Well, that would suck. Because we'd not be within the official "window." Also, I'm wondering what is meant by the event time being 7:00 to 8:00. Is that just our window for arriving?

Ok the event time is the time you have I the park so hence 7am-8am is my window so we are supposed to be there 15-30 minutes ahead of time to boot a certain ticket booth to sign in and get our wristbands BEFORE entering the park. It should be in fine print in your email confirmation as well as when you actually registered and had an order number.
On the fast pass lets hope they don't enforce the return time BUT because of all the hype and probability of DCA being insanely crowded they just may enforce the return times. Only time will tell

So is there any real benefit to these deal other than the chance to experience the park on less sleep?

Not really in my opinion...I'm hoping that by August plus the time you have o be there (for us at least an hour drive as well) we are looking at being up at a very ungodly hour lol. I think that the only thing I've EVER gotten up at predawn hours for was snow skiing in Mammoth but that's when I was MUCH younger.

Was that supposed to read, "the event time is the time you have IN the park"???


i.e., the 7 to 8 window means you can enter DCA at 7, but must be the heck out of there by 8? Huh? That makes no sense. That's not early entry.


I guess I'll try and confirm what gives. I would have to be out of there by 8 anyway - to get to work - but if it doesn't flow to the normal operating day, they won't be distributing fast passes - which is my personal only reason for going that morning. Must.Get.Details.Ironed.Out.

It sounds like it works like early entry for people who stay onsite in Disney hotel rooms. You can enter the park an hour earlier than the general public and get on some rides, or get in line an hour before everyone else who isn't staying on site or registered for the AP day (aka the general public).

That's all, you don't hang out for an hour then get booted out of the park, you just get in an hour before the general public can. It's been a perk of getting hotel rooms at DLR or WDW for years.

To me it seems the chief benefit to early entry is knowing I should't worry about getting to the park at rope drop since there will already be lines. That translated into more sleep and a happier park visit later in the day.

BTD is right. It's like the Magic Mornings that they already do for onsite guests. They've just opened up certain days for AP's. I'm guessing to try and let everyone have a chance to get in when it's a bit less crowded. You can only do one reservation for each park per AP.

I think it's more to spread out the APs a bit more so they don't crowd out the regular guests.

And I think I just figured that my crazy plan for early entry days is just that. I'd have to leave L.A. at 5:30 a.m. to get to the wrist-band place by 6:45. And I could only stay an hour before having to leave for work.

If I took the day off, I wouldn't need to get there by 7:00 - so the whole early entry thing is a bust for me. But I'm not so bummed I messed it up - there's not a single day I want to leave for Disneyland at 5:30 a.m.