Animal Kingdom has quietly joined EPCOT, Magic Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios in updating the way it handles Early Entry — and as of mid-2026, the familiar checkpoint-near-the-gate setup is officially gone. Walt Disney World resort guests arriving for the 7:30 a.m. Early Entry window will notice the biggest difference once they clear the turnstiles and make their way through the Oasis.
Under the previous system, a line of Cast Members near the park entrance verified resort-guest eligibility before anyone could proceed into the main part of the park. Off-site guests were funneled into a tight holding corridor on the right side of the Oasis path — a concentrated, sardine-like situation that many guests found less than relaxing first thing in the morning. Now, both groups are free to walk either path through the Oasis and spread out across Discovery Island itself while they wait.
The Early Entry eligibility checkpoints have moved deeper into the park — specifically to two new locations on Discovery Island. The primary one sits in front of Island Mercantile, just before Pizzafari, controlling access toward Pandora – World of Avatar (and incidentally, Africa). A second checkpoint is positioned in front of Zootopia: Better Zoogether, covering the bridge toward Asia and Expedition Everest. Non-resort guests now wait in holding zones near those checkpoints rather than being packed near the front entrance.
It's worth noting that with Dinoland USA now closed, Early Entry at Animal Kingdom covers only four attractions: Avatar Flight of Passage, Na'vi River Journey, Expedition Everest, and Zootopia: Better Zoogether. That makes Pandora the clear destination for virtually everyone arriving early. One open question is whether the Pandora checkpoint might eventually shift slightly deeper — closer to Tiffins or Pizzafari — which could allow Early Entry guests to grab Starbucks or a bite from the Harambe Market area before the park officially opens, a move that would benefit both guests and Disney's morning revenue.
Planning Your Trip
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For those planning a visit, resort buses begin running well before the Early Entry window opens — guests arriving around 7:00 a.m. for security and bag check have been able to reach the turnstiles comfortably before they open, typically around 7:15–7:20 a.m., though timing varies by day. Full details and a firsthand field report on the new layout come from Disney Tourist Blog.
