Disney World is gearing up for its big 50th anniversary celebrations and there are a TON of new things to look forward to!
©Disney
There is a new fireworks show and projections coming to Magic Kingdom, a new daytime show coming to Animal Kingdom, the debut of Harmonious in EPCOT, golden character statues will be going up around the parks, and we’re FINALLY getting the opening of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure! Disney recently announced that they will be offering extended evening theme park hours for select guests for the big anniversary, and we’re here to tell you which guests will get the new perk!
Before we begin, we want to those that this extended evening perk is different than Early Theme Park Entry. Early Theme Park Entry is a separate benefit for hotel guests. You can read more about Early Entry here!
In terms of the extended evening hours perk, Disney has said that select guests will be able to enjoy extended evening hours on select nights in select theme parks (that’s a lot of selectively!). This will start in early October, but we do not have an official start date yet.
The Lobby at Animal Kingdom Lodge – Kidani Village
Here is the official language from Disney, “guests staying at one of our Disney Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resort hotels will also be able to enjoy extended evening hours on select nights in select theme parks.”
So, what we DO know is that the extended evening hours will be available to guests staying at a Disney Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resort hotel. These include:
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
- Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
- Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
- Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Copper Creek Villas & Cabins Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Disney’s Beach Club Resort
- Disney’s Beach Club Villas
- Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
- Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
- Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
- Disney’s Old Key West Resort
- Disney’s Riviera Resort
However, Disney has also confirmed that the Swan and Dolphin Resorts are on the list of hotels to receive extended evening hours:
- Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin
- Walt Disney World Swan Reserve
Guests need a valid ticket or pass and a theme park reservation for the park that has the extended evening hours that day. You can also park hop to the park with the extended hours, as long as you have a ticket with park hopping abilities and you first enter into the park you made a reservation for that day (just like with regular park hopping right now).
Disney’s Riviera Resort
Select attractions, merchandise, and food and beverage locations will be available during these extra hours, so you probably won’t get the full experience of the park as if it were open during regular hours. That’s just something to keep in mind.
You also need to have some form of identification that’s linked to your stay so Disney can make sure you are staying at one of the qualifying resorts (like your MagicBand, Disney MagicMobile pass, or Key to the World card).
Grand Floridian
Disney has not yet announced specific dates or times for these extended evening hours or what exactly will be open. We’ll be sure to let you know as soon as Disney releases this info, so stay tuned to DFB for more!
Click here to read more about the extended evening hours perk!
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How about Swan/Dolphin? They’re listed as “Deluxe” category on Disney’s website but I know they get weird about them.
Not a fan of the new changes as we don’t always stay at one of these qualifying resorts but we always stay on site. First the magical Express is going and now this. Reasons for staying on site are slowly going away.
Hoping that at least one of the select days are on Fridays through Sundays and that the dates we are there are not on any blackout dates.
Sadly, not during our upcoming vacation, unless Disney realizes that not extending the evening hours to guests at all resorts is not the brightest decision.
Do you think more off site Disney hotels will be added to the extended hours list. I’m booked to stay at the Hilton Bonnet Creek which is a deluxe Disney hotel but hasn’t made the list yet. 🤞🏻
Sue, I’d be surprised not to see Hilton Bonnet Creek added, but I don’t know when/if we’ll see a confirmation of this. Have you tried reaching out to the hotel directly?
Thank you so much for your replies. Good idea, I’ll drop them a line x
Good luck, Sue! If they confirm, let me know!
I will do. I’ve sent them a message, so watch this space x
I believe that Shades of Green is also eligible for Extended Evening hours.
Another Disney perk gone. In the past the extra evening hours were available to ALL WDW resort guests. What about the moderates? Are the TRYING to chase future resort guests away? If this keeps up we might as well stay at a Universal hotel & just visit Disney parks a couple of days during the week!
Just wondering how this will work in practice. Will you need to scan your room key, show reservation, magic band, my Disney experience etc to ride?
It appears that Disney is catering only to guests that stay at the ” Big Money” resorts and to heck with the little guys. Sorry, but just because I choose to allow my little guys the Themed Resorts doesn’t mean I’m not going to spend alot of money. Someone needs to do something with that new CEO. He’s not out for Walts dream.
I think Disney is starting to look a less attractive than before. Booked for November next year but looking increasingly like our last time. Stopping everything from magical express to extra hours. Enough is Enough
Graham, in our experience (relayed here), we were told upon entering the Park that we would need to scan in with a Cast Member at each attraction we wanted to ride. The CM would verify we were Deluxe Resort guests before allowing us to ride.
Does Shades of Green qualify as a deluxe resort for extended evening hours?
Disney, extend the evening extra hours to the moderates also!
Hi! Do you know if Extended Evening Hours will go past the 50th anniversary in 2023? I have a stay in May and was hoping this perk would still be around then.