2023. Guests need valid admission and a park reservation, along with a valid linked hotel reservation, in order to access Extended Evening Hours. Those with park hopping abilities must enter their first park, but then may hop over to the park with the extended hours.

For "Extended Evening Theme Park Hours"—a special perk for guests staying at Disney Deluxe Resorts and other select hotels—you do not necessarily need a separate "reservation" for the event itself, but you must have a valid method of entry for the park on that day. As of 2026, Disney has largely removed the requirement for park pass reservations for most date-based tickets; however, if you are using a non-dated ticket or an Annual Pass, you still need a park reservation for the park where the extended hours are being held. To participate in the late-night event, you must have scanned into the park at some point during the day or have a Park Hopper ticket. At the start of the extended hours, Cast Members will scan your MagicBand, ticket, or phone at the entrance to each attraction to verify your eligibility as a guest of a qualifying resort. It is also important to note that for high-demand rides like TRON Lightcycle / Run or Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, a special "virtual queue" often opens at 6:00 PM specifically for those eligible for the extended evening hours, which does not require you to be physically inside the park to join.