Epcot Extended Hours AND After Hours Event?

[JayMass]

Hi. So we are staying at a deluxe resort this summer and will have access to the EEH at Epcot. I also noticed that there is an After Hours Event at Epcot while we are there too. Curious if anyone thinks doing BOTH would be worth it. Clearly we are doing the EEH because it's already paid for, but not sure if After Hours as well would be just a waste of money. I haven't bought any park tix yet, still trying to decide on a park plan (how many days?, hopping?, etc.). Knowing if we should do the After Hours would certainly play into that plan.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

EEH at Epcot should be enough imo but it’s a lot of walking because Frozen and Remy are so far apart. If you’re there on a Wednesday you can take advantage of MK EEH too. After hours at Epcot isn’t worth the money imo because there’s just not a lot of attractions there. I’d stick with the EEH and spend the money you would’ve spent on an AH elsewhere.

 

[kylenne]

Absolutely not lol. EEH is barely worth it at Epcot, and that’s “free”. Paying extra for the privilege is borderline highway robbery esp with Test Track still down. Unless you want to pay hundreds just to ride Cosmic Rewind a few times it’s a profound waste of money better spent elsewhere imo.

The nature of Epcot makes it a very poor choice for these offerings—few rides, only 3 that see very long waits during the day and are very spread out so everyone beelines for them, and if one of those 3 or Cosmic Rewind goes down waits spike at the others. Most of your time will be eaten up just walking between them. It’s not like MK or HS where they’re dense with heavy hitters in relatively small areas so you can knock out a few one after the other.

And again, that’s with Test Track up. It’s not rn so you’re basically guaranteed the worst version of that scenario, and possibly even worse if Remy or Frozen decide to act up. Plus most of the appeal of Epcot is eating and drinking around the WS, none of which is available during these events. With EEH at least you’re not paying anything extra so I’m cool with treating it as another chance to ride Cosmic Rewind. But you’ll never catch me at Epcot AH, I think it’s actually the worst upcharge offering Disney currently has and I’ve thought that ever since they first started offering it in 2023 when our trip fell over the very first night of it and we could have done both. I avoided it then and was very vindicated by the reports that came out the first night. Just stick to EEH.

 

[JayMass]

That all makes sense. Didn’t realize WS would be shut down for the After Hours. We’ve done EEH there before and WS was mostly closed so that makes sense. Thanks for the advice!!

 

[traveler9]

Really only Frozen and Remy get large waits. Test Track also does but it's closed currently, and for Soarin it isn't hard to find lower waits later in the day even during regular park hours.

 

[SL6827]

Hi. So we are staying at a deluxe resort this summer and will have access to the EEH at Epcot. I also noticed that there is an After Hours Event at Epcot while we are there too. Curious if anyone thinks doing BOTH would be worth it. Clearly we are doing the EEH because it's already paid for, but not sure if After Hours as well would be just a waste of money. I haven't bought any park tix yet, still trying to decide on a park plan (how many days?, hopping?, etc.). Knowing if we should do the After Hours would certainly play into that plan.

Good question and great answers here.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Are you absolutely nuts about GOTG? If so it might be worth it- I talked to a few different groups of people headed to EP After Hours a little while back and at least 1 person in each group had done it before and was returning and bringing others with. The highlight for each group was going to be riding GOTG over and over and over with like no wait. One group had a goal to hear all 7 songs, no matter how many times they had to ride. (I love GOTG but 2x is my max!)

 

[Araminta18]

Are you absolutely nuts about GOTG? If so it might be worth it- I talked to a few different groups of people headed to EP After Hours a little while back and at least 1 person in each group had done it before and was returning and bringing others with. The highlight for each group was going to be riding GOTG over and over and over with like no wait. One group had a goal to hear all 7 songs, no matter how many times they had to ride. (I love GOTG but 2x is my max!)

Even that I don't think makes EAH worth it - we've done Epcot After Hours twice ('cause I'm a sucker) with the goal of looping GOTG. You still average about 35/40 min per GOTG ride so you'd be lucky to get 6 rides in during the night.

 

[SL6827]

As much as I love GOTG, riding it six times in one night might just do me completely in. I can't imagine, lol.

 

[traveler9]

As much as I love GOTG, riding it six times in one night might just do me completely in. I can't imagine, lol.

Not to mention having to go through those preshow rooms every time. Ugh.

 

[Araminta18]

Not to mention having to go through those preshow rooms every time. Ugh.

the preshow rooms are really the problem. my husband loves the coaster but HATES the preshow rooms, especially cause there isn't any order there and people push and shove. if VIP tours let you skip those preshows we'd be VEEEEEEEEERY tempted.

 

[traveler9]

the preshow rooms are really the problem. my husband loves the coaster but HATES the preshow rooms, especially cause there isn't any order there and people push and shove. if VIP tours let you skip those preshows we'd be VEEEEEEEEERY tempted.

From what I've heard even VIP tours can't skip it. The preshow was interesting when I hadn't ridden it before, now that I've been on it probably 30-40 times as an AP over the last couple of years it just gets annoying.