Someone may say differently, but from what I read and asked you must pay to get into the park. From my understanding it would be hard to keep track of people after that point. I was hoping we could as well. We are going to have tickets but not the hopper option so we want reservations then we are going to have to commit to going to that park that day. Its hard to plan in advance without knowing when the extra magic hours will be,.
You can eat with Cinderella at 1900 park Fare for dinner at the Grand Floridian. No need for a park ticket there. You can see mickey, minnie, goofy, chip and dale at Chef mickeys at the Contemporary. No need for park ticket there either.