Hi there, Sally!
Thank you for bringing your question to us at planDisney. Your
Walt Disney World Resort vacation is well on its way, and before you know it, it's gonna be May! Whenever I visit The Most Magical Place on Earth, the goal for my family is always to maximize our magical memories while minimizing our waits.
Extended Evening Theme Park Hours provide a great way for Guests to achieve both!
Although specific dates for for your vacation have not yet been released, the announcement that this special perk will continue through 2024 leads me to believe we can use the currents dates and times on the
Hours & Events Calendar (Mondays in EPCOT and Wednesdays in Magic Kingdom Park) to project what the offerings will be in May. My favorite part of the extended evening hours is the access to an extra 6 PM
virtual queue for both
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and
TRON Lightcycle / Run to be called during your extended hours.
My husband and I actually enjoyed a stay at the
Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel to take advantage of the Extended Evening Theme Park Hours at a rate lower than those offered at Disney Deluxe Resort hotels last year, so I'm happy to provide a bit of personal insight for you. While we loved the location of the Walt Disney World Dolphin (it's walkable to two theme parks, the
Disney Skyliner, and
Disney's Boardwalk), we did miss the immersive theming that is found throughout Disney Resorts Collection hotels. Overall, if you are planning to spend most of your time in the theme parks, making the location and the extended evening hours are a priority for you, then I would recommend the Dolphin. If you are seeking a truly 'Disney' experience with pixie-dusted details from the time you open your eyes in the morning until you close them at night, I would suggest making your reservation at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel such as
Disney's Port Orleans - Riverside. Happily, no matter which Resort hotel you choose, you will have access to Walt Disney World Resort theme parks
30 minutes before they open public.
An additional note if staying at the Dolphin: We secured our room using hotel-branded points and did not make our reservation as part of a package through the Walt Disney World Travel Company and were shocked to learn about the daily resort fee charged in addition to the daily room rate. I just spoke to a helpful Cast Member who assured me that the daily fee is included in the package price when staying at the Walt Disney World Dolphin as part of a vacation package, so if you opt for a stay at the Dolphin, be sure to make the reservation as part of a package to secure the best value.
I hope this was helpful, Sally! If any additional questions arise before your magical vacation, 'Hakuna Matata!' from us at planDisney. We're
happy to help any time!
Cheers to 2024,
Lizzie