Disney 101

Extra Magic Hours 101

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What are they and are they worth it? 

What are they?

One of the perks of staying on property during your Walt Disney World vacation is Extra Magic Hours, or EMH. This is a window of time in the morning or evening where the parks are open only to Disney Resort guests.

Because it’s outside of regular park hours, the windows are early in the morning and late in the evening. All four parks offer EMH, but only one park offers it per day, so be sure to check the schedule! Keep in mind only select attractions, dining and shopping are open during EMH.

 

Who can take advantage?

Guests staying at any Walt Disney World Resort or Official Walt Disney World Hotels can take advantage of this perk.

Official Walt Disney World Hotels (partner hotels) include: 

  • Swan and Dolphin
  • Shades of Green
  • Four Seasons Orlando
  • Waldorf Astoria Orlando
  • Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
  • Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels (see the full list here)

How does it work?

Everything is connected to your MagicBand! To enter the park for Extra Magic Hours, each person in your group will scan into the park normally, but then you also need to scan one of your party’s bands on a Cast Member’s iPad. This lets them know that you are staying on property!

Pros and Cons

  • Pros:
    • Less crowds
    • Shorter wait times
    • Better temperatures
  • Cons:
    • Only select attractions and experiences available 
    • All the resort guests flock to that park 
    • It’s very early or very late in the day
    • Subject to change at any time

Morning vs Evening EMH

The morning EMH are offered very frequently, especially at Hollywood Studios with the opening of Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge and its respective attractions. The other parks have morning EMH often, too, and they rotate the days those are offered to guests. Typically the park will open at 8am for EMH, and then at 9am for all guests. Be sure to check the attraction availability, as it differs from park to park on how much is open during EMH.

Recently, the evening EMH have been offered less frequently, which is for a few reasons. One reason is the high volume of crowds. To manage crowd flow, Disney extends park hours so they open very early and are open very late for all guests – leaving little room for EMH. Second, in recent years Disney has started offering Disney After Hours. This is a ticketed event where the park is open to guests for 3 hours in the evening, which brings in more $$ for Disney but less opportunities for resort guests to take advantage of evening EMH. 

Should you take advantage? 

There are a few strategies for Extra Magic Hours – to plan your trip around EMH (so you get optimal park time), avoid EMH completely (since most resort guests head to that park), OR just plan your trip ignoring them completely. It’s a personal decision that everyone has different opinions on from their past experiences and/or research!

Personally, I’m in the last group. I typically don’t plan my trip around EMH, unless it’s for something in particular like Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge. If EMH works out with our plans, then great, but I really just consider it an extension of the regular park hours. In the morning, I still get there 45 minutes before the EMH start time (i.e. if EMH are from 8-9am at Magic Kingdom, I’m at the park by 7:15am). Park hours are always subject to change, and that includes EMH. I’d rather plan my trip going to the parks I want to hit on the days I want to go than having to shuffle things around if Disney changes EMH and park hours.

Overall, I love taking advantage of EMH but do not base my trip on the EMH schedule. What is your strategy?

 

Planning Tips

Top Reasons to Stay on Property at Disney

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Should you stay on property at Walt Disney World?

My recommendation to friends and clients has always been “YES! You have to stay on property!” Don’t get me wrong, there are some other really great non-Disney options in the area, and many are becoming Disney affiliate properties. This means while they’re not owned and run by Disney, they receive some of the perks that Disney resort guests receive.

I’ve stayed primarily at on-property Disney resorts on our trips, but have also stayed at Disney affiliates and had a great experience!

There are a ton of reasons to stay on property, so I’ve pulled together my top few to help you in the decision-making process 🙂 Keep in mind, there are different tiers of Disney resorts with different price points (but all of them receive these perks), so find the tier that fits your budget!

1. Extra Magic Hours

Extra Magic Hours are a window of time in the morning or night when the park is only open to Disney resort guests. EMH are only offered on select days at select parks, so make sure you always check Disney’s website for the latest dates/times!

We always take advantage of this perk, and I encourage my clients to do the same. In the morning, it allows you to beat the crowds AND the heat – a huge benefit if you can get your group out of bed early enough to make it! And there’s nothing better than being the last ones in the park at night. It’s so magical walking down a near empty Main Street!

2. Complimentary Transportation

a. Magical Express: Disney offers a complimentary shuttle service to/from the Orlando airport from your resort. You need to register online in advance of your vacation, but it’s super easy (and free!). On your way back to the airport, you can even check your bags at your resort for your airline so you don’t have to do it at the airport. It takes a bit longer than if you rented a car or took an Uber, but as you would imagine, the experience of riding the Magical Express is, well, magical!

b. Service to/from the parks: Monorail, bus and boat – Disney’s got you covered! No matter what Disney resort you’re staying at, you can get to any of the four parks, two water parks and Disney Springs. They’re service is (usually) very reliable and runs frequently! Now you can track the bus arrival times on the My Disney Experience app!

c. Standard parking at the parks: Complimentary standard parking is included for Disney resort guests!

3. Full Disney Experience

Staying on property at a Disney resort keeps you immersed in the magic throughout your vacation. The Disney level of service is unmatched, and cast members go above and beyond to make sure your stay is extra magical. Every last detail adds that touch of pixie dust – from the special TV channels (we love watching Stacy’s Disney Must Dos!) to the Disney soaps and shampoos – it’s the little things that make your experience at a Disney resort.

What are your top reasons for staying on property at Disney?!

Planning Tips

Tips for Taking a Baby to Disney

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This post was written with the help of client Becky Lilovich, mom of 10-month old, Olivia. Their family traveled to Disney in June 2019 with the baby for the first time.

Traveling anywhere with a baby can be stressful, but especially when traveling to Disney World. The heat, the crowds, the lines – not ideal for babies or adults!

That’s why, with the help of a client who recently experienced Disney with a 10-month old, I’ve pulled together my top Tips for Taking a Baby to Disney.

Start the Day Early.

Making it for Rope Drop at the parks might not always be possible with a baby, but the earlier you can get there, the better. As the day goes on, the crowds get heavier, the lines get longer and the temperatures get hotter. Beating the crowds and heat will make your Disney experience so much better for you and your baby – and if you have your day mapped out for you with the help of WDW Park Planners, then you’re in great shape! You’ll be able to get the most out of your time in the parks and still squeeze in nap time (for the baby AND you) in the afternoons!

Be Flexible.

Sticking to a baby’s schedule can be tough at Disney. Don’t be afraid to let allow naps to be slightly off their usual times or even let the baby nap in the stroller at the parks (this might just happen naturally, too!). Your baby will adjust more easily than you think, and you won’t feel like you have to be locked in to their schedule. If you have planning help from WDW Park Planners, your day will be structured to accommodate nap schedules as a part of your personalized itinerary 🙂

Take AC Breaks.

Orlando’s temperatures and humidity are brutal in the summer months. It is so important for you and your litle one to take AC breaks throughout the day. WDW Park Planners will structure your day so you have that AC time in between Fast Passes and reservations. Attractions such as The Enchanted Tiki Room (Magic Kingdom), Festival of the Lion King (Animal Kingdom), Frozen Sing-Along (Hollywood Studios) and the Gran Fiesta Tour (Epcot) are all great options!

Be Prepared.

You can never be too prepared for Disney, especially with a baby! This may seem obvious, but double check that you have all the essentials such as water (you can bring your own unopened bottles or a refillable water to use in the parks), easy travel snacks, plenty of diapers/wipes, a change of clothes for baby, sun hat, and cooling towels. Check out the blog post with Top Products for Taking a Baby to Disney for the best recommendations!

Planning a trip to Disney is a ton of work, so let WDW Park Planners do the heavy lifting! No matter your group’s ages or size, they will plan the perfect trip for you guys 🙂

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