UPDATE: 5/20/19: New Magic Band upgrades are NOW available!
Good news! There are new magic band options coming for Disney resort guests! For the last few years, Disney has included magic bands for every resort guest as part of their resort reservation.
As you start planning your trip, one of the fun steps has always been choosing the colors of the magic bands for each person in your group.
It didn’t take long for people to start decorating their bands. All kinds of different types of decorations emerged. From intricate, hand painted designs, pre-printed stickers designed to specially fit magic bands, to bands covered in Swarovski crystals, magic bands have become expressions of individuality, special occasions, relationships and celebrations.
Magic band stickers, sold on Etsy (Photo: Brooke Hudson)Original style magic bands decorated with stickers from Etsy. (Photo: Brooke Hudson)
Disney Special Edition Magic Bands
Now we know Disney, and Disney doesn’t leave money on the table. It didn’t take long for Disney to come out with special, decorated magic bands. Disney sells a variety of magic bands at the Disney store and at the gift shops in the parks and resorts.
The Disney Store has lots of limited edition magic bands. Check them out here. If you have park tickets, but are not staying on property, you may want to purchase magic bands to pair with your tickets. That way you can use your magic band for park entry, instead of having to pull out your tickets every time you need park access, or to use a Fast Pass reservation.
Solid color magic bands are available for $14.99. Most of the special decorated magic bands are priced at $24.99 – $29.99.
Main Street Magic Band
Tower of Terror Magic Band
Minnie Mouse Magic Band
Inside Out Magic Band
Wall-E Magic Band
Iron Man Magic Band
New Magic Band Options for Resort Guests
(Photo: Disney Parks)
Disney has decided to make special magic bands available for resort guests as an add-on option. The solid color bands will continue to be available for no charge with your reservation. However, if you want to “upgrade” your bands to special custom bands, you will have that option. The price to upgrade will be $14.99, and you will have more than 30 magic band options available.
These special “upgraded” magic bands will be available to Disney resort guests. They will also be available to new and renewing annual passholders.
Disney released a video about the new magic band options.
I think this is pretty good news, what do you think? Will you be upgrading your next magic band? Please comment below.
If you’ve ever stayed at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, you probably know about Extra Magic Hours. Extra Magic Hours (EMH) are just one of the benefits of staying on Disney property. EMH are a HUGE advantage for guests who want to minimize their time waiting in lines. With regular Extra Magic Hours, there are certain days each week when Disney resort guests can enter the EMH park one hour earlier than all other guests. Alternatively, EMH may mean staying up to three hours later than all non-resort guests at the EMH park.
This fall, Disney is taking Extra Magic Hours to a whole new level with Extra EXTRA Magic Hours!
Photo: Disney Parks
DAILY Extra Magic Hours
Beginning August 29, 2019 and running through November 2, 2019, Disney will begin offering DAILY Extra Extra Magic Hours. Extra Extra Magic Hours (EEMH) will be offered in three of the four theme parks at Walt Disney World.
Magic Kingdom: Extra Extra Magic Hours will happen every day from 7 am to 8 am at the Magic Kingdom for resort guests. Just like with regular Extra Magic Hours, not all attractions are open during Extra Extra Magic Hours. Extra Magic Hours and Extra Extra Magic Hours feature the same attractions–favorite rides in both Tomorrowland and Fantasyland.
It’s a beautiful day to be at the Magic Kingdom! Let’s pretend the crowds will be this light ALL DAY! (Photo: Brooke Hudson)
Animal Kingdom: Extra Extra Magic Hours will happen every day from 7 am to 8 am at the Animal Kingdom. Pandora – The World of Avatar attractions ARE included. Also included are other attractions throughout Animal Kingdom. (The same attractions currently open during regular Extra Magic Hours).
Pandora – World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom (Photo: Disney PhotoPass)
Hollywood Studios: Extra Extra Magic Hours will happen every day from 6 am to 9 am (That’s THREE HOURS PEOPLE!!!). The EEMH WILL include Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Toy Story Land and select other attractions. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and its experiences are subject to capacity. NOTE: From August 29 – 31, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will open at 6 am to ALL guests, not just resort guests. The Extra Extra Magic Hours for Hollywood Studios for Resort Guests will begin September 1.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Millennium Falcon – Smuggler’s Run (Photo: Disney Parks)
Wait, What About Epcot?
Epcot absorbs crowds better than any of the other three theme parks. In addition, Extra Magic Hours are not as necessary or popular at Epcot as they are at the other three parks. Also, at Epcot, Future World opens at 9 am (usually) and then World Showcase opens at 11 am. Morning Extra Magic Hours may frustrate Epcot visitors that wanted to visit World Showcase during EMH but World Showcase is not part of morning EMH.
Epcot will continue to have regular Extra Magic Hours on select days, just like it does now. Epcot will NOT be getting Extra Extra Magic Hours. Note: Of course this policy COULD change later in the summer, but I don’t expect it to.
Also, keep in mind that the popular Epcot Food and Wine Festival will be running during this time, and that’s the big attraction at Epcot in the fall. Opening at 7 am wouldn’t be very beneficial as I don’t think they want to open all those wine and food kiosks that early! 😉
Epcot! (Photo: Disney PhotoPass)
Why?
Disney has introduced these new Extra Extra Magic Hours in anticipation of record crowd levels this fall. With the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios coming August 29, interest in a Walt Disney World vacation has never been higher! Disney is anticipating very high guest demand for its most popular attractions throughout Walt Disney World, but most especially at Hollywood Studios, for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Disney is trying to ensure the satisfaction of resort guests by guaranteeing them more opportunities to access the parks with smaller crowds, before the parks open to the public each day. Theoretically, if guests are early risers and willing to be up and at the parks early in the morning, they are more likely to be able to visit more of the attractions they’ll want to visit.
This policy also helps add more value to staying on Disney property. Disney is always looking for ways to get more guests to stay on Disney property and these new Extra Extra Magic Hours are a great step in that direction. All those extra available hours EVERY DAY add a lot of value to your theme park tickets!
The Fine Print
Extra Extra Magic Hours require a valid theme park admission and hotel ID. Note: If you are using your Magic Bands as your room keys and your theme park tickets, your Magic Band will serve as both theme park admission and hotel ID.
If you do NOT have the Park Hopper or Park Hopper Plus option on your tickets, you will be spending the day in whichever park you choose for Extra Extra Magic Hours. In other words, if you DON’T have Park Hopper, and start your day at 6 am at Hollywood Studios, you will be in Hollywood Studios for the entire day (unless you leave the park and go back to your resort, of course). You will NOT be able to visit a different park after Extra Extra Magic Hours are over.
If you DO Have Park Hopper, you can “hop” to any other park you choose throughout the day, regardless of where you go for Extra Extra Magic Hours.
All Attractions are NOT Part of Extra Extra Magic
Not all Walt Disney World attractions are available with Extra Magic Hours or Extra Extra Magic Hours. Park hours and participating attractions for Extra Magic Hours or Extra Extra Magic Hours are subject to change without notice. All participating attractions and experiences are subject to capacity limitations and cancellation.
Fast Passes are NOT available during Extra Magic Hours or Extra Extra Magic Hours.
Will Extra Extra Magic Hours Be Extended After November 2?
I don’t know. This is the first time Disney has offered DAILY extended hours for resort guests. Obviously, this will significantly impact Disney’s daily operating costs–a lot will depend on how successful this program is during its initial offering. Guest response and feedback will also significantly impact whether Disney either extends Extra Extra Magic Hours, or ever offers it again during busy periods.
Disney’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Is there anything better than visiting your favorite attractions with lighter crowds and shorter lines? (Photo Credit: Disney Parks)
If it has a major impact on guest satisfaction and crowd flow AND they see profits from people staying longer in the parks and spending more money, I think its very likely that we could see something like this again in the future.
Until Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is actually open, and we see the way Disney manages crowds in and around that new “Land”, it’s difficult to anticipate WHAT will happen from a crowd flow capacity in ALL the parks, once Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is finally open.
What do YOU think?
What do you think of this new policy? As someone who almost always stays on property, I’m pretty excited! We are early risers on vacation, and always take advantage of EMH. However, we often park hop later in the day if the “chosen” park gets too crowded. It will be interesting to see what happens when three parks are the “chosen” park, won’t it?
Please like this post and comment below. Does this new Extra Extra Magic Hours policy have you planning a visit for this fall to take advantage? I can help! brooke@disneycastledreaming.com.
Happy Dreaming!
Brooke
Ready to Help Plan Your Next Disney Vacation!
P.S. There is still time to book reservations for YOUR fall vacation to Disney World. You can check out the amazing new Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and take advantage of all these extra park hours through Extra Extra Magic Hours. Contact me today to get started: brooke@disneycastledreaming.com.
P.P.S If you don’t want to wait for fall, there are still some great promotions running for Summer Vacations. Check out these posts for more information:
Exciting news this week is coming from Disney’s Hollywood Studios. We’ve got a new table service restaurant coming to Toy Story Land!
We don’t have a date yet, so most likely it will be sometime in 2020 or even 2021. However, additional table service restaurants are needed throughout the Parks, and I think a new one themed to Toy Story Land will be a welcome addition!
Rodeo Play Area
Apparently, Andy has decided to set up a new play area in the backyard. This new area will be a rodeo play area, and lots of our favorite toys are very excited to join in the fun!
This new rodeo play area will feature western town and train station playsets, and lots of rodeo themed activities.
Toy Story Land’s Roundup Rodeo BBQ, Artist’s Rendering (Source: Disney Parks)
Of course, this is Toy Story Land, so this may be a really unique rodeo. Lots of toys that we know and love aren’t exactly “western” themed. Mr Potato Head, Buzz Lightyear, Slinky Dog, the green army men and the dinosaur toys are all bound to add some color and very unique elements to the rodeo theme!
We don’t know anything about the food that will be served here yet, but I suspect it will be western themed–perhaps BBQ ribs and chicken? I’m not sure, but I’m really excited to find out!
I think we WILL be able to count on a fun, family friendly atmosphere that will be lots of fun to visit.
Until this new table service restaurant opens, you can still find great food in Toy Story Land. Check out Woody’s Lunch Box, a quick service restaurant that specializes in sandwiches, lunch box tarts and more!
Toy Story Land’s Woody’s Lunch Box (Photo: Disney Parks)Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (Photo: Destinations in Florida)
I’ll keep you posted as more information becomes available on this latest addition to Toy Story Land.
What do you think? Are you looking forward to a new table service restaurant coming to Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Please comment below with your thoughts.
Disney Skyliner testing continues, and appears to be going very well, as we discussed in our last Skyliner update post. In this week’s Disney Skyliner Update, we get an up close and personal look at the gondolas themselves. Disney is now calling the gondolas “guest cabins”, and this week, we get to look inside a Disney Skyliner Guest Cabin!
Up Close with a Skyliner Guest Cabin
Disney Skyliner Guest Cabin Photo Credit: Disney Parks
As I mentioned last week, Disney is now sending a few guest cabins through the Skyliner system uncovered. A few cabins have been seen in the testing without their off-white protective coverings. So far, we haven’t seen any cabins actually decked out with the promised Disney characters out on the lines testing.
This week, Disney has more information about the guest cabins themselves. For the first time, Disney is taking us INSIDE a Skyliner guest cabin and answering some of the questions we’ve all been asking. Here’s what we know now, based on this latest information.
Guest cabins will have a maximum guest capacity of 10 guests per cabin
Cabins feature bench seating for guests, similar to what we’re used to on the monorail, the Walt Disney World Railroad, and other similar transportation options
Guest cabins are wheelchair accessible
Cabins do NOT have in cabin air conditioning or heating
Guest cabins do have small windows that open to let air circulate and provide cross ventilation
All guest cabins will feature Disney characters in specially shaded and reflective graphics to help protect the cabins from direct sunlight
Disney is confident that the cabins will be comfortable, even on very hot Florida days
Guest cabins will be eight different colors
Guest cabins will feature character graphics from all Disney owned properties, including classic Disney favorites, Marvel Studios and LucasFilm, including the Star Wars characters
The Skyliner system is intended to be constantly moving
There will be approximately 300 cabins in the Skyliner system
Look Inside a Disney Skyliner Guest Cabin
Disney has released a video giving you an inside look at the Skyliner guest cabins. Take a tour:
Transit Time on Disney Skyliner System
While of course we don’t have any actual riders in the system yet, we do have some idea on transit times using the Skyliner System.
Disney is still doing their very through testing. We could see SOME impact on these transit numbers once they start testing with people. It will be very interesting to see if the system will truly be able to operate continuously, once it starts testing with people.
Disney Skyliner System Testing Photo Credit: Amy Micari
Disney says we can expect transit times of five to fifteen minutes on the Skyliner System, depending on our origin and destination points. The Skyliner Transportation system will transport guests from four Disney Resorts to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. The four Disney resorts being served are Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, and Disney’s new Riviera Resort (opening later this year).
Opening Date?
We still don’t have an official opening date for guests for the Disney Skyliner System. Disney will have to complete their current round of system and cabin tests, first. Once this round is over, testing with people will begin. If those tests go as smoothly as anticipated, I believe it won’t be long before we get some official announcements with actual opening dates, at least for some sections of the system.
Officially, we’re still being told “Fall 2019”; however I’ll be surprised if we don’t see at least some kind of soft open by August. I believe Disney will want the Skyliner System fully up and running when Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens on August 29.
Disney Skyliner Gondola Graphics featuring characters from Toy Story, Star Wars, Guardians of the Galaxy and even fan favorites Donald and Daisy!
What do you think? Are you getting excited about the Disney Skyliner System? Please like this post, and comment below with your thoughts about the cabins!
