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Home / Blog / Theme Park Tips & Planning / Have You Heard of Disney Extended Evening Hours? Hop in for a Well-Kept Secret!

Have You Heard of Disney Extended Evening Hours? Hop in for a Well-Kept Secret!

by Mommy Frog on August 6, 2024
54 Orlando Video

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Extra hours to spend at Walt Disney World? Yes, please! For those staying on-site at Disney Deluxe, Deluxe Villas and other eligible resorts, there is an incredible added benefit called Extended Evening Hours. On select nights, certain parks are open two hours after park close exclusively to Deluxe Resort guests. This is an underrated perk that can really help you get more done in the parks. Disney has confirmed the benefit will continue for visits through 2025. Read on for more details about the Extended Evening Hours benefit at Disney World!

Disney World Average Cost - Spaceship Earth Rainbow Lights

Overview of Disney Extended Evening Hours

Extended Evening Hours debuted in October 2021 (along with Early Theme Park Entry). Those staying at eligible hotels can utilize both perks to maximize their time. Extended Evening Hours occur for two hours after park close on select nights. It's similar to the Extra Magic Hours benefit of the past. Typically, EPCOT offers Extended Evening Hours on Mondays, and Magic Kingdom offers Extended Evening Hours on Wednesdays, but be sure to double-check hours and dates closer to your trip to confirm and plan accordingly.

During special event season, the theme park hosting Extended Evening Hours — and the night it's available — may change. During the Halloween season, for example, Hollywood Studios will take over for Magic Kingdom (while it hosts Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party). Then, Extended Evening Hours will be available at Animal Kingdom and EPCOT (while Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom host Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and Jollywood Nights). The benefit is available for trips through 2025.

Guests need valid admission, along with a valid linked hotel reservation (and a theme park reservation only for those with non-dated tickets), to access Extended Evening Hours. Those with park hopping abilities must enter their first park, but then may hop over to the park with the extended hours.

Which Hotels Offer Disney Extended Evening Hours?

Disney World Deluxe Resorts - Grand Floridian Resort and Spa

Guests of Disney Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resorts and a few select hotels have access to Extended Evening Theme Park Hours on select nights in select theme parks (similar to evening Extra Magic Hours of years past). Here's a full list of participating hotels:

Available Attractions During Extended Evening Hours at Disney World

During Extended Evening Hours, select attractions, merchandise and food and beverage locations operate. While attractions are subject to change without notice due to refurbishments or unplanned closures, here's a full list of the available attractions.

Extended Evening Hours at Disney World - Peter Pan's Flight at Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom Park

  • "it's a small world"
  • Astro Orbiter
  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
  • Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
  • Country Bear Musical Jamboree
  • Dumbo the Flying Elephant
  • Haunted Mansion
  • Mad Tea Party
  • Mickey's PhilharMagic
  • Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
  • Peter Pan's Flight
  • Pirates of the Caribbean
  • Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
  • Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
  • Space Mountain
  • Swiss Family Treehouse
  • The Barnstormer
  • The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
  • The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
  • Tomorrowland Speedway
  • TRON Lightcycle / Run*
  • Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid
  • Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room

*Guests of Disney Deluxe, Deluxe Villa and other select hotels will need to join the virtual queue at 6 p.m. (from any location) to ride during Extended Evening Hours.

Extended Evening Hours at Disney World - Remy's Ratatouille Adventure

EPCOT

  • Frozen Ever After
  • Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros
  • Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind*
  • Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana
  • Mission: SPACE
  • Remy's Ratatouille Adventure
  • Soarin' Around the World
  • Spaceship Earth
  • Test Track
  • The Seas with Nemo & Friends

*Guests of Disney Deluxe, Deluxe Villa and other select hotels will need to join the virtual queue at 6 p.m. (from any location) to ride during Extended Evening Hours.

Disney's Hollywood Studios

  • Alien Swirling Saucers
  • Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy
  • Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway
  • Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
  • Muppet Vision 3D
  • Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
  • Slinky Dog Dash
  • Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
  • Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
  • Toy Story Mania!
  • The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park

  • Avatar Flight of Passage
  • Dinosaur
  • Expedition Everest
  • It's Tough to be a Bug!
  • Meet Mickey and Minnie at Adventurers Outpost
  • Na'vi River Journey
  • TriceraTop Spin

Strategy and Insights for Extended Evening Hours at Disney World

Happily Ever After at Magic Kingdom — Projections

We recently utilized Extended Evening Hours at Magic Kingdom and hoppily got so much done! We hopped into the park to catch Happily Ever After, but if you are arriving at or near park closure, look for the park turnstile (or signage) for Extended Evening Hours guests.

Once the park fully closed, we were asked to scan in at rides, much like you would with Lightning Lane Multi Pass (formally Genie+) reservations, so that cast members could verify that we were eligible to stay. You can use your MagicMobile pass on your smartphone or watch or your MagicBand (if your hotel reservation is linked to My Disney Experience), or your Keys to the World card. As a family, we were able to ride Big Thunder Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Peter Pan's Flight and Space Mountain, all during Extended Evening Hours. On top of the rides, we were able to grab a snack or two and take some really beautiful shots of Cinderella Castle, as well as an empty Main Street.

Extended Evening Hours at Disney World - Waittimes at Magic Kingdom

We contemplated riding Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, but at a 50-minute wait, we decided that took up too much of our precious time that night. However, if you're a family who has been anxiously waiting to ride, the lowest wait times for Mine Train are during Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours. If you'd rather not wait, splurge on a Lightning Lane Single Pass (formerly named individual Lightning Lane selections) for the ride during regular park hours. Wait times for other rides remained low throughout the evening. About half an hour after Extended Evening Hours began, wait times ranged from 5 to 15 minutes for most rides — with the exceptions of Mine Train and Peter Pan's Flight (which were posted at 25 minutes).

Disney transportation will continue to run during these extended hours — our bus back to Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge was ready and waiting for us when we left! If you're at a Bay Lake resort with boat access, such as Wilderness Lodge or Fort Wilderness, ask your skipper upon departing the boat how late it's running, as sometimes buses become the primary transportation option later in the evening.

Extended Evening Hours at Disney World - Empty Main Street

At EPCOT, our experience with Extended Evening Hours was a little more limiting. Because there are fewer rides offered, we found that lines were longer, particularly for popular, high-demand rides. The Extended Evening Hours at EPCOT also typically fall earlier than the hours at Magic Kingdom, so more people may be more willing to stay later (for example, Extended Evening Hours at EPCOT were 9 to 11 p.m. while the hours at Magic Kingdom were 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.). We still think it's worth riding a high-demand attraction during this time, but just know that you may experience longer wait times at this park!

The Extended Evening Hours perk gives you the wait times from an After Hours party (without the free food and drink). For smaller tadpoles, the late night may be difficult. But for kiddos (and let's be real, adults like Leap who really value their shut-eye) who can handle it, our ideal strategy would be to take advantage of Early Theme Park Entry in the morning, head back to the hotel mid-day for a nap or a swim, then head back at the end of the evening to take advantage of Extended Evening Hours. Use that time to knock out popular rides at their lowest wait times and take some gorgeous photos of an empty park!

Have you attended Extended Evening Hours at Disney World yet? Let us know in the comments below!

Related: Everything You Need to Know About Early Theme Park Entry at Walt Disney World

Hoppy planning!

Keep hopping, Mommy Frog!
View Comments

Comments

Oct 14, 2024 at 11:29 a.m.
Kevin VH Says...

I know Disney is $$$ but I didn’t expect them to get worse. We are staying at Port Orleans and spending good money but not eligible for extended hours? Wow.

Reply
Sep 21, 2024 at 10:59 p.m.
Johnathan Says...

Hi, thanks for sharing the experience! I am planning a trip for early Dec 2024, and it seems like they don't publish Extended Evening Hours that far out. Do you guys have any insights on what the schedule would look like?

Reply
Sep 23, 2024 at 9:37 a.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Johnathan!

Based off November's schedule that's currently available, we'd expect that Extended Evening Hours will take place at EPCOT (Mondays) and Animal Kingdom (either Wednesdays or Thursdays) since Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom are hosting Jollywood Nights and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, respectively. We'd recommend double-checking once the schedule is available for early December (as of writing, the calendar goes out until Nov. 22, so early December should be available in the next few weeks).

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Reply
Sep 16, 2024 at 6:06 p.m.
Elizabeth Hall Says...

We're staying at Wilderness Lodge Nov 17-23, 2024. What is the Extended Evening benefit once the Christmas party season starts? I don't see anything on the calendar yet. Will it maybe be at Epcot and Animal Kingdom?

Reply
Sep 17, 2024 at 12:38 p.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Elizabeth!

Animal Kingdom and EPCOT will host through the holiday season, with EPCOT hosting Mondays and Animal Kingdom hosting Wednesdays in November. Hope this helps!

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Reply
Aug 18, 2024 at 2:04 a.m.
Laura Says...

If staying only 1 night, do you get extended hours on both check in and check out days (same as Universal premier hotels offer) or only once?

Reply
Aug 20, 2024 at 3:04 p.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Laura!

You'd be eligible for Extended Evening Hours on any day that it is being offered during the timeframe of your stay. So it can be either or both — but mainly depends on if a park has Extended Evening Hours available.

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Reply
Aug 15, 2024 at 8:08 p.m.
Rachel V Says...

I am only staying at a Deluxe resort for one night. Which day, check-in or check-out would be valid for the Extended Hours?

Reply
Aug 15, 2024 at 3:29 p.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Rachel!

You'd be eligible for Extended Evening Hours on any day that it is being offered during the timeframe of your stay. So it can be either — just depends on if a park has Extended Evening Hours available.

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Reply
Jul 24, 2024 at 4:55 a.m.
Kristy Says...

Do you know if we book the Dolphin resort through the Marriott app, are we still eligible for the extended evening hours? I’m concerned that we have to book directly through Disney.

Reply
Jul 24, 2024 at 1:19 p.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Kristy!

Yes, even guests who book directly through Marriott for the Dolphin are eligible for Extended Evening Hours. We'd recommend connecting your reservation to MDE and having your room key available.

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Reply
Jun 15, 2024 at 3:55 p.m.
Jeff Says...

Hi! My family and I will be staying at a deluxe disney hotel ???? in June 2024 and so will get the after hours perk. But we only bought day passed for MK & HS. Does this mean we won't be able to enter epcot after hours?

Reply
Jun 18, 2024 at 2:56 p.m.
C53April Says...

Jeff: If you can afford Park Hopper option and you are going to be staying on a Monday night (the night of EPCOT Extended Hours), it is worth it solely to ride Guardians of the Galaxy. That is IMHO the best ride at WDW. I have now scheduled 3 extended trips to WDW with the primary purpose of riding GOTG Cosmic Rewind 2x day. :) (Annual pass holder - and my reserved park every day of each trip is EPCOT, just to get the virtual queue. My husband, friends, and family are very much over my obsession with this ride (talking about it), but when it comes time to go to WDW, they’re all about GOTG, too.

Reply
Jun 17, 2024 at 1:15 p.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Jeff!

The Extended Evening Hours perk requires valid admission (along with the linked hotel reservation), so you would need to have a ticket that gets you into EPCOT in order to attend Evening Evening Hours at that park.

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Reply
May 26, 2024 at 8:14 p.m.
Myriam Says...

Hello, I’ve heard that the night for “After Hours”there is a second fireworks show at 11pm. Do you know if there is a fireworks show at that time the night of “extra magical hours”?? Or that night there ir just the fireworks at 9:20?

Reply
May 29, 2024 at 12:31 p.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Myriam!

On nights with an After Hours event going on at Magic Kingdom, there are two fireworks shows — Happily Ever After is available for all guests (both After Hours and regular daytime guests) at around 9:20 p.m. The park then closes at 10 p.m. and After Hours begins at that time. At 11 p.m., Disney Enchantment is only available for After Hours guests. For more info on After Hours at Magic Kingdom, you can hop over to our guide!

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Reply
Apr 22, 2024 at 12:35 a.m.
Jill B Says...

Do they ever offer the extended hours at Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom?

Reply
Apr 22, 2024 at 8:16 a.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Jill!

To date, Extended Evening Hours have only been offered at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. We'll be sure to update if that changes!

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Reply
Apr 21, 2024 at 3:18 a.m.
Jody Says...

Now that we do not have to reserve a park, can we go to one park during the day (Disney Hollywood) and go to the extended evening hours in another (Magic Kingdom)?

Reply
Apr 22, 2024 at 8:19 a.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Jody!

If you are staying at an eligible hotel and have a park hopper, you can toadally hop over and enjoy Extended Evening Hours.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Apr 20, 2024 at 5:18 p.m.
Jane Says...

If we join the virtual queue for GOTG Cosmic Rewind and ride it during the day, will we also be able to join the virtual queue at 6pm for the deluxe resort extended hours?

Reply
Apr 25, 2024 at 9:23 a.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Jane!

Yes, it is possible to attempt to join the 6 p.m. virtual queue for Deluxe Resort guests, even if you already used a virtual queue pass earlier that day during regular park hours.

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Reply
Apr 10, 2024 at 2:30 p.m.
Michelle Says...

Epcot has extended hours for our May Monday date, but we are not at a Deluxe resort. Can we linger, shop and just walk around a bit after Ecpot closes? We really don't care about any of the rides at that point? I know they scan magic bands to make sure you are eligible? We are at a Sky Liner resort and thought maybe we could just take our time making our way out of the park that night. Thanks

Reply
Jan 25, 2024 at 8:32 a.m.
Jeanie Says...

Do you know if there a bus to shades of green after extended evening hours?

Reply
Jan 25, 2024 at 8:14 a.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Jeanie!

Yes, there is a Shades of Bus after Extended Evening Hours. You can check the current bus schedule here.

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Reply
Jan 18, 2024 at 4:11 p.m.
Julie Says...

Hi! If you’re at a deluxe resort, can you still go on evening extended hours on the day you check out?

Reply
Jan 18, 2024 at 12:41 p.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Julie!

Yes, guests of Deluxe Resorts are eligible for Extended Evening Hours on days of check-in and checkout.

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Reply
Jan 16, 2024 at 6:49 p.m.
Brittany Says...

Have you ever joined the virtual queues for either TRON or Guardians for extended evening hours? Was it worth it in your opinion?

Reply
Jan 13, 2024 at 1:11 a.m.
Shawna Says...

What do you think would impact crowds more, epcot extended hours for resort guests (we don't have access to that) or MK ticketed after hours event? Trying to decide which park will be the least crowded the evenings we are there.

Reply
Jan 16, 2024 at 10:36 a.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Shawna!

We think Magic Kingdom After Hours would impact evening crowds more than Extended Evening Hours at EPCOT because After Hours guests can enter as early as 7 p.m. and mix with the regular daytime crowds since they can watch Happily Ever After during pre-party time, versus guests who are utilizing Extended Evening Hours are more likely already inside the park and stay the extra hours.

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Reply
Dec 27, 2023 at 1:31 p.m.
Terry Says...

Hi,

Do the parks get busier in advance of the extended hours? Trying to work out if we should avoid Magic Kingdom entirely on the day if it is open after 9pm for deluxe guests?

Thanks!

Reply
Dec 27, 2023 at 8:15 a.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Terry!

You'll see a small bump in crowds, but nothing that we feel is significant.

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Reply
Oct 25, 2023 at 5:28 a.m.
Edgar Says...

I hope that there’ll still be Extended Extra Hours until July 2024.

If we check-in at 3pm on a Monday and check l-out at 11 on a Wednesday at a Deluxe Hotel, are we eligible for Extended Extra Hours that Monday and Wednesday?

Reply
Oct 25, 2023 at 9:17 a.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Edgar!

Disney has confirmed that the Extended Evening Hours benefit will continue through 2024, though the exact details (dates and parks) are released on a rolling basis in accordance with the park schedule. Guests are eligible on days of check-in and checkout.

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Reply
Nov 23, 2023 at 1:05 a.m.
Jenni parfait Says...

Hi, do you know when Disney shows new dates for exactly what hours will be available at each park each week. Specifically, i'm looking for 2/4/2024 - 2/9/2024. Thank you for the help!

Reply
Nov 27, 2023 at 9:53 a.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Jenni!

It's not an exact science, but Disney generally releases the park hours schedule about 60 to 75 days in advance. Currently, as of writing, the calendar stops at January 26, so we'd say check back within the next couple of weeks!

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Reply
Oct 25, 2023 at 5:23 a.m.
Edgar Says...

Were there Extended Extra Hours last July 2023?

Reply
Oct 25, 2023 at 9:03 a.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Edgar!

Yes, there were Extended Evening Hours in July 2023.

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Reply
Aug 8, 2023 at 7:24 a.m.
Becky Says...

I'm not staying at an eligible resort, I'm staying at sports. But I'd like to stay and shop and get some pictures of the castle during the extended hours. Will the bus to sports still be running or will we be stranded?

Reply
Aug 8, 2023 at 9:15 a.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Becky!

Generally, normal bus service ends one hour after park closing.

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Reply
Jul 28, 2023 at 11:24 p.m.
Jenny Says...

We just attended extended hours at MK and the posted times for rides are incorrect.

Mine train said 50 but we rode it in 20 and got back in line and road again.

We also walked on a Peter Pan, you have to walk the entire house line but we walked on - same with small world and Winnie the Pooh - our only wait time was walking the interior lines.

Reply
Jul 13, 2023 at 8:09 p.m.
Jessica Says...

Thank you for this info! For Epcot, does the world showcase stay open, including the shops?

Reply
Jul 18, 2023 at 4:30 p.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Jessica!

World Showcase is closed from China to Morocco during Extended Evening Hours, and not all restaurants and shops remain open.

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Reply
Jun 23, 2023 at 1:49 p.m.
Dan Grunkemeyer Says...

Do the crowd levels tend to be busier during the day at the park with the extended evening hours?

Reply
Jun 28, 2023 at 10:15 a.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Dan!

We don't think Extended Evening Hours affects crowds too much — perhaps crowds become a little higher in the later half of the day (and you might see it most for fireworks crowds), but we don't consider it to be a huge impact. If you have the flexibility and want to avoid it, go ahead, but if that's your only day at Magic Kingdom or EPCOT, it should be toadally fine.

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Reply
Jun 15, 2023 at 10:26 p.m.
Sarah Says...

If I'm not staying at a deluxe resort, can I still shop at the open stores during extended evening hours?

Reply
May 29, 2023 at 12:01 p.m.
Chris Says...

How do you know when or which parks will have this? Staying at the dolphin .. :) Thank you

Reply
May 30, 2023 at 8:31 a.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Chris!

Usually, Extended Evening Hours are typically offered on Wednesdays at Magic Kingdom and Mondays at EPCOT. You can double-check on Disney's Hours & Events calendar to confirm when and where it's taking place.

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Reply
May 1, 2023 at 1:58 a.m.
Stephanie Says...

Will extended evening hours continue into 2024?

Reply
May 1, 2023 at 8:29 a.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Stephanie!

We'd expect that Extended Evening Hours would continue in 2024, unless Disney announces otherwise — the schedule (dates and times of operation) and theme park selections (as well as attraction availability) are all subject to change without notice.

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Reply
Mar 8, 2023 at 8:18 p.m.
Kristen Says...

Is the Disney All American Music Resort on the list of Disney properties with extended hours?

Reply
Mar 8, 2023 at 2:32 p.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Kristen!

Disney's All-Star Music Resort guests do not have access to the Extended Evening Hours benefit but they can take advantage of the daily Early Entry benefit.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Oct 10, 2023 at 1:05 a.m.
Anthony Says...

My family and I will be departing animal kingdom lodge the morning of November second and resort hopping to a non Deluxe resort. Are we eligible for extended evening hours since we are still staying the previous night and will we be stranded without bus service since it’s an unusual situation?

Reply
Oct 10, 2023 at 3:14 p.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Anthony!

You would be eligible for Extended Evening Hours, which can be taken advantage of on your checkout date. As for transportation at the end of the night, typically bus service ends an hour after park close. There are buses running an hour after Extended Evening Hours, but service may be for Deluxe resorts only by then. We would suggest checking with a cast member for assistance if you find that there is no bus service to your resort but also prepare for the possibility of getting an Uber or Lyft to your resort.

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Reply

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