Are the parks staying open an extra 3 hours?

[jade1]

Star Tribune said select nights/parks would stay open an extra 3 hours. Is that actually happening yet? Is it no charge (if you are a guest)? Is it packed? Did they discontinue the $12.95 late night MK program?

 

[jade1]

Sorry, I meant this for Theme Parks-please move.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Yes they are if and only if you are staying onsite or at Swan/Dolphin and Shades of Green. Its called Extra Magic Hours...there is probably a page on www.wdwinfo.com (this site) that lists the hours.

There is no extra charge...and I have to say it was great!!! I got to avoid all the big rides during the day only to ride them with no wait that night.

 

[disney junky]

You can find a complete desciption of the benefit here:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/earlyentry.htm

 

[pumpkinboy]

This strikes me as E-Ride nights, without the fee, and reserved for on-site guests only. Would this be an accurate characterization?

 

[tjkraz]

This strikes me as E-Ride nights, without the fee, and reserved for on-site guests only. Would this be an accurate characterization?

I'd say that's fair, with the caveat that all WDW resort guests represent a much larger audience than the number of E-Ride tickets that WDW would reportedly sell. If memory serves, E-Ride nights were supposedly limited to about 5000. But the 20+ WDW resorts alone represent over 20,000 guest rooms. When occupancy rates are high, you have a potential audience comfortably in the 50,000 - 75,000 range.

So far I have seen reports of the night EMH parks being very busy and reports of them being not so busy. It may take time for patterns to emerge.

 

[MomsGoneGoofy]

I take it that this is in the trial phase. It would be nice if it continues.

We are going at the end of August when the parks close rather early. My DD has invited her girl friend to stay with us. This will be her friend's first visit to WDW and my DD was a little dissapointed when I reminded her that the parks close early when we will be there. So any exta time for them would be nice.

 

[tjkraz]

I take it that this is in the trial phase. It would be nice if it continues.

No, it is not a trial. A trial was conducted for two weeks in May '04. The EMH night hours were introduced as a full-time guest benefit beginning January 2, 2005. The schedule has already been released through March.

As to whether it will be offered year-round, that remains to be seen. Activities at the Magic Kingdom in October and December may diminish EMH hours at that park, but there's little reason they couldn't continue the perk at the other theme parks.

 

[Toadi]

I happened to be there in May when they were "testing" ... went to MGM at night and it was lots of fun. Not that many people .. but also noticed that the food kiosks were not open; hard to find water, etc. Not sure about EMH at AK tho' ... doesn't seem to me there's much to do in the dark at AK ...