Early entry vs extended evening hours?

[5disneymama]

We typically have always followed the same schedule for our trips.

We tend to RD and hit the headliners, then go through a late lunch and usually head back to the resort sometime between 1:00-4:00. We often just hang out/swim/get to bed. Sometimes will go back to a park or DS.

However, I have several kids and for all of our trips, they’ve been fairly young, so waking up early was natural and needing to go to bed early-ish was important.

This trip, my kids will be between ages 9-18 and all tend to stay up late at home. At first, in planning our May trip, I was thinking we would take advantage of the 30 minute early entry option. But now I am wondering if we should focus more on the Extended Evening Hours? Can we hit a lot of headliners in those couple of hours?

Our priority for early entry or extended evening really is rides, so I guess I’m hoping to get a sense of which option would allow us more rides with short wait times?

Thank you!

 

[loves to dive]

While I rarely do either, I have found if riding rides evening seems to be better. It might be just my perception but since early morning is open to all guests at resorts and late evenings just to deluxe, there seems to be less people.

 

[coasternut22]

I highly recommend Deluxe evening hours for MK. Very low waits and it’s really cool to be in the park when it’s so empty.

For Epcot, because it’s so spread out, I consider Deluxe hours to just be bonus time and to get on what I can. The lines for Remy, TT, and Frozen do back up and it’s tough to get on all three in one night. I also find I can get on the rides in the Land, Seas, and Figment very easily in the morning, so those are not a priority during Deluxe hours unless I actually want to ride them completely alone. Again if I get on a couple of rides at Epcot, I’m fine. It’s definitely worth trying to get that 6pm drop for Guardians.

 

[5disneymama]

Thanks! I think we will lean toward the evening hours.

As far as the 6pm Guardians VQ, do we need to have Epcot as our reserved park for the day? Or physically be inside the park at that time? Or can we try for it regardless?

 

[CarolynFH]

Thanks! I think we will lean toward the evening hours.

As far as the 6pm Guardians VQ, do we need to have Epcot as our reserved park for the day? Or physically be inside the park at that time? Or can we try for it regardless?

As long as you have valid admission to Epcot (an Epcot reservation or park hopper privileges and entered your reserved park already) and are staying at a Deluxe resort, you can try at 6 PM from anywhere. We got one while at dinner at Beaches & Cream.

 

[5disneymama]

As long as you have valid admission to Epcot (an Epcot reservation or park hopper privileges and entered your reserved park already) and are staying at a Deluxe resort, you can try at 6 PM from anywhere. We got one while at dinner at Beaches & Cream.

Thank you! That’s great.