Do you love being in the Disney parks when the lines are short and the crowds are low? This may be rare during normal park hours, but there is an awesome perk that can change everything: extended evening hours. Extended evening hours at Disney World allow guests staying at deluxe resorts to stay beyond the park’s closing time. This includes all of the Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts that are part of Disney Vacation Club. Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about this awesome benefit!
What are Extended Evening Hours at Disney, and How do They Work?
Disney extended evening hours are a special perk that allows guests staying at qualifying resort hotels to stay in the park a couple of hours after the park closes. They generally occur two times a week, at one park per night. This means that within a week’s stay at Disney, you could experience extended hours at two different parks. If you want to plan your itinerary in advance, you can check which parks offer extended evening hours about 60-75 days in advance. This can help you decide which days to visit which parks if you want to take advantage of the extra time in the park! Park hours are available in the My Disney Experience App.
Keep in mind that each deluxe resort guest needs to be registered on the resort reservation with a valid admission to the park in order to access this benefit. It is a great time to ride popular attractions or meet characters that typically have a long line.
Pro tip: At non-DVC Disney resorts, there is an additional nightly charge for each adult in the room beyond two. Since guests must be registered in the room to access extended hours, this can add up quickly for a week-long stay. However, when booking Disney Vacation Club Resorts with DVC points, you do not need to pay for each additional adult that stays in the room.
Early Theme Park Entry Vs. Extended Evening Theme Park
Extended evening hours are different than the early theme park entry that comes with a stay at any resort on Disney property. Early entry can still get pretty crowded, as there are more than 40 Disney resorts and participating third-party hotels. It is still a great perk of staying on Disney property, though, since early entry is 30 minutes before park opening, making it ideal for “rope dropping” the park. Early entry is available every morning at every park. However, extended evening hours are available only at the applicable theme park on certain nights.
Pro tip: If you want to take advantage of both the early entry and extended evening hours perks, it is a great idea to head back to your resort for a mid-day break. Disney’s Deluxe Villa Resorts have incredible pools, spacious rooms, and plenty of places to relax between park hopping.
Transportation to Resorts After Extended Evening Hours
You may be wondering how you will get back to your resort after Disney extended evening hours. While the typical rule of thumb for Disney transportation is that it runs until two hours after a park closes, all park transportation with extended hours runs until two hours after the extended-hours closing time.
Pro tip: If ease of getting back to your resort after a day at Magic Kingdom is a priority for you, you should consider booking your trip at Bay Lake Tower. This resort is directly next to the park and does not require transportation to return; you can simply walk! The same thing goes for the Boardwalk and Beach Club if you plan to spend your evenings at EPCOT.
Keep reading to discover which resorts qualify for evening theme park hours.
Dining During Extended Evening Hours
Dining is very limited during extended evening hours, with few food and beverage locations remaining open after standard park closing. You’ll often find carts with Mickey pretzels and churros still open. However, restaurants that offer full meals do not typically stay open, so it’s best to eat dinner before the extended hours begin.
Disney Vacation Club Resorts Include Evening Hours Benefit
Disney Vacation Club Resorts at Walt Disney World include:
Top Attractions For Extended Evening Hours at Disney
The best attractions to experience during extended evening hours are the ones that typically have the longest lines during normal park hours. This is typically newer rides, family favorites, and thrilling attractions. A good indicator that a ride is very popular is if it is listed as a Lightning Lane single-pass attraction. This means that, due to its high demand, it is not included in the Lightning Lane Multipass and requires an additional purchase if you choose to use Lightning Lanes. Hitting the most popular rides when they have short wait times during extended hours is a great way to avoid paying extra to get on these attractions quickly.
Top Attractions in Magic Kingdom
Tron Light Cycle Run, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Peter Pan’s Flight, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, and Space Mountain.
Top Disney’s Hollywood Studios Attractions
Star Wars Rise of the Resistance, Rock n Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, Toy Story Mania, Slinky Dog Dash, and Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.
Top Attractions in Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Avatar Flight of Passage, Na’vi River Journey, Expedition Everest, and Zootopia Better Zoogether.
Top EPCOT Attractions
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Test Track, Frozen Ever After, Remi’s Ratatouille Adventure, Soarin’ Around the World, and Journey of Water Inspired by Moana.
Buy DVC Resale and Enjoy Extended Evening Hours Benefits at Disney World
Although there are some exclusions to benefits for DVC owners through resale, extended evening hours are always included. With extended evening hours, guests can experience the park after closing without an additional after-hours ticket. No matter which DVC resort you own or stay at, you will have access to this awesome perk. With that, extended evening hours continue to be a fantastic benefit for DVC users.
Buy DVC Resale and Experience the Magic of Ownership
Extended evening hours are only one of the incredible things that DVC owners can experience at Disney World. DVC owners can enjoy the best accommodations, endless amenities, easy access to the parks, and more. If you are looking for an affordable way to take a Disney getaway each year, DVC resale is a great option. With DVC resale, you can purchase points from an owner who no longer uses them. This often means paying a fraction of the cost per point versus buying directly from Disney Vacation Club. Explore our current listings and get started on finding your dream DVC ownership that will keep the magic going.
Already Own DVC Points and Want to Sell?
If you own DVC points and find yourself not maximizing their value, you may be thinking about handing them off to a new owner. Fortunately, there are many buyers out there eager to purchase DVC resale points. Fill out the form below to get started on selling your DVC points.
