Disney’s Hollywood Studios is currently testing a return to pre-COVID early entry procedures.
Early entry is a perk offered to guests at most Walt Disney World Resort Hotels. It allows guests access to the park half an hour before it officially opens. Since the days of COVID precautions, non-resort guests were held at the tapstiles until the park opened.
Now, all guests are permitted entry to the theme park, and access to most lands and attractions is monitored and restricted to hotel guests. A similar procedure is in place at Magic Kingdom, allowing all guests into the front of the park (namely to the Emporium).
Cast Members were stationed outside Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, checking credentials to confirm if guests were eligible for early entry. They were also in front of Toy Story Land, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and other areas in order to maintain the restriction.
Guests without early entry were allowed to join a queue for attractions or restricted lands, which began admittance at the official opening time.
What do you think about this procedure versus keeping non-resort guests outside the gates? Let us know in the comments.
For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Those of us who stay on property our getting less n less n spending more. I think early entry should remain for those on property only.
Non resort guests should wait outside the gates. A half hour is not really any significant amount of time, and having to fight the crowds just to get into the park eats up that time. Go back to an hour early entry at least.