Why did Disney get rid of extra magic hours?

Since the start of Walt Disney World's phased reopening, Extra Magic Hours have been suspended due to restricted hours during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, it seems this resort guest benefit won't be coming back at all—at least not in its previous form.



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The Extra Magic Hours benefit was suspended when Walt Disney World Resort reopened in summer 2020 after temporarily closing due to the ongoing pandemic. Related: Rise of the Resistance, Other Attractions Available For Early Theme Park Entry!

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Extended Evening Hours at Magic Kingdom are on hold from late September 2023 as the popular resort guest benefit shifts from Magic Kingdom to Disney's Hollywood Studios. During September, Magic Kingdom will host Extended Evening Hours on Sep.

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Disney has since announced that Extra Magic Hours benefits will not return. Instead, guests at official Disney resort hotels and select Disney partner hotels will be able to enjoy 30-minute early entry to ANY theme park, EVERY day.

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Enjoy extended evening hours on select nights in select theme parks when you stay at a Disney Deluxe Resort, Disney Deluxe Villa Resort or other select hotels. This popular benefit will continue through 2024!

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The evening Extra Magic Hours program lets Disney resort guests enjoy a different theme park on specified nights for about 2 hours after it closes to the general public. Guests pay no additional charge to participate but must scan their MagicBands at each ride or attraction they wish to experience.

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We already know about certain areas that will open soon in Disney World. Magic Kingdom will soon get TRON Lightcycle / Run, while at EPCOT the remainder of World Celebration and Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana will both be opening in 2023. The opening of these new attractions and spaces could impact capacity.

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Tickets are now on sale for the recently added 'Disney After Hours' dates at Disney's Hollywood Studios beginning May 3 2023 and EPCOT June 1 2023.

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The other somewhat-significant 2023 opening date is Moana's Journey of Water, which will debut by late 2023. That's also when the EPCOT overhaul will be finished according to Walt Disney World, which means no more Giant Dirt Pit at the front of the park.

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Disney After Hours is a specially ticketed event (meaning it's a ticket that is purchased separate from regular park tickets) that allows people to enter Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom at 7 p.m. and stay until midnight or 1 a.m. (ending time varies by date).

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Disney After Hours at EPCOT dates are June 1 through August 24 2024.

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Meanwhile, guests of Deluxe Resorts and Deluxe Villas can take advantage of Extended Evening Hours on select dates at select parks. In 2024, Disney will introduce new good-to-go days that will allow Disney annual passholders and cast members to visit the theme parks without a theme park reservation.

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Nevertheless, wait times are an imperfect measure of Walt Disney World's crowds, especially if you're comparing current conditions to prior years. Walt Disney World attendance has increased by several million people over the course of the last decade-plus, so the vast majority of days in 2023 will be more crowded than ...

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Magic Kingdom's Splash Mountain creatures sang their last notes in January of 2023, and Disneyland's on May 31, 2023. Now, the ride has closed its doors forever. The brand new ride replacing it, Tiana's Bayou Adventure, is inspired by Tiana, the radiant star of the 2009 animated hit The Princess and the Frog.

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The closing of the 30-year-old ride — which Princess Diana visited in 1993 — follows years of calls for change because it features several characters from Disney's 1946 film Song of the South, which featured racist stereotypes.

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Guests will need valid admission and a theme park reservation for the same park on the same day to experience extended evening hours–or, Guests may experience extended evening hours if they have a ticket or annual pass with the Park Hopper option and first enter the park where they made their reservation.

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In Disneyland, Security officers make a sweep of each land. As each one is done, they signal “clear”! And believe me, from over the years, they know ALL the hiding places. Plus between the cameras and other sensors, if you did manage to stay it, they'd find you.

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Who should attend an After Hours event? Although the price sounds high for just 4-6 hours in the park, we suggest it does make sense if you think of it in terms of number of attractions rather than number of hours. You can get more done at the event than you could in a whole day at Magic Kingdom.

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The worst times to visit Disney World in 2023 are: March 17 – April 16 (Spring Break & Easter) May 26 – August 13. November 17-26 (Avoid Thanksgiving Week) December 15 -31 (Avoid Christmas and New Year's Weeks)

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Is there any hope for Disney's stock? Despite Disney's stock's performance over the last five years, the company does have some bright spots. Most notably, operating income for its parks, experiences, and products segment is up 20% year over year to $7.6 billion in the first three quarters of fiscal 2023.

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