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Mom With Kids After RunDisney; Mickey Fantasia Hat; Donald Duck Hat; Goofy Hat
  • On Apr 29, 2009
    Jill from ME Asked Note: This answer was provided prior to the change to planDisney and may still contain references to Disney Parks Moms Panel.

    Experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    It seems that many of the "moms" lean toward avoiding the Extra Magic Hours. I thought these additional times were introduced as a way for people staying on property to enjoy the parks with fewer people. Is that not the case?

    Hi Jill,

    Many of us "moms" discuss this very topic often.
    Extra Magic Hours are an opportunity for Disney guests staying on property to enjoy the parks for additional time that is not available to offsite guests. They have become extremely popular with the guests and therefore you now see an increase in the crowd levels at the park of the day.
    In talking to the other "moms" I think many follow the same practice, if you are going to get up and be at the park right at the beginning of the morning hours then it is a great thing. You can often enjoy a number of attractions (especially at Magic Kingdom) in that additional hour. However, as soon as the park opens for offsite guests you begin to see a quick increase in crowds at the park offering morning hours. If you are not going to take advantage of the full extra hour, then it is typically better to avoid that park on that day. If you are going to arrive and enjoy that full hour, then the best thing to do is to park hop to a different park later in the morning as the crowds begin to swell.

    For evening hours, the opinion is quite mixed amongst our group. Many families traveling with small children find the evening hours tiring for their children. Others feel the park attendance increases as the day goes on with the thoughts of the extra park time. We have found that the first hour or so after the park closes to offsite guests, is slightly heavier as guests stick around to enjoy an extra attraction or late dinner. If you and your family have the energy to keep going, the later the hour, the less crowds we encounter. On a recent trip we visited Magic Kingdom for extra evening hours. We arrived around 10pm and stayed until a little after 1am. We were able to enjoy in that three hours, what would have taken us all day. If you have a number of night owls in your family that is willing to keep going, the evening hours can be a great and less crowded way to enjoy the Disney parks.

    Have fun!
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Meet the Panelist: Margaret, Illinois

Hiya friends. I’m Margaret, mom to four young men and wife to my Prince Charming. Raised on the southside of Chicago, we have now moved our castle to the suburban cornfields. We are a pin trading, Hidden Mickey hunting, resort hopping family who loves to debate the best Disney World resort or attraction over the dinner table. I am thrilled to share some of our favorite tips and tricks in hopes it will add even more magic to your Disney World adventure. Learn More About Margaret

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