Early Entry has long been a popular perk for guests staying at Walt Disney World hotels. However, it’s not “worth” it for everyone.
Early Entry is the 30-minute period each morning when guests of Disney resorts and other select hotels can access each of the theme parks prior to the general public. While that sounds like a win — and is certainly used by many guests — there are some cons to go along with the pros.
Pros of Early Entry
Being Able to get to in-demand rides earlier: Obviously, this is the #1 perk of Early Entry, as many guests will use the opportunity to rush to their ride of choice. As of early 2026, the following attractions are available during Early Entry.
Magic Kingdom
- “it’s a small world”
- Astro Orbiter
- 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
- 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!
Animal Kingdom
- Avatar Flight of Passage
- DINOSAUR
- Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
- Na’vi River Journey
- Zootopia: Better Zoogether!
In addition to rides, during the Cool Kids Summer promotion, which runs from May 26th to September 8th, hotel guests eligible for Early Entry will be able to meet a rotating cast of Disney characters at each park before the park opens to the general public. Meaning that, at least some guests who usually rush to rides will instead try to knock out character meet & greets in the early morning.
Cons of Early Entry
Arguably, the biggest con of Early Entry is the EARLY part. I means getting up even earlier than normal rope drop, especially if staying at a Disney hotel with more limited transportation options or one that’s far away from your desired park. For example, traveling from Animal Kingdom Lodge or one of the All-Stars to the Magic Kingdom.
Then, there’s the practicality of the 30-minute window. While it is beneficial, it likely only provides time to get to one ride at most. While it can certainly be a boon to knock out an in-demand attraction that early, is it really worth the effort? Not to everyone.
A Potential Alternative
If Early Entry doesn’t seem worth it to you, you can sacrifice Early Entry to stay at an on-property hotel that’s cheaper than an equivalent hotel. You can then use those savings to purchase Lightning Lanes instead.
While Early Entry is certainly a valuable perk, it’s not beneficial for every Disney World guest, and there are other ways to approach the resort for those guests. Stay tuned to AllEars for more Disney World tips.
How Disney Parks Have Gone from Theatrical to Practical
Are you a fan of Early Entry? Let us know in the comments below.
After many times doing early opening, we no longer do it. If staying on property, it required waking up super early, timing your transportation so that you got to the gate at least 15 min or more prior to the gate opening so you could get through without wasting that half hour in line to get in and then you have to trek to an access point and wait an masse to scan through. By the time we made it to the ride, it was , as the article states, only enough time to get on one ride.
They should bring back the hour extra instead. That was worth it.