Best plan for Extra Magic Hours

[belledreamer]

My dad and I are taking our first trip together just me and him in about three weeks! And one of our days (the day we're in Magic Kingdom) we get Extra Magic Hours at night!

But in the 15+ times we've been to Disney, we've NEVER done Extra Magic Hours...

I know, we're weird...

So I'd love to know, what's doing Extra Magic Hours like? What's all involved with it? What are the best things to do when you have Extra Magic Hours in MK at night?

 

[tami82]

I was wondering this same thing plus on our arrival there is also Spectromagic. Is it better to go on the rides and are the lines shorter from people waiting to see spectro???

 

[yankeefan46]

Extra Magic Hours are great! No sun, less crowds and all the best rides are open! You'll get to do Splash and Big Thunder Mountains after a moving line, not one you stand idle in for an hour. Fantasyland and Toon town are closed, as is Tom Sawyer Island. But most other rides stay open. EMH's extend to three hours after official closing time. There are also restaurants and gift shops that stay open. And Disney transportation (including trams) stays open until one hour after EMH ends.

The best advice I can give is to keep your room key/Keys to the Kingdom card handy. Disney used to give out bracelets that allowed you entrance to rides, but they did away with it. Perhaps a lanyard, or a button-closed pocket might be best because you will have to show proof that you are a Disney guest at EVERY attraction.

Have a blast!!!!

 

[bsbrady]

Im not sure what the hours are, if they are the late ones, like 2 or 3 am. I would make sure you rest a little after dinner. Get to MK for wishes and take your time. Usually by 1 hour after wishes is over the park really empties.

 

[DisTwix]

What a fun trip!!!

I think EMH are definitely worth it. I have some great memories of doing HM in the middle of the night, or getting to ride Splash 8 times in a row without getting off... the park just has a different sort of vibe for EMH - it's more of a party. I love it.

The only places that I remember being open are pretty much on Main Street - so don't think you'll be able to get a drink or snack somewhere out in the park. EMH allows you to sleep in a little, or park hop prior to hitting the park with the EMH.

If you've seen Spectromagic, and have no real desire to see it again, I would DEFINITELY make a plan to ride some specific rides during that time - and don't plan on going anywhere near Main St or the Castle, because it's impossible to get thru. If you haven't seen it, it might be worth staking out a spot a little ahead of time, getting some ice cream or pop corn or some other treat, and relaxing a little for the long night ahead. We usually camp out a good hour early. If you do this, make sure you camp out on the side of the park where you want to be - it will make it so much easier to just turn around and head toward whatever ride, since the majority of people will hang around the castle/Main St to see Wishes, and the whole joint gets log-jammed. Since it's EMH & Spectromagic, you can expect to see a bit more crowd than you might normally for the time of year. In Feb, it was PAAaaHHHHAAAACked, but once we cleared that traffic, there was NO ONE on Buzz... almost no line on Space Mountain...

Sounds like a great trip and I hope ya'll have a blast!