Cinderella Castle lit in blue at night viewed from Main Street, U.S.A.
  • On Jun 7, 2026
    Erika from MD Asked Please note that experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    I have a capture the moment scheduled for 9 AM but the park does not open until 9am. I’m staying on a resort that is included with the early entry. What is the recommendation time to get to the park if driving? Will I be able to get in the park early?

    Hi Erika, 

    Welcome to planDisney! Thank you for bringing your planning question about your next Walt Disney World visit to us. One thing my family will tell you about me is that I always ensure that we take all the photos we can during our Disney World vacations. We purchase the Memory Maker package which allows you to download unlimited PhotoPass photos during your stay and take photos with as many PhotoPass photographers as we can find throughout the parks. I love the fact that you’ve scheduled a Capture Your Moment session. These 20-minute photo sessions give you the opportunity to commemorate your visit with keepsake photos that will bring smiles to your family’s faces for years to come. 

    If your Capture Your Moment session reservation is at 9:00 a.m., I’d recommend that you arrive at the Magic Kingdom parking lot no later than 8:00 a.m. Staying at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel will allow you to enter at 8:30 a.m. thanks to the Early Entry benefit, but cast members will likely allow guests to enter the park before that so they can queue up in groups to enter the lands they will have access to. Guests with reservations are allowed to enter early as well. Keep in mind that you will need to park your car (don’t forget to use the Car Locator feature in the My Disney Experience app!), ride the parking lot tram to the Transportation and Ticket Center, then catch the monorail or the ferryboat to Magic Kingdom. It is by no means a straight shot from your point of entry at the parking lot, so you should plan to give yourself more time to avoid being late for your appointment.

    I hope this information is helpful, Erika. Be sure to come back and visit us here at planDisney if you have any additional questions about your upcoming visit. We’re happy to help. TTFN… ta-ta for now! 

    Sakinah
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Meet the Panelist: Sakinah, New York

Hi friends! I’m Sakinah from New York. As an event professional and lifelong Disney fan, I love turning thoughtful planning into magic. My multigenerational family and I love to visit Disney Parks as often as we can, but our most visited park is Walt Disney World. I’m so excited to help you plan a vacation that’s sprinkled with magic, wonder, and memories that last a lifetime.  Learn More About Sakinah

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