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START OF DAY

How We Use Extra Magic Time

Pick one big queue. That is your morning.

01
THE PLAN

Pick one big target

We do not go into Extra Magic Time with a list of ten things we need to complete. We pick one attraction that we know can build a serious queue later and make that the target for that morning.

For us, the obvious targets are Big Thunder Mountain, Peter Pan’s Flight, Crush’s Coaster and, now, the main Frozen attraction when it is operating during Extra Magic Time. These are the sorts of rides where avoiding a long daytime queue can make a real difference to the rest of the day.

On our preferred four-night, five-day stay, we have several mornings to play with. One morning can be Crush, another Big Thunder Mountain and another Peter Pan. If we happen to catch one of the targets at a decent wait during the day, even better — that can give us an early morning back.

Why it helpsExtra Magic Time works hardest when it removes one queue you really do not want to stand in later.

OUR EXTRA MAGIC TIME TARGETS

The queues we would rather avoid later

We pick one of these for the morning rather than trying to race through all four. Attraction availability during Extra Magic Time can vary, so check the day before.

02
GET THERE EARLY

Be at the gates before Extra Magic Time starts

If Extra Magic Time starts at 8:30am, we do not aim to arrive at 8:30am. For us, around 7:45–8:00am is the target.

Guests can start being admitted before the Extra Magic Time period itself begins, so we would rather already be there, through security and ready to go than arrive as everybody else is entering.

That early arrival is part of the strategy. If you are only reaching the entrance at the advertised start time, you are already giving away some of the advantage you got by staying somewhere that gives you Extra Magic Time.

Why it helpsBeing ready before the advertised start gives you the best chance of making that first target worthwhile.

03
STAY FOCUSED

Know exactly where you are going

Decide on the target before you enter the park. Once you are through the gates, that is where you are going.

This is not really the moment to stop and debate whether you fancy Crush, Big Thunder Mountain or Space Mountain instead. You have already made that decision.

You will see plenty of other people heading purposefully towards their first attraction too. We are not suggesting running, barging past people or turning the morning into a competition. Just do not dawdle. Be polite, be aware of everybody around you and get to the attraction you planned to do.

Why it helpsA clear target stops the most useful part of the morning disappearing while everybody decides what to do.

04
DON’T CHASE THE MAP

Do not abandon the plan too quickly

One of the easiest ways to waste Extra Magic Time is to start chasing wait times around the resort.

If you are already in Disney Adventure World and your chosen attraction looks busier than you hoped, suddenly deciding to head across to something in Disneyland Park can cost a surprising amount of time just in walking.

Extra Magic Time is short. Unless your original target is unavailable or something has genuinely changed, we would normally stick with the plan rather than spending the quietest part of the morning crossing between parks.

Why it helpsTwenty minutes spent changing parks can wipe out the advantage you were trying to create.

05
PACE YOUR TRIP

And sometimes, have a lie-in

We love Extra Magic Time, but we do not use it every morning. Those early starts catch up with you, particularly if you are also staying for the nighttime show.

On a four-night trip, we will often deliberately protect one morning for a lie-in — usually once the early starts begin to catch up with everybody.

If we have already managed to catch one of our big targets at a reasonable wait during the day, there is even less reason to force another rope-drop morning just because the benefit exists.

Use Extra Magic Time to make the holiday easier. Do not let it turn every morning into a military operation.

Why it helpsThe point of the quieter start is to improve the trip, not leave everybody exhausted by the end of it.

KEEP READING

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Before You Start Your Park DayArrive early, know your first target and start the day ahead of the crowds. 8 Tips for Your First Few Hours at Disneyland ParisWhat we do after that first early rush: when to pause, where to look next and how to keep the morning working for you. Things You Have Walked Straight PastHidden details and easy-to-miss corners worth slowing down for.