Park hours and extra hours explained?

[JJsmama]

Ok, I see that the Extra Evening Hours typically extend three hours after park closing, but when exactly is park closing?

For example, when we'll be there in March, Disney STudios hours are listed as 9:00-9:00 and MK from 9:00-11:00. Do the extra hours start at 9PM and 11PM and go til midnight and 2 AM? Or do they start at 3 hours prior to the listed closing?

Thanks.

 

[jellydisney]

Excellent question, I would like to know the answer too.

Not all EMH are 3 hours long though. So when then MK closes at 11, I can't imagine it going to 2am (assuming EMH starts when the park closes at 11)

 

[JJsmama]

Anybody know?

 

[Ms. S. White]

Bump!

I've been wondering the same thing too!

 

[opal]

We just returned last night and the extra evenings went as follows:

MK: Regular closing at 7 p.m., extended hours until 10 p.m.
MGM: Regular closing at 7 p.m., extended hours until 10 p.m.
AK: Reulalar closing a 5 p.m., extended hours until 8 p.m.
Epcot: Regular closing at 9 p.m., extended hours until 12 a.m.

 

[opal]

Disney only lists the regular closing hours because the extended hours are for Disney resort guests only, so add the three hours to the hours they list for closing. When you check into your hotel they will give you a handout that lists the extended hours (morning and evening) where and when to pick up your wrist bands..you will need a room key for every member of your party and they must be present to get the wristband. The handout will list what attractions, gift shops and dining will remain open during the extended hours.

 

[AshClan]

Wondering if Illuminations, Fantasmic and Wishes showtimes are affected by the extra evening hours? I'm going to try to book an Illuminations cruise and want to make sure the times for Illuminations won't be changed if the park stays open later.

Thanks for any info you can share!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Wondering if Illuminations, Fantasmic and Wishes showtimes are affected by the extra evening hours? I'm going to try to book an Illuminations cruise and want to make sure the times for Illuminations won't be changed if the park stays open later.

Thanks for any info you can share!

No, they're not affected. At least they weren't last week. I went to MGM EMH, Fantasmic was still at regular park closing, 7:00. In the MK on EMH nite, Wishes was at 7:00, regular park closing.

 

[Jekka's_Mom]

I've heard about the extra evening hours offered at certain parks. Do you have to pay extra for this? I read something on allears that said you have to pay approx $14/adult & $10/kids to do this.
We are going at the end of the month (21-28) and I'm wondering if this will available to us. thanks

 

[luvsTink]

There is no fee for the EMH, but in order to take full advantage of it you must be staying on site. In the morning you need your room key to get in, in the evening you will need your room key to get a wrist band in order to ride anything.

Anne

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

EMH (both morning and evening) is available for all Disney-operated (including DVC) resorts, Shades of Green, the Swan/Dolphin, and the Lake Buena Vista Hilton. If you're staying at any of these hotels, there is no additional fee for EMH. If you're staying at any other hotel, EMH is not available at this time.

 

[AshClan]

Thanks, Simba's Mom.

Now, a really dumb question. I have looked here and on Deb Will's site and am getting different EMH schedules. I know the schedules are said to be subject to change, and it looks like Easter week will be different, but where would my best bet be for getting a reliable guess-timate for the week of April 17th? Is it too early??

 

[Jekka's_Mom]

thanks for the response(s). I was wondering the same thing about the EMH schedules. Will I have to find out when I get to my resort or is there a set schedule? I am staying at AKL later this month.
Sure is nice to know that there is no add'l charge!

 

[BCVBRUCE]

There is no fee for the EMH, but in order to take full advantage of it you must be staying on site. In the morning you need your room key to get in, in the evening you will need your room key to get a wrist band in order to ride anything.

Anne

Just back. I used to be a major proponent of the old EE but now I think I will never go to a park that is doing EMH. If you are not at the park the second it starts to allow resort guests in during the morning EMH, you will be surprised by the crowds. There are so many resorts now, that it is just not worth it and you will have better luck going to non-EMH parks.

As far as the late EMH are concerned. I waited almost 15 mins just to get a stupid wrist band. What made it worse was that CM's were letting anybody on the rides, whether they had a wrist band or not. Obviously this resort "PERK" applies to everyone. Again, the crowds were horrible. Especially at EPCOT, when Illuminations ended. I had beeter luck getting on the rides during normal hours. Also, they kept all the Future World attractions opened until 9pm anyway even when FW was supposed to close @ 7pm on non-EMH days. Because everyone thought FW was closed, I rode Mission Space twice.

EMH are not worth the trouble anymore.

Bruce

 

[MinnieM3]

I hope things are straighened out and running more smoothly when we get there, although it will be Spring Break. We will be doing the morning EMH, but may do the evening ones and see how it goes!

 

[peacefulgirl]

I just got back too. I went to all evening EMH's at each park. I found different experiences each time. Like, MGM's was Sunday Jan 2. The fast passes were all gone for till regular closing... at 7pm, they opened them up for wrist bands only, kept them open until they were gone (10:00 return time.) This took less than an hour. So as iy worked, we got one pass, but couldn't get another because by the time we could get one, they were gone
. That stunk! 40-50 min waits. BUT it was still NY weekend. Now for AK, we didn't go and opted another park. MK was Wed. WOW it was great ! No crowds, walked on rides, no fastpass needed !!! BUT that was a slower week too. Then, Epcot Thur, no problem ... walked on rides and got lots of fastpasses for test track, none needed for MS.

SO I think it matters on the crowds at the time.

One Wed Dec 29th I was there 5pm-12 in MK it was crazy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lines were 90 and 100 minutes!!!!!!!!! NUTS !!!!!

Christmas decor and music till about Jan 5th at resorts and parks.

Crowd died down on Jan 2 for the holiday crowd.

I think depending on the regular crowd of that time, it says a lot for if EMH will work or not for that period.

I thought people were getting on rides with no wristband at Epcot, but they were open till 9pm so I was wrong, the other parks closed at 7pm, but not Epcot. I saw them checking wrist bands at all times at all parks.

We walked on Test Track over and over .... it was awesome!!!!

PG

 

[SueM in MN]

I've heard about the extra evening hours offered at certain parks. Do you have to pay extra for this? I read something on allears that said you have to pay approx $14/adult & $10/kids to do this.
We are going at the end of the month (21-28) and I'm wondering if this will available to us. thanks

That was the old program (I forget what it was called), which allowed resort guests to stay extra time for a fee. When we went to that, it only involved MK.
The new program is free of charge; you just have to show your resort key to show you are staying at a WDW resort. My DH and I went on the first night it was offered, which was 1/2 at MGM. We waited for less than 10 minutes to get our wristbands.