2024 Early Entry Guide to Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World

Not sure what to do first for Early Entry? We compared two different options on the same day to see which was the best for a ROARING start to your Animal Kingdom day!
About Early Entry: If you're staying at a qualifying resort hotel, you can actually enter the parks at Walt Disney World 30 minutes before they officially open to the public. This can be a huge advantage when it comes to riding the most popular rides in each park, but you'll need to be at the park even earlier if you want to have the shortest wait on rides like Flight of Passage and Na'vi River Journey.
We're updating our Animal Kingdom video for 2024 and including the latest info to help you make the most of those precious 30 minutes. Plus, we'll share our best tips for maximizing these 30 precious minutes in the park. This is the second in a series - we'll be updating all of our Early Entry videos for 2024 - so if you haven't already, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring that bell so you'll be notified when the other new videos in the series come out! Check out our first video in the series for Hollywood Studios here:
2024 Early Entry Strategy for Hollywood Studios
• 2024 Early Entry Guide...
RECORDED: January 20, 2024
My Ears: Indiana Jones Ears, bought from Walt Disney World
Erick's Ears: Simba Ears, bought at Disneyland Paris

[@angelcordero717]

THANK YOU!!!!! I went to Disney World November 2023 and February 2024 . I used the Disney genie. Like a pro ( Family of 5) because of your videos. Stacking, playing the slots😄😄😄 , what a time, I KILLED IT. I can’t put into words, but I KILLED IT !!! Thank you my friend, I hope I see you someday at the parks.

[@janettequinn2725]

Had my first visit last month (aged 58, from Australia). It was a bucket list item for me, and I studied your videos beforehand. Your advice was amazing- we had an awesome time thanks to following your tips. In fact, each time we set up our day, we’d say ‘Thanks Rob’ out loud 🤣🤣. Keep up the good work 😊

[@DrPatriceBerry]

With our kiddo we like to start with the safari to see the animals. Sometimes we aren’t able to get there as early as we would like…our kiddo normally stays up to watch the fireworks and then sleeps a little late when we head into the parks. After the Safari we check the wait times to pick our next option.

[@BrianHellman]

Thanks for the video! My coworker and I were just asking each other "What are Rob and Erick doing, where's the new content?" 😂 Keep up the awesome work

[@kailacummings2447]

^ the coworker is me :) we both look forward to your videos!

[@EarScouts]

Thanks for watching, Kaila! Which one of you started watching first? 🤔

[@EarScouts]

Hi Brian! We have been filming and eating festival food on repeat since Flower & Garden started last week. Finally all the food is eaten and the video is done being filmed - time to edit. That's the least fun part. 😅 We should have Flower & Garden up sometime next week! Thanks so much for supporting our channel - we really appreciate it!

[@kailacummings2447]

@@EarScouts Brian did! He is a Disney-addict :) One day I will make my first visit! In the meantime, I get to experience it through you guys!

[@user-pl9gt4fn5i]

Rob, we loved meeting you last night in Hollywood Studios on St. Patrick’s Day. Our trip was just magical and truly easy by all of your tips and advice on these videos, we cannot thank you enough!! We did spring break with a party of 11; utilized Genie+, ILL, early entry every day, the modify button 😊, everyone in the family playing the genie slots and we just killed it!! We even loved your Joffrey’s crounut recommendation! Thank you for everything!!! Truly - thank you! 🙌

[@isiahjordan4790]

If you are not watching these videos before going to DisneyWorld, you’re at a disadvantage!! Went to Disney for 4 days and had the best time ever! Every park was magical, EPCOT was my favorite! Used every cheat code possible (redemption rides/genie slots/etc) and the mission was accomplished. Nothing but great memories and happy thoughts!!! Thank you so much my friend! PS- I was looking for you with the Mickey ears but no luck 😂

[@aprilarnold1564]

I absolutely love your videos! I am loving the early entry videos. Such good tips. I also like how calm your videos are. No running back and forth all over the park. Shows you can enjoy the parks without running around crazy.

[@EarScouts]

Thanks so much, April! Now I’m thinking about the video we just filmed with some friends of ours where we were literally in a race around all four parks. 😅 But you’re right - we usually try to avoid that sort of thing. Thanks for watching! 😃

[@alvern]

I’m headed to Animal Kingdom this Sunday! This video is super helpful, been watching a lot of your videos to prepare for the trip. Thanks for the great information!

[@EarScouts]

Hope you have a great time at our favorite park! Thanks for watching. 😃

[@jenniferkennedy6867]

I absolutely adore you, and your videos are uber informative!!! Loved seeing Erick!! We need more Erick footage!!! Thanks for all the you to help provide useful information for making the most out of park time! I recommend you to everyone!

[@leek.yergeau7228]

Can I just say how happy it made me to have more Erick!!! Thank you Erick for jumping in for this cool challenge. I adore you both!!!

[@Mitchatron1994]

I went to Disney from the UK in October last year as the chief organiser of a group of 12. Thanks to your videos I had everything prepped beforehand, and hit every ride in every park with minimal wait. Thank you!

[@traceyhill7784]

Well done you, I have a party of 10 this year when usually just the 2 of us! Genning up in preparation 😂

[@joeychan948]

With a big group like yours, what is the tips and tricks to book rides with Genie plus?

[@yankeesusa1]

What's great is our family is no longer at the age of doing the small rides. So your technique is great to do the major rides. Great video. By the time we go next year, dinosaur ride may be closed.

[@chrisanntoelupe984]

Great video following two different routes for early entry. Didn’t know Erick wore fun ears as well. Love watching your videos and seeing all the different ears you have. 🥰

[@jeanettesmith765]

I always do early entry and FOB. With that said, last year when I didn't have early entry, I only waited about 30 minutes for FOP. I dislike Navi River so never do that one anymore. Then I do Everest and Dinosaur, then spend the rest of the time at Nomad Lounge. LOL! Sometimes I do the path to see the gorillas.

[@Emmamouse55]

Thanks!!! Love your videos

[@paulasanchezmejorada933]

Nice to see Erick too ;)

[@dianabadger2493]

I'm so excited to see you re-do these early entry videos, and with Eric!!! Its nice to see the difference between both choices. I appreciate the remind that you need to be at early entry very early, our first time we didn't know this. Wow, that wait time for the safari was very, very long! I was shocked to see the wait time actually be 57 mins with a posted 35 mins wait!!

[@caitlinkelleghan209]

Thank you so much, this information is very helpful!

[@fishingwithsam7526]

Thank you 😊

[@RebeccaCristiano-lu2fu]

Thanks Ear Scouts! I love all your content. We just had another amazing vacation in February. Your calming demeanor really resonates and I was not stressed at all and really enjoyed all the parks had to offer. Thanks for all your hard work!! 👏 👏

[@irenea7987]

Awesome; I always do flight of passage 1st too.

[@Laura-beau6]

Hola Erick!!! Que gusto verte! Thanks Rob and Erick, always happy to see a new video and your useful tips. LOVE side-by-side strategies❤

[@daniellec239]

Thanks for updating these videos it’s such a great help!

[@EarScouts]

Hi Danielle - thank YOU for watching! 😃

[@traceyhill7784]

Another helpful tip to start a park day. Thanks Rob and Erick too 😊

[@readittwice]

been binging on your videos since few days, and here is a new one, love them, thank you.

[@EarScouts]

Thank YOU for watching! 😃

[@marissakoch1216]

One of the last times I was in Disney with my bf, it was a while ago maybe Aug 22?? I saw you filming at rise and I was excited because I saw a vlogger haha and I watch a lot of Disney vloggers. At the time I couldn’t quite place you/your channel and I didn’t wanna interrupt your video to ask..but now here I am! Haha, love the vid, subscribing :)

[@toddhospodarsky2547]

Thanks for continuing with your content. You and Erick are the best of all the Disney help videos. Great to see more Erick. Keep up the good work.

[@maxalvarez7920]

I'm going in September and you doing this is helping me sooo much! I'm so glad you are making videos because YOU ARE THE BEST!!

[@chasmatic12]

Glad we got some Erick audio today! Thanks for the tips.. I may be planning for our September 2025 trip already... 😂🙃

[@EarScouts]

It’s rare to see Erick in a video and even more rare to hear him! 😂 Is this the first time he’s spoken? Thanks for watching! 😃

[@MBFF-if7yu]

I discovered your channel last weekend and I’m so grateful. Your videos are super helpful and informative. Thank you! I’ll be using a lot of these tips for my next WDW trip ❤

[@tattgann1908]

Your videos helped us a ton for our trip to all the parks the past week!! Thanks for doing what you do! Animal Kingdom is definitely our favorite!!

[@smackthat00]

You were the reason my trip last year went SO amazing and we never waited for anything using genie +! Heading back soon and binging all your content again to refresh my memory. Thanks for all you do!

[@luisa4159]

Best video ever!!

[@lisaferguson2235]

Love your videos! Thanks Rob and Erick! I’m flying down for the day next week and am hitting up AK and HS this quick trip. This video helped build so much excitement!

[@EarScouts]

Hooray! Hope you have an amazing time at the parks. Those are my two favorites. 😃

[@seashell27]

Great video! Loved seeing both strategies play out. Cant wait to see your Epcot video. We were there this weekend and thought we spotted you in line. 😄 Thanks for all the great content!

[@EarScouts]

Thanks so much! We’ve got a Flower and Garden video from Epcot coming very soon… 🌸🌻🌼🌺

[@KBHNJ]

Absolutely perfect timing, I will be in AK very soon. Thank You for being the best Disney teacher ♥️

[@EarScouts]

Hope you have a great time! Thanks so much for watching and leaving this lovely comment. 😊

[@laureanofuente24]

Great video! Uni/Disney fan from Argentina here!! Love this type of content that help tourists to get the max out of their day!!! Subscribed as of now, happy I found you guys!! 🙌🏽👏🏽🫡

[@ArianaDisney]

Love these early entry videos! Any hints as to when the ones for MK and Epcot will be posted?

[@karenacosta3739]

Love this videos! Heading out to Florida today from Texas and I was wondering if I should start with Navi river this time. But thanks to you guys definitely starting with Flight of Passage and taking Erik route. Keep up the awesome work!

[@EarScouts]

Hi Karen. I learned that one the hard way. Start with FOP for sure. 😅 Thanks for watching! 😃

[@hayleybruce-steele6433]

Just back from my first ever visit to wdw with my daughter, and thanks to you it went so well, we smashed EE, and used so many of your other hints and tips, that we rode everything we wanted, sometimes twice! Thank you for making what could have been an overwhelming holiday into an amazing one

[@EarScouts]

Nicely done! 🙌 Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to let us know how your trip went - we really appreciate it!

[@arlenevillanueva7585]

I went in July and started with Flight of Passage. The best ride ever!

[@juliebeehappy]

This was FABULOUS!! Thank you Rob and Erick for splitting up to show a comparison of strategies. This was the best video and I hope you do more comparisons like this in other parks! Would your strategy change at all if you used Genie+?

[@jackiek6398]

Nice bonus with the Erick cam! Good advice for early entry

[@EarScouts]

Thanks Jackie! Glad you liked the Erick Cam. 😄

[@creeperking51]

Great video, just wondering, are the ticket windows open before the early entry starts?

[@shwethacn]

Your videos were very helpful to plan our park visits with a group of 7. We could cover almost all the rides and also relax in between. And the icing on the cake of our vacation was meeting you on our last day at AK in the Kilimanjaro Safari line..can’t get any better than this. My son just went bonkers seeing you after watching tons of your videos before our trip. Thank you Rob for everything you do!!

[@EarScouts]

It was lovely meeting you! I'm so glad we crossed paths and that you had a great vacation. Please tell your son that Erick and I say "heigh-ho!" 😃

[@shwethacn]

Thank you Erick and Rob! Showed your reply to my son as soon as he was back from school and his expression was priceless. You made his day!! Love your work..Hope to cross paths again. 😊

[@sonsofstretford3866]

Thanks for the video, your tips helped me on my trip to Epcot/MK last week, our daughters first trip to Disney World and we did everything that we planned for!

[@EarScouts]

So glad to hear it. 😊 Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to let us know how your trip went - we really appreciate it!

[@ducka91]

Thanks for the video! Do you recommend single rider line for Mt. Everest? Do you think we could rope drop and parent swap Mt Everest (on a medium crowd day) and make it to safari at opening?

[@gorditatomamacita]

New subscriber here! Really enjoyed your festival of the arts review. Will you be doing the same with Flower and Garden?

[@brittferr]

I cannot tell you how much I love your videos! Ever since we booked our trip for April at the end of January, I have been binge watching them! Lol. They are just so informative, great content and both you Rob & Eric are AWESOME! Thank you so so much for creating them! They are just so enjoyable, and your love for Disney shines right through! Can't wait for the next one! :)

[@EarScouts]

Thanks so much for watching and leaving us this lovely comment. Glad you enjoyed this one. 😊

[@ravinp371]

Did we just become Disney buddies? I'm going in April and booked it in January too. 😅

[@brittferr]

OMG so awesome!! Yes!!!@@ravinp371

[@brittferr]

Of course :) You guys are the best!!! It's been my favorite nighttime activity!@@EarScouts

[@IH86811]

Hi, love your videos❤....we will be there on May and not staying at disney hotel...can we enter the parking lot early..and then just wait at the rope drop?--thank you

[@doronalperin9480]

Your videos are just so amazing. I’m always waiting for the next one to come out. I’m going to go with my family to Disney world for the first time this coming October, and your videos are so productive. Can’t wait for the other parks early entry to go online. More please… 😁

[@EarScouts]

Thanks so much! The other ones are coming soon, but we have a few surprises coming, too. Thanks for watching! 😃

[@EarScouts]

PS - hope you have an incredible trip in October!

[@doronalperin9480]

@@EarScouts thank you so much. Waiting for your new Epcot early entry for I have a question about where to enter from….

[@doronalperin9480]

Hi. I do have a question, and hope you can answer. We are going to stay at Hilton Buena vista Palace, but we would really love to rope drop Remi for Epcot. I was told that we can’t get in from the international gateway if we are not a Disney resort guest. I thought to get an Uber to the Disney beach club resort and walk, but I was told that, they will not even let us in since we are not guests. So, will we have a way to get in from the international gate way? Hope you can help us figure it out. 🤞🙏

[@lindsaygutierrezcubero538]

Awesome 👏🏻, I will start with FOP😊

[@EarScouts]

Wise move. 😊 Thanks for watching!

[@sweetsouthernanne1865]

I agree, Animal Kingdom is my favorite park. The vibes and food options are unmatched. Also the music they play at Triceratops Spin is fire 🔥🔥🔥

[@EarScouts]

Yes! I love all the music in Animal Kingdom. I’m always Shazamming the songs on the loops in the different lands. Ani Munange by Samite always makes me feel like I’m back in Animal Kingdom whenever I hear it. 😊

[@aviegrl]

I was hoping you would upload a new video this week 🎉. Thank you for posting updates to your strategies! Also...my husband loves your ears...like all of them. One day can you show us your collection? Where did you get the Indiana Jones ones?? Sooo cute!

[@EarScouts]

Hello! They still sell these ears in the parks. They came out when the latest Indiana Jones movie was released in theaters. We’ll probably do a short about my ear collection soon. Lots of people have asked for it. 😄

[@jonny5alive7]

Really good idea to do two strategies in one video to see which one worked out the best.

[@jenniferdarragh264]

We are coming in April and decided to do a split park day between AK and HS so this video is perfect timing! ❤

[@EarScouts]

You’ll definitely want to maximize early entry if you’re hitting both AK and HS. Hope you have a great time! 😃

[@jenniferdarragh264]

@@EarScouts Thank you 😊

[@kristenclarkin7662]

Going on a Tuesday in early July, would you say it’s best to do Kilimanjaro Safaris after Early Entry in Pandora with the animals being more awake before the high heat of the day and then head to Dinosaur/Everest? Thanks for your great videos!

[@mabelmonclova7403]

I absolutely LOVE your content, hope we can see an early entry + genie soon, perhaps around spring break for genie+ to make sense. Hope you can bring the all the bells and whistles for MK 🫶🏻

[@EarScouts]

Hi Mabel! We are definitely planning a bells and whistles video for Magic Kingdom and Epcot. The challenge with those is that “all the bells and whistles” also includes Extended Evening Hours, so we have to stay at a Deluxe Resort and time it to be on a day with EEH. We actually filmed Epcot and stopped midway through because we learned pretty quickly that a day like that needs a resort break in the middle for a nap. 😅 Hoping to get those done soon, though.

[@mabelmonclova7403]

@@EarScouts LOVE that you account for nap time! I have kiddos and that is a must for me (they’re not even toddlers anymore) and honestly for us too since we always rope drop. We don’t do EEH though because of budget but early entrance, rope drop, Genie+ and ILL for some rides definitely in our list 🫶🏻

[@debiradcliff784]

Love all your videos - so helpful. Which side is best to sit on the safari to see the lions? Thanks

[@EarScouts]

Thanks so much! You want to be on the drivers side to see the Lions. It’s actually the best view for most of the animals on the safari. Thanks for watching! 😃

[@debiradcliff784]

Thanks!!

[@leacouceiro358]

Excellent as always! Do you have a video with strategy without Early Entry?

[@EarScouts]

Hello! Pretty much all of our videos except for the one for early entry specifically or the ones called “All the Bells and Whistles” are made without early entry. We have several for each park. Thanks for watching! 😃

[@Therealwojo]

What do we recommend if we wanna see lots of animals on the safari and not wait forever in flight of passage? I assume FOP first and then KS?

[@katiekoch9226]

Your videos are a godsend! Thank you! We are staying at Carribean Beach next month, I can't find a trusted source on bus times. If esrly entry is at 730 would a bus be running by 615-630? What is your experience? Any information would be so appreciated. Keep up the wonderful videos. Looking forward to the next

[@EarScouts]

Hi Katie! Officially, the first bus will run one hour before early entry. In reality, the bus can often come a bit sooner than that and occasionally comes a LOT earlier than that. The earliest I’ve seen is 2 hours before early entry, but that is extremely rare. It all depends on their staffing levels early in the morning and also how crowded they expect certain routes to be. If they expect a lot of people and they have drivers ready to go, they send them early. Hope that helps!

[@davidhaven8786]

Looking at going to Magic Kingdom on March 25th, I see they are open at 9 and close at 9pm. Do they ever change their hours to close at 11pm last minute ?

[@weaseljavelin9443]

My name is Craig Dennis i watch your new videos all the time and i in joy all of your videos all the time and they great videos and you have a great day and you take care today👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@EarScouts]

Hi Craig! So good to hear from you. I hope you enjoy this week's video. 😃

[@wanted-33]

On our recent trip we were finally able to do the Kilimanjaro Safari earlier in the day. The animals were out in mass, and it was a great day.

[@EarScouts]

Hi Jim! Glad to hear you were able to enjoy a great safari. Mornings and late afternoons are the best. 😃

[@psychchick86]

Can you guys do an early entry video for Magic Kingdom next?

[@sylviacedillo5474]

If I have early entry since I’m staying at a resort. My niece does NOT (she’s rooming elsewhere). Can she go in with me as an early entry as well?

[@AUDREYJUSTADDMAGICTRAVEL]

Do you have an updated Park Hopper Genie plus video yet?

[@EarScouts]

Not yet, but it’s coming in the next few months. We’ll also be doing a wild 4-park Genie Challenge video soon. It’s already filmed, just needs to be edited. Thanks for watching! 😃

[@charlesphillips5858]

If I rope drop Navi could I also get the safari before a long wait time?

[@EarScouts]

If you mean early entry rope drop, then yes. If you mean regular rope drop, it depends on when opening time is and when Safaris opens. Sometimes Safaris opens about 30 minutes after park open and on those days, I would say yes. Otherwise, there would likely be more of a wait.

[@elainehill5931]

I hate being trampled to be early at Animal Kingdom. My grandson who is always with me has a disability so we just can’t do it. We use his DAS pass for Flight of Passage so it all works out.

[@EarScouts]

Hi Elaine. I always mention early entry etiquette because I’m hoping it will catch on with more people. 😂 Most people are respectful, but it only takes a small number to make you feel like you are on the losing end of a doorbuster at Wal-Mart. Glad to hear you are able to enjoy FOP without all the chaos. 🙂

[@elainehill5931]

@@EarScouts we appreciate your efforts! My grandsons favorite park is AK, just like you!😊

[@mattg6398]

What a great use of time without genie+!

[@ThousanWhite]

Hehe, "tapstyles"!

[@Emmamouse55]

What’s an end line?

[@EarScouts]

Hi Colleen - what I meant by that is that you will usually see one or more masses of people with some empty spaces between them. They will sometimes open new lines in those empty spaces, so you want to be in the lines along the ends of those masses of folks so you can easily move up when a new line is opened.

[@colinholder5438]

16:11 22mins over the posted wait time🤯

[@mlou4444]

Not gonna lie, paying for that ILL is looking more and more desirable to save on the hours of sleep. You basically have to wake up before 6am to get there in time to make it worthwhile.

[@markherron1407]

They SHOULD replace the elephant head with a lion because the lion is the King of Animal Kingdom and change the name Animal Kingdom to Simba Animal Kingdom Animal Kingdom is too obvious, the entrance doesn't look right, The people came to see Simba and his animal friends, ask the manager if they could replace the elephant head with a lion and change the name Animal Kingdom to Simba Animal Kingdom! If you go to a zoo, you ALWAYS go to see the Lion FIRST because you're showing respect to the King of Animal Kingdom and you're entering his kingdom, please ask the cast member to ask the manager if they could replace the elephant head with a lion, it doesn't look right at the entrance ! Simba is the King of Animal Kingdom NOT the elephant Animal Kingdom NEEDS a NEW MAKEOVER starting at the entrance and they SHOULD put a wooden statute of Simba in the park, Simba is the star of the show ,they have a Festival of the Lion King, when people see the elephant head up there, they're thinking that the elephant is the King of Animal Kingdom, that's NOT true! The Lion SHOULD be the King of Animal Kingdom! Blessings and Hugs 👑💜

[@saeedsid5]

Loved this video! I’ve seen the side by side of HS rope drop on different days, but this was so great to see a side by side strategy on the same day, same crowd! Also loved seeing Erick cam, need more Ear Scout Duo videos. 🫶🏼 I started watching your videos to learn more about playing the Disney Genie slots for our very first trip coming up this April, but I’m hooked ever since. 😅 Your videos are very entertaining, great production quality and offer so many helpful tips for Disney planning! Hope to bump into Ear Scouts in April! 🤞🏻🥰

[@EarScouts]

So glad you enjoyed this one - we’ll definitely make some more like it in the future. Hope you have an amazing visit in April! 😃