Morning Extra Hours or Evening Extra Hours at Walt Disney World?

Question

In your opinion which is better? Morning Extra Hours or Evening Extra Hours. Why?

We will be traveling during Christmas and New Years. We will be taking the red-eye and arriving at 5 AM. (Not sure how this will affect us) Also we are from California and are night owls. My 2 1/2 and 5 year old sleep in until 10 (California time) and go to bed around 9. When we went to Disneyland last week my 2 1/2 year old almost made it until closing (midnight).

Thanks!

Answer 1

Either way, they will both allow you get on some extra rides and avoid some lines, so I think either is going to work just fine for you.

For your situation, however, I would go with the evening hours. You need to get up pretty early in order to be there in time, and take full advantage of them. If you are on California time, it will be even harder. Each person is different, I usually don't have a hard time at all with time changes, no matter what zone I am in, and I rarely sleep on the plane ride over. I also have a friend who usually can't get adjusted to the time for about a week or so. Little ones can have a hard time getting used to the new time, but they may also be able to adapt a little eaier since they are young and have more energy.

Since you tend to be nightowls ;-) I think you will enjoy the evening hours more. The evening hours also allow you to take a nap before you go, which the morning hours don't. In the morning hours a lot of guests don't come because they don't want to get up that early, with evening hours a lot of people are either too tired, or they are having dinner. So not all of the guests will be coming, which makes it even nicer.

I like to do both, not every day, but I like to experience each one when I'm there. For your family, though, I would definitely think evening hours will work out better.


Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Personally I like the Evening Magic Hours better than the Morning. In 2005 we went to Epcot and used the Morning Extra Hours, since it was only 1 hour before park opening and it took us a half hour to get to the park from the resort by bus, we only had about 20 mins or so to go on a ride and such before the park opened. During that same trip we did the Evening Magic Hours when we went to Magic Kingdom, that park was open until 3 hours past closing time. Therefore, we were able to enjoy sleeping in and then leisurely get to the park, if the kids needed a break, we went back to the hotel for a swim or snack and then came back to the park for dinner and the Evening Magic Hours. Since the kids rested, it made for a wonderful time and we got to go on everything with either little or no wait.

Answer 3

Evening is best b/c you get 3 hrs whereas the morning you only get 1 hr. Also, a lot of people dont stay the whole 3 hrs and by the end of then night there's hardly anyone there. I did this in Magic Kingdom in April, it was open til 3 am, i made it until 1 am and even then we where THE only ones at Starlight Cafe, and the only ones in Swiss Family Robinson's Treehouse, and literally NO wait at all for anything, SPace mountain was just walking up and getting on! It was amazing! I wish i could've stayed later! I almost fell asleep on the Jungle Cruise. -actually i think i did! lol .

Answer 4

for you the extra night time hours will be perfect for you when you get their you can take a nap and then get up and go to the parks also you could get up early go to the parks with the early morning hours stay for a while go back to your rooms if staying on disney property take a longggggggggg nap and go to the parks with late magic hours during the new year's week the parks most but animal kingdom stay open until 3am so you'll have plenty of time we went during this time this past new year's very very crowded have a late dinner if you plan to stay in the parks late well i hope you have a great time we are going dec 15 until dec23 were hoping it wont be as crowded

Answer 5

Extra Evening hours. Sleep in during the morning and avoid the crowds. You're on vacation. Then leisurely eat lunch and head to the parks. Kids will be juiced up and ready to go. Leave just before closing to avoid the long lines back to the resorts. Then let them sleep in and repeat. :-)

Answer 6

We were at disney at the beginning of march and loved the late hours much more. yes, it is a pain to stand in line and get your armbands but once the park empties out you can ride the rides so much more. we NEVER waited in line during the evening extra hours and would love to do it again. There is just something about being at disney when it seems like everyone else has gone home. When we were walking to leave and walking down main street we felt like we had the place to ourselves. so nice

Answer 7

We use both but the evening hours are better. The parks stay open up to 3 hours longer. The mornings they open an hour earlier. Good luck.

Answer 8

Just a thought...
Keep in mind that your kids will still be functioning on California time. So, when it is 10pm in Orlando, their little bodies will feel like it is only 6pm.
So, I would probably go with the AFTER hours, otherwise you are all going to feel like you're getting up at 4am, and I doubt anyone will enjoy that!

Answer 9

I think morning are more popular, and they are shorter. Evening are longer, and most people don't stay the whole time. So if you can stay awake past the mid-point, you'll practically have the place to yourselves for the last hour or more.

If you decide to go to evening hours, go back to the hotel and take a nap in the afternoon to prepare.

Answer 10

Sounds like you may rather the night hours. When we go to Universal Studios, we get there when it opens and I barely make it to closing LOL but I am not a night person, I am in bed by 9 normally.