EPCOT Early Entry – What to Expect When You Arrive

Knowing how to navigate Early Theme Park Entry is key to making the most of the benefit at every Disney World Park. As of August 2025, EPCOT has gone the way of the other Disney World Parks and is now allowing folks with the Early Entry perk to line up at their chosen attraction. Let’s look at some timestamps and a step-by-step example for using Early Entry with Guardians of the Galaxy and Test Track.

We’ve rope-dropped the east side of World Discovery (Future World for my fellow oldsters) many times and can attest that every minute matters. If you don’t get a buzz from being “at the rope” then this may not be for you. However, if you, too, are a devotee of R.Bobby, and you understand that if you’re not first, you’re last, then you’ve landed in the right spot.

Bus Beats Car 

The Disney Resort buses are going to drop guests before parking even opens at EPCOT. We have been first in line at the tolls many times, snagged the first preferred parking spot (thanks, Len!), and STILL have to get in line at security behind folks fresh off a Disney bus. It’s ok. Keep your hustle, and you can still end up with a 10-minute actual wait for Guardians.

All guests – Early Entry or regular day guests – are allowed to tap in to the park. Guests without Early Entry are directed to the left of Spaceship Earth to wait for regular park opening hours. Early Entry guests are directed to the far right of Spaceship Earth, where one person per party will be asked to scan their park ticket or resort key to verify the EE perk. This process has not changed in a while.

Once you’re tapped in and have been released for Early Entry, hustle around Spaceship Earth to your chosen attraction. We tested out Guardians of the Galaxy and Test Track paths on August 15. Please observe our cartography skills below to see the exact path you will follow if you enter EPCOT through the main entrance for Early Entry.

In the past, EE guests headed to Guardians and Test Track were held in the breezeway between Creations and Connections. When it was time to load into attractions, Cast Members marched the throngs to the rides with their lollipop signs to prevent a stampede. If you haven’t visited in a while, this part of the process has changed. The current process allows you to head straight to your attraction and line up outside until EE starts.

What Happens When

Please keep in mind that times listed are actuals from our own rope drop testing over the last few days. Times may change a bit depending on crowds or special events.

There are times when EPCOT will open earlier, and the process will still be the same, just moved up. Security and Parking nearly always open 60 minutes prior to the start of Early Entry. Guests are nearly always released from the holding area to the right of Spaceship Earth 30-35 minutes prior to the start of EE. For example, if Early Entry is at 8:00 am, then parking will open at 7:00 am, and resort guests will be released to head to their attractions at 7:25-7:30 am.

If you’re looking for an Early Entry planning tool, check out the TouringPlans Lines App or the Crowd Calendar on our website, where we have a 12-month rolling crowd forecast. You’ll be able to see EE times and crowd levels by park. We even have wait time forecasts by attraction at 5 different intervals for each day!

Are you an Early Entry devotee? Do you have any tips for first time guests? Please leave them in the comments so we can test them out and share!