How Do You Get Disney World Early Entry?

This article is your complete guide to Disney World’s early entry! If you’re planning a Walt Disney World vacation and staying on-site, one of the best perks you have access to is Disney World Early Entry — a 30-minute head start in any of the four major theme parks before regular guests are let in. Knowing how to use this benefit strategically can make a huge difference in your day.

So, if you’re ready to learn about early park entry at Disney World, read on!

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SPECIAL NOTE: If you’re looking for the best time to visit Disney World check out our Disney Crowd calendar!

 Disney World Crowd Calendar

How Do You Get Disney World Early Entry?

Guests staying at all on-site Disney World hotels and other select friendly neighbor hotels can take advantage of a 30-minute early entry into Walt Disney World theme parks every day of their stay, including check-in and check-out days. This popular benefit is confirmed to continue through 2026. It’s important to bring your room card and phone with your myDisney Experience account or Magicband, which is connected to your room for Disney cast members to scan. This will let them know you are part of the day’s Disney early theme park entry group.

• 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
• Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
• Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
• 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 Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

Friendly Neighbor Hotels With Early Admission (List subject to change)

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

This list is subject to change. Always confirm with your hotel before booking.

Which theme parks are included in early access at Disney World?

• Magic Kingdom
• EPCOT
• Hollywood Studios
• Animal Kingdom

Related Page: Disney World Vacation Package Deals and Promotions 

What Time Does Early Entry Start in Disney World?

Disney World early theme park entry starts exactly 30 minutes before regular park opening at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. Of course, every theme park does have different operating hours, however to make it as easy as possible we have included all of the Disney World theme park hours on our Disney World crowd calendar. Guests can also use this tool to see the one day ticket prices for Walt Disney World as well which can be useful when shopping for the best time to visit Disney World. One of the main reasons is Disney World ticket pricing now fluctuates based on the time of year. So the lower the ticket prices the greater chance of getting a better deal on a discount Walt Disney World vacation package! 

What are typical Disney early park hours?

• Magic Kingdom 8:30 AM (estimated)
• EPCOT 8:00 AM (estimated)
• Hollywood Studios 8:00 AM (estimated)
• Animal Kingdom 7:30 AM (estimated)

It’s important to note that we still highly recommend to arrive 30-45 minutes before Disney early entry even begins. The main reason is so many on-site and off-site guests will show up early in the morning and you will want to make sure to give yourself time to go through security and join the correct group which will be allowed in for the Disney World early hours. This will also allow you to be some of the firsts guests into the park and is a huge benefit when trying to get on as many rides with very little wait time.

What Attractions Are Available During Early Entry?

During the Early Entry period, select attractions, merchandise, and food and beverage locations will be operating. The specific ride lineup changes periodically, so be sure to confirm which rides will be open on Disney’s official site or the My Disney Experience app before your trip.

Magic Kingdom Park

• it’s a small world
• Astro Orbiter
• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• Mad Tea Party
• 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 The Muppets (Opening Summer 2026)
• 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 Theme Park

• Avatar Flight of Passage
• Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
• Na’vi River Journey
• Zootopia: Better Zoogether!

Related Post: What is the Best Disney World Park? 

Is Disney World early entry worth it?

Yes! Early Entry in Disney World is totally worth it. Here’s why it matters more than ever. The original Extra Magic Hours program, retired in July 2020, was limited to one park per day. The current Early Entry benefit applies to any of the four theme parks every day, helping spread visitation across the resort and generally resulting in lower wait times during the early window.

Getting on two or three popular attractions before the ropes drop for regular guests can save you hours of waiting later in the day, especially for high-demand rides like Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, or Avatar: Flight of Passage.

Related Page: How Much Does a Disney World Vacation Cost 

Disney World Early Entry FAQ

Q: What are Extended Evening Hours at Disney World?

A: Extended Evening Hours at Disney World are a special perk available to guests staying at Disney Deluxe Resorts, Deluxe Villas, and select other hotels. This benefit allows them to enjoy select theme parks for additional hours after regular park closing times. It provides a more relaxed experience, with shorter wait times for popular attractions, reduced crowds, and access to certain rides, shops, and dining options during these extra hours.

Q: Does Early Entry apply on check-in and check-out days?

A: Yes. Early Entry applies on both your check-in and check-out days, giving you extra time in the parks from the very first to the very last day of your stay.

Q: Can guests get in even earlier than the official Early Entry time?

A: Sometimes. From experience, Disney cast members occasionally begin letting resort guests into the park 10–15 minutes before Early Entry officially starts, though rides typically don’t begin operating until the full 30-minute mark.

When is The Best Time to Visit Disney World?

Our Disney  World Crowd Calendar is the best tool to help you get the most out of your time in the parks. We break down park crowds, park hours of operation, ticket prices, and average temperature. We also break down the best time to visit Disney World based on specific times of the year and special events.

Are You Ready to Plan Your Next Disney World Trip?

Are you planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Be sure to speak with a Disney World Travel Agent for the most recent deals and promotions. The Park Prodigy will provide a Free Quote for all Disney World Vacation Packages. The Park Prodigy can also help you save up to $20 per ticket when purchasing your Walt Disney World Tickets, and we offer promotional discounts for special events such as Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Tickets and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Tickets. If you’re brand new to Disney vacation planning we recommend our Walt Disney World Planning Page! Learn more about Disney hotels by reading our Walt Disney World Hotels Review page.