early magic, extra magic? I'm getting a headache!

[jubileegirl]

I think I got my head around the morning early-entry thing! So for our July trip, and as we're staying 'off site', I've planned for us to visit all the parks on a non-early entry day. (I used MADEMAD to work out which park was early entry on which day. Hopefully that's still valid! Shout if it's not please!)

Now this extra magic hour has popped its head up over the horizon and I'm a bit confused! Is this right.......

1. Extra magic hour is at the end of the day and doesn't affect early entry. Early entry for Disney guests is still the same.

2. Allegedly there will be an extra magic hour in the MK on the date I had planned for us to go. The park is open until 10 pm on that date so can we stay until then and access all the rides? Does the extra magic happen after official park closing? What happens then? Will we be hustled out of the MK and or do the extra magic participants have wristbands or something to enable them to ride the attractions? How do they do it?

 

[LibertyBelle]

Currently the extended night time hours are only on a test run for May 9-22 so July as of right now will not be affected. Of COurse that could all change, but for right now July is scheduled just for the Morning Extra Magic Hour that you state you already understand

From May 9-22 they are doing a test run of some night time offereings, for those they have changed the extra times and days completely they are:
Sunday - Epcot (evening)
Monday - Disney's Animal Kingdom (morning)
Tuesday - Disney-MGM Studios (evening)
Wednesday - Epcot (morning); Magic Kingdom (evening)
Thursday - Disney's Animal Kingdom (evening)
Friday - Magic Kingdom (morning)
Saturday - Disney-MGM Studios (morning)

for those evening hours the guests using the park for the event will have wristbands and those without wristbands will be asked to leave the park at park closing just like the E-ride nights used to.

Again this is not something you have to worry about for July YET, it is just in a test phase for May right now.

 

[jubileegirl]

Thanks, Libertybelle!
This is the thread that started me wondering and worrying (hope it's OK to post it.)

http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=26211

I've no idea where the information came from though.

I'll just wait and see (and stop worrying!)

 

[LibertyBelle]

O' that is E Ride nights, that has nothing to do with Magic Mornings and Extra Hours... E-Ride is an after hours park event that takes place that is an additional charge for resort guests. The Magic Kingdom E-Ride Night event is offered to Disney Resort guests, Hotel Plaza Blvd., Swan, Dolphin and Shades of Green Guests must have one of the following tickets: Ultimate Park Hopper, All-In-One Hopper, Seasonal Pass, Annual Pass, Premium Annual Pass, 4 and 5 day Park Hopper, 5,6,7 Day Park Hopper Plus, Guest must also show a Resort ID in order to purchase tickets (tickets cost $12.00 per person 10 and older and $10 per person 3-9...a limited number of tickets are sold for this event, unlik the Extra hours where there is no limit no charge and any resort guest may participate...not just those with certain tickets). Guests must have used their pass on the day of the event in order to gain entry.

For your day in July that has E ride offered you will be able to utilize all the park amenites until the official park closing time, at that time only guests with wristbands (weristbands are issued when the ticket is exchanged) will be allowed to participate. Once the park officially closes to day guests they will ask anyone without a wristband to exit (security and other CM's are posted throughout the park to moniter that)...

 

[CharlesandCamilla]

At last report, e ride nights have been discontinued. When did they bring them back?

 

[LibertyBelle]

May 31 and July 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 26, 28, 30

these were just released as official e ride nights (not the extra hour thing, but true erides)

 

[jubileegirl]

So for off-site folk like us, is it the same scenario as e-ride procedure if it's the extra opening hour ie park open until whenever, at which point we will have to leave whilst onsite guests can stay ?

Does this also mean that offsite guests should avoid evening visits to whichever park is having e-ride/extra hours because the place will become fuller as the evening progresses rather than emptier?

I can see that my careful planning based on early entry is destined to go up in a cloud of smoke! I'm also glad I've been dithering about making any PS's as they too could end up needing changing! Is it always so complicated (but fun!) planning a Disney holiday? I'm actually enjoying every minute of it!

 

[McCall]

Hm, does not make sense that they would do E nights on the same nights they are "testing" extra magic hours in another park, I am think specifically of May 9 when Epcot is open to Midnight for extra magic hour guests, and they also seem to have E night in MK that night, does that really tell them anything about how the extra hours thing goes over?
Oh well. I'll be at EPCOT that night so no E night for me I guess.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Early mornings seem to be easier to enforce even though I do not quite understand how they can keep off site guests from driving on in but the late night thing sounds like a pain in the you know where for the cm's. Just think of how many people will have to wait in line to get their bracelets using up time that they might be enjoying the rides. Maybe giving out the bracelets at admisssion? Just ruminating here folks, not focused but seldom am. LOL Keeping an eye out for who has a bracelet and who does not seems hard also but I guess they already are used to that with the EE nights? Hope I am wrong as it sounds great for those of you youngsters that can stay up that late. Heck, I plan on trying it a few nights while we are there too, just to check it out.

All things being said IMHO Disney is pretty good at trying things out and keeping what works, for the majority. Can't please everyone.

Slightly Goofy/Linda

 

[airhead]

So,if MK is open until 10pm,its only if you pay extra??? Or is it for all resort guests?

 

[jubileegirl]

Oh dear, I think I've started some major confusion here!

I think I've got it now. There are 3 things that could apply - but you can only benefit from them if you're staying at a Disney property.

Firstly, there's the perk of the Parks opening early in the morning for Disney guests.

Secondly, there may be nights when the Parks stay open AFTER official closing time (eg 10 pm) and Disney guests can get a wristband for free to enable them to benefit from this perk.

Thirdly there's something called E-ride night. Again this kicks in after official Park closing. I got confused 'cause I thought the 'E' stood for early or extra, but apparently it refers to the days when you had to buy a book of tickets to use on the rides and E tickets (as opposed to A,B,C and D tickets) were for the best rides! For this perk, as well as staying on Disney property you also have to pay for your wristband, but only a limited number are sold so you are guaranteed easy access to rides.

Our concern is that we're staying OFFsite and need to consider what crowd levels will be like in all the Parks if the above 3 factors are in the schedule. But we can't work out an itinerary yet because final schedules haven't been released yet for July when we're around. I hope this makes it all a bit clearer for anyone who got confused. I should have done my homework first!

Best wishes,
Alison

 

[bethbuchall]

McCall--Those are July E-Nights (with the exception of May 31). They are not having E-Nights during the May test period.

Beth