- Mar 13, 2024
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If you want to take advantage of Disney World’s Early Theme Park Entry, you need to know this before booking your trip!
Disney’s Riviera Resort
Every day, Disney World resort guests have the advantage of starting their day 30 minutes before other guests. Early Theme Park Entry is available in every park and can give you a head start on your day before those lines start to get really long. If you do it right, you could already be done with a ride or two before others even enter a queue. However, where you stay for this perk might change the game.
Disney World is expansive, and with that in mind, we can’t just give you a set list of hotels that are good and bad for Early Entry in general. Each hotel is closer to a specific park and further from another. Therefore, we’re letting you know two hotels you should skip and two hotels you should opt for instead for each of the four theme parks. So let’s get to it.
Magic Kingdom Early Entry
If you’re planning on starting your morning off at Magic Kingdom, there are some logistics that you’ll have to navigate to Early Entry here that you don’t have to at other parks. If you’re heading here via car or ride share, you’ll head to the Transportation and Ticket Center first. If you are arriving by Disney bus, boat, or monorail, you can head straight to Magic Kingdom.
Early entry sign!
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and the All Star Resorts are the furthest hotels away from Magic Kingdom. At about 8 miles away, your bus ride to Magic Kingdom could take about 20 minutes. With so many attractions to tackle at Magic Kingdom, you might want to stay somewhere that can give you a better advantage.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
The monorail resorts, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney’s Grand Floridian & Spa Resort, are each connected directly to Magic Kingdom by the monorail system. They also offer a walking path directly to the park, which can be a very reliable way to get there if you don’t mind the extra steps. At Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney’s Grand Floridian & Spa Resort, there are boats that can take you directly to the Magic Kingdom from these resorts.
https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Magical Guides-_-Atmosphere-_-Wilderness-Lodge-_-Disney-World-Deluxe-Resort-Photo-Apr-13-2026-10-04-21-AM-4032-x-3024-700x525.jpg
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
EPCOT is located along the Skyliner AND monorail routes, creating some complexities as to which hotels you should stay at versus those you should avoid if you want to take Early Entry at EPCOT is something you take very seriously. There are also some big headlining attractions at this park, and depending on where you enter from, yes, EPCOT has two entrances- you could either really help your chances of getting a head start, or really hurt them.
Early Entry at EPCOT
While Wilderness Lodge is a Magic Kingdom resort, it is NOT connected to the Monorail. Instead, you’ll take a Disney bus if you’re using Disney transportation to head to EPCOT. Disney’s All Star Resorts are positioned furthest away from EPCOT.
Disney’s Coronado Springs
Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts, as well as Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Resort, are PRIME EPCOT locations. The International Gateway Entrance at EPCOT is located just a short stroll away from these hotels, and you won’t need much transportation (or any at all) to rope drop; these give you great access to rope dropping Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. The same logic goes for staying at Disney’s Riviera Resort. The Riviera is on the Skyliner, and it will not make you transfer to a different route if you are heading to EPCOT. It has direct access to the park and will bring you right outside of the International Gateway, and you’ll be ready to start your morning off smoothly.
Disney’s Riviera Resort
Finally, Disney’s Hollywood Studios sits along the Skyliner route and is an incredibly popular park to start at thanks to its thrilling attractions. We find that you can knock out a few attractions here early in the morning with minimal wait times.
Early Entry at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Again, Animal Kingdom Lodge is pretty far from this park. If you are staying at that resort, you’ll have to take a Disney bus here. Now, this one might be controversial, but I would argue that staying at Disney’s Pop Century or Art of Animation Resort is a mistake. You might think because it’s on the Skyliner, it’s a great place to stay for Hollywood Studios; however, the lines to board in the morning can get LONG. You also have to get off at the Caribbean Beach station and switch to the Hollywood Studios route, taking up even more time!
Skyliner Station at Disney’s Pop Century and Art of Animation Resorts
Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts, as well as Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Resort, are within walking distance to Hollywood Studios. There is also a boat that will run between these resorts and Hollywood Studios. Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is on the Skyliner, and it will not make you transfer to a different route if you are heading to Hollywood Studios. It has direct access to the park.
https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Magical Guides-_-Atmosphere-_-Caribbean-Beach-_-Disney-World-Moderate-Resort-walkway-700x525.jpg
Caribbean Beach
Disney’s Animal Kingdom isn’t along the monorail or Skyliner routes, making it one of the trickiest Disney Parks to rope drop using Disney World transportation, but it does give the most equal chance for all Disney resort guests. The park typically opens the earliest, and many guests love to start their days here to get things done before other parks even open.
Early Entry crowd at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Disney’s Old Key West Resort is sandwiched between EPCOT and Disney Springs; while it’s not as far away as the Magic Kingdom resorts, it’s also not along any convenient transportation route. The monorail resorts are also some of the furthest hotels from Animal Kingdom in all of Disney World, making them ones to avoid if you’re planning on starting your days at Animal Kingdom.
Disney’s Old Key West
We’ve talked about Animal Kingdom Lodge as a place not to stay, but if your priority is Animal Kingdom or just animals in general, THIS IS THE PLACE FOR YOU. Animal Kingdom Lodge is literally the closest you can get to Animal Kingdom via a very short bus ride. Disney’s All-Star Sports, Music, and Movies Resorts aren’t ideal for rope-dropping ANY of the Disney Parks; they are a bit closer to Animal Kingdom than most other resorts. The All-Star Resorts lack many of the amenities of other Disney hotels, BUT if you’re the type of person who wakes up early, gets up late, and spends the WHOLE day at the park, they may be the ideal resort for you
All-Star Sports
Disney World has a lot of hotel options, and each one has its pros and cons based on location. When in doubt, check the Disney World map for proximity and transportation options. For more Disney news and tips, follow us at Magical Guides!
Which Disney World park is your favorite to start your day in? Tell us in the comments below!
Disney’s Riviera Resort
Every day, Disney World resort guests have the advantage of starting their day 30 minutes before other guests. Early Theme Park Entry is available in every park and can give you a head start on your day before those lines start to get really long. If you do it right, you could already be done with a ride or two before others even enter a queue. However, where you stay for this perk might change the game.
Disney World is expansive, and with that in mind, we can’t just give you a set list of hotels that are good and bad for Early Entry in general. Each hotel is closer to a specific park and further from another. Therefore, we’re letting you know two hotels you should skip and two hotels you should opt for instead for each of the four theme parks. So let’s get to it.
Magic Kingdom Early Entry
If You’re Doing Early Entry at Magic Kingdom…
If you’re planning on starting your morning off at Magic Kingdom, there are some logistics that you’ll have to navigate to Early Entry here that you don’t have to at other parks. If you’re heading here via car or ride share, you’ll head to the Transportation and Ticket Center first. If you are arriving by Disney bus, boat, or monorail, you can head straight to Magic Kingdom.
Early entry sign!
AVOID Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and Disney’s All Star Resorts
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and the All Star Resorts are the furthest hotels away from Magic Kingdom. At about 8 miles away, your bus ride to Magic Kingdom could take about 20 minutes. With so many attractions to tackle at Magic Kingdom, you might want to stay somewhere that can give you a better advantage.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Stay at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort or a Monorail Resort
The monorail resorts, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney’s Grand Floridian & Spa Resort, are each connected directly to Magic Kingdom by the monorail system. They also offer a walking path directly to the park, which can be a very reliable way to get there if you don’t mind the extra steps. At Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney’s Grand Floridian & Spa Resort, there are boats that can take you directly to the Magic Kingdom from these resorts.
https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Magical Guides-_-Atmosphere-_-Wilderness-Lodge-_-Disney-World-Deluxe-Resort-Photo-Apr-13-2026-10-04-21-AM-4032-x-3024-700x525.jpg
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
If You are Doing Early Entry at EPCOT…
EPCOT is located along the Skyliner AND monorail routes, creating some complexities as to which hotels you should stay at versus those you should avoid if you want to take Early Entry at EPCOT is something you take very seriously. There are also some big headlining attractions at this park, and depending on where you enter from, yes, EPCOT has two entrances- you could either really help your chances of getting a head start, or really hurt them.
Early Entry at EPCOT
AVOID Wilderness Lodge and Disney’s All Star Resorts
While Wilderness Lodge is a Magic Kingdom resort, it is NOT connected to the Monorail. Instead, you’ll take a Disney bus if you’re using Disney transportation to head to EPCOT. Disney’s All Star Resorts are positioned furthest away from EPCOT.
Disney’s Coronado Springs
Stay at a Boardwalk Area Resort or Disney’s Riviera Resort
Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts, as well as Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Resort, are PRIME EPCOT locations. The International Gateway Entrance at EPCOT is located just a short stroll away from these hotels, and you won’t need much transportation (or any at all) to rope drop; these give you great access to rope dropping Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. The same logic goes for staying at Disney’s Riviera Resort. The Riviera is on the Skyliner, and it will not make you transfer to a different route if you are heading to EPCOT. It has direct access to the park and will bring you right outside of the International Gateway, and you’ll be ready to start your morning off smoothly.
Disney’s Riviera Resort
If You’re Rope Dropping at Disney’s Hollywood Studios…
Finally, Disney’s Hollywood Studios sits along the Skyliner route and is an incredibly popular park to start at thanks to its thrilling attractions. We find that you can knock out a few attractions here early in the morning with minimal wait times.
Early Entry at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
AVOID Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and Disney’s Pop Century and Art of Animation
Again, Animal Kingdom Lodge is pretty far from this park. If you are staying at that resort, you’ll have to take a Disney bus here. Now, this one might be controversial, but I would argue that staying at Disney’s Pop Century or Art of Animation Resort is a mistake. You might think because it’s on the Skyliner, it’s a great place to stay for Hollywood Studios; however, the lines to board in the morning can get LONG. You also have to get off at the Caribbean Beach station and switch to the Hollywood Studios route, taking up even more time!
Skyliner Station at Disney’s Pop Century and Art of Animation Resorts
Stay at a Boardwalk Area Resort or Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts, as well as Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Resort, are within walking distance to Hollywood Studios. There is also a boat that will run between these resorts and Hollywood Studios. Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is on the Skyliner, and it will not make you transfer to a different route if you are heading to Hollywood Studios. It has direct access to the park.
https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Magical Guides-_-Atmosphere-_-Caribbean-Beach-_-Disney-World-Moderate-Resort-walkway-700x525.jpg
Caribbean Beach
If You’re Rope Dropping at Disney’s Animal Kingdom…
Disney’s Animal Kingdom isn’t along the monorail or Skyliner routes, making it one of the trickiest Disney Parks to rope drop using Disney World transportation, but it does give the most equal chance for all Disney resort guests. The park typically opens the earliest, and many guests love to start their days here to get things done before other parks even open.
Early Entry crowd at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
AVOID Old Key West and Monorail Resorts
Disney’s Old Key West Resort is sandwiched between EPCOT and Disney Springs; while it’s not as far away as the Magic Kingdom resorts, it’s also not along any convenient transportation route. The monorail resorts are also some of the furthest hotels from Animal Kingdom in all of Disney World, making them ones to avoid if you’re planning on starting your days at Animal Kingdom.
Disney’s Old Key West
Stay at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge or All-Star Resorts
We’ve talked about Animal Kingdom Lodge as a place not to stay, but if your priority is Animal Kingdom or just animals in general, THIS IS THE PLACE FOR YOU. Animal Kingdom Lodge is literally the closest you can get to Animal Kingdom via a very short bus ride. Disney’s All-Star Sports, Music, and Movies Resorts aren’t ideal for rope-dropping ANY of the Disney Parks; they are a bit closer to Animal Kingdom than most other resorts. The All-Star Resorts lack many of the amenities of other Disney hotels, BUT if you’re the type of person who wakes up early, gets up late, and spends the WHOLE day at the park, they may be the ideal resort for you
All-Star Sports
Disney World has a lot of hotel options, and each one has its pros and cons based on location. When in doubt, check the Disney World map for proximity and transportation options. For more Disney news and tips, follow us at Magical Guides!
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Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
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Which Disney World park is your favorite to start your day in? Tell us in the comments below!
