Extended Evening Hours & Crowd Level

[Tbiafore]

I am in a situation where I have a good Disney Itinerary thats in mid January that seems to hit particular parks during days that several of the crowd calendars show that the crowd levels will be lower (4, 5, 6s). However, there are a couple of nights during our stay where MK and EP are having Extended evening hours. In order for me to be at those parks on those days to take advantage of this, would require me to adjust my schedule (I dont have park hopper tickets). By adjusting my schedule in order to hit these parks, I will be adjusting my schedule so that several of the days would now have higher crowd level predictions. So I am not certain the correct path to take on this.

Do I switch up my days to take advantage of the Extended Evening Hours for EP and MK, taking a hit on higher crowd levels for several of the days, or keep the lower crowd level days and just pass on the Extended Evening Hours.

Suggestions or thoughts that might help me decide on this?
Thank you,

 

[focusondisney]

IMO there’s not going to be much difference between a 4 & a 6 day. If you’re using TPs, look at the ride wait times for each number. There’s a lot of overlap of time. Personally, I'd just decide based on if I want to be in the park late.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

To me its like you're spending the money to stay deluxe so if that gives you a "freebie" I try to take advantage.

Not sure if its worth changing your schedule if you like how your schedule is but also I always get PH so my schedule would not need to change to take advantage.
I also pay no mind to crowd calendars. I do what works out the best for me and while I'll try to avoid certain parks on certain days like if there is a party at MK that I'm not going to I'll start there in the morning instead of PH there. Basically I just use my common sense not what number a crowd calendar says.

I have to say that MK is the best park to use EEH so maybe just change that day to take advantage?

 

[NashvilleMama]

I think it depends on your group - for us now with teenagers, later hours are perfect for us as they want to sleep in and get a later start so I'd definitely go by the EEH schedule. As said above, we don't put much stock in the crowd calendar numbers anymore.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Personally, if already spending the money to stay deluxe, I would recommend adding the extra for the hopper option. If you get to a park that feels more crowded and a glance at the MDE app shows better wait times in another park, hop to take advantage of the lower waits. Far less stress I believe.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

EEHs are great and why not take advantage of them when you’re paying so muchh to stay deluxe. And as a Pp said you probably won’t be able to tell the difference between the crowds anyway, that is if the crowd calendars accurate at all in the first place.

 

[MyNameIsSonnyEclipse]

I am in a situation where I have a good Disney Itinerary thats in mid January that seems to hit particular parks during days that several of the crowd calendars show that the crowd levels will be lower (4, 5, 6s). However, there are a couple of nights during our stay where MK and EP are having Extended evening hours. In order for me to be at those parks on those days to take advantage of this, would require me to adjust my schedule (I dont have park hopper tickets). By adjusting my schedule in order to hit these parks, I will be adjusting my schedule so that several of the days would now have higher crowd level predictions. So I am not certain the correct path to take on this.

Do I switch up my days to take advantage of the Extended Evening Hours for EP and MK, taking a hit on higher crowd levels for several of the days, or keep the lower crowd level days and just pass on the Extended Evening Hours.

Suggestions or thoughts that might help me decide on this?
Thank you,

Just adding my 2 cents...

Having rented at DVC resorts a couple times now, Extended Hours are probably the best perk beyond the obvious better resort. I would certainly prioritize taking advantage of these over going to a supposedly lower crowd level day. I never get Park Hoppers (just not how we go about visiting the parks), and while the parks can be a bit busier on days with Extended Hours due to Deluxe guests going there, you more than make up for it with the benefit later that night.

YMMV depending on the makeup of your party, but we usually rope drop, stay until lunch, head back to the resort, nap/chill, then back to the parks around 4 or so and stay through close of Extended Hours. Beats the heat of the afternoon, and lower crowds to boot.

 

[Upatnoon]

While it is unlikely you would notice any difference at all from a "4" park day vs. a "6" park day, you will 100% notice the ability to stay an extra two hours at a park in the evening.

Take advantage of this meaningful perk of staying deluxe!

 

[elvispursley]

Just be aware if you haven’t done EEH that there are very few places open that serve food.

 

[disneyfan123]

EEH is an amazing benefit for staying at a deluxe resort and I would make adjustments to my plans to take advantage; in fact, we had to do that for our plans for our upcoming trip. The trade-off of (supposedly) slightly higher crowds during the day is more than worth it to have 2 hours of an almost empty park at night.