Planning a Walt Disney World trip this September? One upcoming schedule change may end up saving guests far more time than they expect.
Disney is moving one of its September Extended Evening Hours events from Magic Kingdom to Disney's Hollywood Studios. The change affects only one night, but it has the potential to improve the guest experience across two different parks.
Instead of keeping eligible Deluxe Resort guests inside Magic Kingdom, Disney is encouraging them to spend the evening at Hollywood Studios. That decision could help reduce crowds during Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party while also giving Hollywood Studios visitors some of the lowest wait times they'll find all day.
Why Disney Made the Change
Extended Evening Hours are available only to guests staying at Deluxe Disney Resort hotels and select partner resorts.
Typically, Magic Kingdom hosts many of these events throughout the year. However, September presents a unique challenge because Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party takes over the park several nights each week.
The event requires Magic Kingdom to close early to regular day guests before reopening exclusively for party attendees.
Rather than adding another group of guests into an already busy park, Disney has shifted Extended Evening Hours to Hollywood Studios on September 16.
It's a simple change, but one that could make operations much smoother.
Two Parks Benefit Instead of One
Hollywood Studios is known for posting some of Walt Disney World's longest attraction waits.
Slinky Dog Dash, Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Rock ‘n' Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets, and Tower of Terror remain among the park's biggest draws.
Once regular guests leave, however, wait times usually begin dropping quickly during Extended Evening Hours.
Because attendance is limited to qualifying hotel guests, visitors can often accomplish far more in two hours than they could during an entire afternoon.
Meanwhile, Magic Kingdom should also become a little easier to navigate.
Without Extended Evening Hours keeping additional guests inside the park, Halloween Party attendees may encounter less congestion throughout the evening.
That means attractions, entertainment areas, and candy trails could all feel slightly less crowded.
A Better Experience for More Guests
Not everyone will notice the change.
Guests staying off-site or at non-qualifying Disney hotels won't have access to Extended Evening Hours regardless of which park hosts them.
However, for visitors who do qualify, the adjustment creates an excellent opportunity to experience Hollywood Studios after dark with noticeably lower wait times.
At the same time, Halloween Party guests may enjoy a more comfortable experience inside Magic Kingdom thanks to lighter evening crowds.
Disney constantly adjusts park operations to improve guest flow, especially during busy seasonal events. While moving Extended Evening Hours to another park may seem minor on paper, it has the potential to make both Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom more enjoyable on the same night.
Sometimes the smallest scheduling changes end up making the biggest difference.
