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Fifteen non-Disney hotels with Early Theme Park Entry appear on Disney’s official list: the Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve, Four Seasons Resort Orlando, Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, Waldorf Astoria Orlando, Shades of Green and the eight Disney Springs Resort Area hotels. Their guests can enter any Disney World theme park 30 minutes before official opening, every day of the stay.
The rest of Disney’s perks are not shared equally: only four of these hotels get Extended Evening Hours, and park transport ranges from a short walk to an hourly bus you must reserve. Perks and fees change, so confirm current terms before you book.
Quick answer: For the most perks and a walk to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, book the Swan, Dolphin or Swan Reserve. For luxury with kids, the Four Seasons. For Hilton points plus a lazy river, Signia by Hilton. For couples and golfers, the Waldorf Astoria. For a budget stay with free breakfast and no resort fee, Drury Plaza. For one-bedroom suites, DoubleTree Suites. For eligible military families, Shades of Green.
Check prices at Disney Early Entry hotels
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How Early Theme Park Entry works for non-Disney hotel guests
Early Theme Park Entry opens Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom 30 minutes early for eligible hotel guests, every day of the stay, including check-in and check-out days. Disney says it will continue through 2027.
- What you need: valid park admission plus a MagicBand, Disney MagicMobile pass or Key to the World card. Date-based tickets no longer need a park reservation, but other ticket types may.
- Link your hotel: add the reservation to My Disney Experience. For Bonnet Creek and Disney Springs area hotels, it can take 48 to 72 hours to appear.
- What runs: only select attractions, such as Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Slinky Dog Dash and Avatar Flight of Passage. Disney can change the lineup without notice.
TouringPlans’ research suggests that at busy times, Early Entry can let you see up to 50% more attractions with 50% less waiting. For a full rope-drop plan, see our tips for making the most of your Disney park days.
All 15 non-Disney hotels with Early Theme Park Entry
These 15 hotels with Early Theme Park Entry are the “Other Select Hotels” on Disney’s page, under Disney’s names. Resort fees are as listed at the time of writing; check the total at booking.
| Hotel (Disney’s name) | Area | Getting to the parks | Resort fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walt Disney World Swan Hotel | EPCOT area | Walk, boat or bus | About $50 (reported) |
| Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel | EPCOT area | Walk, boat or bus | About $50 (reported) |
| Walt Disney World Swan Reserve | EPCOT area | Walk, boat or bus | Check at booking |
| Four Seasons Resort Orlando | Near Magic Kingdom | Free bus, about hourly | $55 + tax (resort map); US$60 on Booking.com |
| Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek | Bonnet Creek | Motorcoach | $50 + tax |
| Waldorf Astoria Orlando | Bonnet Creek | Motorcoach | $50 + tax |
| Shades of Green on Walt Disney World Resort | Magic Kingdom area | Free resort bus | Check with resort |
| Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista | Disney Springs area | Free shuttle, no reservation | None |
| Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace | Disney Springs area | Hourly shuttle, reserve | $41 + tax |
| Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista | Disney Springs area | Shuttle, reserve | About $39 + tax |
| DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando | Disney Springs area | Shuttle, reserve | About $25 + tax |
| Holiday Inn Orlando | Disney Springs area | Hourly shuttle, reserve | $39 + tax |
| Renaissance Orlando Resort and Spa | Disney Springs area | Scheduled, reserve after check-in | Check at booking |
| Wyndham Lake Buena Vista | Disney Springs area | Hourly shuttle, reserve | $36 + tax |
| Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista | Disney Springs area | Shared Wyndham shuttle | Same as Wyndham LBV |
Some hotels now use longer names: the hotel Disney lists as Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista now calls itself Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando – Disney Springs Area.
Perk matrix: Early Entry vs Extended Evening Hours vs 7-day Lightning Lane vs free theme park parking
Early Entry is the only perk all 15 share. Extended Evening Hours add park time after closing on select nights at select parks. The 7-day window lets you buy Lightning Lane passes up to 7 days before your stay, instead of 3 days before each park visit. Free standard parking saves the $35 daily theme park fee.
| Hotels | Early Entry | Extended Evening | 7-day Lightning Lane | Free park parking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swan, Dolphin, Swan Reserve | Yes | Yes | Yes (see note) | Yes, with room key |
| Shades of Green | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Four Seasons Resort Orlando | Yes | No | No | No |
| Signia and Waldorf Astoria | Yes | No | No | No |
| Disney Springs area (8) | Yes | No | No | No |
| Disney Value and Moderate | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Disney Deluxe and Deluxe Villa | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Note: Disney’s resort-benefits page names only the Swan and Dolphin for the 7-day window, but its Lightning Lane page and the hotels’ own page include the Swan Reserve. Disney says the other partner hotels get “certain benefits”; in practice, Early Entry is the only one confirmed for them.
1. Walt Disney World Swan
The Marriott-affiliated Swan opened in 1990 on Disney property, next to the BoardWalk. It isn’t Disney-owned, so it’s sold on Booking.com, yet it gets all four perks. The Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve share transport, pools and perks; our Swan vs Dolphin vs Swan Reserve guide compares the three in detail.
- Why stay: all four Disney perks, six shared pools (including a grotto pool with a water slide and waterfall), a Mandara Spa and 23 restaurants and lounges across the complex.
- Getting to the parks: walk to EPCOT’s International Gateway and Hollywood Studios, or take a water taxi (about every 20 to 25 minutes, from 1 hour before opening). Buses serve Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Disney Springs.
- Good to know: a $50 nightly resort fee was reported in 2026, breakfast isn’t included, and hotel self-parking was $40 plus tax a day at the time of writing.
Best for: EPCOT and Hollywood Studios fans who want to walk to the gates.
2. Walt Disney World Dolphin
The Dolphin opened in June 1990 beside the Swan, linked by a covered walkway, and has the same four perks. Several of the complex’s dinner restaurants are here, including Todd English’s bluezoo, Bourbon Steak and Rosa Mexicano.
- Why stay: the Swan’s perks and pools, with more signature restaurants in the building.
- Getting to the parks: the same walkways, water taxis (the dock is by the covered walkway) and buses as the Swan.
- Good to know: the resort fee was reported at about $50 a night, there’s no free breakfast, and valet was $51 to $61 plus tax.
Best for: travelers who plan dinners around the hotel.
3. Walt Disney World Swan Reserve
The newest of the three, Swan Reserve opened in November 2021 next to the Swan as a 349-room boutique hotel.
- Why stay: a smaller, newer building with the same location and, per the hotel’s benefits page, the same four perks.
- Getting to the parks: buses leave from its own front entrance, and water taxis from the Swan and Dolphin dock.
- Good to know: Disney’s Lightning Lane page lists it for the 7-day Lightning Lane window, along with the Swan and Dolphin. Self-parking was $40 plus tax a day at the time of writing.
Best for: couples and business travelers who prefer a smaller hotel.
4. Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort
The Four Seasons sits in Golden Oak, inside Walt Disney World near Magic Kingdom, and its Park View rooms face the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT fireworks. It gets Early Entry only: no Extended Evening Hours, 7-day window or free park parking.
- Why stay: Explorer Island (a 5-acre water area with a lazy river, two water slides and a splash zone), an adults-only pool, the free Kids for All Seasons club (ages 4 to 12) and a Goofy and pals character breakfast on select days.
- Getting to the parks: free buses about once an hour to each park; for Magic Kingdom, you transfer to the monorail at the Ticket and Transportation Center.
- Good to know: parking is valet only, for a fee, and the resort’s January 2026 map lists a resort fee of $55 per room a night plus tax, and Booking.com’s price breakdown showed US$60 plus tax in October 2026. Check the next day’s bus times at the Disney Planning Center in the lobby.
Best for: luxury-minded families with young kids.
5. Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
Signia, the former Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, has about 1,000 rooms in Bonnet Creek, a resort development next to Walt Disney World, and takes Hilton Honors points.
- Why stay: a lazy river and water slide, 12 restaurants and lounges shared with the Waldorf, and free dinner for kids 12 and under with each adult entree at La Luce or Harvest Bistro (a resort-charge perk).
- Getting to the parks: motorcoaches to all four parks and Disney Springs, included in the resort charge. The hotel says they run during regular park hours only, so confirm the first departure before an Early Entry morning.
- Good to know: the resort charge was $50 plus tax a night at the time of writing; self-parking was $40 and valet $60 a day, plus tax.
Best for: Hilton Honors families who want a lazy river.
Check Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek prices on Booking.com
6. Waldorf Astoria Orlando
Next door, the roughly 500-room Waldorf Astoria shares Signia’s shuttles and restaurants and adds an 18-hole Rees Jones golf course. You must be 21 to book. Our Bonnet Creek hotels guide compares all five resorts there, including the three without Early Entry.
- Why stay: its own pool with cabanas and the Aquamarine pool bar, plus access to Signia’s lazy river and slide.
- Getting to the parks: luxury motorcoaches to all four parks and Disney Springs. Schedules vary by day, so check bonnetshuttle.com or ask the concierge.
- Good to know: the resort charge was $50 plus tax a night and parking is valet only at $60 plus tax a day, so driving to the parks adds another $35 a day.
Best for: couples and golfers.
7. Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando – Disney Springs Area
Drury Plaza is the value pick: an Official Walt Disney World Hotel about half a mile from Disney Springs (a 10 to 15 minute walk), with no resort fee.
- Why stay: free hot breakfast, the 5:30 Kickback (evening hot food and drinks, including three free alcoholic drinks for guests 21 and up), a lakeside saltwater pool with a splash pad, and two-room suites that sleep up to 6.
- Getting to the parks: the free Drury Shuttle runs a daily schedule to all four parks, Disney Springs and the Disney water parks, with no reservations needed.
- Good to know: self-parking was $28 a night at the time of writing, and early check-in and late check-out cost $50 each.
Best for: budget-minded families.
Check Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando – Disney Springs Area prices on Booking.com
8. Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace – Disney Springs Area
The 1,011-room Buena Vista Palace is linked to Disney Springs by a pedestrian skybridge, about a 5 to 7 minute walk, and most rooms have a balcony.
- Why stay: the Float Lagoon zero-entry lazy river with a kids’ splash pad and two heated pools.
- Getting to the parks: an hourly shuttle to all four parks. Reservations are required both ways and open 72 hours ahead, so book the first morning run early.
- Good to know: the resort charge was $41 plus tax a night at the time of writing, covering the shuttle and 10% off food and drink; self-parking was $38 plus tax.
Best for: families who want a lazy river and walkable Disney Springs dinners.
Check Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace prices on Booking.com
9. DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando – Disney Springs Area
The all-suite choice: 236 one-bedroom suites, each with a private bedroom, a living room with a queen sleeper sofa and a wet bar, within a mile of Disney Springs.
- Why stay: a door between parents and kids, plus a heated pool, splash pad and playground.
- Getting to the parks: a daily shuttle to the theme parks; reserve seats directly with the hotel.
- Good to know: fee trackers listed a resort fee of about $25 plus tax in 2026, covering the shuttle; parking costs extra and the breakfast buffet is paid.
Best for: families who want a separate bedroom.
Check DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando prices on Booking.com
The other Disney Springs hotels and Shades of Green at a glance
The other five Disney Springs hotels also get Early Entry, but none of the other three perks. Our Disney Springs Resort Area hotels guide compares all eight in detail.
| Hotel | Standout | Park shuttle | Resort fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista | Skybridge to Disney Springs | Reservations required | About $39 + tax |
| Holiday Inn Orlando | Kids Eat Free; 7–10 min walk to Disney Springs | Hourly, reserve | $39 + tax |
| Renaissance Orlando Resort & Spa | Bunk beds in select rooms | Scheduled, free; reserve after check-in | Check at booking |
| Wyndham Lake Buena Vista | Gated parking ($30 + tax) | Hourly, reserve | $36 + tax |
| Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista | Same complex as Wyndham LBV | Shared, hourly | Same as Wyndham LBV |
The Wyndham shuttles run hourly from 90 minutes before each park opens (an hour before Early Entry begins), so check that the first run fits your plans; our Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista guide covers that complex.
Shades of Green, a US Army-run Armed Forces Recreation Center near Magic Kingdom, gets Early Entry, Extended Evening Hours and the 7-day window. It’s open only to eligible guests, such as active duty, Reserve and National Guard members, retirees, certain veterans and eligible family members, and it isn’t on Booking.com; you book directly.
Hotels people assume qualify but don’t
Being near Disney, running a park shuttle or being sold on Disney’s website does not put a hotel on the list, and Disney’s “Gateway” and “Good Neighbor” labels come with no park perks. At the time of writing, these were not on Disney’s list:
| Hotel | Why it gets confused | Early Entry |
|---|---|---|
| JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek | Sold on Disney’s website | No |
| Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek | Park shuttle in its resort fee | No |
| Club Wyndham Bonnet Creek | Same development as Signia | No |
| Flamingo Crossings hotels | “Disney Gateway” label | No |
| Margaritaville Resort Orlando | Big resort in the Disney area | No |
| Good Neighbor hotels | Disney-branded program | No |
Bonnet Creek is the classic trap: Signia and the Waldorf qualify, while their three neighbors don’t. If a free shuttle is all you need, see our Orlando hotels with free Disney World shuttles.
Which qualifying hotel fits you: luxury, points, suites or budget
- Maximum perks: Swan, Dolphin or Swan Reserve, the only non-Disney hotels confirmed to get all four.
- Luxury with kids: Four Seasons. Compare it with our best luxury resorts in Orlando.
- Hilton points: Signia for families, the Waldorf Astoria for couples.
- Budget: Drury Plaza. See also our affordable family hotels near Disney World.
- Suites: DoubleTree Suites or Drury’s two-room suites.
How to actually use Early Entry from a non-Disney hotel
- Link your reservation early. In My Disney Experience, go to My Plans, Link to Account, Link Hotel, and enter your confirmation number and last name, ideally three days ahead. If a third-party booking won’t link, a reader tip shared by TouringPlans suggests calling Disney Wholesale at (407) 939-7671 to convert it; results may vary.
- Confirm the first shuttle the night before. Some buses run hourly or need reservations, so a late first departure can erase most of a 30-minute head start.
- Know your route. Many hotel buses to Magic Kingdom stop at the Ticket and Transportation Center, so allow time for the monorail or ferry.
- Budget $35 a day for park parking if you drive, unless you stay at the Swan, Dolphin or Swan Reserve.
- Consider a rideshare for rope drop when the first shuttle leaves too late, as TouringPlans suggests.
Hotel reviews: Walt Disney World Swan, Walt Disney World Dolphin, and the Hilton and Marriott hotels near Disney World compared.
Evening perk: see Disney Extended Evening Hours, the after-close sessions open to Deluxe guests and the Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve.
Not on the list? see Disney Good Neighbor hotels: what the badge does and doesn’t include.
Frequently asked questions
Which non-Disney hotels get Early Theme Park Entry at Disney World?
Disney lists 15: the Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve; Four Seasons Resort Orlando; Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek; Waldorf Astoria Orlando; Shades of Green; and the eight Disney Springs Resort Area hotels, including Drury Plaza, DoubleTree Suites and both Hiltons. The list can change, so check Disney’s page before booking.
Do Disney Springs area hotels get Extended Evening Hours?
No. They get Early Entry every day at all four parks, but Extended Evening Hours are limited to Disney Deluxe and Deluxe Villa resorts plus the Swan, Dolphin, Swan Reserve and Shades of Green. Disney Springs area guests also pay for theme park parking.
Does the Four Seasons Orlando get Extended Evening Hours?
No. The Four Seasons Resort Orlando gets Early Entry every day but isn’t on Disney’s Extended Evening Hours list, so plan evenings around regular park hours. Its guests also use the standard 3-day Lightning Lane window, not the 7-day window Disney Resort guests get.
Does JW Marriott Bonnet Creek get Disney Early Entry?
No. JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek is sold on Disney’s own website but isn’t on the Early Entry list, and neither are Wyndham Grand or Club Wyndham Bonnet Creek. In Bonnet Creek, only Signia by Hilton and the Waldorf Astoria qualify.
Is Early Entry available on check-in and check-out days?
Yes. Disney says Early Theme Park Entry applies every day of your stay, including check-in and check-out days, so you can start a park morning before you settle in or after you pack up. Link your hotel reservation in My Disney Experience beforehand.
Sources checked in September 2026: Disney Early Theme Park Entry, Disney Extended Evening Theme Park Hours, Disney Resort hotel benefits, Swan and Dolphin Special Disney Benefits, Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek FAQ.