As part of operational changes necessitated by the upcoming Cool Kid Summer offering at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney has changed the rope drop and Early Entry procedure for Toy Story Land. Other operations such as Sunset Boulevard and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge remain unchanged. We made it out to Disney’s Hollywood Studios this morning to take a look at what has changed, and what you can anticipate when visiting this Summer.
Toy Story Land Rope Drop & Early Entry Changes
In terms of the timing, everything remains the same as outlined in our previous article showcasing the last time that rope drop and Early Entry changed at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. That is, you can expect the parking lot to open 1 hour before Early Entry, and you can expect Hollywood Studios to open to all guests around 30 minutes before the official start of Early Entry. From there, there are checkpoints along Sunset Boulevard, Grand Avenue, and at the entrance to Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway where Cast Members check guests’ Early Entry status.
What has changed is the location of the Toy Story Land checkpoint. As explained to us, there are some changes related to the use of Animation Courtyard for Cool Kid Summer that have necessitated the change in Early Entry checkpoint location.
Previously, the checkpoint was found on the walkway between One Man’s Dream and the entry marquee for Toy Story Land. Now, the checkpoint has moved all the way up to the Hollywood Studios archway at the entrance to Animation Courtyard. This area is also where regular guests will queue up to enter Toy Story Land. It’s an interesting change given that the space previously used was really quite good for the massive crowds that line up for Toy Story Land, but it must have been necessary.
In terms of Early Entry, everything else remains the same. Eligible guests can still experience select attractions up to 30 minutes before the park opens to regular guests.
The biggest change here will be for regular guests, who are now queuing up in what appears to be a less ideal position to rope drop Toy Story Land. Either way, rope drop for regular guests has been somewhat neutered since the introduction of Early Entry. That’s not to say that you won’t find shorter lines than the rest of the day, you probably will. It’s just that there will be 30+ minutes of Resort Guests already lining up for the most popular rides, so expect a line.
The changes outlined in this article are expected to continue through the Summer. Of course, everything is subject to change based on operational needs.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!
