The procedures for guests taking part in Early Entry or waiting to rope drop for park opening at EPCOT have now changed, with lines further back in the park and separate lines for each type of guest.
New EPCOT Rope Drop and Early Entry
The new rope drop line for guests looking to enter EPCOT just as it opens in the morning now begins a little further back inside the park. Signs placed in front of Spaceship Earth direct guests taking part in the Disney Resort guest Early Entry benefit are instructed to stay on the right side.
The new procedures and waiting areas are likely in anticipation of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind’s standby queue debut. Disney may be anticipating large rope drop crowds vying to reach the ride before the wait gets high.
The right side path around Spaceship Earth is blocked by black stanchions, with only a small section left open on the far right.
Cast Members were stationed holding more directional signs near the stanchions. The signs point guests to the small entrance around the right side. The only guests allowed to enter from the right are Disney Resort hotel guests or guests with early morning breakfast reservations. After being checked at this entrance, guests are free to enter EPCOT and enjoy the early entry offerings.
While the park was not yet officially open, regular day guests were allowed to hold spots in line near the front of Spaceship Earth. Spaceship Earth is listed as one of the attractions available for Resort guests to visit during Early Entry, so non-Early Entry guests are kept outside of the main queue until the official opening time.
Guests without a special benefit who are planning to rope drop once the park officially opens are instructed to wait on the left side of Spaceship Earth.
The line for rope drop is held near the EPCOT guest relations building on the left. Guests were not allowed to get all the way to the entrance of Connections Cafe.
By the time we arrived, most of the walkway between Spaceship Earth and Guest Relations was filled with guests already waiting to enter the park.
The stanchions were actually removed from this side a few minutes early. When we were waiting, the line was allowed to enter the rest of EPCOT at 9:56 a.m. instead of 10 a.m. The park’s normal opening time of 9 a.m. was delayed due to the runDisney Princess Half Marathon Weekend.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will be added to the roster of attractions guests can ride during Early Entry at EPCOT. The attraction will become available to early guests on February 25, which is the same day the ride will stop offering a virtual queue and begin offering a standby line.
What do you think of the new EPCOT morning entry procedures? Let us know in the comments.
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