AK will stay open till 1am every night from May 27 to July 4

[Madonna3]

I can't imagine AK will feel empty at any time of the day (ok, well maybe except at 7am!) once Pandora opens and the crush of the summer simultaneously hits. Rivers of Light and Pandora will surely succeed at their goal of keeping guests around for all parts of the day.

I was initially concerned about the "select resorts" thing, but it was pointed out to me that Disney's description of Extra Magic Hours themselves uses the same "select" language, and this is never restricted by resort. https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/extra-magic-hours/

I thought the same thing and I am hoping this is true. I wonder if they mean select to exclude the "Good Neighbor" hotels.

 

[Madonna3]

I'm surprised they are trying late hours again at AK after last summer. It was awesome being in AK late, but they had to have lost money with as few guests were there after ten. We had Dinoland to ourselves one night, and once I walked through the entire queue of KS with no one else at all.

Maybe Pandora will be enough to bring crowds late, and with everyone concentrated in one area, it may feel more crowded.

I am a little concerned about the "select resorts" thing. It would be nice if this were announced in time to let us make plans for it. I remember that the fastpass testing was limited to select resorts and we were lucky enough to be in the chosen group at POR, but I will be annoyed if some guests get to do this and I don't. I imagine others would feel the same.

Late hours at AK failed because there was nothing to do. I went to late hours at AK once or twice and honestly, we were so bored. There wasn't enough to hold our attention. However, now, you have a land that was MADE for the dark. I can't imagine I would be as bored.

 

[SaharanTea]

Late hours at AK failed because there was nothing to do. I went to late hours at AK once or twice and honestly, we were so bored. There wasn't enough to hold our attention. However, now, you have a land that was MADE for the dark. I can't imagine I would be as bored.

Disagree! (though I understand your point) We had a great time last summer. My son and I rode EE so many times while my wife took my daughter over to the Triceratops. It was one of our best moments last summer. Though, I don't think that's what Disney had in mind.

Again, to your point, Pandora looks a like a true nighttime area.

 

[Madonna3]

Disagree! (though I understand your point) We had a great time last summer. My son and I rode EE so many times while my wife took my daughter over to the Triceratops. It was one of our best moments last summer. Though, I don't think that's what Disney had in mind.

Again, to your point, Pandora looks a like a true nighttime area.

I'm confused. You say you disagree, but understand my point. AKL after hours did not have the capacity to be a nighttime park at the time they tested this. Their evening show, Jungle Book, received poor reviews (even thought I sort of liked it), their street party atmosphere was contained to a very small part of the park, animal exhibits remained open, but lack of lighting made them hard to see, and other attractions had limited run times.

So, because you got to ride EE a bunch of times, that must mean it was successful?

 

[SaharanTea]

I'm confused. You say you disagree, but understand my point. AKL after hours did not have the capacity to be a nighttime park at the time they tested this. Their evening show, Jungle Book, received poor reviews (even thought I sort of liked it), their street party atmosphere was contained to a very small part of the park, animal exhibits remained open, but lack of lighting made them hard to see, and other attractions had limited run times.

So, because you got to ride EE a bunch of times, that must mean it was successful?

Sorry, no, I wasn't trying to call you wrong at all. I was just saying my family had a blast. I didn't mean to suggest it was a success from Disney's (or anyone else's) standpoint. It was a success to my own personal preferences--there weren't many people there.

And I understood your point that you were bored. Apparently, so were a lot of people because they weren't there. Again, that made it better for the few of us there.

I thought Jungle Book Live was just OK, and we didn't bother with much of anything else. So, again, your point stands. It was not successful by almost any other measure.

 

[Madonna3]

Sorry, no, I wasn't trying to call you wrong at all. I was just saying my family had a blast. I didn't mean to suggest it was a success from Disney's (or anyone else's) standpoint. It was a success to my own personal preferences--there weren't many people there.

And I understood your point that you were bored. Apparently, so were a lot of people because they weren't there. Again, that made it better for the few of us there.

I thought Jungle Book Live was just OK, and we didn't bother with much of anything else. So, again, your point stands. It was not successful by almost any other measure.

Thanks for the clarification. I admit riding EE a bunch of time in a row was cool for us too, but after an hour, we were ready to find something else to do and were somewhat disappointed.

I'm so looking forward to this expansion.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

I can't imagine AK will feel empty at any time of the day (ok, well maybe except at 7am!) once Pandora opens and the crush of the summer simultaneously hits. Rivers of Light and Pandora will surely succeed at their goal of keeping guests around for all parts of the day.

I was initially concerned about the "select resorts" thing, but it was pointed out to me that Disney's description of Extra Magic Hours themselves uses the same "select" language, and this is never restricted by resort. https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/extra-magic-hours/

Sorry, no, I wasn't trying to call you wrong at all. I was just saying my family had a blast. I didn't mean to suggest it was a success from Disney's (or anyone else's) standpoint. It was a success to my own personal preferences--there weren't many people there.

And I understood your point that you were bored. Apparently, so were a lot of people because they weren't there. Again, that made it better for the few of us there.

I thought Jungle Book Live was just OK, and we didn't bother with much of anything else. So, again, your point stands. It was not successful by almost any other measure.

It was an enormous success by my standards (though certainly not by those of Disney). I had some of my best theme park times ever at AK last summer. Being there with so few really gave us the opportunity to truly take time and enjoy all the park had to offer. No boredom with our family.

 

[thorphin]

It was an enormous success by my standards (though certainly not by those of Disney). I had some of my best theme park times ever at AK last summer. Being there with so few really gave us the opportunity to truly take time and enjoy all the park had to offer. No boredom with our family.

My dream is a special ticket that you could purchase to walk through any given theme park for a couple hours late at night. Keep the park open, close all the attractions and keep a restroom or two open. I'd gladly pay $25 for that. It would obviously never happen because of security considerations/costs, but it's fun to dream about.

 

[DVCCarly]

My dream is a special ticket that you could purchase to walk through any given theme park for a couple hours late at night. Keep the park open, close all the attractions and keep a restroom or two open. I'd gladly pay $25 for that. It would obviously never happen because of security considerations/costs, but it's fun to dream about.

Have you read Lurkyloo's travel reports on her site?! Disney Travel Babble, she does a bunch of celebrations that include ride mixins that mostly take place after hours! You should check it out, they are awesome!

 

[thorphin]

Have you read Lurkyloo's travel reports on her site?! Disney Travel Babble, she does a bunch of celebrations that include ride mixins that mostly take place after hours! You should check it out, they are awesome!

I haven't read much, but I did get sucked into her Universe of Energy post last week. So jealous! That would have been simply amazing. After reading that, I had to stop reading and go back to my actual, real trip planning, which seems miraculous enough for me!

 

[Madonna3]

My dream is a special ticket that you could purchase to walk through any given theme park for a couple hours late at night. Keep the park open, close all the attractions and keep a restroom or two open. I'd gladly pay $25 for that. It would obviously never happen because of security considerations/costs, but it's fun to dream about.

They sort of have that now, but the price is closer to $75 per person.

 

[thorphin]

They sort of have that now, but the price is closer to $75 per person.

What ticket is that?

 

[Madonna3]

What ticket is that?

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...ghts-return-to-magic-kingdom-park-january-20/

 

[thorphin]

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...ghts-return-to-magic-kingdom-park-january-20/

Ah. yeah, that would be a lot of fun too, if it were ever offered!

 

[Madonna3]

Ah. yeah, that would be a lot of fun too, if it were ever offered!

Well it went away and then came back, so keep your fingers crossed.