Hotel room price for Extra Magic Hour

[cbecerrajr]

Hello,

I'm new to the boards! My family will be in Orlando and doing Magic Kingdom for 1 day (yes, only 1 day), on Sep 25th. If i stay on property on Sep 24th, i can utilize the extra magic hour that morning. Here is my plan. Need suggestions if this is worth the trouble.

We are staying at Vistana Villages between the 23rd and 30th, so we do not need lodging. Using an expedia code, i can reserve a room on the 25th for $75. This would grant us access to EMH on the 25th.

2 small inconveniences:

1. I would have to physically go to the hotel with family to "check in", but not stay at the hotel on the 24th.

2. I would have to stop at the hotel on the morning of the 25th to "check out" before we get to MK.

Family of 5, so the incremental cost is $15 per person to take advantage of rope drop and EMH.

Worth it? On paper, it sounds worthwhile. We will be out on the 24th anyways for dinner and the hotel would be "on the way" to the park.

Would appreciate all feedback!!

 

[Marionnette]

Hello,

I'm new to the boards! My family will be in Orlando and doing Magic Kingdom for 1 day (yes, only 1 day), on Sep 25th. If i stay on property on Sep 24th, i can utilize the extra magic hour that morning. Here is my plan. Need suggestions if this is worth the trouble.

We are staying at Vistana Villages between the 23rd and 30th, so we do not need lodging. Using an expedia code, i can reserve a room on the 25th for $75. This would grant us access to EMH on the 25th.

2 small inconveniences:

1. I would have to physically go to the hotel with family to "check in", but not stay at the hotel on the 24th.

2. I would have to stop at the hotel on the morning of the 25th to "check out" before we get to MK.

Family of 5, so the incremental cost is $15 per person to take advantage of rope drop and EMH.

Worth it? On paper, it sounds worthwhile. We will be out on the 24th anyways for dinner and the hotel would be "on the way" to the park.

Would appreciate all feedback!!

$15 pp for morning EMH? It's only one hour long!

Definitely not worth the hassle of having to check in/out, not to mention that the cost is outrageous just to get into the park one hour before offsite guests.

 

[cbecerrajr]

Thing is, my 4 year old really, really, really wants to meet Elsa and Anna and since we're offsite, fast passes were gone by the time we were able to reserve. In order to avoid the super long wait that i'm anticipating, the goal is to get in as soon as possible and head straight to fairytale hall. My fear is that if we wait until the normal opening time, the line will be 60 min+. And since we're only going to be there 1 day, time managment will be critical.

thoughts??

 

[Marionnette]

Thing is, my 4 year old really, really, really wants to meet Elsa and Anna and since we're offsite, fast passes were gone by the time we were able to reserve. In order to avoid the super long wait that i'm anticipating, the goal is to get in as soon as possible and head straight to fairytale hall. My fear is that if we wait until the normal opening time, the line will be 60 min+. And since we're only going to be there 1 day, time managment will be critical.

thoughts??

I think it's your money and you can do what you want with it. If that's how you want to spend it, so be it.

 

[ldo]

you will also get a parking pass--worth $15. Is anything open for EMH pm that you could take advantage of? If not, do you have to go 9/25? Can you go a different day with EHM in the pm also to make it even more worthwhile. If this is a once in a lifetime (or at least once in the next few years) trip, I would do it--assuming that you can even line up or get a stand by return time card (did I hear they were doing that?) prior to 9am. Also, you could get in line for Mine Train, as well. I think you can give a CC and be set up for auto check-out, so no need to go to front desk to check out.

 

[Carina]

I don't know about "Disney" hotels, but most hotels do not require you to physically check out.

 

[nat8199]

If you have the cash to blow, then your plan makes sense. I don't think you would have to check out.

 

[manning]

you will also get a parking pass--worth $15. Is anything open for EMH pm that you could take advantage of? If not, do you have to go 9/25? Can you go a different day with EHM in the pm also to make it even more worthwhile. If this is a once in a lifetime (or at least once in the next few years) trip, I would do it--assuming that you can even line up or get a stand by return time card (did I hear they were doing that?) prior to 9am. Also, you could get in line for Mine Train, as well. I think you can give a CC and be set up for auto check-out, so no need to go to front desk to check out.

I think you get free parking if you are a hotel guest.

 

[cbecerrajr]

Hilton Lake Buena Vista is the hotel, so I'm anticipating an easy in easy out. This is a once in a few years chance to do MK and my youngest daughter is at the perfect age. It's also our anniversary day as well. The only other day we could possibly go is Saturday the 27th, which has the extra evening hours, but I'd rather avoid the potentially larger weekend crowd in favor of the lesser crowded mid week day. At least that's what my googling has told me. I'm thinking the saturday crowd and 2 hours washes with the Thursday crowd and 1 hr?? I guess I'm looking at it from the point of view that spending $110 a ticket instead of $95 albeit guarantees me a relatively short waiting period for my daughters #1 request of meeting Anna and Elsa and my two oldest can get in line quickly for 7 dwarfs and get the two top attractions under our belt before the regular opening. Ugh... decisions.

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

FYI..........we left POP on Monday Sept 1. Their express checkout arrangement did not require us to go to the lobby. We simply were sent a copy of our folio via email pretty early in the morning.

 

[cbecerrajr]

Perhaps the question i should be asking as well is...

Has anyone been to MK in the last week or so and know if the lines for Anna/Elsa and 7 Dwarfs are outta control long by normal opening time?

Appreciating all of the feedback thus far!

 

[Marionnette]

Perhaps the question i should be asking as well is...

Has anyone been to MK in the last week or so and know if the lines for Anna/Elsa and 7 Dwarfs are outta control long by normal opening time?

Appreciating all of the feedback thus far!

Have you checked the Theme Parks and Attractions Board? Your question is more appropriate for that forum and you're more likely reach a larger number of recent visitors other there. Although, I will warn you that a lot of regulars have had their fill of Anna & Elsa questions, so do a search or scan the first couple of pages of the forum to see if the question has already been asked before you post. Keywords like Anna & Elsa Ropedrop EMH Strategy should lead to more than one thread on the subject.

http://disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=30&f=2

 

[davedmaine]

Hello, I'm new to the boards! My family will be in Orlando and doing Magic Kingdom for 1 day (yes, only 1 day), on Sep 25th. If i stay on property on Sep 24th, i can utilize the extra magic hour that morning. Here is my plan. Need suggestions if this is worth the trouble. We are staying at Vistana Villages between the 23rd and 30th, so we do not need lodging. Using an expedia code, i can reserve a room on the 25th for $75. This would grant us access to EMH on the 25th. 2 small inconveniences: 1. I would have to physically go to the hotel with family to "check in", but not stay at the hotel on the 24th. 2. I would have to stop at the hotel on the morning of the 25th to "check out" before we get to MK. Family of 5, so the incremental cost is $15 per person to take advantage of rope drop and EMH. Worth it? On paper, it sounds worthwhile. We will be out on the 24th anyways for dinner and the hotel would be "on the way" to the park. Would appreciate all feedback!!

No way -- no how

 

[aclov]

Hilton Lake Buena Vista is the hotel, so I'm anticipating an easy in easy out. This is a once in a few years chance to do MK and my youngest daughter is at the perfect age. It's also our anniversary day as well. The only other day we could possibly go is Saturday the 27th, which has the extra evening hours, but I'd rather avoid the potentially larger weekend crowd in favor of the lesser crowded mid week day. At least that's what my googling has told me. I'm thinking the saturday crowd and 2 hours washes with the Thursday crowd and 1 hr?? I guess I'm looking at it from the point of view that spending $110 a ticket instead of $95 albeit guarantees me a relatively short waiting period for my daughters #1 request of meeting Anna and Elsa and my two oldest can get in line quickly for 7 dwarfs and get the two top attractions under our belt before the regular opening. Ugh... decisions.

I thought only Disney on site hotels got the extra magic hours? Yes you would get free parking (not sure about this hotel though) and you wouldn't have to check out. Can you go to the hotel in-between or after the park to take a quick break at the pool?

 

[Marionnette]

I thought only Disney on site hotels got the extra magic hours? Yes you would get free parking (not sure about this hotel though) and you wouldn't have to check out. Can you go to the hotel in-between or after the park to take a quick break at the pool?

Hilton Orlando LBV is one of the few offsite "good neighbor" hotels that also offer EMH to guests. There aren't too many of them.

OP, watch the added fees. I believe that Hilton Orlando LBV charges a daily "resort fee" and a parking fee. Both of those will add to the overall cost of your plans. They are in addition to your nightly rate that Expedia quoted to you.

ETA: And you don't get free parking at the Disney parks if you're staying there. The only "onsite" perk that you get is access to EMH.

 

[cbecerrajr]

I thought only Disney on site hotels got the extra magic hours? Yes you would get free parking (not sure about this hotel though) and you wouldn't have to check out. Can you go to the hotel in-between or after the park to take a quick break at the pool?

Hilton LBV is one of 3 or 4 "offsite" hotels that are classified as "onsite". We wouldn't be utilizing any of the hotel amenities as we have 1 day to spend in MK and would like to spend as much time as possible in the park. The hotel reservation is a "formality".

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

If you don't care to actually occupy the room at all why not just book a campsite at Ft. Wilderness? It's only $55 incl. tax. If you're a member, you may even still be able to get a AAA discount which they will be doing away with in 2015. At least then you wouldn't have resort fees or parking fees either.
Your kids would all have souvenir magic bands too.

 

[cbecerrajr]

If you don't care to actually occupy the room at all why not just book a campsite at Ft. Wilderness? It's only $55 incl. tax. If you're a member, you may even still be able to get a AAA discount which they will be doing away with in 2015. At least then you wouldn't have resort fees or parking fees either.
Your kids would all have souvenir magic bands too.

I was/still am having trouble finding a list of "qualifying" WDW resorts. I will contact them soon. $55 and magic bands sure do beat $75 + $22 resort fee!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I was/still am having trouble finding a list of "qualifying" WDW resorts. I will contact them soon. $55 and magic bands sure do beat $75 + $22 resort fee!

It's right on Disneyworld.com and sits next to Wilderness Lodge which is a short boat ride to MK. It's as much an onsite WDW resort as any other.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/campsites-at-fort-wilderness-resort/

 

[HopperFan]

I was/still am having trouble finding a list of "qualifying" WDW resorts. I will contact them soon. $55 and magic bands sure do beat $75 + $22 resort fee!

And you might as well add the parking fee at the parks to this price vs free parking with the WDW resort. You could save on two days at the parks parking fee with a WDW resort reservation.

What do you mean "qualifying resorts?" - you mean Disney owned resorts? Those would be here https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/ but depending on how old your 5th person (child) is that may rule out many of the least expensive resorts as they only allow 4.