Hi Gregory, welcome to planDisney!
The EPCOT Resort area is one of my favorite places to stay during a Walt Disney World Resort vacation. You can't beat being within walking distance of two theme parks - Disney's Hollywood Studios and EPCOT. Since you'll be staying at the
Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel during the holly, jolly month of December, I also encourage you to walk to
Disney's Beach Club Resort to check out the gingerbread carousel.
Guests of the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel have the incredible perk of being able to attend
Extended Evening Theme Park Hours, which are scheduled on select nights at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, and occasionally Disney's Hollywood Studios. Dates for Extended Evening Theme Park Hours have not yet been released for December, but you can expect them to be
posted roughly two and a half months in advance.
On nights that Extended Evening Theme Park Hours are scheduled for EPCOT (traditionally Mondays), eligible Guests have the opportunity to join a 6:00 p.m.
virtual queue for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Unlike the 1:00 p.m. virtual queue, you do not need to be inside EPCOT to join the 6:00 p.m. virtual queue. You can join from Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park or even from your hotel room, Gregory. I most recently joined the 6:00 p.m. virtual queue in April from my bed at Disney's BoardWalk Inn as I awoke from a power nap.
I have to share the details of my personal 6:00 p.m. virtual queue experience with you, in case you experience something similar. I tried confirming my virtual queue party of four in the
My Disney Experience mobile app (three small lines at the bottom right of the app's homepage > Virtual Queues) at 5:00 p.m. Unfortunately, three of my party were available for selection, but I was listed as ineligible because "This Guest doesn't have a valid Disney Park Pass reservation." This was definitely not the case so I took a screenshot and got my husband and children a spot in the virtual queue at 6:00 p.m. I later spoke with a member of the Guest Experience Team (Cast Members found throughout the parks under blue umbrellas) at EPCOT about the problem and was told a glitch sometimes prevents Guests from joining the 6:00 p.m. virtual queue outside of the park. She told me to show my tech trouble screenshot at the entrance to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, which I did, and the Cast Members allowed me to experience this incredible attraction with my family. I hope you don't experience similar tech trouble, Gregory, but be sure to capture a screenshot if you do.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is my favorite Disney attraction of all time. Experiencing it during the holiday season is extra special because of the epic holiday soundtrack. My only wish is that Disney would open a snack cart that sells "Cake Toast."
I ho-ho-hope to see you planning Disney at planDisney again soon, Gregory!
Choose magic,
Jennifer