Visit Disneyland: Our Experience with Early Entry

I always thought the people who rope-dropped or did the "Magic Hour" or "Magic Mornings," as it was called years before, were crazy.  Whenever we would visit Disneyland, we'd just take our time getting to the park, maybe around 9am or 10am.  Even though our kids would wake up early (until this day they are always up by 6am; 7am at the latest), we'd just have a leisurely breakfast at our hotel, then walk across the street to Disney.  We did have Annual Passports which eased the pressure off of us having to wake up early or rushing for Fast Passes (as it was called back then), but since it seems way more competitive now to get on certain rides, we thought we'd try and experience Early Entry, while also using Lightning Lane Multi Pass.  

Guests staying at Disneyland Resort hotel get Early Entry.  Early Entry is now only 30 minutes, and parks are designated Early Entry depending on the day of the week.

In terms of Early Entry, the Magical Tour Guide YouTube videos helped immensely in guiding us where to go.

Through her videos, I discovered how to get to the security checkpoint to Downtown Disney via the Grand Californian from Pixar Place Hotel, where we stayed.  

The first day of our Early Entry was a Thursday, which meant Disneyland.  We got to the security checkpoint at 620am, and the line was already about 15 people deep!  The security guards will brief everyone about going through the checkpoint and ask to see everyone's hotel keys or online confirmations, as only the Early Entry guests would be allowed through at 645am.

In just a few minutes we were at the main gates for Disneyland.  The gates do not open until 720am, even though Early Entry starts at 730am.  Also, there is no designated gate for Early Entry guests.  All rope-dropping and Early Entry guests are mixed in with each other, unlike at Universal Studios Hollywood, where only SNW Early Entry guests can enter through the admission gates before the general admission guests.

Once through the gates, you have to look for the roped off areas for Early Entry guests, at which you will have to swipe your key card and let a cast member know how many in your party.  

I haven't dug deep enough as to why they do the entry this way (combined with rope-droppers), especially since I've read how some people were not able to get through security and / or the gates until 15 minutes already into Early Entry since they are mixed in with rope-droppers, so it's highly recommended you get through security and line up at the gates really early.

We went to Tomorrowland and Fantasyland and got through four rides (Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Snow White's Enchanted Wish, Pinocchio's Daring Journey).  Early Entry rides may not always be operable during the 30 minutes (Space Mountain was not yet open during Early Entry).

When it was DCA Early Entry day, it was the same process, but some of us got to security earlier (by 6am and ended up being the second in line), and the rest of us joined in by 630am.  We ended up doing two rides - Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission Breakout! and Web Slingers (a new-to-us ride) during Early Entry.  We also tried rope-dropping Radiator Springs after the rides, but the line was already 2 hours long by the time some of our family members got in line. so we just decided to buy Lightning Lane Single Pass (one of two rides at the resort you can buy passes for).

As stated in the Magical Tour Guide videos, there is a separate entrance / security to DCA, but she notes that's not the quickest way to get into DCA for Early Entry, especially if you're trying to get to Guardians or Web Slingers, or Rope Drop for Radiator Spring Racers.  

Even the security guard and another guest in line confirmed this - the quickest way is to go through Downtown Disney and enter through the main gates.

I am glad we experienced Early Entry, but I will say that during our visit, because we had Multi Pass Lightning Lane, the Early Entry wasn't worth it.

We were able to secure Lightning Lane passes for everything we wanted to go on both days we were there (we also had Park Hopper), and the rides we did Early Entry for, with the exception of Guardians, had decent wait times throughout the day (for me, decent means less than 30 minutes).  

There were rides we did multiple times even without Lightning Lane too (Astro Blasters, Star Tours).

And of course there are the Single Rider lines as well that minimize wait times.

If you don't buy Lightning Lane Multi Passes, the Early Entry could definitely be worth it for you,  But for us, we think we'll stick to Lightning Lane and spend some extra time in bed the next time. 

Get up to 8% off on Disneyland tickets via Klook through 11/15/25.  Use code DLTCAL8 at check out! (affiliate link)

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Visit California: Universal Studios Hollywood

We decided to visit Universal Studios Hollywood specifically to visit Super Nintendo World, since it had opened up after we last visited.

I did a lot of research about Super Nintendo World and Universal Studios Hollywood in terms of General Admission, Super Nintendo World Early Entry, Express, Express Unlimited, and VIP Tours in order for us to maximize our time there and minimize our time waiting in lines.

After reading through Facebook Groups and blogs, I ultimately decided upon getting General Admission + Express Passes and Super Nintendo World Early Entry.

Tickets:

The ticket prices for the Express tickets for the day we went were cheapest on Klook compared to the USH Official site, Sam's Club, and AAA.  The price remained steady when I first checked 5 months prior, but tickets prices for other days had increased, so you may want to buy early to avoid any price increase (we bought tickets the weekend before).

I have used Klook on international trips, but it was the first time I used it for a US attraction, and there were no issues receiving our E-tickets and uploading them into the USH app.

Note:  If you have Rakuten, keep an eye out for the Klook cash back offers.  I bought tickets when there was a 10% cash back offer for Klook!  You can also Google search for Klook discount codes, which may be able to be stacked with the cash back offer on Rakuten (be sure to read the terms and conditions).

SNW Early Entry was only available on the USH Official site. 

All ticket variations are subject to dynamic pricing. 

I had both printed tickets and tickets in the app, and either could be used at entry to USH.

Super Nintendo World Early Entry:

Early Entry to Super Nintendo World on the day we went was at 9am, but I read people start lining up early, so that's what we did.  We were first ones at the parking lot, which opened at 7am, and second ones in the security line (I walk slow), which opened at 745am.  

You then go into another holding area for those with Early Entry tickets, which are then scanned at 8am.

Then you proceed to the main entrance, which opens at 830am.  

The Early Entry crowd was pretty substantial at that point.  Some of us rushed to near the front of the crowd, where USH employees were waiting, while others went to the Studio Store near the entrance to buy Power-Up Bands (you can also buy them at kiosks in SNW).

The Power-Up Bands are not required for SNW, but it is required for the Bowser Jr. Shadow Showdown. 

At 8:49am, the USH team escorted Early Entry guests to SNW.  No one was allowed to pass the USH team, but there was quite a mad rush to get as close to the front.  

At exactly 9am, the first guests entered SNW.  We oohed and ahhed and took lots of photos and videos.

It was super cool to be in Super Nintendo World, and hearing all the kids exclaiming how neat the world was only added to the excitement. 

I read a lot of conflicting information on whether to ride the only ride, Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge, first or after the mini games (Key Challenges).  We ultimately did the ride first, and I'm glad we did, since we walked right on.

There were lines for the Key Challenges, with the longest being for Pirahna Plant Nap Mishap, which is the first game we did.  

We did two other Key Challenges (Goomba Crazy Crank and Koopa Troopa POWer Punch) in order to get the 3 required for the Bowser, Jr. Showdown, but before we did the showdown, we stood in line at Toadstool Cafe, since we had a "queue reservation" for 11am.  

After lunch, we did the Bowser, Jr. Showdown, Thwomp Panel Panic, and explored SNW.  We saw Luigi, Mario, Princess Peach, and Toad.  

Later in the afternoon we returned to use our Express pass for Mario Kart, when the standby line was 80 minutes long. 

The Toadstool Cafe

As mentioned, we had a queue reservation for 11am.  We made it prior to entering SNW with this link.   Most people wait until they get to SNW to scan the QR code on signs around SNW, but you can make a reservation prior to entering SNW (we made ours at 841am).  

The reservation only means you can line up in the queue, which was a pretty long line when we got in 20 minutes prior.  

There was, however, lots of tables (an employee will escort you to a table).

Super Star Lemon Squash

Toadstool Cheesy Garlic Knots

I really wanted mushroom soup, but it came with a souvenir bowl so it was $19.99.  I decided to just have the Toadstool Cheesy Garlic Knots ($5.99), which were pretty good.

Fire Flower Spaghetti & Meatballs

Luigi Burger (Pesto Grilled Chicken)

Mario Burger (Bacon, Mushroom, & Cheese)

Mt. Beanpole Cake

Express Passes

The Express Passes were worth it for us.  Most lines were averaging 45 minutes long, so it was great to get on the rides quickly.  The shortest line was for the Studio Tour (just 5 minutes), but everything else was at least 30 minutes long (be sure to download the USH app to view standby wait times).

My favorite ride at USH is Jurassic Park - the Ride. Every other functioning ride was ridden by at least one of us.

The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash opened up since our last visit, so we had to give that a whirl. It was cute!

Other Dining

We also visited the Power-Up Cafe for various Fizz Drinks and the "edible glitter" popcorn. 

We also went to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter for Cold and Frozen Butterbeer.

We accomplished a lot at Universal Studios Hollywood with minimal wait thanks to the SNW Early Entry and the Universal Express Pass.  If you're only really interested in SNW, there is no need to get the Express Pass, especially if you can tolerate waiting in lines (if you're wanting to explore the other worlds and ride other rides).   Including lunch, we spent a total of 3.5 hours in SNW riding (2x), playing the 4 key games, and exploring.  

And if you do only get General Admission, there is an opportunity to add-on Express while at the park, if it turns out to be more crowded than you thought.  

Universal Studios Hollywood
100 Universal City Plaza
Universal City, CA 91608

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