Here\u2019s what Disney Vacation Club has revealed to date in regards to the 2023 Moonlight Magic events:<\/p>\n
EPCOT Moonlight Magic Event Dates: February 8, 2023 and February 15, 2023.<\/p>\n
Initial Registration Window \u2013 Opens January 25, 2023: The preliminary registration window for EPCOT occasions is open to eligible Members with current Resort reservations at a Disney-owned-and-operated resort at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida or at Disney\u2019s Vero Beach Resort\u2014with get together dimension modifications finalized previous to at present.<\/p>\n
General Registration \u2013 Opens February 2, 2023 and February 9, 2023: Event registration for the February 8, 2023 occasion at EPCOT opens to all eligible Members on February 2, 2023 (pending availability). Event registration for the February 15, 2023 occasion at EPCOT opens to all eligible Members on February 9, 2023 (pending availability).<\/p>\n
Disney\u2019s Hollywood Studios Moonlight Magic Event Dates are May 11, 2023 and September 13, 2023.<\/p>\n
DHS Registration Window: Please examine again for details about when to register.<\/p>\n
Animal Kingdom Moonlight Magic Event Dates are July 11, 2023 and August 2, 2023.<\/p>\n
DAK Registration Window: Please examine again for details about when to register.<\/p>\n
Typhoon Lagoon Moonlight Magic Event Dates: May 23, 2023 and August 23, 2023.<\/p>\n
Typhoon Lagoon Registration Window: Please examine again for details about when to register.<\/p>\n
Per Disney Vacation Club, highlights for the \u201cprivileged partiers\u201d at Moonlight Magic embody:<\/p>\n
\nShorter-than-usual wait occasions for choose park sights<\/li>\n Disney Characters sightings (this presumably means meet & greets and simply hasn\u2019t been up to date from final 12 months\u2019s \u201csightings\u201d language)<\/em><\/li>\nReimagined leisure<\/li>\n Complimentary particular treats and delectable delights<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nMoonlight Magic Eligibility \u2013 <\/strong>To be eligible for Moonlight Magic, you should be a \u201cblue card\u201d Disney Vacation Club member, which means that you simply bought straight from Disney or purchased earlier than the resale restrictions have been carried out again in April 2016. If you’ve gotten a member card, you\u2019re good. This additionally signifies that anybody renting Disney Vacation Club factors will not be eligible for Moonlight Magic. Unlike different on-site perks, Moonlight Magic relies on the\u00a0membership\u00a0<\/em>and never the keep.<\/p>\nParty Size Limits \u2013 <\/strong>A Member can register themself and as much as 4 further Guests per Membership (for a complete of 5)\u2014or as much as the variety of Guests on their Resort reservation, offered it was finalized previous to relevant deadlines for every registration window.\u00a0Children youthful than 3 years of age don’t should be registered for this occasion.<\/p>\nMembers With Multiple Resort Reservations \u2013 <\/strong>If Members have a number of Resort reservations, further get together dimension pointers apply relying on how the reservation was booked:<\/p>\n\nWhen staying utilizing Vacation Points or Reservation Points,\u00a0<\/strong>Members can register themselves and as much as the variety of people on their Resort reservation(s).<\/li>\nWhen staying in your Interval International Membership utilizing money or factors, <\/strong>Members can register themselves and as much as the variety of people staying in the identical room because the Member, per Membership.<\/li>\nWhen staying in your RCI Membership utilizing money or factors, <\/strong>Members can register themselves and as much as the variety of people staying in the identical room because the Member, per Membership.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nModifications & Cancellations \u2013 <\/strong>This occasion can’t be booked or modified by means of Member Services. If a Member needs to vary their get together dimension inside the get together dimension limits, or the date that they’re attending Moonlight Magic, they could modify their occasion registration by means of the hyperlink discovered of their affirmation electronic mail. Please notice:<\/p>\n\nIf you cancel your Resort reservation, your occasion registration might be cancelled robotically.<\/li>\n Cancelling and rebooking an occasion registration will increase the chance of dropping one\u2019s registration.<\/li>\n Modifications or cancellations of an occasion registration can’t be made the identical day as reserving.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nRegistering for Another Member on Your Membership \u2013 <\/strong>If the first Member will not be registering for the occasion, one other Member with the identical Member ID quantity could also be added as an alternate to examine in on the occasion. Valid Disney Vacation Club Digital Membership Card and photograph ID are required at check-in.<\/p>\nEvent Date Limits \u2013 <\/strong>In order to permit as many Members as attainable to take pleasure in Moonlight Magic, just one occasion date for every taking part park might be obtainable per Membership.<\/p>\nOther Important Information<\/strong><\/p>\n\nRegistration is required and restricted. Unfortunately, walk-ins won’t be permitted.<\/li>\n Valid Disney Vacation Club Digital Membership Card and photograph ID required at check-in. Member listed on the Digital Membership Card should be in attendance.<\/li>\n Complimentary admission to the after-hours occasion is legitimate in the course of the occasion. If you want to enter a park earlier than the occasion, legitimate theme park admission and reservation are required.<\/li>\n This supply is complimentary, nontransferable and can’t be offered. It is topic to availability, change or termination with out discover.<\/li>\n Attendees below 18 years of age should be accompanied by a taking part mum or dad or guardian.<\/li>\n This is a rain-or-shine occasion; some experiences could also be cancelled as a result of inclement climate.<\/li>\n We request that Members cancel not less than 48 hours upfront.<\/li>\n Disney Genie, Disney Genie+ and particular person Lightning Lanes aren’t obtainable to be used throughout Moonlight Magic Events.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nReservations should be made by the individual listed because the \u201cowner\u201d on the Membership and will be booked with factors by means of Disney Vacation Club or with money by means of the Disney Reservation Center or a journey supplier. Please notice that Members who’ve a Resort reservation booked below one other Member\u2019s membership aren’t eligible for early reserving.<\/p>\n
As famous on the prime, we\u2019ve attended many Moonlight Magic events for the reason that occasion started a number of years in the past. Many highlights exist, from stumbling upon uncommon characters from \u201ca bug\u2019s life\u201d with zero traces to enjoying mini-golf with Disney Afternoon characters at DCA to being provided a whole\u00a0field\u00a0<\/em>of cookies from Mickey\u2019s Very Merry Christmas Party. (A wholesale sized field that needed to have contained 200-500 cookies. I \u201csettled\u201d for filling my digicam bag and a buying bag.)<\/p>\nWe even attended the final Moonlight Magic that was held in Magic Kingdom, again in March 2020. That additionally ended up being our final night within the park earlier than the multi-month closure. I nonetheless assume again to that night fondly, remembering scarfing down a number of sizzling canine from Casey\u2019s Corner earlier than seeing the fireworks and assembly Disney fur character royalty.<\/p>\n
In wanting again at a few of our get together stories, I see there have been downsides to every occasion. There have been cases of surprisingly lengthy traces for meals, characters, or sights for the reason that starting. There have been additionally occasions early on when some members actually introduced coolers to fill up on ice cream and different snacks, inflicting the kiosks to expire.<\/p>\n
However, we largely \u2018smooth over\u2019 the negatives in our minds, fondly recollecting the positives\u2013particular fireworks, uncommon characters, free meals, and different distinctive moments having fun with (largely) empty parks. Even with points right here and there, the Moonlight Magic occasions are completely improbable.<\/p>\n
Perhaps its recency bias, however final 12 months did appear to have extra issues than regular. There have been nonetheless some uncommon characters, however not as many. Entertainment was lighter than regular, notably unique nighttime spectaculars or particular fireworks. The distribution of particular popcorn buckets and snacks left quite a bit to be desired.<\/p>\n
a number of that may be attributed to staffing shortages that meant fewer Cast Members for character meet & greets and to function extra meals & beverage areas. (Passing the popcorn buckets out on the entrance or one other centralized location may\u2019ve solved a few of this\u2013and perhaps they did that at later occasions; I\u2019m undecided.)<\/p>\n
There\u2019s additionally the truth that there have been fewer Moonlight Magic occasions than pre-closure, which is a development that continues in 2023. Due to there being fewer Moonlight Magic events, I additionally suspect that Disney Vacation Club elevated the attendance caps, leading to bigger crowds. (Perhaps that\u2019s merely my notion, although. Not 100% positive on that one.)<\/p>\n
Ultimately, Moonlight Magic continues to be nice, and the professionals of the free occasion far outweigh the cons\u2013even final 12 months. I\u2019m hoping that Moonlight Magic goes smoother in 2023, with improved staffing remedying a few of these points and classes realized from final 12 months fixing others.<\/p>\n
Even with the hiccups, Moonlight Magic is a superb occasion that’s basically a free model of After Hours for DVC Members, with just a few further enhancements that make it higher <\/em>than After Hours, in our view. It\u2019s a fantastic perk for individuals who are in a position to take benefit; we\u2019ve liked attending through the years, and hope the 2023 Moonlight Magic events mark extra of a return to regular. We\u2019ll be experiencing the primary Moonlight Magic of the 12 months subsequent week, and can report again on the way it goes!<\/p>\nThinking about becoming a member of DVC? First make sure you learn our\u00a0Ultimate Guide to Disney Vacation Club<\/a><\/strong>. This covers the professionals & cons, resale v. direct, how a lot cash you\u2019ll save, and different necessary issues to know earlier than taking the plunge.\u00a0<\/strong>If you continue to can\u2019t resolve whether or not membership is best for you, \u201ctry before you buy\u201d and lease factors from\u00a0DVC Rental Store<\/a>. Planning a Walt Disney World journey? For complete recommendation, the very best place to start out is our\u00a0 Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0for all the pieces it’s worthwhile to know.<\/p>\nYOUR THOUGHTS<\/h3>\n Planning on registering for one of many 2023 Moonlight Magic get together nights? Excited to see this free occasion returning as a profit for DVC members? Have you attended one of many Moonlight Magic occasions at Walt Disney World? Did you meet any uncommon characters or take pleasure in particular leisure? What did you consider the expertise? Any questions or ideas about something on this get together report? Hearing your suggestions about your experiences is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas or questions beneath within the feedback!<\/p>\n