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Extra Magic Hours

Tip #2: Pick your park according to early opening "Extra Magic Hour"

By Teresa Plowright, About.com

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Most visitors to Walt Disney World sample all four theme parks, and maybe eventhe water parks, too. A key question is: which park do we visit today?

Even if you're not staying at a Walt Disney World resort, the answer depends on a practice called "Extra Magic Hour".

Every day, one of the four theme parks -- Magic Kingdom, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Epcot, or Animal Kingdom--  opens one hour early, for guests staying at a Walt Disney World resort. 

Morning strategy: if you're entitled to enter one of the four theme parks early, arrive at that park promptly and you'll probably get to ride your favorite rides without standing in line-ups. 

If you're not entitled to enter early (or if you can't get up early enough!) AVOID that park that morning, and perhaps even all day: the park will be more crowded than usual. 

Note the Extra Magic Hour in the morning applies to the waterparks Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach also; and that there are also extended evening hours at either Magic Kingdom, Epcot, or Disney's Hollywood Studios.

on to Next Tip-- arrive early at the theme parks

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