For guests who like to start their Disney day bright and early, those first few moments inside Magic Kingdom are a big deal.

Whether you’re sprinting to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train or strolling through a sleepy Fantasyland while the sun rises behind Cinderella Castle, Early Entry can feel like you’ve unlocked a secret level of the park.

A large crowd in Magic Kingdom with Cinderella Castle in the background at Disney World
Credit: Lee (myfrozenlife), Flickr

But anyone who’s actually taken advantage of Disney’s Early Theme Park Entry knows it’s not always as magical as it sounds. Over the past few years, “early” has often meant “hurry up and wait.” Guests have been herded, held behind ropes, and released in a wave of morning chaos. And for many, that has led to frustration, confusion, and a lot of unnecessary stress before 9 a.m.

It wasn’t always this way. Before the pandemic, Extra Magic Hours gave resort guests extra time in the parks before the general public arrived, or after they left at night. But when Disney revamped the system in 2021, they introduced a 30-minute Early Entry period that left less room for flexibility—and more opportunities for bottlenecks.

That included the now-infamous rope outside Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café, which separated guests from Fantasyland until the exact moment the clock struck “go.”

Now, things may finally be shifting for the better.

What’s Early Entry and Who Gets It?

If you’re staying at a Disney Resort hotel—or one of a few other participating hotels—you get access to Early Entry. This perk lets you enter any of the four Disney World parks 30 minutes before official opening time. It applies every day of your stay, including check-in and check-out days.

A large crowd of guests on Main Street, U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort as Epic Universe opens down the street as President Trump celebrates his birthday.
Credit: 0soulis0, Flickr

Here’s a full list of eligible hotels that grant Early Entry access:

Disney Resort Hotels:

  • Disney’s All-Star Resorts (Movies, Music, Sports)

  • Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

  • Disney’s Pop Century Resort

  • Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

  • Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

  • Disney’s Port Orleans (French Quarter & Riverside)

  • Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort (Cabins & Campsites)

  • Disney’s Wilderness Lodge (and Boulder Ridge/Copper Creek Villas)

  • Disney’s Contemporary Resort (and Bay Lake Tower)

  • Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort (and Villas & Bungalows)

  • Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort (and Villas)

  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (Jambo House & Kidani Village)

  • Disney’s Beach Club Resort & Villas

  • Disney’s BoardWalk Inn & Villas

  • Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort

  • Disney’s Old Key West Resort

  • Disney’s Riviera Resort

  • The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort – A Disney Vacation Club Resort

  • Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

Disney's Beach Club Villas
Credit: Disney

Other Select Hotels:

  • Walt Disney World Dolphin, Swan, and Swan Reserve

  • Four Seasons Resort Orlando

  • Shades of Green

  • Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista

  • Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace

  • Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista

  • Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek

  • Waldorf Astoria Orlando

  • Wyndham Lake Buena Vista & Wyndham Garden

  • Holiday Inn Orlando

  • DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando

  • Renaissance Orlando

Disney Springs Hotel
Credit: Hilton

These guests get a head start—but for Magic Kingdom, that head start has often come with a catch. Until now.

A Quiet Shift That’s Making Mornings More Magical

According to a report by Kenny the Pirate, something surprising happened on July 25, 2025. Guests entering Magic Kingdom for Early Entry weren’t stopped at the usual rope near Cosmic Ray’s. Instead, they were allowed to simply walk toward Fantasyland and queue up for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train well before the official Early Entry start time.

No rope drop. No holding pen. No unnecessary stress.

It’s a small change on the surface, but a pretty major reversal from the way Disney has handled morning flow since the Early Entry program began in 2021. Guests have grown used to racing past the rope the second Cast Members allow it, leading to bottlenecks, pushing, and a frenzy that doesn’t exactly scream “Most Magical Place on Earth.”

Now, it feels like Disney is finally giving guests the chance to enjoy those quiet early moments without turning it into a crowd-control drill.

Guests riding Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Credit: Disney

Is This the New Normal?

Right now, it’s too early to say if this relaxed entry experience is permanent or just a brief test. But the guest response so far has been overwhelmingly positive. Many are calling it “more magical,” and others say it simply makes sense—not to mention that it’s safer, smoother, and a better way to actually use the time you’re paying for by staying on property.

For years, guests have been begging for Disney to take a step back and reimagine the Early Entry process. It looks like they finally listened.

And after four years of holding guests behind a rope, Disney may have just let the magic flow a little more freely again.

For now, though, we’ll have to wait and see if this is a permanent change. Disney has been known to test certain policies out to see if they work and then adjust accordingly. If they feel like this serves the purpose and still maintains order, we’d imagine it will stay in place, and that would be a major win for all Disney Resort guests.

The post After Four Years, Disney Reverses Controversial Magic Kingdom Policy appeared first on Inside the Magic.

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