Yard party joined by other ranks after earl makes special entrance (5,4)

'special entrance' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I can't tell whether this works.

'yard party joined by other ranks after earl' is the wordplay.
'yard' becomes 'y' (abbreviation).
'party' becomes 'do' (do can informally mean a party).
'joined by' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'other ranks' becomes 'or' (military abbreviation).
'after' says to put letters next to each other.
'do' next to 'or' is 'door'.
'y'+'door'='ydoor'
'ydoor' after 'earl' is 'EARLY DOOR'.

'makes' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?