If you’ve ever given thought to staying at Disney World deluxe resort, the House of Mouse is now sweetening the pot with new Disney World extended evening hours. As the name implies, Disney’s extended evening hours offer guests the opportunity to enter or stay late in one of its parks after hours. With recent years seeing an increasing number of visitors to the parks, this special perk could help you make better use of your time as you visit Disney World theme parks. However, you’ll only benefit from this perk by selecting one of Disney’s top tier hotels for your stay.
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Exploring Extended Evening Theme Park Hours at Disney World
In a new Disney era where added perks require more vacation dollars, the Extended Evening Theme Park Hours won’t be met with enthusiasm by every traveler. The cost for a single night at a deluxe resort can come in at more than double other on-property hotels, adding up to a hefty bill for the after-hours privilege.
However, it’s important to distinguish between Disney World Extended Evening Hours and other after hours events. The following after-hours openings require a separate ticket purchse:
- Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
- Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
- Disney After Hours
On the other hand, Disney Extended Evening Hours puts guests at deluxe resorts in the parks up to 2 hours after official park closing. Guests are issued a wrist band either upon entry or after scanning their MagicBand or MagicMobile pass at one of the distribution stations throughout the parks. You will be asked to show this wristband upon entering rides to prove you are eiligible to attend extended evening hours.
At present, Disney extended evening hours are only available at EPCOT and Magic Kingdom and only for select nights. However, there are times when Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom may offer extended evening hours, mainly when Magic Kingdom is hosting a number of ticketed after hours events. Such times usually include Christmas and Halloween.
When utilizing Disney extended evening hours, guests have the opportunity to experience the parks for two hours post closing. When we have taken advantage of the opportunity, we’ve found low or quite manageable wait times on popular attractions, such as Test Track or Frozen, particularly when we reserved these rides for later in the night.
Disney World Resorts Eligible for Extended Evening Theme Park Hours and Other Added Perks of a Disney Deluxe Stay
Disney resorts come in 3 flavors: value, moderate and deluxe. Deluxe resorts grace the upper tier, offering a true hotel experience with a few added perks, such as bigger rooms and more upscale furnishings. Some even offer added amenities such as the chance to view your own African Savannah from your balcony or the chance to watch Magic Kingdom Fireworks from your hotel balcony or pool.
Admittance to Disney extended evening hours is also now included in the cost of your deluxe resort stay. You’ll gain the incredible opportunity to experience the parks with drastically fewer crowds, without having to purchase separate tickets for your party. If you planned to book a Disney deluxe resort for your trip, this is an obvious perk. However, for guests who have 5 or more their party, booking a deluxe resort could have some less evident advantages.
For one thing, few of Disney’s moderate or value resorts can accommodate 5 people in a single room. To circumvent this, some guests have opted to book 2 separate rooms. However, by the time you pay for 2 rooms at a moderate resort, you may be paying more than you would to book a deluxe stay.
Beyond cost advantages, deluxe resorts offer a better array of amenities, including;
- Proximity to parks: Many of Disney’s deluxe resorts are located near a theme park. Disney’s Beach Club, Yacht Club and Boardwalk Inn, for instance, are within walking distance to EPCOT.
- Larger Room Sizes: Rooms at Deluxe Resorts are typically larger and more luxurious than those at other resort levels, offering additional comfort and amenities.Room views: Several of Disney’s deluxe resorts boast theme park views and fireworks viewing right from your hotel
- Transportation options: Enhanced transportation options including monorail service and watercraft are typically more readily available at Deluxe Resorts, offering easier access to various destinations across Walt Disney World.
- Health and Wellness Options: Deluxe Resorts are some of the only hotels on Disney property to include fitness centers, spas, and wellness services, providing plenty of options to relax and rejuvenate.
- Exceptional Service: The level of personal service at Deluxe Resorts is generally higher, with amenities such as concierge services to help with dining reservations, tour bookings, and more.
Here is the complete list of resorts eligible for Disney extended evening hours.
Disney Deluxe Resorts
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Disney’s Beach Club Resort
- Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
- Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts
- Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
- Disney’s Beach Club Villas
- Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
- Disney’s Old Key West Resort
- Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
- Disney’s Riviera Resort
- Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
- The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort – A Disney Vaction Club Resort
- The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Other Select Hotels
- Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
- Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
- Walt Disney World Swan Reserve
- Shades of Green® on Walt Disney World®
If you’re thinking about staying at one of the resorts listed above, you now have another reason to add to your list of pros.
And if you think a deluxe resort stay is out of your budget, be sure to look for resort room discounts, consider our money saving tips and learn how you can cut dollars off the cost of a Disney World vacation. We’re on a mission to simplify your vacation planning and help you have a more enjoyable trip to Disney World.
Let us help you find the deluxe resort of your Disney dreams. Kathleen Hesketh, mom of the mother daughter travel team, is a travel agent with Mickey World Travel. I can help you find hotel discounts and the resort that fits your need, while also offering a host of Disney World vacation planning tips, guidance and advice.
To receive a no obligation Disney World quote, clear here to be taken to our quote form. Be sure to put “deluxe resorts” in the notes section.
Guide to Attractions Open During Disney’s Extended Evening Hours
Here is another important thing to know about Extended Evening Theme Park Hours. Not every attraction will be open during the event, but the most popular are. Select merchandise and food establishments will also remain open during Extended Evening Theme Park Hours.
Here are the attractions you can currently expect to experience:
Magic Kingdom Park
- “it’s a small world”
- Astro Orbiter
- Barnstormer
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
- Country Bear Jamboree
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Haunted Mansion
- Mad Tea Party
- Mickey’s PhilharMagic
- Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- Space Mountain
- Swiss Family Treehouse
- The Barnstormer
- The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Tomorrowland Speedway
- Tron: Lightcycle Run
- Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid
- Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
Epcot
- Frozen Ever After
- Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (subject to virtual queue)
- Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana
- Mission: SPACE
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
- Soarin’ Around the World
- Spaceship Earth
- Test Track
- The Seas with Nemo & Friends
In addition, guests who attend Disney World extended evening hours are eligible to book a spot in the virtual queue for both Tron: Lightcycle Run (Magic Kingdom) and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (EPCOT).
Simply open your My Disney Experience app around 5:58 pm. At 6:00, tap on virtual queue, select your party, and keep your fingers crossed. If you make it into the virtual queue, you’ll be given a boarding position and approximate time to ride. When your boarding position opens, you’ll receive a push notification to your phone via the app. From there, you’ll have an hour to tap into the queue for the ride.
Disney, of course, wants you to realize that the list of available attractions is subject to change as weather-related or other closures might impact the list above.
Comparing Extended Evening Hours to Early Theme Park Entry
In addition to extended evening hours, Disney World also offers Early Theme Park Entry. While both offer extended time in the parks, there are some key distinctions to note.
First, extended evening hours are exclusively available to guests staying at Disney Deluxe Resorts or Deluxe Villas, offering an opportunity to enjoy the parks for up to two hours after the regular closing times. This perk is especially valuable for visitors who prefer exploring the parks in a less crowded, more relaxed environment during the later hours of the day. In contrast, Early Theme Park Entry is available to all Disney Resort guests, including those staying at Value and Moderate Resorts, allowing them entry 30 minutes before the parks open to the general public.
Disney World Extended Evening Hours provide a more exclusive experience, typically with shorter wait times for attractions, as fewer guests are eligible to attend. However, Early Theme Park Entry can be beneficial for those who prefer to start their day early and enjoy cooler morning temperatures. This program is particularly advantageous for tackling popular attractions before the parks become more crowded, although it offers a shorter extra time compared to Extended Evening Hours.
Both options enhance the guest experience by providing more convenient access to attractions, but the choice between them may depend on your personal schedule preferences, the type of resort you’ choose, and how you plan to manage your park time. Extended Evening Hours might be the better option for night owls or those seeking a more laid-back park experience, while Early Theme Park Entry could appeal more to early risers and families looking to maximize their day from start to finish.
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