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Get Extra Time in the Theme Parks If You Stay at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel

Rikki Niblett , 
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October 1 will be the kick-off of not only new fireworks shows, daytime shows, cavalcades, new attractions, and more. In addition, the recently announced Early Theme Park Entry benefit for those staying at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel will begin being offered on October 1, as well.

For those who don’t know, Guests will be able to enter any of the four theme parks a half-hour early, every day. (This replaces the Extra Magic Hours option that was previously offered which would allow Guests to enter a select theme park either 1 hour early or stay after the park closed an extra 2 hours.) Guests will need a valid ticket or pass and a theme park reservation for the same park on the same date for early theme park entry.

But there’s another perk for those who are staying at a Disney Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resort Hotels. Those individuals will also be able to enjoy extended evening hours on select nights in select theme parks. Extended evening hours will begin in early October with specific dates and parks to be shared at a later time. We’ll provide the details about the schedule when it’s released. Please note that Guests will need a valid ticket and a theme park reservation for the same park on the same day to experience extended evening hours. Or, guests may visit with a ticket with the Park Hopper option or an Annual Pass as long as they entered their first park where they made their reservation earlier in the day.

Disney also shared that Guests will find special Disney characters dressed for the 50th, in their EARidescent best, as they stop by select Walt Disney World Resort Hotels.

Finally, Disney also shared that they will be bringing back the Disney Dining Plans, however, they are not quite ready to share the details about that just yet. We’ll share those details when we learn them, as well.

The 50th anniversary is gearing up to be a great time to visit the Walt Disney World Resort!

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Rikki Niblett

I am a co-host of the Be Our Guest Podcast and do lots of other fun Disney stuff all around the interwebs! You can follow me on Twitter or Instagram at @RikkiNibs or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/rikkinibs

8 thoughts on “Get Extra Time in the Theme Parks If You Stay at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel”

  • Agree with previous posters, especially RB: “I’m happy for those who will be able to enjoy this, but what a kick in the teeth for those with onsite reservations between now and October 1st! We’ll be charged the same, and get less in return… which sadly seems to be the Disney business model these days.”

    On my recent July trip, it was painful getting to the Magic Kingdom at 8:30 (staying at the Grand Floridian made that bit easy) and being held back at the Adventureland entrance until the park officially opened at 9:00, especially while knowing that only a month or two ago, EVERY GUEST was able to experience rope drops held 30 or 60 minutes before the park officially opened.

    Disney is actually denying long-time perks to summer guests under the ruse of giving out a new perk in honor of the 50th celebration. It’s all smoke and mirrors.

  • The extra amount you pay to stay onsite right now does not justify 30 minutes extra in a park.

    • Agreed. A Touringplans subscription is much more economical! Here’s hoping that Touringplans will have off-site guest touring plans for Disney parks similar to what they already have for Universal Orlando.

      • and Disneyland too. There is a section about what to ride if you have early entry in the description of the TP’s for DLR but I think DLR has so many offsite guests as there are so many economical and close hotels that are off-site. I like this. Just give a normal touringplan and then say what to hit “if” you have early entry during that period picking up at the plan start and skipping attractions already done.

    • When Fastpasses return, staying onsite gets you the earlier window to book them, and a 30 minute advantage for the attractions that you couldn’t get Fastpasses for. Based on my experience at Tokyo Disneyland (where onsite guests get a 15 minute head start) that extra time gets you out in front of the regular crowd, giving a significant advantage in achieving lower wait times. For me, that advantage justifies the extra cost for onsite. I realize that may not be the case for all.

  • I’m happy for those who will be able to enjoy this, but what a kick in the teeth for those with onsite reservations between now and October 1st! We’ll be charged the same, and get less in return… which sadly seems to be the Disney business model these days. There’s no reason Disney couldn’t have implemented this sooner, particularly when it was announced in January. It’s as if they’re grasping at straws to have anything at all to offer for the 50th celebration, and short-changing guests in the meantime. Sorry to be so sour grapes, but I feel like every bit of news I read that is relevant to our planned August visit is about yet another thing that we _won’t_ get to experience. 🙁

    • Len Testa has stated he believes that the rest of this fiscal year (set to end September 30) is basically a throwaway so that the powers that be will look awesome to the stockholders when the new fiscal year shows a massive revenue and profit increase. It is why this new plan is starting October 1 as well as the opening of Ratatouille ride is opening that day as well. Expect no other major changes to be made prior to October 1, either.

    • Right now, you aren’t being charged the same. There are zero room discounts available for the period after October 1st. So unlike the discounts available for the summer, rack rates are being charged for onsite stays. Based on the interest in the 50th celebration, and pent up demand, Disney may not have to discount those hotel rates much to fill up. So, those folks with October and later reservations probably are going to pay more than someone with an August reservation.

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