diff --git a/src/servers/sapphire_zone/Network/Handlers/EventHandlers.cpp b/src/servers/sapphire_zone/Network/Handlers/EventHandlers.cpp
index e4d0c4f0..6d22c190 100644
--- a/src/servers/sapphire_zone/Network/Handlers/EventHandlers.cpp
+++ b/src/servers/sapphire_zone/Network/Handlers/EventHandlers.cpp
@@ -163,14 +163,8 @@ void Core::Network::GameConnection::eventHandlerEnterTerritory( const Packets::G
 
    player.sendDebug( "Calling: " + objName + "." + eventName + " - " + std::to_string( eventId ) );
 
-   player.eventStart( player.getId(), eventId, Event::EventHandler::EnterTerritory, 0, player.getZoneId(), 0 );
-
    if( auto instance = player.getCurrentInstance() )
    {
-      // param2 of eventStart
-      // 0 = default state?
-      // 1 = restore state?
-      // (^ Mordred: Nope, i don't think thats it )
       player.eventStart( player.getId(), eventId, Event::EventHandler::EnterTerritory, 0, player.getZoneId(), instance->getDirectorId() & 0xFFFF );
       instance->onEnterTerritory( player, eventId, param1, param2 );
    }
diff --git a/src/servers/sapphire_zone/Zone/InstanceContent.cpp b/src/servers/sapphire_zone/Zone/InstanceContent.cpp
index 3192f94a..a953c0a5 100644
--- a/src/servers/sapphire_zone/Zone/InstanceContent.cpp
+++ b/src/servers/sapphire_zone/Zone/InstanceContent.cpp
@@ -36,7 +36,8 @@ Core::InstanceContent::InstanceContent( boost::shared_ptr< Core::Data::InstanceC
      m_instanceContentInfo( pInstanceContent ),
      m_instanceContentId( instanceContentId ),
      m_state( Created ),
-     m_pEntranceEObj( nullptr )
+     m_pEntranceEObj( nullptr ),
+     m_instanceCommenceTime( 0 )
 {
 
 }
@@ -107,10 +108,19 @@ void Core::InstanceContent::onUpdate( uint32_t currTime )
          {
             if( !playerIt.second->isLoadingComplete() ||
                 !playerIt.second->isDirectorInitialized() ||
-                !playerIt.second->isOnEnterEventDone() )
+                !playerIt.second->isOnEnterEventDone() ||
+                playerIt.second->hasStateFlag( PlayerStateFlag::WatchingCutscene ) )
                return;
          }
 
+         if( m_instanceCommenceTime == 0 )
+         {
+            m_instanceCommenceTime = Util::getTimeMs() + instanceStartDelay;
+            return;
+         }
+         else if( Util::getTimeMs() < m_instanceCommenceTime )
+            return;
+
          for( const auto& playerIt : m_playerMap )
          {
             auto pPlayer = playerIt.second;
@@ -119,6 +129,8 @@ void Core::InstanceContent::onUpdate( uint32_t currTime )
                                            getDirectorId(), 0x40000001, m_instanceContentInfo->timeLimitmin * 60u ) );
          }
 
+         if( m_pEntranceEObj )
+            m_pEntranceEObj->setState( 7 );
          m_state = DutyInProgress;
          m_instanceExpireTime = Util::getTimeSeconds() + ( m_instanceContentInfo->timeLimitmin * 60u );
          break;
@@ -275,15 +287,22 @@ void Core::InstanceContent::onRegisterEObj( Entity::EventObjectPtr object )
 
 void Core::InstanceContent::onBeforePlayerZoneIn( Core::Entity::Player& player )
 {
-   if( m_pEntranceEObj != nullptr )
+   // if a player has already spawned once inside this instance, don't move them if they happen to zone in again
+   auto it = m_spawnedPlayers.find( player.getId() );
+   if( it == m_spawnedPlayers.end() )
    {
-      player.setRot( PI );
-      player.setPos( m_pEntranceEObj->getPos() );
-   }
-   else
-   {
-      player.setRot( PI );
-      player.setPos( { 0.f, 0.f, 0.f } );
+      if( m_pEntranceEObj != nullptr )
+      {
+         player.setRot( PI );
+         player.setPos( m_pEntranceEObj->getPos() );
+      }
+      else
+      {
+         player.setRot( PI );
+         player.setPos( { 0.f, 0.f, 0.f } );
+      }
+
+      m_spawnedPlayers.insert( player.getId() );
    }
 
    player.resetObjSpawnIndex( );
diff --git a/src/servers/sapphire_zone/Zone/InstanceContent.h b/src/servers/sapphire_zone/Zone/InstanceContent.h
index d487f86f..0dad9d5c 100644
--- a/src/servers/sapphire_zone/Zone/InstanceContent.h
+++ b/src/servers/sapphire_zone/Zone/InstanceContent.h
@@ -52,6 +52,8 @@ public:
 
    Entity::EventObjectPtr getEObjByName( const std::string& name );
 
+   /*! number of milliseconds after all players are ready for the instance to commence (spawn circle removed) */
+   const uint32_t instanceStartDelay = 1250;
 private:
    Event::DirectorPtr m_pDirector;
    boost::shared_ptr< Core::Data::InstanceContent > m_instanceContentInfo;
@@ -59,11 +61,13 @@ private:
    InstanceContentState m_state;
 
    int64_t m_instanceExpireTime;
+   int64_t m_instanceCommenceTime;
 
    Entity::EventObjectPtr m_pEntranceEObj;
 
    std::map< std::string, Entity::EventObjectPtr > m_eventObjectMap;
    std::unordered_map< uint32_t, Entity::EventObjectPtr > m_eventIdToObjectMap;
+   std::set< uint32_t > m_spawnedPlayers;
 };
 
 }