Is early entry worth it?

[queenofhartz]

I am headed to Disneyland March 20-23 staying in the Grand Californian. I see that we have the option to take advantage of early entry, and I'm wondering if it's worth it? I know at Disneyworld, it used to be best to avoid early entry parks, because they were slammed. Not sure if the same applies at Disneyland? Thank you!

 

[disney-inspired]

No, it doesn't matter as much since there are only two parks and they get just as crowded with our without early entry. I say take advantage of it!

 

[LKing]

I think the issue isn't as much that they are slammed, but more that not everything is open.

 

[thenicefamily]

I think it's definitely worth it! A half-hour of walk-ons including Space Mountain, Star Tours, Peter Pan +++. If you're so inclined, which I wasn't because I felt it a waste of the walk-on ride time, you can use it to queue at the Red Rose Tavern entry to the Galaxy's Edge area. From what I understand that gives you a huge jump on those rope-dropping from the other areas of the park. At DCA we knocked off Webslingers, Guardians and Radiator Springs Racers in that first half-hour. I count that as a $40 value right there as both Webslingers and RSR are purchase LL rides.

IMO - take every little perk of being an on-site guest that you can, seeing as you're paying a lot for the privilege of staying. Remember to pick up your little "Magical Extras" gift as well - can't remember exactly but, the last two times I believe we got pins and maybe a lanyard? You pick up at one of the shops (ask at GC receiption where) in DCA or DL.

Oh, and, you can have your purchases shipped back to your room. It can take a while - not even necessarily same-day - but if you're there for a couple of days it's a nice thing to be able to do.

 

[OlliePop27]

I think it's definitely worth it! A half-hour of walk-ons including Space Mountain, Star Tours, Peter Pan +++. If you're so inclined, which I wasn't because I felt it a waste of the walk-on ride time, you can use it to queue at the Red Rose Tavern entry to the Galaxy's Edge area. From what I understand that gives you a huge jump on those rope-dropping from the other areas of the park. At DCA we knocked off Webslingers, Guardians and Radiator Springs Racers in that first half-hour. I count that as a $40 value right there as both Webslingers and RSR are purchase LL rides.

IMO - take every little perk of being an on-site guest that you can, seeing as you're paying a lot for the privilege of staying. Remember to pick up your little "Magical Extras" gift as well - can't remember exactly but, the last two times I believe we got pins and maybe a lanyard? You pick up at one of the shops (ask at GC receiption where) in DCA or DL.

Oh, and, you can have your purchases shipped back to your room. It can take a while - not even necessarily same-day - but if you're there for a couple of days it's a nice thing to be able to do.

I do agree that EE should be taken advantage of if staying on site. It’s a great perk. Some rides don't open on time that are supposed to be available, so you just have to go with the flow.

I do want to point out that Webslingers is not ILL anymore and hasn't been for over a year. If you pay for regular Genie+ it's included. Radiator Springs is ILL, but it's not open during early entry, but you can start lining up for it during EE (it is often closed at rope drop so I don't recommend it).

 

[deedubb]

Radiator Springs is ILL, but it's not open during early entry, but you can start lining up for it during EE (it is often closed at rope drop so I don't recommend it).

Is this new because we definitely did Radiator Springs early entry before the pandemic. Totally worth it if this ride is included.

 

[twodogs]

Is this new because we definitely did Radiator Springs early entry before the pandemic. Totally worth it if this ride is included.

Yes this has changed since COVID. It is now NOT open in EE.

 

[Rex1993]

Honestly I go back and forth. We own VGC so early entry is available but it’s kind of a pain. Probably because none of our family are morning people and early entry means you have line up a long time before early entry. If I’ve been in the parks until midnight or 1AM, I don’t want to get up at 6:15 the next morning. Lately we’ve been doing it one time per trip and just for Disneyland. Since Radiator Springs isn’t open and we don’t do anything Marvel there isn’t much point in trying for DCA.

 

[deedubb]

Yes this has changed since COVID. It is now NOT open in EE.

That sucks. We only waited about 15mins when we did EE for it previously. I wonder why they no longer include this ride. Another cost cutting measure? Surely when people are paying $500-$1K for a room, there should be some advantage aside from access to a handful of rides for 30 mins, and not even for both parks every day any more. Boo! We'll be back this summer, staying at Grand Cal and doing 5 park days. I was hoping to rope drop Radiator Springs again.

 

[starry_solo]

It’s worth it. We recently stayed three nights on property and utilized early entry for DCA and DLR.

We used EE for DCA for soarin over CA and then headed to TSMM and went twice (that was right at 8 am). After that, it was Web Slingers, GOTG, Monsters Inc and Mickeys Philharmagic. All done by 10 am.

for DLR, we used for Buzz and Star Tours. Then went to Thunder Mountain and Smugglers Run, right after 8 am.

 

[ParkHopper1]

For me...no...I much prefer to sleep in (or at least not have to worry about being up at the crack of dawn) and close out the parks at night strong...the last few hours before closing especially on longer operational days can often be as good if not better to get on attractions than EE IMO.

While some folks hit EE with military precision of execution of their plan...if we are up...great...if not...meh.

 

[BriannaRuth]

It's best to avoid the EE parks if you DON'T have EE. If you do, it's absolutely worth it, but only if you get there early enough to be in the park as soon as EE opens. We've done EE every time we've stayed onsite, even when my kids were 5 years old. They're in their 20s now and they still do EE when they go on their own. Believe me, 21 year-olds do NOT get up that early unless it's worth it! My husband and I always go back to the hotel for a break in the afternoon, but they power right through from EE until the park closes. No idea how.

 

[Porsche4]

I want to do EE but I get stressed really easily and I read they don't have a dedicated Hotel Guest entry gate so you just have to line up with everyone else. They don't open the gates til a bit before 7:30 so by the time you get through the gates a lot of your EE half hour is eaten into. This seems so stupid to me and would stress me out enormously as I know I would get stuck behind THAT family who has to ferret around for their tickets, then one doesn't work and you stand there and stand there checking your watch as your precious EE time slips away. No matter how early you get up you can't get access to the Esplanade until they open security so I am not sure I could stand all the stress of having to be there SUPER early to be at the front of the security line then full on dash to get to the front gate and try and be as close to the front of a gate as possible. I guess I will try it first day on our trip and see how hectic it is then decide if we should do it for our whole trip or not.

 

[CastAStone]

I want to do EE but I get stressed really easily and I read they don't have a dedicated Hotel Guest entry gate so you just have to line up with everyone else. They don't open the gates til a bit before 7:30 so by the time you get through the gates a lot of your EE half hour is eaten into. This seems so stupid to me and would stress me out enormously as I know I would get stuck behind THAT family who has to ferret around for their tickets, then one doesn't work and you stand there and stand there checking your watch as your precious EE time slips away. No matter how early you get up you can't get access to the Esplanade until they open security so I am not sure I could stand all the stress of having to be there SUPER early to be at the front of the security line then full on dash to get to the front gate and try and be as close to the front of a gate as possible. I guess I will try it first day on our trip and see how hectic it is then decide if we should do it for our whole trip or not.

If this is how you feel than I agree with you, it’s not for you. I would suggest rope dropping the park without early entry every day.

 

[Porsche4]

If this is how you feel than I agree with you, it’s not for you. I would suggest rope dropping the park without early entry every day.

Yes thats what I think, we will have G+ so I am sure we will be fine.

 

[chezcurrie]

I think it's definitely worth it! A half-hour of walk-ons including Space Mountain, Star Tours, Peter Pan +++. If you're so inclined, which I wasn't because I felt it a waste of the walk-on ride time, you can use it to queue at the Red Rose Tavern entry to the Galaxy's Edge area. From what I understand that gives you a huge jump on those rope-dropping from the other areas of the park. At DCA we knocked off Webslingers, Guardians and Radiator Springs Racers in that first half-hour. I count that as a $40 value right there as both Webslingers and RSR are purchase LL rides.

IMO - take every little perk of being an on-site guest that you can, seeing as you're paying a lot for the privilege of staying. Remember to pick up your little "Magical Extras" gift as well - can't remember exactly but, the last two times I believe we got pins and maybe a lanyard? You pick up at one of the shops (ask at GC receiption where) in DCA or DL.

Oh, and, you can have your purchases shipped back to your room. It can take a while - not even necessarily same-day - but if you're there for a couple of days it's a nice thing to be able to do.

Not sure when your last trip was, but our last 2 stays onsite (most recent this October) there are no “magical extras” unless you booked a special package that included them, and you can not have things shipped back to your room yet. As PP has noted RSR is not open in EMH, and webslingers is on G+ (and has a single rider line, Jsyk)

Happy to be incorrect if someone has more recent on-site experience regarding packages, just don’t want people assuming this is the case.

OP - if you are coming from the east coast and/or are morning people Early entry can be great to either knock off a ride or two. I have a teenager so those early morning days are long behind me.

Edited: typo, webslingers is on G+

 

[CastAStone]

Radiator Springs is ILL, but it's not open during early entry, but you can start lining up for it during EE (it is often closed at rope drop so I don't recommend it).

this is true but I think it’s worth riding a ride or two and then popping over to RSR at 2 minutes to park open to beat the off site crowd

 

[OlliePop27]

Not sure when your last trip was, but our last 2 stays onsite (most recent this October) there are no “magical extras” unless you booked a special package that included them, and you can not have things shipped back to your room yet. As PP has noted RSR is not open in EMH, and webslingers is not on G+ (and has a single rider line, Jsyk)

Happy to be incorrect if someone has more recent on-site experience regarding packages, just don’t want people assuming this is the case.

OP - if you are coming from the east coast and/or are morning people Early entry can be great to either knock off a ride or two. I have a teenager so those early morning days are long behind me.

Just to clarify - Webslingers is included on regular Genie+. It is not on individual lightning lane. It is also included in EE.

Webslingers was ILL until late 2022, but it's been on regular Genie+ for over a year.

 

[chezcurrie]

Just to clarify - Webslingers is included on regular Genie+. It is not on individual lightning lane. It is also included in EE.

Webslingers was ILL until late 2022, but it's been on regular Genie+ for over a year.

Yup - typo on my end! Went back and fixed it, thanks!

 

[jodeja]

Not sure when your last trip was, but our last 2 stays onsite (most recent this October) there are no “magical extras” unless you booked a special package that included them, and you can not have things shipped back to your room yet. As PP has noted RSR is not open in EMH, and webslingers is on G+ (and has a single rider line, Jsyk)

Happy to be incorrect if someone has more recent on-site experience regarding packages, just don’t want people assuming this is the case.

OP - if you are coming from the east coast and/or are morning people Early entry can be great to either knock off a ride or two. I have a teenager so those early morning days are long behind me.

Edited: typo, webslingers is on G+

We just stayed at the Disneyland Hotel this month and they advertised being able to send packages to the room. We asked about it since we weren't sure how it works and they explained it. So, we definitely got the message in multiple ways that it was available.
(We ended up not buying any merch in the parks, so didn't get to actually test it out.)