DHS Testing New Park Opening

According to our friends at TouringPlans.com….

Beginning Sunday, January 15, 2012, and running through Friday, January 20, 2012, Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park at the Walt Disney World resort will be testing out a new opening procedure. Disney internally refers to this process as “rope drop without a rope.” Here’s the finer points of the changes:

• Turnstiles open at 8:30 a.m.  Operational attractions at that time:  Toy Story Mania!, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.
• All other attractions will open at 8:45 a.m..
• Signups for Jedi Training Academy will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the ABC Sound Studio
• FASTPASS distribution will be available at Star Tours: The Adventures Continue beginning at 8:30 a.m. Anyone who choose to wait for Star Tours: The Adventures Continue will be welcome to wait in the exterior queue at the attraction. FASTPASS distribution will commence at 8:30 a.m. for all other attractions as well (notably: Toy Story Mania!)

The most basic take-away  is that the park is ostensibly now open at 8:30 a.m. on days listing a 9:00 a.m. opening. Arrive early and leave your home or hotel earlier if you’re following an early morning park touring plan