One of the perks of staying at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel used to be Extra Magic Hours. During this time, a different theme park each day would either open an hour early or stay open up to three hours late for Disney hotel guests. This perk only came back for a select few after the pandemic closure.
In its place, guests of Walt Disney World hotels are offered entry a half hour early at any of the Resort’s four theme parks (Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom). Guests at Disney’s Deluxe hotels and DVC Villas are afforded the ability to stay for Extended Evening Hours at either EPCOT or Magic Kingdom on select nights (Moderate and Value resort guests only have the early morning entry). Now, however, the extended evening hours for Deluxe and DVC guests are going away at Magic Kingdom. At least for the Halloween season.
If you’re saying, “Yeah, obviously. The Halloween party happens in the evening,” you’d be right, kind of. Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party does not take place every night. Magic Kingdom could potentially alternate party nights and Extended Evening Hours. However, that would leave little time for overnight maintenance and park beautification projects.
Instead of Magic Kingdom, guests will now alternate between EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. Disney previously announced that Hollywood Studios would be joining the Extended Evening Hours lineup but did not say that it would be a replacement for Magic Kingdom. It remains to be seen if this change is permanent or not.
With Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party following close behind Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, it’s very likely that these will hang around for the rest of the year at the very least. Long-term “temporary ” changes often become permanent at Disney, so we will be watching the situation closely and will be sure to bring you any updates.