There are so many perks when you choose to stay at a Disney World hotel — but sometimes those perks can go unnoticed.
Extended Evening Hours at Animal Kingdom
These underappreciated perks often include pretty sweet benefits like free transportation, free water park admission per person on your day of check-in (during select seasons), Early Theme Park Entry, and the ability to book Lighting Lanes 7 days in advance. These freebie perks are offered to all guests staying at Disney’s Value, Moderate, and Deluxe Resorts — but there’s one major perk offered specifically for Deluxe Resort guests that we need to remind you of…
Extended Evening Hours are not offered each day, like Early Theme Park Entry, but this special (and free!!!) event starts as soon as the park closes for the general public and lasts for two hours — making it absolutely worth planning a trip around.
Magic Kingdom at night
This means that for two hours, the only guests allowed in the park are those who stay at a Disney World Deluxe Resort and other select hotels. During these two hours, there tend to be fewer crowds and shorter waits.
TRON Lightcycle / Run at night
As was previously mentioned, this perk is limited to guests staying at Disney’s most expensive hotels, as well as a select few exceptions. But don’t worry: we found six of the most budget-friendly Deluxe Resorts that you can stay at in order to take advantage of the Extended Evening Hours perk!
Old Key West
Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort
While Disney may not own the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort, it is a fantastic resort as it gets all the benefits of a Deluxe Resort for a fraction of the cost! Plus, it is close to both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, and you can get to the parks by walking, taking a Friendship Boat, or even the Skyliner! On average, you can get a room here for about $300 a night.
Dolphin Resort
Walt Disney World Swan Resort
The same deal from above goes for the Walt Disney World Swan Resort. The room rate here is just a bit higher, but in a similar ballpark. You can choose to upgrade your room and view for a bit more, but still, the price is easier on your budget compared to other Deluxe resorts.
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin
If you are looking to stay at a Disney-owned hotel in the Deluxe category, you may want to consider these next four hotels.
The Disney Vacation Club Cabins at Fort Wilderness
Although the new cabins are Disney Vacation Club cabins, anyone can book them, even if they are not a Disney Vacation Club Member! These newer cabins offer the perks of a Deluxe Resort, and the average cabin price is over $600 a night.
New Fort Wilderness Cabins
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Jambo from Animal Kingdom Lodge! This resort offers stunning views of the Animal Kingdom savannah. You can book a studio in the Disney Vacation Club Villas in Jambo House for over $400 a night.
Animal Kingdom Lodge
Disney’s Old Key West Resort
You can stay at the OG Disney Vacation Club Resort, Old Key West for over $500 a night in a studio. This resort even offers transportation to Disney Springs via the Sassagoula River.
Old Key West
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort
Saratoga Springs is also a Disney Vacation Club Resort, but once again, it is open to anyone to book. It is within walking distance of Disney Springs and also offers boat transportation via the Sassagoula River. On average, you can book a studio here for over $500 a night.
Saratoga Springs Lobby
It is important to remember that room rates can fluctuate based on demand and the time of year. Still, these six resorts are generally the most budget-friendly (for those looking to stay at a Deluxe Resort) and come with the bonus perks like Extended Evening Hours in Magic Kingdom or the other three parks.
For more Disney tips and to stay up to date on all the latest theme park news, make sure to continue to follow along with the Disney Food Blog!
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What is your favorite Disney World hotel perk? Let us know in the comments!
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When comparing, you really should note that with Swan and Dolphin that there is a resort fee of around $50 per night and if you have a vehicle (we always drive) it’s another $40 per night. That’s a big increase.
We went last summer to extended evening hours at Epcot. The big rides all still had hour plus lines. The non deluxe guests that get in lines right before close are all still there. Didn’t really help with any wait times. We got on two rides. It was fine if you were already staying deluxe. But don’t pay for deluxe thinking this “perk” will get you a special evening.
We enjoy the extra two hours for deluxe resort guests but what’s up with Disney not posting their hours calendar until 60 days out. I need to book dining in the park I’m going to be in with my base ticket. I’m left to guess what park will have extra hours and change once the website is updated which is hard for those hard to get reservations. Their calendar window needs to extend out at least a week over 60 days for planning.