Hi, Diane! Thanks for bringing your question to the Disney Parks Moms Panel.
Extra Magic Hours can really help you get the most fun out of your day at the
theme parks. It's amazing how many
attractions you can experience early in the morning while the crowds are low. I don't blame you for wanting to take care of all your logistical details as early as possible so that you don't miss a minute of the magic.
While there is no set-in-stone time that Cast Members begin to let guests into the parks, I have found that they often begin admitting guests a bit earlier than the posted park opening time. In my experience, guests often can begin entering the park up to 30 minutes before the park is actually set to open. While you won't have access to the entire park at that time and attractions will not yet be operating, this can give you a bit of a head start. In the case of
Magic Kingdom Park, I have often seen guests able to enter the park and explore Main Street, U.S.A. prior to the actual park opening time. Although guests will not be permitted to go any further than the "hub" area in front of
Cinderella Castle unless they have
breakfast reservations, this is a great time to take some pictures and visit
Guest Relations.
As I mentioned before, there is no guarantee that guests will be permitted to begin entering the park before the actual opening time. However, since it does happen rather often, I would suggest you arrive at the park gates approximately 30-45 minutes before the park is set to open. If there are Extra Magic Hours on the day you are visiting, then try to be there 30-45 minutes prior to Extra Magic Hours. As soon as you arrive on Main Street, U.S.A., head directly to Guest Relations to speak with a Cast Member about setting up
Disability Access Service (DAS) for your son.
In Magic Kingdom Park, Guest Relations is located in City Hall. When you are walking in and facing Cinderella Castle, City Hall will be on your left as you enter from under the train station. Be sure to bring your entire travel party with you to set up Disability Access Service for your son. Everyone in your party will need to be connected to his account in order to experience attractions together when utilizing Disability Access Service. My own son has autism, and we always use Disability Access Service when we visit the Walt Disney World Resort. We have always found the process of setting up Disability Access Service to be quick and efficient, getting us on our way and having fun in no time. I know you will love the way the Walt Disney World Resort's
Services for Guests with Disabilities makes the magic accessible to everyone.
Wishing you a wonderful Walt Disney World Resort vacation!
Samantha