Change is something that has become synonymous with Disney World over the years and more particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. The changes with FastPasses+, entertainment, and extra magic hours had some people wondering if a trip to Disney World was even worth it anymore.
Mornings can be busy in Magic Kingdom!
Speaking of Extra Magic Hours, in 2021, Disney World replaced the hotel perk with Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours. If you are unfamiliar with Extra Magic Hours, they were first implemented to allow guests staying at a Disney Hotel to either gain early access or stay later in the theme parks. The idea is still the same, but a bit simpler with Early Theme Park Entry allowing guests to enter any of the parks 30 minutes early every day to get a head start. But, which hotels have access to this benefit? Well, we have a FULL LIST for you!
This list includes everything from Disney Resort Hotels all the way to the Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels and more! Let’s start out with the Disney World Value Hotels and Campsites that qualify for Early Theme Park Entry:
- Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
- Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
- Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
- Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
- Disney’s Pop Century Resort
- The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
Click here to see the pros and cons of staying at Disney World’s Value Resorts!
Next up on the list are the Disney World Moderate Resort Hotels, which have now ALL reopened:
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
- Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
- The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter
Click HERE to Learn About The BIG Problem With Disney World’s Moderate Resorts!
Coming in next are the Disney World Deluxe Resort Hotels, which also have access to the Extended Evening Hours at the parks now.
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Disney’s Beach Club Resort
- Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
- Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
©Disney
Weigh The Pros and Cons of Staying at a Disney World Deluxe Resort HERE!
Next in line are the Deluxe Villas at Disney World (which have access to the Extended Evening Hours as well).
- Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
- Disney’s Beach Club Villas
- Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
- Disney’s Old Key West Resort
- Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
- Disney’s Riviera Resort
- Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
- The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
©Disney
Click here to see the new Disney Vacation Club rooms coming to the Grand Floridian!
And, last but certainly not least, is the portion of the list that includes the Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels, Disney World’s on-property military hotel, and other local hotels in the area!
- Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
- Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
- Walt Disney World Swan Reserve
- Shades of Green on Walt Disney World Resort
- B Resort & Spa Lake Buena Vista
- DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando
- Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace
- Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista
- Holiday Inn Orlando
- Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista
- Wyndham Lake Buena Vista
- Four Seasons Resort Orlando
- Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
- Waldorf Astoria Orlando
- Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista
Note that Shades of Green Resort, Walt Disney World Swan, Walt Disney World Dolphin, and Walt Disney World Swan Reserve also get access to the Extended Evening Hours as well.
Swan Reserve
While 30 minutes may not seem like a huge chunk of time, trust us — it can TOTALLY pay off. Being able to get into the park pre-crowds can allow you to knock out a couple of popular rides when they have shorter wait times. Or, you could just be the first in line to get a breakfast sandwich at Les Halles in EPCOT! Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World news and updates.
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I’m really disappointed that the Swan and Dolphin aren’t included.
Swan and Dolphin not on the list 🙁
they took off shades of green
Didn’t notice Shades of Green either. That is where I normally stay.
We’ll be at the Animal Kingdom Lodge in November!
Ray and Patricia, Shades of Green is listed in the last grouping.
Still disgusted about the late hours being reserved for deluxe resorts. Early entry doesn’t appeal to me at all.
We will be at the Poly and ready to celebrate on 10-1.
Non-Disney hotels getting the benefits!?! Why am I paying a huge premium for Disney hotels?
Weird that it’s the campsites but not the cabins, where I’ll be staying in October.
Don’t really care, though.
So how is this a benefit for Disney hotel guests if the Disney Springs hotels are getting it too? Why exactly are we paying so much more to stay at a Disney hotels? There is no reason to extend this to DS hotels. Disney needs to give Disney guest the perks for paying their high prices
30 minutes early for most of the entire hotels WDW owns! Where’s the benefit?
Just want to remind folks that just a few months ago, it was common for rope drop to occur 30 to 60 minutes early for EVERYONE.
Between now and the 50th birthday, rope drop occurs at park opening. I visited in July, I experienced this myself. So in order to “give” this new benefit for the birthday celebration, Disney actually took it away temporarily. Ta-Da!
And note that when the benefit comes back, it will not be available to EVERYONE as it was before, it will only be available to select Resort guests (as described in the article above). Disney Magic!!!
Reading should be mandatory in school. Swan, Dolphin and Shades of Green are ALL listed in the Article above as properties included in early entry. All THree are listed in the Disney Springs Area section. Shades of Green is the First one listed and Swan and Dolphin are the last two.
Shades Of Green is way into Disney Property and reserved for Military. Swan and Dolphin are not Disney Owned but the first two Resorts at WDW. Both have always been included in Disney Property benifits as far as stay, Dining Plans, Magic Bands, Bus Service ect.
Does anyone know if Yeehaw Bob is coming back to the Riverside when it opens in October?
Thank you for this list. I have been searching everywhere to try to find if Bonnet Creek was included. You just made my vacation planning less hectic!
01-12-22
Riverside and French Quarter are open, I stayed there*French Quarter) a few weeks ago. No Bob is not back, No live entertainment at the hotels yet.
We’ll be staying at The Yacht Club in Nov to celebrate our 35th Anniversary & feast around the world at the Wine & Food Festival!!!
That sounds like a great time, Tim! Happy early 35th Anniversary! I hope you have a wonderful trip!
Holiday Inn Orlando? What Holiday Inn in Orlando? There are several.
After hours are better and MUCH SAFER. When the rope drops in the morning and thousands of people from all hotels STAMPEDE to their favorite rides, particularly INDIVIDUAL ATTRACTIONS, do you think that eventually small children and the elderly will be trampled and hurt?