food IS a theme park
Let’s face it — staying at a Disney World hotel comes with a lot of great perks.
Tree of Life
First, you’ve got easy transportation options to and from your hotel to the parks and Disney Springs. Next, you’ve got that whole Disney atmosphere thing going on at your hotel. There’s also Early Theme Park Entry for all hotels and Extended Evening Hours for deluxe hotels. Well, Extended Evening Hours are about to get a LOT better.
Guests at Disney World resorts (as well as some of Disney’s Good Neighbor hotels) get access to some pretty cool perks.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Those perks include free transportation to and from the parks and Disney Springs, as well as Early Theme Park Entry. There’s also Extended Evening Hours, which is available to guests staying at Deluxe hotels. This perk lets you stay in the park for a few hours AFTER it closes to the public. We recently discovered that Disney’s Animal Kingdom will soon be offering Extended Evening Hours, and now we have even more details about what rides will be open.
Extended Evening Hours are a benefit for people staying at Disney World Deluxe Resorts and Villas, and allows them extra time in select theme parks at night — which is a great way to experience a ton of attractions with little to no waits!
Hollywood Studios
Right now, this benefit is only available in Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios. That’s all about to change, though, and we couldn’t be more excited!
If you’re staying at a Walt Disney World Resort, there are a few perks that you can get with your booking.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
You’ll get to book dining reservations for your entire trip at the 60-day mark, you’ll be able to get into any theme park 30 minutes early each day of your stay, and you’ll be able to book Individual Lightning Lanes at 7AM instead of waiting until park opening time, to name a few. But for those shelling out a little extra cash and choosing to stay at a Deluxe Resort, there’s one bonus perk.
We can’t believe it’s time to talk about September…but here we are!
Magic Kingdom
The Halloween season has officially kicked off in Disney World and we’ve seen everything the 2023 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party has to offer. On top of that, a new restaurant is opening in EPCOT and the Food & Wine Festival is in full swing. But September has some BIG things in store and that’s what we’re here to talk about today!
There are plenty of reasons why you’d want to stay at a Disney World hotel — convenience, theming, and of course, perks!
Hollywood Studios at night
One of our favorites happens to be Extended Evening Hours, which allows folks exclusive time in select parks. Right now, folks can visit EPCOT and Magic Kingdom on select nights, but Disney just announced that Extended Evening Hours are coming back to Hollywood Studios and we’ve got all the details!
A full day in Disney World is SO intense that we think “theme parking” should qualify as an Olympic sport.
Crowds in Magic Kingdom
Okay, maybe it’s not quite that bad, but still. You can train for months, walking laps around your neighborhood and hitting the gym, and STILL not be prepared for the heat that the Disney World parks bring…literally. You’re hitting 20,000 steps most days, sweating in the sometimes 100-degree heat, and partying from dusk till midnight — it’s a sport not made for the faint of heart. But if you’re a hardcore Disney parkgoer, then we’ve got a challenge for you: 18 hours straight in Disney World parks!
There’s a lot of strategy that goes into not just planning a Disney vacation, but how you experience a Disney vacation once you’re in the parks!
Main Street, U.S.A., at night
If you’re a morning person and planning to get to the parks as soon as they open for first-crack at the attractions while the lines are still low, then you want to know when the parks are open. But if you’re visiting Disney World from the West Coast or are a night owl, you might be looking to get your park experience in after the sun goes down, and you’ll need to know how late the parks stay open.
If you want to get on Magic Kingdom‘s newest ride, TRON Lightcycle/Run, you are going to want to read this.
TRON Lightcycle / Run at night
TRON Lightcycle/Run opened in April and has been very popular. There are only two ways to ride it — Purchasing an Individual Lightning Lane or Joining the Virtual Queue. If you are planning on joining the virtual queue, you will need to move fast because the groups fill up seconds after it opens at 7AM. If you aren’t lucky enough to grab one then, the queue does reopen at 1PM for anyone currently inside the park, and we have seen this virtual queue window stay open a bit longer.
Staying at a Disney World hotel can be a game-changer when it comes to your vacation! Not only are they beautifully decorated and themed, but they also come with plenty of perks.
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Between dining, free transportation to the parks, and more, there are plenty of reasons why you might want to book a stay at a Disney World hotel — and Disney just announced that exclusive hotel perks are sticking around through 2024!
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
