Hey there, hi there, ho there Corey.... and welcome to planDisney! Thanks for sending us your question, and congratulations on your upcoming trip. You're going to be arriving at the Most Magical Place on Earth in just a few days. Yeeee-haw!
Early theme park entry is a
perk offered to guests staying at a Disney Resort, allowing them to enter any of the Disney Parks 30 minutes prior to the standard opening time. So it's not dependent on your ticket type. If you are staying at a Walt Disney World Resort, you'll be allowed to enter the park and start your day 30 minutes early. I highly encourage you to take advantage of this benefit if you can! It’s an excellent way to stay ahead of the crowds that build later in the day—and to enjoy a ride or two on your favorite attractions first thing in the morning.
If you are staying at an off-site property you can still aim for arriving at "rope drop", or park opening time. This is a good strategy, as attraction wait times will continue to increase later in the day. It will really help you maximize what you're able to pack into your magical Disney Day!
You can check the
Park Operating Calendar to see the exact opening time (or early theme park entry time) for each of the Disney Parks during your visit. So whether you’re aiming for regular park opening or taking advantage of early theme park entry, plan to arrive at the park’s front entrance about 30–60 minutes beforehand. To keep the flow moving, Cast Members will typically start allowing guests to enter the park before the official park opening time. You won't want to miss this magical head-start!
You've got a friend in me, Corey... and I've got one last tip. Be sure to have the
My Disney Experience app installed and ready to go on your park day. This can be a handy helper for everything from checking attraction wait times, finding a particular character you're looking to meet, or placing a mobile food order so you can skip that busy lunch line.
I hope this helps, and that you have an absolutely wonderful time at Disney World next week. Please feel free to visit us any time at planDisney with your questions.
To infinity and beyond!
Tami