Disney Adults, I have a confession to make. The best times I have ever had at Walt Disney World have been late at night after the theme parks have closed. You may wonder what I mean by that… it’s hard to have a good time inside of a closed park. Well, these are times when the parks were closed to the general public. In other words, I was in the parks for special events. Holiday parties such as Disney Jollywood Nights, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, and Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party are so much fun. Don’t discount the Disney After Hours events, either. Of course, I love the Extended Evening Hours as well. Let me let you in on a secret… of the non-party options, Extended Evening Hours may be my favorite.
Disney Extended Evening Hours
Let me give a refresher of what Extended Evening Hours is and who qualifies. Extended Evening Hours is a complimentary perk for guests staying at select hotels. On select nights, one theme park stays open two hours after regular closing.
During this time, guests can:
- Ride select attractions with significantly lower wait times
- Enjoy the parks in a more relaxed, less crowded atmosphere
- Experience iconic rides after dark (which honestly just feels different)
Unlike Early Theme Park Entry, this perk is only for higher-tier resort guests, making it one of the most exclusive benefits Disney currently offers. Admission is free for those guests as long as they have a valid theme park ticket for that park on the date of the event.
Extended Evening Hours Dates
As of March 2nd, Disney has released the theme park operating calendar through the beginning of May. This allows us to see what’s planned for the near future. The following is a roundup of the dates and parks where Extended Evening Hours will be offered as of today. Please note that this schedule does often change, especially as Disney re-evaluates park hours during the Spring Break period. Consult Disney’s park calendar closer to the date you’re interested in to confirm.
Magic Kingdom
- Wednesday, March 4 (9:00pm – 11:00pm)
- Wednesday, March 11 (10:00pm – 12:00am)
- Wednesday, March 18 (11:00pm – 1:00am)
- Wednesday, March 25 (9:30pm – 11:30pm)
- Wednesday, April 1 (9:30pm – 11:30pm)
- Wednesday, April 8 (9:30pm – 11:30pm)
- Wednesday, April 15 (9:30pm – 11:30pm)
- Wednesday, April 22 (10:00pm – 12:00am)
- Wednesday, April 29 (10:00pm – 12:00am)
EPCOT
- Monday, March 2 (9:00pm – 11:00pm)
- Monday, March 9 (9:00pm – 11:00pm)
- Monday, March 16 (9:00pm – 11:00pm)
- Monday, March 23 (9:00pm – 11:00pm)
- Monday, March 30 (9:00pm – 11:00pm)
- Monday, April 6 (9:00pm – 11:00pm)
- Monday, April 13 (9:00pm – 11:00pm)
- Monday, April 20 (9:00pm – 11:00pm)
- Monday, April 27 (9:00pm – 11:00pm)
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- Monday, May 4 (6:00pm – 8:00pm)
Extended Evening Hours Eligible Hotels
If you are a guest of one of the following hotels on the date of an Extended Evening Hours event (meaning you are either checking out, checking in, or in the middle of a stay), you can go to the event for free:
Disney Deluxe Resorts
- 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 Deluxe Villa Resorts
- 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 Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort – A Disney Vacation Club Resort (DVC Cabins Only)
- The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Other Select Hotels
- Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
- Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
- Walt Disney World Swan Reserve
- Shades of Green® on Walt Disney World Resort
As a reminder, if there is an Extended Evening Hours event at a park, you must have a valid theme park ticket for that park (or have a park-hopper ticket) while staying at an eligible hotel. If you are ready to plan your Disney trip and are interested in a package with an eligible deluxe Disney Resorts hotel, I can give you a quote for your Disney vacation. You’ll not only get a quote, but you’ll get my personalized expertise to help you plan if you book with me.
Why Extended Evening Hours Is Worth It
There is a little bit of a stigma associated with Extended Evening Hours in that it is only available to those staying in amongst the highest priced hotel resorts. However, if you are staying in these accommodations for some other reason anyway, you might as well use this no additional cost perk! Here’s why it is worth it for Disney Adults who love rides, ambiance, and efficiency:
- Maximizing ride count
- Avoiding crowds
- Touring strategically
- Enjoying the more sophisticated nighttime park vibes
Extended Evening Hours can be one of the most valuable perks at Walt Disney World. For those taking shorter trips to the magic, this perk can completely transform your experience… especially if it allows you to skip long daytime waits. This will allow you to eat your way around the upcoming EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival during the day before experiencing the rides after dark with reduced wait times. This is how you change the game! Now that you know the latest round of Extended Evening Hours, it’s time to start planning! The MouseHouseNews.net team will keep bringing you the latest information to help you plan your next trip to Walt Disney World.
