If you’re planning a Disney World trip right now, you’ve probably already learned that these vacations are NOT cheap. So you’ll want to make the MOST of your time in the parks! And Disney has some extra perks that just might be able to help you do that.

Magic Kingdom

For Disney World’s 50th Anniversary, the parks introduced Early Theme Park Entry, which was one of the benefits that replaced Extra Magic Hours (which have been canceled). With this benefit, Disney World hotel guests can enter each theme park a half-hour before official park opening. Now, we have some big news about the future of Early Theme Park Entry in Disney World!

Disney has announced that Early Theme Park Entry will continue beyond Disney World’s 50th Anniversary and through 2023 at least. That means that during your upcoming vacation in 2022 or 2023, you will be able to take advantage of this benefit as long as you’re staying at a Disney World resort or one of the other participating hotels.

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

Guests staying at any of Disney World’s resorts (Value, Moderate, and Deluxe) qualify for this perk. In addition, guests staying at the following hotels also qualify:

• Shades of Green Resort
• Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
• Waldorf Astoria Orlando
• Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista
• B Resort & Spa Lake Buena Vista
• DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando
• Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace
• Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista
• Holiday Inn Orlando
• Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista
• Wyndham Lake Buena Vista
• Four Seasons Resort Orlando
• Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin
• Walt Disney World Swan Reserve
• The Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista

Early Theme Park Entry allows guests to enter any of the 4 Disney World theme parks 30 minutes before park opening time every day. That means resort guests get a head start on getting to popular rides and attractions, which often means much shorter lines than you’ll see later in the day.

Mine Train!

Generally, 30 minutes only really allows time to get in line and ride 1 or maybe 2 big attractions, but that could mean saving an hour or even more time later on when wait times are long! Keep in mind that not all attractions are open during Early Theme Park Entry. You can see the list of available attractions on our page.

Click here to find out which attractions are open during Early Theme Park Entry.

We definitely recommend taking advantage of this perk if it applies to you. Our advice is to be at the parks 30 minutes before you can get in, which will mean 1 hour before official park opening time if you’re using Early Theme Park Entry. That should give you plenty of time to get through the admissions line and be on your way to the attractions!

Get here early!

Remember that you’ll need a valid park ticket, a park pass reservation, and proof of your resort reservation (your Disney hotel reservation is on your MagicBand, which a Cast Member will scan before you can enter the park) in order to use this perk.

Scanning In!

While you’re booking your 2023 vacation (which you can start planning for on June 8th, 2022!), keep Early Theme Park Entry in mind! And keep following DFB for all the latest news and planning tips to help you have the best trip possible.

Click here to learn more about Early Theme Park Entry in Disney World

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Have you used Early Theme Park Entry in Disney World? Let us know in the comments.

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