]

Sharing our early entry experience from rope dropping HS two days in a row, with very different experiences. Times are approximate. Hope this helps others:

Sunday 11/15
- We arrived at HS around 7:10. Our group was part of the first 10-15 people in line to open the park, which was cool. They held us outside the gates until about 7:30, when they started letting people in. We walked to RotR where we were held outside the tunnel until approximately 8. We were walked to the ride and off by around 8:10. Went from there to Smugglers (walk-on), and then did Toy Story Mania twice (walk-on), and then to Tower of Terror around 9, which was our first line of the day. The line was posted at 40 minutes, but took only 25-30. Basically, this was the ideal experience for us.

Monday 11/16
- We again arrived at HS around 7:10, again part of the first 10 in the park, and let in around 7:30. We went straight to Rise again, hoping for the same experience. We were walked to Rise around 8:15 . .. where we waited at three different points in the line/ride experience while they dealt with a ride that was not working and cooperating. All told it was after 9 when we got off, so not ideal. We went straight to Runaway Railway, which was posted at 50 minutes wait, but probably was more like 40-45 minutes. After that all lines were obscene, including coffee and breakfast. We tried to get breakfast at Rontos and were told we were not allowed to walk up - it had become so busy they were only taking mobile orders (which were not showing as available until noon - this was 10:30). This is where the inability to hop parks until 2 became, uh, mildly frustrating.

As you can see, two very different experiences. Don't regret the effort for either day - even day 2, which was feasibly the worst case scenario, we still got on the two most popular rides in the park by 10 without paying for IAS. But beware the experience can vary depending on time you show up and ride of choice to start

 

[scrappinginontario]

Thank you for sharing @dcrunner. We often hear things vary from day to day but you have actual experiences to share with us which is greatly appreciated!

 

[Bellagirl]

Thank you for sharing @dcrunner. We often hear things vary from day to day but you have actual experiences to share with us which is greatly appreciated!

Thank you for sharing! Did you use Genie+ on any of these days and if so what were those lines like?

 

[Tiggr88]

Sharing our early entry experience from rope dropping HS two days in a row, with very different experiences. Times are approximate. Hope this helps others:

Sunday 11/15
- We arrived at HS around 7:10. Our group was part of the first 10-15 people in line to open the park, which was cool. They held us outside the gates until about 7:30, when they started letting people in. We walked to RotR where we were held outside the tunnel until approximately 8. We were walked to the ride and off by around 8:10. Went from there to Smugglers (walk-on), and then did Toy Story Mania twice (walk-on), and then to Tower of Terror around 9, which was our first line of the day. The line was posted at 40 minutes, but took only 25-30. Basically, this was the ideal experience for us.

Monday 11/16
- We again arrived at HS around 7:10, again part of the first 10 in the park, and let in around 7:30. We went straight to Rise again, hoping for the same experience. We were walked to Rise around 8:15 . .. where we waited at three different points in the line/ride experience while they dealt with a ride that was not working and cooperating. All told it was after 9 when we got off, so not ideal. We went straight to Runaway Railway, which was posted at 50 minutes wait, but probably was more like 40-45 minutes. After that all lines were obscene, including coffee and breakfast. We tried to get breakfast at Rontos and were told we were not allowed to walk up - it had become so busy they were only taking mobile orders (which were not showing as available until noon - this was 10:30). This is where the inability to hop parks until 2 became, uh, mildly frustrating.

As you can see, two very different experiences. Don't regret the effort for either day - even day 2, which was feasibly the worst case scenario, we still got on the two most popular rides in the park by 10 without paying for IAS. But beware the experience can vary depending on time you show up and ride of choice to start

Can you please let us know how you got to HS in the morning?

 

[AZMermaid]

dcrunner, do you know if the Toy Story rides were also running before 8:30? Was the line huge for Slinky when you got over there? Thanks!

 

[dcrunner]

Thank you for sharing! Did you use Genie+ on any of these days and if so what were those lines like?

Used Genie + both days, although we did standby in the morning. Day 1, we got a Slinky time for 11 and went from there. Day 2, got a Smugglers for around 10:45 and went from there as well. Genie + was not always *walk-on* but it did seem to be consistently quicker than standby when we used it.

Can you please let us know how you got to HS in the morning?

Took an Uber. we asked about Skyliner running early but that's hit or miss if you want to get there before 7:30-sometimes they start a few minutes early but sometimes they dont. Which is definitely not necessary for every time, haha, but what we wanted to do this trip.

dcrunner, do you know if the Toy Story rides were also running before 8:30? Was the line huge for Slinky when you got over there? Thanks!

I don't actually know if the Toy Story rides started early, sorry! By the time we got over to TSL even on day 1 it was around/after 8:30. I do recall the Slinky line looking long and being glad we had a reservation for it, but I can't tell you how long it was exactly.

 

[disneyfam1986]

Where did you have the Uber drop you off

 

[dcrunner]

I can't recall the exact spot, it was before the Skyliner entrance though - we didn't choose a spot per se, it was just where they went in HS.

 

[CarolynFH]

Where did you have the Uber drop you off

DHS has a designated rideshare drop off/pick up area. They enter where the buses enter, not through the toll booths.

 

[TigerLaw]

So if we plan to rope drop MK during resort guest early entry and head for Peter pan first, what is the best/fastest way to get there?

Ordinarily, i would have thought to use the walkway to the left of the castle starting in liberty square by the funnel cake stand, but is that open these days for EE?

Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[scrappinginontario]

So if we plan to rope drop MK during resort guest early entry and head for Peter pan first, what is the best/fastest way to get there?

Ordinarily, i would have thought to use the walkway to the left of the castle starting in liberty square by the funnel cake stand, but is that open these days for EE?

Thanks in advance for the help!

Your question has been merged with the Everything Early Park Entry thread. Post 1 shares where ETPE guests may enter.

You are correct that during ETPE, the only options for entering is via Tomorrowland or, Fantasyland towards the Tea Cups. I would recommend the Tea Cup path then swing over to PP from there.

 

[Ariel620]

Your question has been merged with the Everything Early Park Entry thread. Post 1 shares where ETPE guests may enter.

You are correct that during ETPE, the only options for entering is via Tomorrowland or, Fantasyland towards the Tea Cups. I would recommend the Tea Cup path then swing over to PP from there.

I haven't done it yet, but we plan to RD PP during EE too, and someone recommended the Tcup path, but then split off early and take a hard left toward the castle at the Merida M&G. That way you don't get pushed around in the SDMT crowd and you get a faster path to PP.

 

[scrappinginontario]

I haven't done it yet, but we plan to RD PP during EE too, and someone recommended the Tcup path, but then split off early and take a hard left toward the castle at the Merida M&G. That way you don't get pushed around in the SDMT crowd and you get a faster path to PP.

If that oath is open that’s a great option for sure! If you don’t mind reporting back if that path is open when you go I’d greatly appreciate that! Thanks!

 

[Sydnerella]

Hollywood Studios-30min early entry....what rides (if any) actually start running BEFORE 8:30am? I am seeing they are letting people in much earlier than 8:30am but are they just waiting in lines for 8:30am?
We were going to head to Runaway Railway as soon as we enter the park but maybe that's not a good plan if other rides start running prior to 8:30.

Today we waited at MMRR from 730-830 on the dot. They let people enter the park at 730 and we all dispersed into lines. We took turns holding our spot (fam of 4) looking at shops and when it opened at 8 grabbed a little something at Starbucks, eating line until 830.
We didn’t want to ride ROTR SB as we already bought the LL though we would have been near the front.

 

[twoolle]

Today we waited at MMRR from 730-830 on the dot. They let people enter the park at 730 and we all dispersed into lines. We took turns holding our spot (fam of 4) looking at shops and when it opened at 8 grabbed a little something at Starbucks, eating line until 830.
We didn’t want to ride ROTR SB as we already bought the LL though we would have been near the front.

What time did you get to HS and how did you get there? Thanks!