Welcome back to planDisney, Patricia! I'm always glad to answer a question for a fellow Texan. It sounds like you've got big plans for your upcoming trip to Walt Disney World, and I'm happy to clarify what's possible when it comes to extra time in the theme parks.
For
Extended Evening Hours, eligibility is tied to where you're staying on that specific night, not where you'll be later in the trip. That means that these extra hours are only available to guests who are actively staying at a
Disney Deluxe Resort or
Deluxe Villa on the night the event occurs. So if your first night is at a Value Resort and
EPCOT has Extended Evening Hours that evening, you won't be able to use them, even if you're moving to a Deluxe Resort the next day for the remainder of your stay. Cast Members check your
MagicBand or ticket at the entrance to each attraction, and you need to be a currently registered guest at a Deluxe Resort to be able to gain access.
Would there be any flexibility to shuffle your accommodations so you're staying at a Deluxe Resort on the night with Extended Evening Hours? If availability allows, you could flip the order of your split stay, starting with Deluxe and moving to Value afterward. That way, you're officially a Deluxe Resort guest on that specific evening. Since it's the resort you're checked into that determines eligibility, lining up your Deluxe stay with the Extended Evening Hours date is the key. If that sounds doable, a quick availability check and reservation modification could set you up for that extra late-night magic.
I hope this answers your question, Patricia, and please let us know if there's anything else we can do to help you plan your magical vacation!
Jessica