Company to test varied Extra Magic Hour schedule

[mkt]

Company to test varied Extra Magic Hour schedule
Date: 04/16/2004

Lake Buena Vista, FL (Eyes and Ears) -- Walt Disney World theme parks will test a varied Extra Magic Hour schedule from May 9-22 to include time in both the early morning and evening. (The Extra Magic Hour offering lets many on-property Guests enjoy particular theme parks for an extra morning hour before the participating park opens to other Guests.)

Many Guests utilizing the Extra Magic Hour offering have requested the opportunity to enjoy this benefit in the evening, as well in the morning hours.

The revised schedule will give Guests eight opportunities to enjoy the Extra Magic Hour each week (one hour prior to and as many as three hours after regularly scheduled park hours). Guests staying at Disney-owned-and-operated resorts, as well as those staying at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, or the Lake Buena Vista Hilton, may enjoy both the morning and evening Extra Magic Hours at no charge with valid theme park admission. Guests staying at Shades of Green may participate in the morning offering only.

Guests using single-day tickets must visit the theme park presenting the Extra Magic Hour on that day to enjoy the offering, while Guests using multi-day and park-hopping tickets may visit any Disney theme park during the day and still enjoy the evening Extra Magic Hour at the participating theme park.

The Extra Magic Hour schedule will be available at www.disneyworld.com on the Internet and in Guests' World Update publication.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

As my dad would say " Away ya beauty" I like the sound of this. Must be a wind up surely.

 

[DisneyGrandma]

Thanks - I am coming in on the 19th so I will watch for late hours on the 20th - 22nd. Great piece of information.

 

[tigsmom]

Evening Extra Magic Hours? Will this replace E Ride Nights?
Seems like an interesting concept. As usual Rob, you're on top of things. Thanks. :wave:

 

[Sir Hiss527]

Not a biggy to me..Thanks for the info Rob..Can annual passholders also take joy in those hours?

 

[wdwfan22]

YAY :sohappy: :sohappy: I love the sound of this.

 

[Shaman]

Sounds like good news...I like this new concept, seems very promising...thanks for the info Rob...

 

[Sgt Tibs]

This would replace E-Rides nights? Replacing a ticketed add-on ($) for something at no extra charge? Am I missing something? Whats the catch?

 

[KevinPage]

How are they going to control removing people who are not resort guests?

Or are they simply going to assume, that most people who see the posted closure time will leave by then? Most people do, so if there are no wristbands or anything I assume they are going to allow the "people in the know" who are not staying on property.

Maybe I'll be lucky enough to 'buck the system' eventually :lol:

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Originally posted by KevinPage
How are they going to control removing people who are not resort guests?

Room keys perchance? may be a logistical nightmare

 

[netenyahoo]

That is a good question about how they are going to get people who aren't staying onsite out of the park. I really like this idea though. Most people leave the parks after the fireworks show, so the parks will be pretty empty. I love being at the parks at night and being able to run onto rides.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

Did anyone find the schedule on www.disneyworld.com? I couldn't...

 

[all41]

The opportunity to stay later in the parks in the evening is great! I love Magic Kigndom at night during E rides with fewer people around. I hope this works out. Wasn't planning on a trip again for a while but that might do the trick! After hours at Animal Kingdom or MGM would be fun.

 

[hoppypooh]

Will all rides/attractions be open at night during the
extra hour(s)? Or will it only be certain ones, like during the current extra magic hour in the morning?

 

[IlovyensiD]

Does anyone know if Annual Passholders will be eligible for these extra hours either before or after the park closes?

 

[Mission: SPACE]

This is music to my ears! Ever since last spring when they had AP nights at MGM I've wished they offered something like that on a regular basis. Now it sounds like this will be just like e-Rides, but for all parks on their select days. To those of you asking if only certain rides will be open or the entire park, I'd expect only certain rides to be open. To have all rides open would be ineffecient, and we all know what the forth rule of Disney Law is (effeciency!). But I'd much rather be able to ride ToT and RnRC in the evening, with only select guests, than to fight it early in the morning with the morning Extra Magic Hour or during normal park hours. :sohappy: :sohappy: :sohappy:

 

[TURKEY]

FAQ's

2. Will the morning and evening experiences be the same?

No. The attractions available during the morning and evening Extra Magic Hours offerings will be slightly different based on the number of Guests we anticipate attending each event.


3. Who can attend Extra Magic Hours in the evening?

Both the morning and evening Extra Magic Hours will be available from May 9 through May 22 to Guests staying at Disney owned and operated resorts, as well as Guests staying at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin and the Lake Buena Vista Hilton. Guests staying at Shades of Green may participate in the morning offering only.


4. Is there an additional charge or separate ticket required for Extra Magic Hours?

The offering is at no additional charge for eligible Guests with valid theme park admission. Guests using single-day ticket media will need to visit the theme park offering Extra Magic Hours on that day to enjoy the offering while Guests using multi-day and park-hopping tickets can visit any Disney theme park prior to attending the evening Extra Magic Hours.


5. Where will the schedule for both the morning and evening offerings be available?

The schedule and available attractions for the Extra Magic Hours offering for May 9 through May 22 will be available to eligible Guests on a designated URL on disneyworld.com and in the World Update.


6. Why is the evening offering three hours as opposed to only one hour in the morning?

As we anticipate more Guests wishing to experience the evening Extra Magic Hours offering, we have planned additional time for Guests to enjoy certain attractions with a minimal wait time.


7. Will FASTPASS be available?

FASTPASS will be offered during the evening Extra Magic Hours as needed on certain attractions. Because of the reduced number of Guests in the park during the morning offerings, we do not offer FASTPASS during the morning offering.


8. Is this replacing E-Ride Nights at the Magic Kingdom?

No. This summer, the Magic Kingdom will be offering E-Ride Nights on certain dates.


9. Why are we only doing this for two weeks?

Many Guests told us that they wished they had the opportunity to enjoy Extra Magic Hours in the evening, as well as in the morning hours. To fully understand the impact of the later hours, we need to test the revised schedule for two weeks.


10. How are we communicating this change to eligible Guests?

Guests staying at a Disney-owned and operated resort will be notified by postcard before their arrival of this change to assist them with planning their stay, which will direct them to website with details of the offerings. The schedule and details of the offering will also be distributed to resort Guests with the World Update.


11. I have a dining reservation for breakfast in a theme park on a morning when they would have typically offered Extra Magic Hour, but won’t now because of this change? What do I do?

Dining locations at the theme park will honor existing reservations and will operate as if the park was offering Extra Magic Hour.


12. What dining options will be available during the evening Extra Magic Hour?

Certain dining locations will operate in each park during the evening Extra Magic Hours. Information regarding the locations that will operate can be obtained by visiting Theme Park Guest Relations or the Resort Guest Services desk. Guests wishing to book priority seating for table dining during the evening Extra Magic Hours may do so at the specific location.


13. Will transportation be available later in the evening for resort Guests?

Yes. During the test, WDW Transportation will extend their service hours from the theme park offering Extra Magic Hours.


14. I have heard rumors about this. Will the evening Extra Magic Hour become a permanent offering?

At this time, we have adjusted the Extra Magic Hour offering for a limited time from May 9 through May 22. We will share details about future offerings once we a decision has been made.


15. I know that most Magical Gatherings Guests are staying at a Disney resort. Will Magical Gatherings Guests who are already in a park, but are not staying at a Disney resort, be allowed to stay for the evening Extra Magic Hour?

During this test, all Magical Gathering Guests staying in a Walt Disney World Resort hotel that offers the Extra Magic Hours benefit will be eligible to stay in the evening Extra Magic Hour. Other Guests would not be eligible for this offering.


16. How will the park exit work for Guests who are not eligible to remain for the evening Extra Magic Hours?

Park exits will occur similar as they do today. Guests who are not eligible for the Extra Magic Hours benefit will be directed to the park exit upon park close. Locations near the entrance of each park, such as merchandise locations, will follow current closing procedures, which allow Guests some additional time beyond park close.


17. If the morning Extra Magic Hour changes, will resort Guests still be allowed to enter the park early if they arrive before the scheduled operating hours?

No. Guests will be notified of the change to the Extra Magic hour before arrival and again on check-in via the World Update. If the location changes for the Extra Magic Hour and a resort Guest is not aware of this, the resort Guest will be provided with the revised schedule.

 

[TURKEY]

Admittance: From May 9 through May 22, the Extra Magic Hour schedule will allow Guests staying at select Walt Disney World Resorts time in our Theme Parks in both the early morning and evening.

Morning Extra Magic Houroccurs one hour prior to regularly scheduled Park opening and Guests will need to present a valid Key to the World Card at the park's turnstiles.

Resort Guests wishing to enjoyEvening Extra Magic Hoursshould obtain a wristband at one of the following by presenting a valid Key to the World Card:

At the Main Entrance turnstile no sooner than three hours prior to Park close. At select locations throughout the park no sooner than two hours prior to Park close.


Offerings by Day of Week (May 9-22)

Sunday - Epcot (evening)
Monday - Disney's Animal Kingdom (morning)
Tuesday - Disney-MGM Studios (evening)
Wednesday - Epcot (morning); Magic Kingdom (evening)
Thursday - Disney's Animal Kingdom (evening)
Friday - Magic Kingdom (morning)
Saturday - Disney-MGM Studios (morning)


Morning Attractions Available:
Note: Park hours, entertainment and information are subject to change without notice.

Magic Kingdom®Park:

Astro Orbiter
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
Cinderella's Golden Carrousel
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
"it's a small world"
Mad Tea Party
Main Street vehicles
Peter Pan's Flight
Space Mountain®
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Tomorrowland Indy Speedway
Tomorrowland Transit Authority


Epcot®:

Spaceship Earth
Test Track
Universe of Energy
Mission: SPACE®


Disney-MGM Studios:

Jim Henson's Muppet*Vision 3-D
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster®Starring Aerosmith
Star Tours
The Twilight Zone Tower of TerrorTM


Disney's Animal Kingdom®Theme Park:

Discovery Island®Trails
It's Tough to be a Bug!®
Kilimanjaro Safaris®
Pangani Forest Exploration Trail®
The Tree of Life




Evening Attractions Available:
Note: Park hours, entertainment and information are subject to change without notice.

Magic Kingdom®Park:

Astro Orbiter
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
Cinderella's Golden Carrousel
Country Bear Jamboree
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
The Haunted Mansion
"it's a small world"
Jungle Cruise
Mad Tea Party
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Mickey's PhilharMagic
Peter Pan's Flight
Pirates of the Caribbean
Space Mountain®
Splash Mountain
Swiss Family Treehouse
Tomorrowland Indy Speedway
Tomorrowland Transit Authority


Epcot®:

El Rio del Tiempo
Honey, I Shrunk the Audience
Journey into Imagination
The Living Seas
Living with the Land
The Maelstrom
Mission: SPACE
Spaceship Earth, Test Track, Universe of Energy


Disney-MGM Studios:

The Great Movie Ride
Jim Henson's Muppet*Vision 3-D
The Magic of Disney Animation
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
Sounds Dangerous - Starring Drew Carey
Star Tours
The Twilight Zone Tower of TerrorTM
Voyage of the Little Mermaid
Walt Disney: One Man's Dream


Disney's Animal Kingdom®Theme Park:

The Boneyard
Festival of the Lion King
It's Tough to be a Bug!®
Kali River Rapids
Kilimanjaro Safaris®
Primeval Whirl
Tarzan Rocks!
Tree of Life
Triceratop Spin

 

[Disney2002]

ooo... I really hope this catched on!

 

[ritchie56]

Interesting, but I'm withholding judgement till the hours are posted. If they actually ARE *extra* hours as a bonus--then great. If they just close earlier than they would have and kick out non resort guests so that resort guest can have the park to themselves--then no. Evening hours are already an issue--this just may make it worse.