Hey There, Hi There, Ho There, Candace!
You're as welcome as can be here at planDisney. The holiday season at Walt Disney World Resort is one of my favorite times to visit –– with stunning decorations, incredible gingerbread displays, holiday festivals and after-hours events, and so much more, you'll find an extra sprinkle of pixie dust everywhere you turn. I'm so excited to see that you and your family will be experiencing all the magic of the holidays at Walt Disney World this year –– I think you're in for an incredible vacation!
Extended Evening Theme Park Hours are an amazing way to spend a little extra time at Walt Disney World theme parks –– at select parks on specific evenings, eligible Guests have the opportunity to spend an additional two hours in the park after it closes to the general public. With smaller crowds, this can be a great way to experience popular attractions with shorter wait times or snap some special shots with
Disney PhotoPass photographers. However, Extended Evening Theme Park Hours are
only available to Deluxe Resort Guests, which means that while Guests of
Disney's Contemporary Resort would be eligible for this exciting perk, it isn't available for Guests staying at
Disney's Art of Animation Resort.
While you won't be eligible for the extended evening hours benefit if you choose to stay in a
Family Suite at Disney's Art of Animation Resort (seriously, are they not the cutest rooms for families, or what?!), you can still take advantage of some extra park time during your visit with
Early Theme Park Entry. This allows all Guests staying at a
Disney Resorts Collection hotel or campground to enter any of the four Walt Disney World theme parks 30 minutes before they open each day –– all you'll need is valid theme park admission and a Disney Park Pass Reservation for the park you plan to enjoy.
It might not sound like much, but it's possible to get
a lot done in 30 minutes. On our last trip, my family and I were about to ride
Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway,
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, and
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror all before Disney's Hollywood Studios officially opened –– it was awesome! Just be sure to arrive right at the beginning of that 30-minute period (or even a little earlier) if you're trying to pack in the attractions. That way, you can be lined up and ready to make the most of your extra time!
Thanks for visiting planDisney, Candace. If you think of more questions as you plan your upcoming Walt Disney World vacation, I hope you'll stop by again –– we're always here to help!
Have a Magical Day,
Amy