Disney World Extra Magic Hours are one of the best perks of being a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel guest. The Extra Magic Hours give you either early entrance to the parks an hour ahead of published opening time or the chance to stay after the parks 3 hours after they are closed to non resort guests. The Extra Magic Hours are only available on select days and vary according to the time of year. The hours do tend to follow a set pattern but you should always check for up to date Extra Magic Hours prior to your visit as they are subject to change.
Who Can Have the Disney Extra Magic Hours?Which Days are the Disney World Extra Magic Hours?
All Disney World Resort Hotel guests are entitled to the Extra Magic Hours. This includes guests of the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, and the Hilton in the Walt Disney World Resort even though these hotels are not Disney owned property.
What Do I Need For Entry To Extra Magic Hours?
You will need a valid Disney World resort ID and a theme park ticket. Disney no longer uses wristbands as it used to for the evening Magic Hours. Guests have to show their resort ID to a Cast Member at each attraction.
When are the Extra Magic Hours
Knowing when the Extra Magic Hours are is important not only for Disney resort guests but also those not staying at a Disney hotel. The parks will be busier in the mornings of Extra Magic Hours because of course they are already filling up with Disney resort guest prior to the opening time. A good tactic is to avoid parks with the morning Extra Magic Hours if you are not a resort guest.
August 2011
Morning Extra Magic Hours
Magic Kingdom – 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25
Epcot – 5, 12, 19, 26, 30
Disney’s Hollywood Studios – 6, 13, 20, 27
Animal Kingdom – 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, 29, 31
Blizzard Beach – 4, 11, 18, 25
Typhoon Lagoon – 3, 10, 17, 24
Evening Extra Magic Hours
Magic Kingdom – 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28
Epcot – 2, 9, 16, 23
Disney’s Hollywood Studios – 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
September 2011
Morning Extra Magic Hours
Magic Kingdom – 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Epcot – 6, 13, 20, 27
Disney’s Hollywood Studios – 3, 10, 17, 24
Animal Kingdom – 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 30
Evening Extra Magic Hours
Magic Kingdom – 4, 11, 18, 25
Epcot – 2, 9, 16, 23, 28
Disney’s Hollywood Studios – 5, 12, 19, 26
October 2011
Morning Extra Magic Hours
Magic Kingdom – 6, 13, 20, 27
Epcot – 4, 11, 18, 25
Disney’s Hollywood Studios – 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Animal Kingdom – 3, 7, 10, 14, 16, 21, 24, 28, 30
Evening Extra Magic Hours
Magic Kingdom – 3, 9, 17, 24
Epcot – 5, 12, 19, 26
Disney’s Hollywood Studios – 2, 10, 20, 23, 31
Disney Animal Kingdom – No Extra Magic Evening Hours
November 2011
Morning Extra Magic Hours
Magic Kingdom – 3, 10, 17, 24
Epcot – 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Disney’s Hollywood Studios – 5, 12, 19, 26
Animal Kingdom – 4, 6, 11, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30
Evening Extra Magic Hours
Magic Kingdom – 5, 12, 14, 20, 28
Epcot – 2, 9, 18, 25
Disney’s Hollywood Studios – 7, 13, 21, 27
Disney Animal Kingdom – No Extra Magic Evening Hours
December 2011
Mornings:
Magic Kingdom – December 1, 8, 15, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
Epcot – 6, 13, 20, 25
Disney Hollywood Studios – 3, 10, 17, 24, 25, 26
Disney Animal Kingdom – 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 28, 29, 30, 31
Evenings:
Magic Kingdom – 5, 12, 19, 26
Disney Epcot – 2, 9, 16, 23, 27, 29
Disney Hollywood Studios – 4, 11, 18, 28, 31
Disney Animal Kingdom – none
Which Attraction Are Open in Disney World Extra Magic Hours?
Only a selection of the rides and attractions are open during Extra Magic Hours. Usually they are the most popular rides though. As always it does make sense to plan which attractions to ride first and where to get Fast Passes for later in the day. You can save a lot of time standing in line if you plan ahead.
Disney Magic Kingdom
Mornings:
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
It’s a Small World
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Peter Pan’s Flight
Space Mountain
Stitch’s Great Escape!
Tomorrowland Speedway
The ones to head to first are Space Mountain and Peter Pan’s Flight as these are the ones with the longest lines in the day. Tomorrowland Speedway can also be a good bet as this is slow loading and very popular so the lines get very long very quickly in the morning.
Evenings:
Includes the attractions listed above and:
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
The Haunted Mansion
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
Pirates of the Caribbean
Splash Mountain
The Haunted Mansion is a great ride to experience in the evening – makes it even more spooky if you stand in line in the dark.
Epcot
Mornings:
Living with the Land
Mission: SPACE
Soarin’
Epcot Spaceship Earth
Test Track
The best plan is to run to Test Track or Soarin and get a Fast Pass for later in the day. Then go to the other ride and get in line for that one. Both Test Track and Sorin’ will quickly have lines of around 60 minutes rising to 120 minutes later in the day so to get there early is a good plan. Skip Mission Space as there is rarely a line. Living with the Land is not a major attraction so you can leave this for later.
Evenings:
Includes attractions listed above and:
Captain EO starring Michael Jackson
Journey Into Imagination With Figment
Mexico – Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros
Norway-Maelstrom
The American Adventure
There is rarely a line at Journey Into Imagination with Figment so you can ride this any time of the day with usually around a 5 to 10 minute wait.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Mornings:
Muppet Vision 3-D
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
Toy Story Mania!
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
With the exception of Muppet Vision these are all rides which can have extremely long lines so take advantage of the Extra Magic Hours. Toy Story Mania! is the one to head for if you have young children. If there are thrill seekers amongst you then go straight to either Rock N Roller Coaster or Tower of Terror and pick up a Fast Pass. Then ride the attraction that you didn’t get the Fast Pass for.
Evenings:
Includes the attractions listed above and:
The Great Movie Ride
The Voyage of The Little Mermaid
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
Mornings:
DINOSAUR
Expedition Everest
It’s Tough to be a Bug!
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Pangani Forest Exploration Trail
Head for Kilimanjaro Safari. Not only will you not stand for too long in line, but it is always a good idea to experience this in the morning as the animals are a lot more active and you will see a lot more. Expedition Everest is another very popular ride so either head there after your safari, or go there first and pick up a Fast Pass. Leave It’s Tough to Be A Bug for later. There is never a line for the Pangani Forest Exploration so you may want to leave this for later too – although again the animals are more active in the morning so you are likely to see more, and be away from the crowds.
Evenings:
DINOSAUR
Expedition Everest
Festival of the Lion King
It’s Tough to be a Bug!
Kali River Rapids
Primeval Whirl
TriceraTop Spin
Primeval Whirl and TriceraTop Spin are not major attractions so use your time to experience Expedition Everest again. Once is never enough!
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Alison Meacham is the founder of EverythingMouse Disney Blog. For over 15 years she has shared her love of Disney Parks, Disney Cruises and Universal Orlando. In over 30 years of Disney Travel she has spent countless months in Disney Parks and has sailed on over 45 cruises. A British native and now a United States resident she splits her time between California, Florida and the UK. And spends a serious amount of time sailing the seven seas. She helps over 200,000 people per month follow their Disney travel dreams.