DVC Moonlight Magic: Know Before You Go
If you’re a Disney Vacation Club Member there are a number of perks that you can take advantage of. One of these perks is in the form of an after hours event called “Disney Vacation Club Moonlight Magic”. These Moonlight Magic events, which are available to eligible Disney Vacation Club Members, take place at the theme parks and water parks. Today, we’re going to talk a little bit about what you might encounter if you’re planning to sign up for these events and once you get there.
How To Attend Moonlight Magic
If you’re considering attending a Disney Vacation Club Moonlight Magic event, there are a few very important things you need to know. First, you’ll need to be a Disney Vacation Club Member who is eligible for Membership Extras. [Information about what members are eligible for Membership Extras can be found on the Disney Vacation Club website.] You’ll also need to register for the event in advance. This can be done on the Moonlight Magic page over at the Disney Vacation Club website.
The registration process for Moonlight Magic, which we’ll get back to in a bit, is somewhat simple. However, the tricky part is knowing when the registration window will be open. You’ll notice this when visiting the Moonlight Magic page. There, you’ll see the locations and dates for upcoming events, but you’ll be told to continue checking back for information regarding the registration window. Information regarding the registration window for each event will be posted in advance, but it’s hard to say exactly when you should expect it. The best bet is to keep checking the website regularly leading up to the Moonlight Magic event that you’re hoping to attend.
Once information about when you can register is posted, you’ll notice that there are registration windows for each event date. The first is for eligible Disney Vacation Club Members who have reservations, on the date of the event, at a Disney Vacation Club Resort. DVC Members who meet these criteria will be the first who have the opportunity to register. The second reservation window is for all other eligible DVC Members; specially those who do not have reservations at a Disney Vacation Club Resort. It’s important to mote that this second registration wind, for all other eligible Disney Vacation Club Members, is subject to availability. In other words, if enough Members register during the first registration window, there’s a possibility that this second registration window will not open.
The Registration Process
The process of registering for Disney Vacation Club Moonlight Magic is simple and easy. On the date when the “Registration Window” opens, simply visit the Moonlight Magic page and look for the “RSVP Online” link at the top of the page. This will put you in a virtual queue until registration starts at around 11AM EST. When registration starts, you’ll notice that you’re assigned a number. This is your place in line. DO NOT REFRESH YOUR PAGE as you will be sent to the back of the virtual line. As more people register ahead of you, the number will count down until it’s ultimately your turn to register. This will require you to put in your DVC Member number and answer some brief questions about the size of your party. You will only be give 5 minutes to complete the registration process, but it’s a fairly simple process and shouldn’t take more than 1 to 2 minutes.
Once you’ve completed the registration process, you’ll be emailed a conformation of your registration. This email will include all of the information you’ll need to know before attending the specific Moonlight Magic event you’re registered for. Be sure to look over this email carefully, but know that it is not required for entry to the event. . . so there’s no need to print it and bring it with you.
Before You Arrive
On the day of the event, or ideally a few days before, it’s important to make sure you have a few things in order. First, make sure that your have your Disney Vacation Club Digital Membership Card downloaded into your virtual wallet [on your smartphone[ and a Photo ID available. This is only required of the DVC Member who registered for the event and not the quests who will be accompanying them. If you’re unsure of whether your Digital Membership Card is property attached to your virtual wallet, we recommend bringing along a Magic Band that is connected with your My Disney Experience account as this is an alternative that can be used if there is any issue scanning your virtual wallet.
Next, you’ll want to come up with a plan on when you and your group is going to arrive at Moonlight Magic. This is especially important if your guests will be arriving at the park separate from you. Planning a time when you intend to meet outside the gate will ensure that both you and all of your guests can enter Moonlight Magic.
We also recommend taking another look at the schedule provided in the registration confirmation email and using that to determine when to arrive. While it might not always be the case, there are often a few additional hours to enjoy the park prior to the event start time and there may even be event specific offerings during those times that end by the the the actual event starts. The EPCOT Moonlight Magic event in February 2023 is a great example of this. While the event officially kicked off at 10PM, there were offerings available starting at 6:30PM; some of which ended around 9PM. . . . a full hour before the event officially started. This is most definitely something to take into consideration when deciding when to arrive.
Is Moonlight Magic Worth It
There’s no denying that Disney Vacation Club Moonlight Magic is worth the price of admission. After all, it is free to Disney Vacation Club Members who qualify for Membership Extras. However, the question that we’d like to raise [and ultimately answer] is whether or not it’s worth going out of your way to attend. The answer to this question, at least from our perspective, is going to depend on your personal situation.
If you’re a Disney Vacation Club Member who is eligible for Membership Extras who happens to be in the Walt Disney World area during one of the Disney Vacation Club Moonlight Magic Events, whether it’s ‘cause you live nearby or already have a reservation, it’s a no-brainer! While there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to attend, we think it’s worth trying if you’ll already be here.
On the other hand, our feelings change slightly for those Disney Vacation Club Members who are thinking about making their way to Walt Disney World just for Moonlight Magic. Because space is so limited and there’s no guarantee that you’ll be able to attend, it doesn’t seem worth it [in our opinion] to make travel plans just with the hopes of attending the event. That said, if you’re willing to take the risk or are looking for an excuse to visit Walt Disney World anyway. . . . we say go for it!
Is Moonlight Magic A Worthwhile DVC Membership Perk
Disney Vacation Club Moonlight Magic is a great perk, but it’s unfortunately not on that every Disney Vacation Club Member [even those with access to Membership Extras] will have the ability to experience. While it’s great for those who live nearby or have very flexible dates during which they can visit Walt Disney World, there are number of DVC Members who simply won’t have access to this perk. As someone who didn’t always live near Disney World or have any amount of flexibility with travel dates, I understand how frustrating the limited access to this perk can be.
Of course, the topic of Membership Extras is one that we could discuss at length, but we’ll save that for another day. This all having been said, while Disney Vacation Club Membership Magic is a Membership Perk that we think is pretty fantastic. . . we wish that more Disney Vacation Club Members had access to it during more times throughout the year.
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As with so many of the other topics that we discuss, we’d love to hear what it is that you have to say. Have you ever been to a Disney Vacation Club Moonlight Magic event or do you have plans to attend in the future? Let us know your thoughts by taking a minute to leave a comment!