Another opening hours question

[leeroy1798]

Hello all,
Sorry if this has been asked - I have checked but can't see any specific posts.
I've seen somewhere that deluxe resorts not only get earlier park entry but they also get additional time in the evenings.
I'm aware the park and day changes but does anyone know how late they stay open (if at all).
We're desperate to do Pandora in AK in the dark again and really want to recreate a photo in the Tangled area of MK (last time we tried, it was closed before the fireworks).
TIA

 

[CarolynFH]

Guests at Deluxe resorts are allowed to stay in the given park for 2 hours after closing. It’s usually only 2 parks per week, mostly but not always Epcot on Mondays and MK on Wednesdays. But during Halloween and Christmas party season at MK, AK is sometimes open late, but other times Epcot has been open twice in a week. See more information here: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/extended-evening/.

 

[leeroy1798]

That's great, thanks.
Do you know how that works?
Do you have to go out and back in our something?

 

[CarolynFH]

That's great, thanks.
Do you know how that works?
Do you have to go out and back in our something?

For DEEH, if you're already in the park, you don't have to leave. But after the park closes to regular guests, the CM at the entrance to each attraction's line will scan your MB or ticket card to confirm that you're staying at a Deluxe resort before letting you enter the line.

 

[LKing]

For DEEH, if you're already in the park, you don't have to leave. But after the park closes to regular guests, the CM at the entrance to each attraction's line will scan your MB or ticket card to confirm that you're staying at a Deluxe resort before letting you enter the line.

Do they not actively remove non deluxe resort guests? Would a non deluxe resort guest be able to walk around, shop, eat, take pictures, etc. without going on any rides?

 

[CarolynFH]

Do they not actively remove non deluxe resort guests? Would a non deluxe resort guest be able to walk around, shop, eat, take pictures, etc. without going on any rides?

It's been a couple of years since we had opportunity to enjoy DEEH, but I don't remember any push to empty the parks of non-Deluxe guests as there is on party nights at MK. I can't say with confidence that everything except rides would be open to non-Deluxe guests - I have a vague memory of reading that people weren't allowed to enter the shops unless they were Deluxe guests, but I can't remember whether that was for a party or for DEEH.

 

[LKing]

It's been a couple of years since we had opportunity to enjoy DEEH, but I don't remember any push to empty the parks of non-Deluxe guests as there is on party nights at MK. I can't say with confidence that everything except rides would be open to non-Deluxe guests - I have a vague memory of reading that people weren't allowed to enter the shops unless they were Deluxe guests, but I can't remember whether that was for a party or for DEEH.

Thanks. It doesn't apply to the days that I will be there. I was just curious how it works.

 

[elvispursley]

Just to add that very very few places to eat are open, just a few random snack carts. And at Epcot, they close off part of world show case (china to France IIRC). So other than shop
And wait for the transportation lines to drop, there really isn’t an incentive to stay in the park. The main gift shops are open an hour after park close anyway. We find we can get a lot done during these hours and half the time leave before they’re finished.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Also, guests tend to leave as many resort guests who are staying at non-deluxe resorts require transportation back to their resorts which won't be offered later in the evening.

 

[buzz1fan]

Is there a link that shows the deluxe hours schedule?

 

[leeroy1798]

Is there a link that shows the deluxe hours schedule?

If you install the Disney World app, you can see the opening hours for each park. I'm guessing the days with the deluxe hours are those where the park is open late e.g. MK is open for park hopper until 2200 tonight (so I'm guessing that's 0000 for deluxe)

 

[DoleFloatAddict]

Sorry to piggyback. How are the lines at EEH?

 

[Mle8308]

Sorry to piggyback. How are the lines at EEH?

At Epcot, they can still be long, especially now since Test Track and the boat ride in Mexico is closed (though it will be open again in March??? - boat not Test Track). Regular park guests can get in line up until close, so Remy and Frozen will still be cycling through day guests for about 45 minutes. Guardians is still a VQ (join at 6pm), so no standby but the VQ line moves quickly. I don't find the Epcot EEH to be as "worth it" as the MK. In general, the first hour the lines are moderate, the second the lines are pretty short - more so MK because there is more to do. We were there in the fall the two weeks they transitioned the EEH to DHS from the MK, that was nice. We were able to do EEH at MK, DHS, and Epcot.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Do they not actively remove non deluxe resort guests? Would a non deluxe resort guest be able to walk around, shop, eat, take pictures, etc. without going on any rides?

For the most part, dining and shops are closed. I think I saw one snack kiosk at Epcot that was open (pretzels?), and the fish shop in UK stays open for a short period. I suppose others can take pictures if they wanted, but the overwhelming majority of people just leave.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Sorry to piggyback. How are the lines at EEH?

A bit variable. One thing though is that at park close the POSTED waits for the big rides are, IME, wildly inflated.

In Epcot, there isn't all that much to do. To get to Remy, you have to walk to the back of the park.

At the very end of the night, if weather is nice, a small surge of people get in line for Remy and 7D. A good bet is to be there about 15min before the end of the night. Remy gets pretty empty, but 7D continues to have some wait. Most rides are wlak-on.

There is no certainty of good weather. Multiple times we have had bad luck for weather. Epcot is less appealing if there's a thunderstorm w/ downpour.

Mostly though, wait times drop off quickly without the LL's.

There is a 6pm drop for the VQ rides.