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. At the very least, for now. This runs by a latest morning within the park to cowl the crowds you’re prone to encounter between now and 2026 in Future World when arriving by 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 (up to now), behind solely June 2 and tied with July 22. Wait instances for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Remy’s Ratatouille Journey, Frozen Ever After and Check Observe have been all between 60 and 120 minutes for a lot of the day.
The park opened at 9 am to most of the 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 forth. haven’t seen extensions. Even when Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios transfer ahead their opening instances, EPCOT not often modifications.
Though it’s been a sleepy summer season as a result of Food regimen EPCOT and decrease total 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 really unhealthy, nevertheless it’s busier than the majority of Could by July.
Then there’s the distinctive change at EPCOT, which is the reopening of Check Observe. The park as soon as once more has 4 bona fide headliners, with two which might be aimed toward households and two thrill rides. There’s additionally Soarin’ Across the World, which is someplace within the center and in addition not fairly a headliner.
Count on above-average wait instances to be the ‘new regular’ at EPCOT going ahead for the foreseeable future. A part of that is Check Observe, however the different half is that Food regimen EPCOT will quickly be over; Meals & Wine, Competition of the Holidays, Competition of the Arts, and Flower & Backyard all lead to a chronic interval of just about uninterrupted, elevated crowds.
For now, Check Observe is the driving power behind larger common wait instances at EPCOT within the final week. Park attendance has in all probability ticked up barely because of the ‘new experience scent’ on the third iteration of the fun experience, however our suspicion is that wait instances have elevated to a disproportionate diploma.
Which means that company are including Check Observe to their plans with out subtracting every 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 may improve by advantage of the upper wait time common. And that might occur as a result of individuals are spending much less time wandering World Showcase (or no matter) and extra time in traces. In concept, walkway congestion might be down barely as crowd ranges (as measured by wait instances) 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 Check Observe has elevated total common wait instances 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 Check Observe personal the pole place in EPCOT? When will the brand new experience scent put on off Check Observe 3.0?
Truthfully, 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 completely completely different attraction, however even when it weren’t, it had a digital queue early in its run.
As a common matter, our view is that it normally takes about 12-18 months for a brand new providing to totally work by elevated curiosity amongst Walt Disney World followers–the type who will exit of their solution to expertise one thing new-to-them. This isn’t actually a tough and quick rule, and to be fairly sincere, I’ve no information to help it. I’m going purely off vibes and my reminiscence of how lengthy it normally takes for hype to die down. In the case of longevity, it in all probability helps that Check Observe 3.0 is reviewing fairly positively.
In its first week after reopening, Check Observe has been the #1 wait time and #1 Lightning Lane in EPCOT.
It can proceed to personal that high spot amongst Lightning Lanes for some time–my guess could be by 2027–for the explanations mentioned in our EPCOT Lightning Lane Multi-Move Journey Rankings.
Wait instances are a completely completely different story. Check Observe is presently nearly 20 minutes forward of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, with a 92 minute common versus 74 minutes within the final week. This positively 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 all Annual Passholders, then DVC Members, then followers who take annual (or so) journeys.
I’m unsure when Cosmic Rewind will reclaim the highest spot from Check Observe, however I’m assured that it’s going to 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 improve from October by December when many followers plan annual pilgrimages to Walt Disney World. It’s presumably an analogous story through the 2026 EPCOT Competition of the Arts.
In any case, what we’re seeing in week 1 post-Check Observe reopening received’t be the identical as what we see in week 4. And that’s why I’m going to hurry by this EPCOT Early Entry report, because it presents 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, not less than from the Poly.
Truthfully, I wasn’t planning on doing any EPCOT Early Entry testing throughout Check Observe’s first week again. Partially as a result of I don’t see large planning worth within the train, and partially as a result of I used to be already doing different morning technique assessments and staying late at Magic Kingdom each evening for each performances of Starlight Evening Parade. This was alleged to be my morning to sleep in.
I’m unhealthy at sleeping in. Reasonably than mendacity in mattress like a doofus staring on the ceiling and listening to the Hey Disney soundscape, I bought 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 getting into EPCOT, there’s a row of Forged Members scanning MagicBands, resort room keys, or no matter acceptable identification you may need if staying at one of many taking part third occasion lodges. These are situated to the fitting of Spaceship Earth. In the event you’re arriving for normal rope drop, you’ll go to the left of Spaceship Earth the place the gang 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 certain 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 the queues at each Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Check Observe:
Check 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 might 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 must be transferring sooner. However in case you’re this far again, you’re going to nonetheless be in line as soon as the primary Lightning Lane arrivals begin trickling in.
In contrast, 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 traces regarded, however these numbers are about what I’d anticipate. Frozen Ever After might be again to walk-on standing throughout Early Entry (regardless of the 15 minute posted time) because it typically was. It’s now the very clear 4th precedence.
We anticipated this to some extent, which is why our latest Finest 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 counsel that possibly 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 Check Observe is the higher #3 decide. Once more, assuming you make it over there earlier than the rope drop rush. For now, I’d decide Cosmic Rewind. That line is staying shorter all through Early Entry, and having a ~30 minute wait at 9 am isn’t unhealthy in any respect.
That’s doubly true in case 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 perhaps excellent. In contrast, I’d be weary of getting caught within the longest line of the day (or near it) at Check Observe.
As earlier than, the very best strategy to Early Entry at EPCOT comes down as to whether you’re arriving through the principle entrance or Worldwide Gateway. If you wish to take the trail of least resistance, begin with the main headliner nearer to your entrance. This can all the time be the fitting name, whether or not meaning starting at Remy’s Ratatouille Journey or Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.
Until you’re on the entrance of the pack, we’d save Check Observe for later within the day. For now, the optimum strategy to that’s choosing Lightning Lane Multi-Move or utilizing the Single Rider line, each of that are extra standard than regular (in all probability by someday in 2026). That is doubly true within the short-term throughout storm season, as weather-induced downtime could make timing the standby line difficult and inconsistent.
Reasonably 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 better strategy to Cosmic Rewind. Although Check Observe is environment friendly and now lacks a pre-show, demand is heightened and it’s liable to the dreaded delayed openings, so the competitors is fierce–and it might be for nothing. If the climate forecast is favorable and also you’re unable to attain a Lightning Lane for Check Observe, there are nonetheless mid-morning and late afternoon lulls.
Alternatively, beginning at Cosmic Rewind presents a problem as a result of the full time dedication is larger because of the a number of pre-shows and lengthier queue. That is the large cause why getting into through Worldwide Gateway and knocking out Remy’s Ratatouille Journey and Frozen Ever After stays the very 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 better, decrease stakes solution to go!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Find out about lodges on our Walt Disney World Inns Evaluations web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Evaluations. To economize on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys submit takes a novel take a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Journey Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the very best place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for all the things it’s good to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Ideas on Early Entry at EPCOT? Is Check Observe your high decide now that it’s the #1 longest line in EPCOT? What’s your most well-liked strategy to mornings at EPCOT? What shall be your high precedence now that there are 4 bona fide headliners open throughout Early Entry at EPCOT for the primary time ever?! Every other 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 attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
