What are Extra Magic Hours?
Extra Magic Hours (EMH) are “bonus” hours at Walt Disney parks. This article will focus on the Florida parks, but Extra Magic Hours are available at other Disney parks. In Florida, to qualify for Extra Magic Hours you must be staying at a Walt Disney World-owned resorts, Walt Disney World Dolphin or Swan resorts, Hilton Resort at Downtown Disney, or Shades of Green.
Why are they important?
Extra Magic Hours help you to maximize your family time at Disney World. By utilizing these “bonus” hours you beat the crowds by arriving early or staying late. Each day, at least one of the parks offers extended hours, so you can enjoy selected attractions. When planning your vacation, pay special attention to these hours as they can add several hours of “park time” to each day of your vacation. We find that the Extra Magic Hours at night are more helpful to our family. They allow us to take a break during the heat of the day and come back later when temperatures begin to dip and the crowds begin to lessen.
Morning Extra Magic Hours
Morning Extra Magic Hours occur normally one hour before regularly scheduled park opening. For example, if the Magic Kingdom is scheduled to open at 9am to the general public; the Extra Magic Hours would begin at 8am. Transportation for parking will begin 30 minutes earlier than the opening time. Our family has not really been able to use the Morning Extra Magic Hours that often because our two younger boys do not want to wake up early to be at the park at 8am. We all prefer to stay up late and take advantage of the evening Extra Magic Hours.
Evening Extra Magic Hours
Evening Extra Magic Hours are typically extended two hours beyond a park’s scheduled closing time. In the peak seasons, it may be longer, much longer (Magic Kingdom can be open to 2am). What we prefer to do is go to the park in the morning and get some attractions in before it gets too hot or crowded. In the afternoon the parks get busier and we are usually hot and tired so we had back to the room or somewhere off Disney property for lunch. When the boys were younger we would go back to our room and they would take naps. Oh how I miss nap time! Now we are just happy with some down time. If you are staying on property, you can easily head back to your resort and take a quick dip in the pool or watch some TV if your kids no longer nap. It will help cool you down and relax before you return to the park. What time to return depends on what park we are going to and when it closes. We like to go back after the heat of the day. It is great watching the crowds file out all hot, sweaty and tired as we are coming in re-energized. One thing to note is which rides are open during Extra Magic Hours. Not all rides are open, so you want to make sure that you ride those rides earlier in the day.
If your Magic Your Way ticket does not have the Park Hopper option, you will not be able to visit more than one park per day. This means that if you want to take advantage of Extra Magic Hours, you must be sure to visit the park offering it that day or evening. For example, if you visit Animal Kingdom in the morning and Epcot has evening Extra Magic Hours that day, you may not go to Epcot that evening if your Magic Your Way ticket does not have the Park Hopper option.
You will need to present a valid MagicBand or valid room card at each attraction during the Extra Magic Hours period.
Attractions that are open during morning Extra Magic Hours:
Magic Kingdom:
Ariel’s Grotto
Astro Orbiter
Barnstormer
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Carousel of Progress
Enchanted Tales with Belle
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
“it’s a small world”
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Peter Pan’s Flight
Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Space Mountain
Tomorrowland Speedway
Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
Epcot:
Living with the Land
Mission: SPACE
Soarin’
Spaceship Earth
Test Track
Disney’s Hollywood Studios:
Great Movie Ride
Muppet*Vision 3-D
One Man’s Dream
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
Star Tours
Toy Story Midway Mania!
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Disney’s Animal Kingdom:
DINOSAUR
Expedition Everest
It’s Tough to be a Bug!
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Pangani Forest Exploration Trail
Attractions that are open during evening Extra Magic Hours:
Magic Kingdom:
Astro Orbiter
Barnstormer
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Country Bear Jamboree
Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Enchanted Tales with Belle
Enchanted Tiki Room
Jungle Cruise
Haunted Mansion
“it’s a small world”
Mad Tea Party
Magic Carpets of Aladdin
Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor (1st hour)
Peter Pan’s Flight
Pirates of the Caribbean
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Space Mountain
Stitch’s Great Escape!
Swiss Family Treehouse
Tomorrowland Speedway
Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
Under the Sea Journey of the Little Mermaid
Epcot:
The American Adventure
Circle of Life
Epcot Character Spot
Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros
Captain EO
Journey Into Imagination With Figment
Living with the Land
Maelstrom Mission: SPACE
O Canada!
Soarin’
Spaceship Earth
Test Track
The Seas with Nemo and Friends
Turtle Talk with Crush
Disney’s Hollywood Studios:
Great Movie Ride
Muppet Vision 3-D
One Man’s Dream
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
Star Tours
Toy Story Midway Mania!
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Voyage of The Little Mermaid
Please note this list is always subject to change.
