Extended park hours

[3daughters]

Where do you find the actual hours the parks are extened too? I found the list that says which parks are open early or late, but it doesn't state the actual hours they are open until or how early?

Also, will be arriving late afternoon plan to go to CM for dinner then EPCOT is open late so they tell me. How do I get the wrist band that will let me hop over there for the xtra hours? I expect to end dinner around 9:00 MK will already be closed I believe. I think it closes at 8:00 that night.

Thanks

 

[Bob P]

Hi,

Morning EMH means the park will open one hour before the posted opening time, and evening EMH means the park will stay open three hours past the posted closing time.

 

[AppleSister1]

I haven't done evening extra magic hours, but I've read that you get a special wristband once in/at the park.

Also, if you are looking for exact park hours for the days during your trip, you can find them on Disney's website or on allearsnet.com. Then, as Bob says, the early magic hour parks open one hour before the scheduled opening and the late magic hour parks stay open three hours later than the scheduled closing.

Hope that helps!

 

[Robo]

Where do you find the actual hours the parks are extened too? I found the list that says which parks are open early or late, but it doesn't state the actual hours they are open until or how early?

Also, will be arriving late afternoon plan to go to CM for dinner then EPCOT is open late so they tell me. How do I get the wrist band that will let me hop over there for the xtra hours? I expect to end dinner around 9:00 MK will already be closed I believe. I think it closes at 8:00 that night.

Thanks

Here's how EMH works for all 4 Theme Parks.

Look up the POSTED open and close times
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/calendar/parkhours/index?id=MKCalendarParkHoursMonthlyViewPage
Pick your Park. Pick your Month.
>> Click on your DATE> <<
Disney publishes dates and times approximately 6 months in advance.
Make sure to check back often, as times and events are subject to change as the actual dates get nearer. The hours listed do NOT INCLUDE the EMH hour(s) so they would be in ADDITION to the posted hours.

For EMH, click on the WORDS > "Extra Magic Hours" < on the official calendar.
Or click HERE:
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/calendar/extraMagicHour?id=CalendarExtraMagicHoursPage

Only WDW resort guests staying on-property will be allowed EHM privileges and it COSTS NOTHING EXTRA to attend the EMHs.
There are slightly different situations for MORNING and EVENING EMH's.

-------MORNING EMH FACTS--------------------------------------
If it is a MORNING EMH, then WDW resort guests staying on-property will be allowed entry to THAT park on THAT day starting ONE HOUR before the posted opening time.
At least ONE person in your party should have a room key-card with them (sometimes EACH person needs to show one) to verify your current hotel status and gain entry.
So, only WDW resort guests will be ALLOWED INTO the park.
Once inside, only selected attractions will be open.
See the official WDW website for the latest attractions that will be open during EMH.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/calendar/extraMagicHour?id=CalendarExtraMagicHoursPage

-------EVENING EMH FACTS--------------------------------------
If it is a EVENING EMH, then WDW resort guests staying on-property will be allowed to stay and ride attractions at THAT park on THAT day for THREE HOURS after the posted closing time. (Don't worry that the site says, "UP TO 3 hours." Thats just legalese... EMH will be 3 hours in the evening.)
You do NOT have to be in the park BEFORE scheduled closing time.
You CAN enter the park at any time during EMH and still get a wristband.
You can leave and re-enter the park at will (just like any normal time).

(So, YES, if MK is sched. to close at midnight, the EMH will run til 3AM! Yep, that's 3 in the morning. No, its not a mistake, that would be 3 full hours after the posted time.)
At Epcot, all of the EMH attractions in both FW and WS will remain open. (Ignore FW's "7pm Closing Time".)

All adults and children 3 years and older will be issued a room key-card when you check in to your WDW resort (if they are listed on your ressie). If they are not issued a key-card, you will have problems with EMH, because EACH guest (except for very small children) will need to show a room key-card to a CM at special "EMH kiosks" set up in various locations throughout the park. Kiosks are well-marked and are very easy to spot as you are walking in the parks. They open up these kiosks approx. 2 hours before the "regular" park closing time, and a wristband will be snapped on by the CM to each adult and child.
So make SURE the check-in desk issues EACH person in your party a room key-card. An adult can hold onto all the cards for the kids, but don't forget to bring the cards to the park.
They do not "run out" of wristbands, so you will each be able to get one, even if the park is busy.
Most nights the CMs will SCAN your room-key-card so that it can only be used to get a single wristband that evening. The ride CMs will then check for these wristbands at each attraction before allowing guests to enter the queue.
So, even though non-resort guests may still be INSIDE the park, only those with wristbands will be allowed to ride any open EMH attractions.
See the official WDW website for the latest attractions that will be open during EMH.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/calendar/extraMagicHour?id=CalendarExtraMagicHoursPage
--------------------------------------------------------------------
You can enter the parks for EMH EVENINGS anytime... during "regular" hours, or even during the actual extended EMH hours.
This 1-hour morning EMH and 3-hour evening EMH rule applies at all 4 parks. Enjoy!

For more info go to the following links:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/earlyentry.htm
http://www.allearsnet.com/tp/emhour.htm

 

[DisneyDork712]

Robo, thanks so much for all that info.! I've been wondering if it's always three hours in the evening myself. I was afraid that they shortened it in the slower season - which now that I think about it makes no sense at all.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I could be wrong, but it seems to me that with younger kids they don't necessarily expect them ot produce a room key to get their wristbands. I'm fairly certain that once an adult produces a room key, the number of guests that are in the room comes up. Adults they are more particular about, but a five year old child....

It might not hurt to ask at check-in about this policy if you have younger kids....

If on the other hand you have a packege deal - then your room key is your ticket, and they miight request it in that case.

 

[Robo]

I could be wrong, but it seems to me that with younger kids they don't necessarily expect them ot produce a room key to get their wristbands. I'm fairly certain that once an adult produces a room key, the number of guests that are in the room comes up. Adults they are more particular about, but a five year old child....

It might not hurt to ask at check-in about this policy if you have younger kids....

If on the other hand you have a packege deal - then your room key is your ticket, and they miight request it in that case.

Its best to not "assume" anything at WDW.
Don't expect the CM's at check-in to speak for what the park CM's will or will not do at any given EMH.
(Consider how often misinformation is given out by new CM's.)

So, be SURE to get them to issue room key-cards for ALL of your children over 2 years of age.
Of course, an ADULT will KEEP the children's keys (and not give them to the kids) just the same way an adult will keep the TICKETS for young children.

Consider that since every child over two does, in fact, NEED his own TICKET... every child over two will need his own room key for EMH... even if on SOME nights the CM may not necessarily ask, on other nights they may very well require it.

My very detailed EMH info post is a growing (and frequently revised) document that comes, in part, from actual reports of what happened to various DISers and their families (myslef included) who posted their experiences here.
FWIW, my long EMH post above is "EMH: How It Works, Version 10".