One of the major perks of staying in a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel is the Extra Magic Hours. On select days at different parks Disney hotel resort guests are allowed into the parks either earlier in the morning or later at night than non Disney guests. Now Disney has just announced that it will be cutting the evening hours from 3 to 2 Extra Magic Hours. The changes will start in January 2012. They haven’t yet confirmed whether these changes will be permanent.
Photo by armadillo444
What difference will the shortening of the Extra Magic Hours make to Disney guests? The final hour of the late Extra Magic Hours are reported to be the least crowded (so of course making them the most advantageous for those guests who want to stay out for the final hour). The Extra Magic Hours system was introduced to give Disney resort guests the luxury of experiencing the parks with less crowds. But with ever extra minute the park is open the operating costs for Disney increase, and that last hour was the least cost effective as it attracted the least guests.
We doubt very much whether the loss of that final Extra Magic Hour will make any difference to Disney World hotel resort occupancy. The Disney World resort hotels are still some of the very best in the world and compete well on price with many of the local competitors particularly when you take into account the Free Dining packages which are offered for many dates of the year.
Really it is part of a bigger problem which Disney is working to put right. The lines are getting longer at the parks and no one wants that. Disney is investing $1 billion in the Next Generation Project. Not many details are yet known about this but it is thought to include a new system for Disney resort guests to book ride times on theme park attractions before they leave home and to check into the hotel and get their room keys in advance. The experience in line will also be enhanced with interactive lines for some attractions.
Disney World constantly works to upgrade and enhance the guest experience. The $425 million expenditure on the new Fantasyland in Magic Kingdom certainly shows that. But should they have taken away that Extra Magic Hour? What do you think? Leave us a Comment Below
You may also like:
Disney Art of Animation Resort Photos
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.
Betty McCullough
Tuesday 7th of August 2012
I am upset that the extra Magic Hour will be taken away. My family and I look forward to those hours with less crowds and always have so much fun during those extra magic hours! We go to Disneyworld because of all the little extras-stop taking away them away!!!!!
Disney World Extra Magic Hours to be Cut Back | DisneyDigest
Wednesday 25th of July 2012
[...] information!Disney World Extra Magic Hours to be Cut Back EverythingMouse / Posted on: July 25, 2012EverythingMouse – One of the major perks of staying in a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel is the Extra Magic [...]
Keri Gibson
Wednesday 25th of July 2012
I am upset by this. We decided to stay at a resort because of the extra time just for us. I think that if hours are cut, then the people staying at the resorts should see a cost decrease. They are taking away from us, so why can't they give us a little something in return?