Evening Extra Magic Hours coming to Pandora - The World of Avatar

Mar 23, 2017 in "Pandora - The World of Avatar"

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Posted: Thursday March 23, 2017 1:43pm EDT by WDWMAGIC Staff

It appears as though Evening Extra Magic Hours are set to return in some form at Disney's Animal Kingdom this summer.

A recent posting on the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort website says:

"As a guest of the Walt Disney World® Swan and Dolphin Resort you may explore Pandora—The World of Avatar beyond regular Park hours from 11 pm to 1 am nightly, May 27th to July 4th 2017. This benefit is in addition to the Extra Magic Hours already available to you at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park."

Evening Extra Magic Hours were discontinued at Disney's Animal Kingdom in 2011, leaving only morning EMH available at the park.

It isn't yet clear if this new offering will be made available to guests beyond the Swan and Dolphin, or if it will include just Pandora, or the entire park.

AVATAR Land concept art

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ToTBellHopMay 13, 2017

It doesn't feel like that any more.

HauntedMansionFLAMay 13, 2017

You are right. One and one of each EMH would be for the best. DAK rakes on a different vibe at night. We loved it when they used to offer evening EMH a few years back. It made you feel like you ha d the park to yourself.

nickysMay 13, 2017

I totally agree! I just assumed the initial announcement of hours up to 4th July was just that - an initial announcement. And that then they would continue with something similar at least until September time. Maybe 11pm park close with emh a few nights a week. And the 2 morning emh days too. My suggestion for why 2 mornings was in addition to continuing with 11pm close, not in place of it. I think they'd be crazy not to have extended times for at least 6 months. ;)

doctornickMay 13, 2017

All right, to be clear.... We are discussing what to do about EMHs after July 4. From the opening of Pandora until July 4, there is going to be a ton of EMH time at DAK. After July 4, however, there is the question of how to best handle EMH at that park. Currently, the plan seems to be to have two morning EMH each week in general (Saturdays and Mondays). I would propose to change that and go to one morning EMH and one evening EMH each week. This would be more in line with what they do for the other parks and would allow resort guests to have a chance to use the EMH to beat the morning rush and do stuff in the park and/or go in the evening for the nighttime experience and offerings. Since they seem determined to make DAK a destination for the evening, it seems odd to not be offering evening EMH in the future.

ToTBellHopMay 13, 2017

I'm thinking beyond the next 7 weeks.

nickysMay 13, 2017

No reason at all! But at the moment AK is open until 11 every day, and until 1am for Pandora emh. When do you suggest they add evening emh at the moment ;)? Morning emh tends to work better for families with youngish kids though, so whilst they're having such crazy hours for Pandora at night, maybe they're trying to cater to families too.

ToTBellHopMay 13, 2017

Why couldn't you grab a FP for one on one morning and the other for one evening (and see the land at night)?

nickysMay 13, 2017

Because of Pandora. The tier system means you can't book fastpasses for both new rides unless you visit twice. So 2 morning emh days a week allows people to do just that whilst taking advantage of emh too, and then hop to another park. 2 half days rather than 1 full day.

HauntedMansionFLAMay 13, 2017

True. I didn't realize there was a Saturday morning EMH. I was going by personal experience. Hopefully they keep at least the Monday version. Disney sometimes changes it up. The MK had morning EMH Sunday through Friday in mid-April (7:00 EMH opening). I had a co-worker go at this time and it made their trip enjoyable (they had a three year old)

ToTBellHopMay 13, 2017

Right, but why should DAK have two MEMH per week? I doubt many people go early on Saturday and then again Monday. Now the park has a reason to stay open late.

HauntedMansionFLAMay 13, 2017

Hopefully not. I love the morning EMH at DAK. You can knock so much the first one to two hours before the crowds with kids make it to the parks. This past December, we did the morning EMH without using FP and did everything with ease. We saved our FP's for that evening at the MK - the parks were packed with families although it was the first of the month and they should have been in school. We didn't do the DHS Sunday morning EMH but it probably would be the same results.

doctornickMay 13, 2017

I'd like to see that be an option at some point -- Pandora + Dinoland + Everest + Discovery Island (ITTBAB/Awakenings) and maybe one late showing of RoL would be a decent option for a late night EMH going forward. Does anyone know if they have considering switching a morning EMH at DAK to an evening one in the future? This would put it in line with the other parks in terms of the EMH structure.

floridagirl57May 08, 2017

Thanks! My thought process is if I keep this room, I'm going to have to fully commit to evening EMH and stay until 1 am. I'm a local AP holder (1.5 hrs away) and this will be my last chance to experience Pandora before my blackout dates take effect. Hopefully others can report back on evening EMH as they experience it when the park opens.