Extra Magic Hour evening schedule tests

Apr 19, 2004 in "Early Theme Parks Entry and Extended Evening Hours"

Posted: Monday April 19, 2004 by WDWMAGIC Staff
Walt Disney World theme parks will test a varied Extra Magic Hour schedule from May 9-22 to include time in both the early morning and evening. (The Extra Magic Hour offering lets many on-property Guests enjoy particular theme parks for an extra morning hour before the participating park opens to other Guests.)

Many Guests utilizing the Extra Magic Hour offering have requested the opportunity to enjoy this benefit in the evening, as well in the morning hours.

The revised schedule will give Guests eight opportunities to enjoy the Extra Magic Hour each week (one hour prior to and as many as three hours after regularly scheduled park hours). Guests staying at Disney-owned-and-operated resorts, as well as those staying at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, or the Lake Buena Vista Hilton, may enjoy both the morning and evening Extra Magic Hours at no charge with valid theme park admission. Guests staying at Shades of Green may participate in the morning offering only.

Guests using single-day tickets must visit the theme park presenting the Extra Magic Hour on that day to enjoy the offering, while Guests using multi-day and park-hopping tickets may visit any Disney theme park during the day and still enjoy the evening Extra Magic Hour at the participating theme park.

The Extra Magic Hour schedule will be available at www.disneyworld.com on the Internet and in Guests' World Update publication.

Admittance: From May 9 through May 22, the Extra Magic Hour schedule will allow Guests staying at select Walt Disney World Resorts time in our Theme Parks in both the early morning and evening.

Morning Extra Magic Hour occurs one hour prior to regularly scheduled Park opening and Guests will need to present a valid Key to the World Card at the park's turnstiles.

Resort Guests wishing to enjoy Evening Extra Magic Hours should obtain a wristband at one of the following by presenting a valid Key to the World Card:

At the Main Entrance turnstile no sooner than three hours prior to Park close. At select locations throughout the park no sooner than two hours prior to Park close.


Offerings by Day of Week (May 9-22)

Sunday - Epcot (evening)
Monday - Disney's Animal Kingdom (morning)
Tuesday - Disney-MGM Studios (evening)
Wednesday - Epcot (morning); Magic Kingdom (evening)
Thursday - Disney's Animal Kingdom (evening)
Friday - Magic Kingdom (morning)
Saturday - Disney-MGM Studios (morning)

Morning Attractions Available:
Note: Park hours, entertainment and information are subject to change without notice.

Magic Kingdom®Park:

Astro Orbiter
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
Cinderella's Golden Carrousel
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
"it's a small world"
Mad Tea Party
Main Street vehicles
Peter Pan's Flight
Space Mountain®
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Tomorrowland Indy Speedway
Tomorrowland Transit Authority


Epcot®:

Spaceship Earth
Test Track
Universe of Energy
Mission: SPACE®


Disney-MGM Studios:

Jim Henson's Muppet*Vision 3-D
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster®Starring Aerosmith
Star Tours
The Twilight Zone Tower of TerrorTM


Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park:

Discovery Island® Trails
It's Tough to be a Bug!®
Kilimanjaro Safaris®
Pangani Forest Exploration Trail®
The Tree of Life


Evening Attractions Available:
Note: Park hours, entertainment and information are subject to change without notice.

Magic Kingdom® Park:

Astro Orbiter
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
Cinderella's Golden Carrousel
Country Bear Jamboree
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
The Haunted Mansion
"it's a small world"
Jungle Cruise
Mad Tea Party
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Mickey's PhilharMagic
Peter Pan's Flight
Pirates of the Caribbean
Space Mountain®
Splash Mountain
Swiss Family Treehouse
Tomorrowland Indy Speedway
Tomorrowland Transit Authority


Epcot®:

El Rio del Tiempo
Honey, I Shrunk the Audience
Journey into Imagination
The Living Seas
Living with the Land
The Maelstrom
Mission: SPACE
Spaceship Earth, Test Track, Universe of Energy


Disney-MGM Studios:

The Great Movie Ride
Jim Henson's Muppet*Vision 3-D
The Magic of Disney Animation
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
Sounds Dangerous - Starring Drew Carey
Star Tours
The Twilight Zone Tower of TerrorTM
Voyage of the Little Mermaid
Walt Disney: One Man's Dream


Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park:

The Boneyard
Festival of the Lion King
It's Tough to be a Bug!®
Kali River Rapids
Kilimanjaro Safaris®
Primeval Whirl
Tarzan Rocks!
Tree of Life
Triceratop Spin

FAQ's
2. Will the morning and evening experiences be the same?

No. The attractions available during the morning and evening Extra Magic Hours offerings will be slightly different based on the number of Guests we anticipate attending each event.


3. Who can attend Extra Magic Hours in the evening?

Both the morning and evening Extra Magic Hours will be available from May 9 through May 22 to Guests staying at Disney owned and operated resorts, as well as Guests staying at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin and the Lake Buena Vista Hilton. Guests staying at Shades of Green may participate in the morning offering only.


4. Is there an additional charge or separate ticket required for Extra Magic Hours?

The offering is at no additional charge for eligible Guests with valid theme park admission. Guests using single-day ticket media will need to visit the theme park offering Extra Magic Hours on that day to enjoy the offering while Guests using multi-day and park-hopping tickets can visit any Disney theme park prior to attending the evening Extra Magic Hours.


5. Where will the schedule for both the morning and evening offerings be available?

The schedule and available attractions for the Extra Magic Hours offering for May 9 through May 22 will be available to eligible Guests on a designated URL on disneyworld.com and in the World Update.


6. Why is the evening offering three hours as opposed to only one hour in the morning?

As we anticipate more Guests wishing to experience the evening Extra Magic Hours offering, we have planned additional time for Guests to enjoy certain attractions with a minimal wait time.


7. Will FASTPASS be available?

FASTPASS will be offered during the evening Extra Magic Hours as needed on certain attractions. Because of the reduced number of Guests in the park during the morning offerings, we do not offer FASTPASS during the morning offering.


8. Is this replacing E-Ride Nights at the Magic Kingdom?

No. This summer, the Magic Kingdom will be offering E-Ride Nights on certain dates.


9. Why are we only doing this for two weeks?

Many Guests told us that they wished they had the opportunity to enjoy Extra Magic Hours in the evening, as well as in the morning hours. To fully understand the impact of the later hours, we need to test the revised schedule for two weeks.


10. How are we communicating this change to eligible Guests?

Guests staying at a Disney-owned and operated resort will be notified by postcard before their arrival of this change to assist them with planning their stay, which will direct them to website with details of the offerings. The schedule and details of the offering will also be distributed to resort Guests with the World Update.


11. I have a dining reservation for breakfast in a theme park on a morning when they would have typically offered Extra Magic Hour, but won’t now because of this change? What do I do?

Dining locations at the theme park will honor existing reservations and will operate as if the park was offering Extra Magic Hour.


12. What dining options will be available during the evening Extra Magic Hour?

Certain dining locations will operate in each park during the evening Extra Magic Hours. Information regarding the locations that will operate can be obtained by visiting Theme Park Guest Relations or the Resort Guest Services desk. Guests wishing to book priority seating for table dining during the evening Extra Magic Hours may do so at the specific location.


13. Will transportation be available later in the evening for resort Guests?

Yes. During the test, WDW Transportation will extend their service hours from the theme park offering Extra Magic Hours.


14. I have heard rumors about this. Will the evening Extra Magic Hour become a permanent offering?

At this time, we have adjusted the Extra Magic Hour offering for a limited time from May 9 through May 22. We will share details about future offerings once we a decision has been made.


15. I know that most Magical Gatherings Guests are staying at a Disney resort. Will Magical Gatherings Guests who are already in a park, but are not staying at a Disney resort, be allowed to stay for the evening Extra Magic Hour?

During this test, all Magical Gathering Guests staying in a Walt Disney World Resort hotel that offers the Extra Magic Hours benefit will be eligible to stay in the evening Extra Magic Hour. Other Guests would not be eligible for this offering.


16. How will the park exit work for Guests who are not eligible to remain for the evening Extra Magic Hours?

Park exits will occur similar as they do today. Guests who are not eligible for the Extra Magic Hours benefit will be directed to the park exit upon park close. Locations near the entrance of each park, such as merchandise locations, will follow current closing procedures, which allow Guests some additional time beyond park close.


17. If the morning Extra Magic Hour changes, will resort Guests still be allowed to enter the park early if they arrive before the scheduled operating hours?

No. Guests will be notified of the change to the Extra Magic hour before arrival and again on check-in via the World Update. If the location changes for the Extra Magic Hour and a resort Guest is not aware of this, the resort Guest will be provided with the revised schedule.

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