Early Entry change.

Are they actually being lax on the early entry or is that just the perception? They are advertising early entry on billboards as one of the resorts perks. I can't imagine them being as lax in who gets in early if the resorts perk is still being actively advertised.

It could be a combination of heavy Platinum Pass sales this year along with high hotel occupancy causing large lines for early entry rides.

Last year in mid Aug on a friday, I didn't have the platinum pass (I do now..for what it's worth), but a friend of mine got a couple of free tickets and we got in before 10 and were able to ride; a few weeks later, my daughter and I went on a saturday and were coralled until 10. So maybe it has something to do with how many people are waiting to get in? If there's not a big crowd maybe they don't bother? Hopfully the above poster will get a reply.

Pete said:
It could be a combination of heavy Platinum Pass sales this year along with high hotel occupancy causing large lines for early entry rides.

In our case, we witnessed non-passholders come in through the main gate right alongside us, and head to GateKeeper, where they were also not checking for passes or resort cards (or whatever they use these days to ID resort guests). This happened on two consecutive days in May.

The BS excuse they have used during Halloweekends in the past has been "there are not enough early entry customers to fill the train so we let everyone in early" I would understand that excuse on weekdays in mid-may but not an october saturday.

That should actually never be used as an excuse. If the train isn't filled, let legitimate early entry customers stay on to reride. That is a total BS excuse any time of the season.

@Pete, there was absolutely no way that gigantic wave of people going to Gatekeeper were Platinum Pass holders. We were able to bypass to get in quickly in the season pass line but they were continuously processing general admission through in the large regular lines.

Our visit was on a weekend, and there were more than enough people to fill every seat, and also enough to make the "ERT" wait on GK around 30 minutes.

You know, I went up for early entry a week ago friday....I don't think they were coralling regular ticket holders. I may be wrong. I'm going up this friday for it...it will be interesting to see.

The billboards showing resort guests waking up in their beds in the park, an early entry perk, make me laugh when I see those guests in long lines at both the Challenge park and Windseeker gates. There has to be a better way to get these people faster entry, to justify the higher on-property rates of rooms, and their perks.

No entering before 9am today at the Magnum entrance. It actually helps to get an extra ride or two in if you are at the front of that line. The heard is held back, and not all running in a pack to Maverick.

I sent an email to CP raising my concerns about the early entry issues we’ve experienced this year. CP replied and said that the Fastlane issue before 10am would be addressed. During our most recent early entry ERT we noticed that the Fastlane queue had garbage cans and chains to block anyone trying to do Fastlane during early entry. That was nice to see. Thank you CP!

CP did not address the other issues that I and others have experienced. I wish they would at least let us coral inside the entrance like they used to do instead of waiting until 9am to let us in. Or better yet, let early entry folks just head to the ride of choice and wait until 9am. Being held outside the gate until 9 eats up 10 or more minutes of precious early entry ERT. Add to this ride closures and ERT has been a bust most of this season with time spent waiting to get in and finding a ride that is operating.

Hopefully they are doing a better job checking for resort and PP holders at the entrances.

Thanks for the update, Smitty. According to a recent trip report, they're still letting in general admission in at least by 9:45. Granted, those with ERT should get their rears in there earlier than that but still. If they make you wait until 9 on the dot, why don't they make them wait until 10?

Smitty Werbenjaegermanjensen said:
I sent an email to CP raising my concerns about the early entry issues we’ve experienced this year. CP replied and said that the Fastlane issue before 10am would be addressed. During our most recent early entry ERT we noticed that the Fastlane queue had garbage cans and chains to block anyone trying to do Fastlane during early entry. That was nice to see. Thank you CP!

CP did not address the other issues that I and others have experienced. I wish they would at least let us coral inside the entrance like they used to do instead of waiting until 9am to let us in. Or better yet, let early entry folks just head to the ride of choice and wait until 9am. Being held outside the gate until 9 eats up 10 or more minutes of precious early entry ERT. Add to this ride closures and ERT has been a bust most of this season with time spent waiting to get in and finding a ride that is operating.

Hopefully they are doing a better job checking for resort and PP holders at the entrances.

I raised this question in mid June after the 'coraling' you described stopped at the Beach entrance. We were there on Memorial Day and people literally almost trampled the employees trying to take the chain down after the anthem finished. The following week, we were held outside the gate until 9, and when I politely asked why (and I already assumed it was because of the 'stampede') they told me because of the repeated trampling that they were no longer doing it.

3snoH un=l I agree with you about entry times. kca32 thanks for sharing your story. Looks like the old running of the bulls is over for now. I'm gonna have to get my ars up there earlier to get a better place in the entrance line.

Wait so do you mean they didn't let you in before the National Anthem or they didn't let you in an hour early at all?!

They used to let us in before the national anthem and they discontinued this. Unless you get there real early, you waste 10+ minutes waiting to get in the park after the anthem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmA7Nm4qvGE