Now Early Entry is back ....

[Mazzy]

.... does anyone know if it is in effect over Christmas and New Year?

We will be there Dec 27th to Jan 10th and I'm just wondering when EE would be available.

Thanks

 

[mkingdon]

Early Entry is back????????????????

When, how, why etc etc

 

[BONZO]

One of the best On-Site Perks has just been restored.
After the many complaints Disney received after they ceased Early Entry and replaced it with a Character Caravan, they have finally restored this On-Site perk.

Each day, one of the four parks will open one hour early on a rotating basis to Disney resort guests providing an "Extra Magic Hour" for the guests.

The schedule Starting October 1st, will be as follows:



Sunday = Magic Kingdom

Monday = Animal Kingdom

Tuesday = MGM Studios

Wednesday = Epcot

Thursday = Magic Kingdom

Friday = Animal Kingdom

Saturday = MGM Studios

Other Changes

There are to be more characters meeting guests in the Magic Kingdom, with more characters strolling the park than ever before.

After a successful trial run, the "Princess Storybook Breakfast"
at the Restaurant Akershus, Norway Pavilion in Epcot has become a regular offering.

This is a family style breakfast it features Disney Princesses and Friends. Hours are: 8:30am to 10:30am Prices $15.99 for adults and $8.99 for children (ages 3-11).


There will be more character meet and greets in Epcot's World Showcase.

The Beauty and the Beast stage show at Disney-MGM Studios expands to a seven-day-a-week schedule.
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party expanded to seven nights!

Live entertainment is being added to this year's Epcot International Food & Wine Festival with the "Eat to the Beat" music series featuring "The Temptations Review," "The 5th Dimension," "Sister Sledge," and "Chubby Checker," among others.

Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame - A Musical Adventure will give its final performance on September 28, ending a 7-year run at the Disney-MGM Studios.

Walt Disney World is extending the 100 Years of Magic Celebration through February 28, 2003!

The Character Caravan for the Disney resorts will cease on 1st October

 

[mkingdon]

If only I'd known this a month ago!!! When was it announced?

I booked an off site villa, as EE had gone.

It was in competition with ASM or Port Orleans. Ah well, that's life

 

[BONZO]

As far as I can tell - the information came out yesterday.

 

[JohnW]

EE does bring a "benefit" even to those off site guests, in that the on site guests will tend to migrate toward the park with EE. So, the strategy for off siters should be to head for one of the other three parks first thing.

At least it gives you the bones of a plan on which to put some flesh. Without EE, its a bit more hit and miss on which parks are the busiest on which days.

Of course, with an off site villa, if the parks are too busy you can always go and relax around you own private pool!!!!

Swings and roundabouts as they say............

 

[mkingdon]

Out of interest I've just called Travel City and asked them to price up changing to a WDW resort. A £50 admin fee applies but they are getting quotes together for me.

We'll see if it's worth changing.

It's a real dilema between the space and pool of a villa and the magic of on site. These things are sent to try us.

 

[BONZO]

Of course, with an off site villa, if the parks are too busy you can always go and relax around you own private pool!!!!

Conversely, the same holds true for on-site - If the parks are busy you can go back to the hotel pool - they are usually very quiet during the day.

At the CBR there is a main pool and each village has it's own small pool - so you're spoilt for choice.

Also, being on-site with an UMP - you can park hop all day without having to spend all day in a park.


But, as you say - different strokes for different folks.

 

[Fiona R from UK]

This will certainly help with planning, not that we're planning!! We loved being onsite, but not getting up at the crack of dawn, so we went to each park, the day after it's EE day. It worked brilliantly for our first holiday over Presidents' Week in 2001.

This year we were there the week before Presidents Week and had a dreadful time with crowds, it was far harder to plan!!

Hope you October/Christmas planners are glued to your planning sheets now....Happy Planning!!

 

[KayleeUK]

I have had to start planning all over again

Kaylee

 

[Elaine Guidi]

Can anyone tell me if the new scheduled EE days are the same as previously used. The reason for asking is that MK is shown as Sunday and as far as I had gathered, Sunday was one of the quietest days to go whilst EE was suspended. Now it would appear that Sunday won't be the best day after all. I suspect a big bit of re-scheduling is looming.

 

[UKDEB]

Elaine,

No they're not. EE days (pre suspension) have been the same for as long as I can remember, but this is a totally new schedule, with AK appearing for the first time.

 

[Mazzy]

Is there ANYONE out there who has a clue how EE will operate over Christmas/New year????

 

[WDWfan uk]

Mazzy I would think that EE operates as normal almost every day but I am not certain about Christmas Day, New Year's Eve or New Year's Day - I'll try to find out.

 

[Hilary]

Mazzy, I can't answer your question about this Christmas / NY. I don't think the new Extra Magic Hour programme has been given a running time.

Bearing in mind that I don't know the answer and not wanting to get your hopes up ... when we've stayed on site in previous years at very busy times (Easter and New Year) Disney have extended the old Early Entry programme to include every park every day. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you might be lucky and find the same this Christmas!

(I'm tearing up my plan for October and starting again........ )

 

[WDWfan uk]

Hi Mazzy,
I've asked around and as Hilary says, historically they have opened all parks an hour earlier as a "gift" starting on Christmas Day through New Year's Eve. They then reverted back to the old schedule on New Year's Day which is' in fact, a slow day.

They haven't before announced it in advance but notified guests with a letter in their rooms.

However, no-on knows whether it will be offered this year so please don't rely on it when you plan.


( Just to add, friends of ours went to MGM Studios on New Year's Day morning and had the park to themselves! They hadn't drunk much the night before as they were flying out that evening).

 

[Mazzy]

Thanks Hilary and Shirley!

Well, let's hope that they do the same thing this year, it's so hard to plan when you don't know things for sure! If we go to EPCOT on New Years Eve I guess we would still be in our beds on New Year's Day morning, recovering, so I can understand why the parks are quiet!

Then again ... if we find EPCOT too much and go back to the Dolphin early, I will keep that info in mind for New Year's Day!

I wonder whether the Dolphin would have the info in their rooms, as you don't get the 'newsletter' type information when you check in like you do at a Disney Resort - when we stayed at DXL we had an information sheet - but nothing like that at the Dolphin but I guess if I ask at reception they would know.

Thanks again both of you!

 

[WDWfan uk]

I don't know if the Dolphin will have the letters in-room, probably not, but as well as the main reception desk who I'm sure would find out for you even if they didn't know ( they are so obliging), Janice and I discovered another desk in the foyer with LOADS of WDW info to pick up and take.

 

[Fantasia Sam]

LOL I think this is great for all of you commandos who had their plans all worked out - you've probably all been sitting there drumming your fingertips thinking about what other things you can plan for and now your dream has come true - I wish it was me re-planning I know I'm goning in December but you can never go enough times don't you think?

 

[Mazzy]

Thanks Shirley, I'll look out for the desk!

We were watching our video from May '99 last night when we last stayed at the Dolphin, and I'd forgotten how HUGE the place is! Getting a teeny bit excited now!

Sam - the planning is all part of the fun!