Early Entry Returns!!!!

[JillU-DVC]

Just saw this newsflash on WDWINFO.com:

Disney Announces "Extra Magic Hour"!

Disney is bringing back early entry as the "Extra Magic Hour" as of October 1, 2002. This feature is for Disney Resort guests only and includes guests staying at the Walt Disney World Swan/Dolphin Hotels and the Hilton at Lake Buena Vista Hotel. The "Extra Magic Hour" will be one hour prior to the regularly scheduled park opening hours on specific dates. Please note below each park's scheduled "Extra Magic Hour" days are as follows:

Sunday -----Magic Kingdom
Monday -----Disney's Animal Kingdom
Tuesday----- Disney's MGM Studios
Wednesday --Epcot
Thursday -----Magic Kingdom
Friday ---------Disney's Animal Kingdom
Saturday------- Disney's MGM Studios

As part of this change Disney will be discontinuing their Character Caravan as of September 30, 2002. This will be the final day for the caravan.

 

[Nanajo1]

I guess Disney likes to keep us off guard! Just when they about convinced us that the carvans are better and what we wanted, they tell us" No, you really want to get in the parks earlier!" I know some folks will be very happy about this change.

 

[lodgelady]

YES!!!

 

[Denine]

Yeah!!!!!!

 

[baileybrad]

I am curious as to whom Disney convinced that the CC was what we wanted and was better than EE.???

The return of EE will not cause us to alter our plans to stay at VV in early December. I hope that this EE is similar to the past version with some of the attractions included, especially Fanstasyland in the MK. That was a great thing for folks with little ones.

 

[BCVOwner2002]

I'm psyched!! We have always enjoyed getting into the parks early. Now that we purchased DVC, this is an added bonus! DH and I like waking up early and walking around the park during EE. Glad to know it will be returning!!

 

[disney queen]

this isn't just a test is it?

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

Now if we can only convince them the DVCers need EEE (extra early entry).

 

[laughinplace199]

I'm soooooo happy! We are going from Oct. 5-12! What a pleasant surprise!

 

[Bojo]

YES! I hope this is true! We, too, are going in Oct. and were bummed about the demise of EE.

 

[auntsue]

Without Early Entry, what was the draw to pay top dollar to stay onsite?

We are not early risers, and have never used it, but I think it's about time it returned for those who did.

Didn't it use to be two hours early?

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by auntsue
Didn't it use to be two hours early?

I remember 90 minutes. But if might have varied at different times of the year.

 

[Mick&Min2001]

Also, I don't know if you other October DVCers noticed but they extended the hours at MK for the first two weeks of October also with either Fireworks or Spectro every night.

 

[WDWguru]

Originally posted by Horace Horsecollar
I remember 90 minutes. But if might have varied at different times of the year.

It was always officially one hour, but they usually opened the gates anywhere from two hours to 90 minutes early. Hopefully they'll do that again!

 

[POOH&PIGLET]

 

[mb168]

I'm going to Food and Wine next month. May have to take advantage of it.

I've wondered about EE verses CC. Lets see, with EE, people come into the parks and spend money for another hour or so. With CC, um, well no money was made. I had always wondered about it too becaus Disney's rational was, parents didn't like wasting time in the park standing in line to see characters so they "save time" by being able to see them at the resort. (If you were there on the right day). When I stayed at the VWL in July, we were there fom Thur night thru Sun. CC didn't come til Sun, the day we leave. The kids had had enough Disney and werent as excited. The other thing was who came. Pluto, Gideon, and some bad guy I didn't even know. My kids don't want to have a picture with Gideon. They wanna see Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, etc. Sooooo, we stand in line at the park and waste "park time" to get a pic of the Mic!!!!!

BTW, when we were there last year when EE was there, the parks opened at 9:30 but EE was at 8:00.

 

[Love Tigger]

YES!!!!!

I was extremely upset when they discontinued EE as it was a deciding factor for DH & me to stay on-site for our first trip and every trip thereafter until we purchased DVC. We have always made use of EE when it was available. We saw CC only once during last December from across the lobby and there was no way I was going to go over to it. It was a madhouse!

 

[Deb T.]

YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am THRILLED that early entry is back!!!!!

 

[Tigger1]

Know I will feel like I need to get up early. I was looking forward to the sleeping in and meeting the characters at the bus stops. i guess they figured they wouldnt be able to get me away from the bus stops.

Tigger

 

[EROS]

We never used it BEFORE it was abolished ........