Are Extra Magic Hours Worth It?

Updated 8/21/2019

The “Magical or Tragical” series offers up my group’s opinion on some of the offerings at Disney World.    Pros and Cons, Dustless Pixie-style.

Extra Magic Hours are a hot topic in the world of Disney trip planning.

Are extra magic hours worth it? On the surface, it seems simple. If you stay on Disney World property or at some Disney Springs Hotels, Shades of Green , Swan and Dolphin Resorts , Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek and Waldorf Astoria Orlando , you are entitled to something called Extra Magic Hours. On certain days in certain parks, you can enter either an hour BEFORE other ticket holders OR stay 2 hours after regular park close. The amount of extra time varies, but that is generally how it works out.

Obviously, this is a “perk” meant to entice folks to stay at Disney resorts. However, for folks planning their trip, it can be tricky to figure out whether or not this “perk” is really worth it. The answer is not as simple as you would think.

There are basically two schools of thought here and they definitely break down along Magical or Tragical lines.

The Tragical Stance

The hardcore crowd calendar and  tour planning folks will tell you that Extra Magic Hours are not worth it.  Well, they think they are good for ONE thing: letting you know which parks to AVOID on that day. They are not entirely wrong there.

Early Extra Magic Hours are just that. EARLY.

They generally start at 7 or 8 am. However, you need to get to the park around 45 minutes BEFORE that early time to reap the benefits. While everyone with access to morning Extra Magic Hours may not utilize them, a large number of people do.  Early bird still gets the worm here. You want to be at the beginning of that early bird line to take advantage of early Extra Magic Hours. That advantage is getting on a popular ride without a FastPass before the horde arrives at park opening. That won’t happen if you are at the back of the early bird pack.

Disney World Planning gurus have a clear warning. Can’t get up early enough to take advantage of that extra hour? Stay clear of parks with early Extra Magic Hours.

Let’s face it, trip planning hubris and excitement can get the best of anyone.

It goes a little something like the following. “Sure, I can get the kids up before dawn, dressed and to the resort bus stop! They will be so excited they won’t care! Never mind that the night before that we are at Magic Kingdom until close. Everyone will rally! “

If that particular fantasy DOESN’T pan out and you and the cranky kids don’t arrive at the park until AFTER Early Magic Hours start (or even as they just start), you will mostly likely be waiting in line with ALL of the other guests that got there an hour before regular opening. You won’t be ahead of the horde.

You won’t be the ONLY person who over estimated their group’s ability to rally before the sun came up either. Months ago, other guests with visions of jumping into the Flight of Passage standby line were making their reservations. Many MANY people planned to be in Animal Kingdom for that Extra Magic Hour as well. Guests are driven to that park on that day. Filled with hopeful optimism at 7am 60 days from check in, they will make those Fast Passes for that Extra Magic Hour day. Now locked in by those plans, they are heading to Animal Kingdom. They are most likely there for the day. With you. In line.

The same is true for evening Extra Magic Hours.

Folks will have planned their Fast Passes for Magic Kingdom on the day that they can stay until midnight or later.

Fireworks and then riding Splash Mountain at night? Fun! We’ll just get there for rope drop in the morning and go go go all day! Maybe take a short rest while watching the afternoon parade? We can soldier on for the rest of the day and into the wee hours!

However, is that realistic for your group? Is it likely that younger kids, with only a stroller power nap, are even going to make it to Fireworks? You won’t be the only family that has to throw in the towel and head to the resort bus. Those late evening hours with a less crowded park may turn into just a day spent in a packed park.

Opponents will call “Tragical!” on Extra Magic Hour parks and “Magical!” on the parks without those extra hours that day. Extra Magic Hour day at Magic Kingdom becomes a walk straight onto Frozen Ever After day at Epcot.

The Magical Stance

I do agree with the Tragical stance. It is sound advice. However, I am firmly planted on the Magical side of this issue. I don’t have young kids. We are two adults travelling with a teenager. While my sister isn’t exactly chipper in the morning, she likes to get up early. My son and I are NOT morning people, but we are Disney people who can become morning people. We can mine that pixie dust if needed to get to a less crowded park. We are all for popular rides with shorter standby lines.

Also, it’s not all about just speed walking to whatever attraction you couldn’t get a FastPass+ reservation for.

I would also argue that it’s worth it, even if you DON’T use the Extra Magic Hour for an attraction. Getting extra time on the walking paths in Animal Kingdom without the horde blocking the view is totally worth it. Hopping onto Peter Pan and then strolling through gift shops on Main Street before your first FastPass kicks in? Priceless.

The one caveat to ALL of this is having Park Hopper tickets.

The key here is to take advantage of the Extra Magic Hour in the morning. Then you can grab lunch when you are done with attractions and head out to another park WITHOUT the Extra Magic Hour. That doesn’t mean that you NEED Park Hopper tickets. You can also head out after lunch and spend the rest of the day at Disney Springs or your resort. It is just more park time if you can park hop out of the Extra Magic Hour park and into a less crowded one.

Need more information? Check out this article: Are Park Hopper tickets are worth it?

Again, same thing is true for evening Extra Magic Hours.

I highly recommend going to a non-Extra Magic Hour park in the morning. Hit the popular attractions first, use your FastPasses, grab lunch and head back to the resort. Have a swim or take a nap. Recharge for the late night ahead.

Make Advance Dining Reservations in the park with the late Extra Magic Hours. Enjoy dinner a couple of hours before park close. It’s still out of the way of the park crowds, but nicely situated to stroll on out into diminishing crowds after dinner.

Extra Magic Hours are what you make of them.

Extra Magic Hours are only worth it if you can utilize them. Like all of the components to planning a great Disney trip, it comes down to understanding what will work for your travelling party. While planning, be realistic and not overly optimistic about the limitations of your group. It’s supposed to be a fun vacation, people! Don’t lose sight of that. Make magic with what you’ve got and try not to let the over caffeinated frenzy of FastPass+ booking morning get the best of you.