extra magic hours questions.

[DisneyShannon]

Hi This is my first time staying onsite, and I want to take part in the extra magic hours days.December 2,3,4, and 5. How late are the parks open and how early do they open. How do they know you are staying at a resort? I will be attending MVMCP on the 4th.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Hi This is my first time staying onsite, and I want to take part in the extra magic hours days.December 2,3,4, and 5. How late are the parks open and how early do they open.

Here's a link to the park hours for December.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dec07.cfm?requesttimeout=1000

For the morning EMH's .. the park opens one hour earlier than displayed on the page above. For the evening EMH's .. the parks are open 3 hours later than displayed on the page above.

How do they know you are staying at a resort? I will be attending MVMCP on the 4th.

They swipe your room key thru a special portable device to verify eligibility.

Hope this answers your questions. Have a great trip!

Knox

 

[disneyjunkie]

For evening EMHs you need to show your resort key (one for person) in order to get an arm band.

For the AM EMHs, the CM may ask to see your room key before you enter the park.

 

[Robo]

Hi This is my first time staying onsite, and I want to take part in the extra magic hours days.December 2,3,4, and 5. How late are the parks open and how early do they open. How do they know you are staying at a resort? I will be attending MVMCP on the 4th.

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. There is usually a wristband station just inside the gate.
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

 

[freshstart19]

Hello! I have 2 18 year olds and a 5 year old. We'll be visiting from 1/5 to 1/8. I have to get an expensive suite to accommodate 5 of us. Do we really need the extra 3 hours in the evenings for MK and MGM for the 18 year olds if they're there when the parks open? I can save almost $800 by getting a non-Disney resort suite near DTN Disney. I was hoping that the park would be less crowded than the peak season so the extra hours wouldn't be vital! Besides, I've noticed that Space Mountain will be closed while we're there!

 

[handicap18]

Hello! I have 2 18 year olds and a 5 year old. We'll be visiting from 1/5 to 1/8. I have to get an expensive suite to accommodate 5 of us. Do we really need the extra 3 hours in the evenings for MK and MGM for the 18 year olds if they're there when the parks open? I can save almost $800 by getting a non-Disney resort suite near DTN Disney. I was hoping that the park would be less crowded than the peak season so the extra hours wouldn't be vital! Besides, I've noticed that Space Mountain will be closed while we're there!

Thats all personal preference. MK evening EMH during that time is on Sun 1/6. Park closes at 8pm, EMH will get you till 11pm. MGM evening EMH is on Mon 1/7. Again the park closes at 8pm and the EMH will get you to 11pm. The morning EMH are, MGM Sat 1/5, park opens at 9am, EMH give you 8am (but since your arriving on 1/5 you'll most likely miss that). MK has morning EMH in January only on Thursdays. Your dates show Fri to Tue.

Again, its personal preference. FWIW, we have 5 in our party and are staying at Port Orleans: Riverside. They allow 5 people in a room. Much less expensive than a suite.

 

[Safari Queen]

Freshstart 19, the crowds should be relatively light by the time you arrive. On the other hand, you have a pretty short amount of time to see a lot of attractions. The parks will be closed by 8-9 pm. Is that going to leave you with two bored 18 year olds for several hours each night?

 

[freshstart19]

Thanks! I did know the hours but was trying to figure out if the girls needed the extra hours to get all the attractions in. I just hung up with reservations regarding the PO Riverside so I laughed when I saw this post. I can get 2 rooms with tickets and dining for $630 less than the 2 bedroom suite at the Saratoga. I'm for that but the connecting rooms are not a guarantee because my kids are 18. We need a separate rooms because of the age span of our kids so the older ones can come in late and still watch tv.

 

[freshstart19]

SafariQueen, the girls want to hang out at DTN Disney at night as well. That's why I'm looking for resorts near that area.

 

[disneyjunkie]

SafariQueen, the girls want to hang out at DTN Disney at night as well. That's why I'm looking for resorts near that area.

They can take the ferry (or bus not sure abut this one) from POR to Downtown Disney.

Are you booked at Saratoga Springs?

 

[freshstart19]

I'm not booked there yet. I've been hoping to find something cheaper since I had it in my mind I was going in the off season. My DH just wants me to book it and get on with my life. I did post a message this morning on the DVC board to see if there are any owners looking for a renter.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I'm not booked there yet. I've been hoping to find something cheaper since I had it in my mind I was going in the off season. My DH just wants me to book it and get on with my life. I did post a message this morning on the DVC board to see if there are any owners looking for a renter.

If you do book SS, you'll be able to take advantage of EMHs.