There’s a brand new attraction with the very best wait time at EPCOT, making it the #1 precedence for each Early Entry and common rope drop. A minimum of, for now. This runs by means of a latest morning within the park to cowl the crowds you’re more likely to encounter between now and 2026 in Future World when arriving by means of the principle entrance.
This discipline take a look at was completed on an above-average day at EPCOT, when the park had a 7/10 crowd degree. This made it the second busiest day of your entire summer season season (thus far), behind solely June 2 and tied with July 22. Wait occasions for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Remy’s Ratatouille Journey, Frozen Ever After and Take a look at Observe have been all between 60 and 120 minutes for many of the day.
The park opened at 9 am to most people and Early Entry started at 8:30 am. That’s par for the course, even on peak season dates like this–Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and so on. haven’t seen extensions. Even when Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios transfer ahead their opening occasions, EPCOT not often modifications.
Though it’s been a sleepy summer season resulting from Weight loss plan EPCOT and decrease general crowd ranges, the tides are beginning to flip. For one factor, Walt Disney World as a complete has been seeing ‘Final Hurrah’ crowds over the course of the final week-plus. That alone has resulted in an across-the-board uptick as households scramble to take journeys earlier than college goes again into session. It’s nonetheless not actually dangerous, but it surely’s busier than the majority of Might by means of July.
Then there’s the distinctive change at EPCOT, which is the reopening of Take a look at Observe. The park as soon as once more has 4 bona fide headliners, with two which can be aimed toward households and two thrill rides. There’s additionally Soarin’ Across the World, which is someplace within the center and likewise not fairly a headliner.
Count on above-average wait occasions to be the ‘new regular’ at EPCOT going ahead for the foreseeable future. A part of that is Take a look at Observe, however the different half is that Weight loss plan EPCOT will quickly be over; Meals & Wine, Pageant of the Holidays, Pageant of the Arts, and Flower & Backyard all end in a chronic interval of just about uninterrupted, elevated crowds.
For now, Take a look at Observe is the driving pressure behind greater common wait occasions at EPCOT within the final week. Park attendance has in all probability ticked up barely as a result of ‘new experience scent’ on the third iteration of the joys experience, however our suspicion is that wait occasions have elevated to a disproportionate diploma.
Which means that visitors are including Take a look at Observe to their plans with out subtracting some other rides, or on the expense of a lower-tier attraction that has extra extra bandwidth. Even when attendance have been unchanged, the numerical crowd degree might enhance by advantage of the upper wait time common. And that would occur as a result of individuals are spending much less time wandering World Showcase (or no matter) and extra time in strains. In idea, walkway congestion could possibly be down barely as crowd ranges (as measured by wait occasions) are up.
That’s a bit within the weeds, although, and the “why” of the dynamic doesn’t a lot matter. What does is that Take a look at Observe has elevated general common wait occasions at EPCOT, and above what we’re in any other case seeing throughout the board in late summer season at Walt Disney World. The larger and higher questions is: how lengthy will this final?
How lengthy will Take a look at Observe personal the pole place in EPCOT? When will the brand new experience scent put on off Take a look at Observe 3.0?
Actually, I can’t give a definitive reply to that. There’s little latest precedent to go off that squares neatly with this, because the Haunted Mansion’s addition of Hatbox Ghost was extra minor, as have been the added monkey shenanigan scenes in Jungle Cruise. Tiana’s Bayou Journey is a very completely different attraction, however even when it weren’t, it had a digital queue early in its run.
As a normal matter, our view is that it often takes about 12-18 months for a brand new providing to completely work by means of elevated curiosity amongst Walt Disney World followers–the sort who will exit of their method to expertise one thing new-to-them. This isn’t actually a tough and quick rule, and to be fairly trustworthy, I’ve no knowledge to assist it. I’m going purely off vibes and my reminiscence of how lengthy it often takes for hype to die down. In terms of longevity, it in all probability helps that Take a look at Observe 3.0 is reviewing fairly positively.
In its first week after reopening, Take a look at Observe has been the #1 wait time and #1 Lightning Lane in EPCOT.
It would proceed to personal that high spot amongst Lightning Lanes for some time–my guess can be by means of 2027–for the explanations mentioned in our EPCOT Lightning Lane Multi-Cross Journey Rankings.
Wait occasions are a very completely different story. Take a look at Observe is at present nearly 20 minutes forward of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, with a 92 minute common versus 74 minutes within the final week. This totally won’t final. That 12-18 month estimate is for the hype cycle as a complete, however there are layers to it. New issues first lose their luster with locals, then Annual Passholders, then DVC Members, then followers who take annual (or so) journeys.
I’m undecided when Cosmic Rewind will reclaim the highest spot from Take a look at Observe, however I’m assured that it’ll occur in fewer than 18 months. My guess is that we’ll see the hole slender in August and September (and presumably even flip), however then enhance from October by means of December when many followers plan annual pilgrimages to Walt Disney World. It’s presumably the same story throughout the 2026 EPCOT Pageant of the Arts.
In any case, what we’re seeing in week 1 post-Take a look at Observe reopening gained’t be the identical as what we see in week 4. And that’s why I’m going to hurry by means of this EPCOT Early Entry report, because it affords some precedential worth within the near-term, however not as a lot as if I have been to repeat this in early September as soon as Meals & Wine begins.
As famous above, this Early Entry report begins from the principle entrance, as I used to be staying at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. I walked over to the TTC and took the monorail to EPCOT, which was principally an environment friendly technique of arriving to the entrance entrance. Strolling beats taking the resort line after which transferring, no less than from the Poly.
Actually, I wasn’t planning on doing any EPCOT Early Entry testing throughout Take a look at Observe’s first week again. Partly as a result of I don’t see large planning worth within the train, and partly as a result of I used to be already doing different morning technique checks and staying late at Magic Kingdom each evening for each performances of Starlight Evening Parade. This was speculated to be my morning to sleep in.
I’m dangerous at sleeping in. Somewhat than mendacity in mattress like a doofus staring on the ceiling and listening to the Hey Disney soundscape, I obtained out the door and arrived at EPCOT proper as Early Entry began. Not sufficient time to be on the entrance of the pack, however sufficient to get a good suggestion of how issues have been unfolding.
Upon coming into EPCOT, there’s a row of Solid Members scanning MagicBands, resort room keys, or no matter acceptable identification you may need if staying at one of many collaborating third celebration lodges. These are situated to the best of Spaceship Earth. For those who’re arriving for normal rope drop, you’ll go to the left of Spaceship Earth the place the group is held till 9 am.
Usually, there’s a holding space for Early Entry within the breezeway between Connections Cafe and Creations Store. I’m positive that was additionally the case on this specific morning, however once I handed on the monorail, this was not the case as of round 8:20 am. The queues have been already pre-loaded then, and these areas have been largely empty by the point I entered round 8:25 am.
There’s clearly-marked signage for all of this–right here’s a reasonably step-by-step look from arrival by means of the queues at each Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Take a look at Observe:
Take a look at Observe had far and away the longest line, with the wait time instantly leaping to 60 minutes as soon as lastly posted (round 8:40 am) after which 80 minutes shortly thereafter. I’d hazard a guess that this estimate was pretty correct.
Word that though the road would look shorter later, the wild card is all the time the Lightning Lane. Nobody goes to be utilizing that for the primary half-hour, so standby needs to be transferring sooner. However in the event you’re this far again, you’re going to nonetheless be in line as soon as the primary Lightning Lane arrivals begin trickling in.
Against this, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Remy’s Ratatouille Journey each posted 30 minute waits throughout Early Entry. Frozen Ever After was quarter-hour. I didn’t enterprise again to World Showcase to see how lengthy these strains seemed, however these numbers are about what I’d anticipate. Frozen Ever After could possibly be again to walk-on standing throughout Early Entry (regardless of the 15 minute posted time) because it usually was. It’s now the very clear 4th precedence.
We anticipated this to some extent, which is why our latest Greatest Early Entry at EPCOT Plan: Beating the Rope Drop Rush in World Showcase focuses on Remy’s Ratatouille Journey and Frozen Ever After. That goes on to recommend that perhaps you’ll have time to leap in line to a 3rd line earlier than the rope drop rush arrives, as long as you’re on the entrance of the pack for the Rat Journey, all the things strikes easily, and also you stroll briskly.
That’s nonetheless in all probability correct, however the query is whether or not Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind or Take a look at Observe is the higher #3 choose. Once more, assuming you make it over there earlier than the rope drop rush. For now, I’d choose Cosmic Rewind. That line is staying shorter all through Early Entry, and having a ~30 minute wait at 9 am isn’t dangerous in any respect.
That’s doubly true in the event you’ve already raced round EPCOT to knock out the Rat Journey and Frozen Ever After. The air conditioned indoor queue and lengthier pre-shows is likely to be excellent. Against this, I’d be weary of getting caught within the longest line of the day (or near it) at Take a look at Observe.
As earlier than, one of the best strategy to Early Entry at EPCOT comes down as to whether you’re arriving by way of the principle entrance or Worldwide Gateway. If you wish to take the trail of least resistance, begin with the key headliner nearer to your entrance. This can all the time be the best name, whether or not which means starting at Remy’s Ratatouille Journey or Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.
Except you’re on the entrance of the pack, we’d save Take a look at Observe for later within the day. For now, the optimum strategy to that’s choosing Lightning Lane Multi-Cross or utilizing the Single Rider line, each of that are extra standard than regular (in all probability by means of someday in 2026). That is doubly true within the short-term throughout storm season, as weather-induced downtime could make timing the standby line tough and inconsistent.
Somewhat than making a concerted effort to be on the entrance of the Early Entry pack by arriving at ~7:45 am, we’d in all probability stroll up a bit later and go for the simpler strategy to Cosmic Rewind. Despite the fact that Take a look at Observe is environment friendly and now lacks a pre-show, demand is heightened and it’s susceptible to the dreaded delayed openings, so the competitors is fierce–and it could possibly be for nothing. If the climate forecast is favorable and also you’re unable to attain a Lightning Lane for Take a look at Observe, there are nonetheless mid-morning and late afternoon lulls.
Then again, beginning at Cosmic Rewind presents a problem as a result of the overall time dedication is greater as a result of a number of pre-shows and lengthier queue. That is the large motive why coming into by way of Worldwide Gateway and knocking out Remy’s Ratatouille Journey and Frozen Ever After stays one of the best strategy from our perspective. Alternatively, rolling up at ~8:45 am after the preliminary Early Entry wave at Cosmic Rewind (however earlier than common rope drop) is the simpler, decrease stakes method to go!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Ideas on Early Entry at EPCOT? Is Take a look at Observe your high choose now that it’s the #1 longest line in EPCOT? What’s your most popular strategy to mornings at EPCOT? What can be your high precedence now that there are 4 bona fide headliners open throughout Early Entry at EPCOT for the primary time ever?! Another suggestions on arriving early to the Walt Disney World theme parks? Agree or disagree with our recommendation or strategy? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!