Moonlight Magic Returning to Disney World!
Moonlight Magic events are returning to Walt Disney World in 2022, for the first time in over two years! During these free after hours parties, DVC members can experience a night full of fun: attractions with short wait times, rare character sightings, exclusive entertainment, and free food!
Disney Vacation Club is bringing the fan-favorite membership extra back for Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary, and promises special celebrations after the theme parks close to the general public during the World’s Most Magical Celebration! We cannot wait–we absolutely love Moonlight Magic, having done this many, many times in the past.
In fact, Our “Last” Night in Magic Kingdom prior to the closure was for Moonlight Magic. We’ve also shared reports from attending some of these Disney Vacation Club parties. You can read our Moonlight Magic — After Hours at Magic Kingdom Party Recap or our 25 and Beyond DVC Bash at Disney California Adventure Party Report or our Typhoon Lagoon Beach Bash Report.
Here’s what Disney Vacation Club has revealed thus far about the 2022 Moonlight Magic parties:
Epcot Moonlight Magic Event Dates are March 17, 2022 and March 31, 2022
Registration Window: Eligible Members with a Disney Resort hotel reservation on the event date can register online beginning February 23, 2022. Event registration opens to all eligible Members on March 8, 2022 (pending availability). Event details will be provided––via email––approximately one week prior to the event!
Disney’s Hollywood Studios Moonlight Magic Event Dates are May 24, 2022, June 16, 2022 and July 14, 2022
DHS Registration Window: Please check back for information about when to register.
Animal Kingdom Moonlight Magic Event Dates are July 26, 2022 and August 31, 2022
DAK Registration Window: Please check back for information about when to register.
Disney Vacation Club has not yet provided dates or details about (potential) Moonlight Magic parties at the water parks or Magic Kingdom.
Our expectation is that there will not be Moonlight Magic in 2022 at Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach. It’s likely those are a thing of the past–even pre-closure, that was likely the case. As for Magic Kingdom, our hope is that its dates are added for September and October 2022, and DVC just isn’t ready to schedule or share those. It’s also possible that with the late start to the Moonlight Magic “season,” Disney Vacation Club is skipping Magic Kingdom and it’ll be offered to start 2023.
Per Disney Vacation Club, highlights for the “privileged partiers” at Moonlight Magic include:
- Shorter-than-usual wait times for select park attractions
- Disney Characters sightings
- Reimagined entertainment
- Complimentary special treats and delectable delights
Who’s Eligible & Who Isn’t
To be eligible for Moonlight Magic, you must be a “blue card” Disney Vacation Club member, meaning that you purchased directly from Disney or bought before the resale restrictions were implemented back in April 2016. If you have a member card, you’re good.
This also means that anyone renting Disney Vacation Club points is not eligible for Moonlight Magic. Unlike other on-site perks, Moonlight Magic is based on the membership and not the stay.
Finally, here’s the other “Know Before You Go” info for Moonlight Magic from the DVC Member site
Eligible Members with a Disney Resort Reservation
The initial registration window for EPCOT events is open to eligible Members with existing Resort reservations at a Disney-owned and operated hotel at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida or at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort—with party size modifications finalized prior to February 20, 2022.
All Resort reservations and modifications—including your party size—must be completed by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on February 20, 2022. Modifications to your Resort reservation party size after February 20, 2022 will not increase party size for the event.
All eligible Members with a Disney Resort hotel reservation on the event date should be on the lookout for an email arriving on February 22, 2022. This email will contain a link where they can register online for EPCOT events!
General Registration – Opens March 8, 2022
EPCOT event registration opens to all eligible Members on March 8, 2022.
(Our note: Moonlight Magic at Epcot will occur before the probable opening date of Guardians of the Galaxy – Cosmic Rewind. A bit of a bummer in otherwise great news–it would’ve been nice for DVC members to experience that new E-Ticket with minimal wait!)
Party Size Limits
A Member can register themselves and up to 4 additional Guests per Membership (for a total of 5)—or up to the number of Guests on his or her Resort reservation, provided it was finalized prior to February 20, 2022. Modifications to your Resort reservation party size after February 20, 2022 will not increase party size for the event. Children younger than 3 years old do not need to be registered for this event.
Health and Safety Measures
Health and safety measures and operational guidelines are subject to change without notice. (Our note: Walt Disney World is ending face mask rules before any of these Moonlight Magic dates. Of course, rules could be reinstated, but as of right now, the health and safety measures for Moonlight Magic are effectively nothing.)
Members With Multiple Resort Reservations
If Members have multiple Resort reservations, additional party size guidelines apply depending on how the reservation was booked:
- When staying using Vacation Points or Reservation Points, Members can register themselves and up to the number of individuals on their Resort reservation(s).
- When staying using cash, Interval International points or RCI points at an eligible Resort hotel, Members can register themselves and up to the number of individuals staying in the same room as the Member, per Membership.
Modifications & Cancellations
This event cannot be booked or modified through Member Services. If a Member wishes to change their party size within the party size limits, or the date that they are attending Moonlight Magic, they may modify their event registration through the link found in their confirmation email.
Please note:
- If you cancel your Resort reservation, your event registration will be cancelled automatically.
- Cancelling and rebooking an event registration increases the risk of losing one’s registration.
- Modifications or cancellations of an event registration cannot be made the same day as booking.
Registering for Another Member on Your Membership
If the primary Member is not registering for the event, another Member with the same Member ID number may be added as an alternate to check in at the event. Valid Disney Vacation Club Digital Membership Card and photo ID are required at check-in.
Event Date Limits
In order to allow as many Members as possible to enjoy Moonlight Magic, only one event date for each participating park will be available per Membership.
Other Important Information
- Registration is required and limited. Unfortunately, walk-ins will not be permitted.
- Valid Disney Vacation Club Digital Membership Card and photo ID required at check-in. Member listed on the Digital Membership Card must be in attendance.
- Complimentary admission to the after-hours event is valid for the duration of the event. If you wish to enter a park before the event, valid theme park admission and reservation are required.
- This offer is complimentary, nontransferable and cannot be sold. It is subject to availability, change or termination without notice.
- Attendees under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a participating parent or guardian.
- This is a rain-or-shine event; some experiences may be cancelled due to inclement weather.
- We request that Members cancel at least 48 hours in advance.
- Disney Genie, Disney Genie+ and individual Lightning Lanes are not available for use during Moonlight Magic Events.
Reservations must be made by the person listed as the “owner” on the Membership and can be booked with points through Disney Vacation Club or with cash through the Disney Reservation Center or a travel provider. Please note that Members who have a Resort reservation booked under another Member’s membership are not eligible for early booking.
Thinking about joining DVC? First be sure to read our Ultimate Guide to Disney Vacation Club. This covers the pros & cons, resale v. direct, how much money you’ll save, and other important things to know before taking the plunge. If you still can’t decide whether membership is right for you, “try before you buy” and rent points from DVC Rental Store. If you are convinced a membership is for you, check out the discounted options at DVC Resale Market. Planning a Walt Disney World trip? For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know.
YOUR THOUGHTS
Planning on registering for one of the 2022 Moonlight Magic party nights? Excited to see this free event returning as a benefit for DVC members? Have you attended one of the Moonlight Magic events at Walt Disney World? Did you meet any rare characters or enjoy special entertainment? What did you think of the experience? Any questions or thoughts about anything in this party report? Hearing your feedback about your experiences is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts or questions below in the comments!
Not a DVC member, but honestly hoping this bodes well for after hours events to return (and in direct correlation FULL Holiday events)! Would LOVE to be in a semi-empty park again!!
Believe me, we have been DVC members since 2001 and the first few years were great. Then the mass marketing by Disney Vacation Development to sell DVC has created a huge DVC population. These “small crowds” moonlight events are not small. The last event we attended, the crowds at EPCOT were significant, not like a normal day, but still very crowded. When we join, there were less than 75,000 DVC members… now it is in excess of 500,000. We have very few benefits, but depending on the number of points, dues/taxes can be very expensive.
Does the park close typically earlier on those nights? If we’re not DVC members registered for the parties, should we avoid the park where it’s held on that date?
Tom, I am a DVC direct purchaser with a resort reservation. Once I register on February 22nd does that mean I am in or am I just entering a lottery.
No lottery, its your confirmed reservation.
We won’t be returning to WDW until March 2023. My fingers are crossed that this event will intersect with our trip & the party size will still be tied to those on our reservation because we’re a party of 6.
We are staying at BW 3/12-3/18 and have a blue card. How hard will it be to register? We added on direct to get the membership benefits last year so this is the first time we’ve been eligible for Moonlight Magic.
Look for an email which will give you instructions and a link to register. DVC members on property will be able to register before anyone else.
From the DVC member site:
How to Register
All eligible Members with a Disney Resort hotel reservation on the event date should be on the lookout for an email arriving on February 22, 2022. This email will contain a link where they can register online for EPCOT events!
Event registration opens to all eligible Members on March 8, 2022, for the Member plus 4 Guests (pending availability). To register:
Visit this page and select RSVP Online. Be sure to have your Member number ready.
You’ll enter a virtual waiting room, which secures your place in line. Do not refresh the page.
When it’s your turn, you’ll be sent to the registration form to sign up for a night of Moonlight Magic!
I read the feelings of some of the locals now I add this, Why not add Annual Pass Holders to this premium also Would it really hurt?
The caveat that your missing is these are not technically Disney events. They are technically DVD events. DVD rents the parks out for use by its members.
The events “sell out” with DVC folks so I would not want to see them add annual pass members.
No thank you. Try hiring those professionals back that you let go during COVID that helped make this event happen! But nope, Disney is becoming so money hungry and forgetting the people who have made the company and events what it is.
We are renting a Villa at Old Key West through DVC, in March. Would we be eligible to attend Moonlight Magic.
Not unless you are DVC owners with a blue membership card.
Does anyone know if someone renting DVC points during one of these events can get the DVC member renting us the points to sign us up for the event?
Probably not, as the DVC digital ID card and a photo ID of the actual member is required at check in, meaning the owner has to be physically present at the event. Bummer, as I’m renting too.
We have been lucky to attend events at MK, Epcot and AK. Really looking forward to this coming back. Won’t be the same without the close up character meets but maybe by the events later in 2022?? Love the free food 😉
Does this apply to resale dvc or only if you purchase directly from disney?
As usual, this leaves locals out unless you want to waste points to stay on property! When you live 2 miles away it’s nice to save your points for cruises, adventures by Disney etc. We have been members since 1993 but did not live here at that time. They should get rid of reservation requirements. We still pay the same as everyone else. Our dues don’t go down because we live close! Let everyone take their chances registering at the same time!
I think locals definitely still have the advantage here. Many owners who live “away” are left with either hoping that they get lucky with a planned trip that happens to overlap with a Moonlight Magic date or have to plan out a special trip just to make it line up. For many of us, that means the added cost of airline tickets and other expenses that make the party less of a perk value wise.
The DVC email from today lists 9/28 as an AK date too, but the website does not. Any insight if 9/28 is a true date or not?
I hope this foretells the return of the paid after hours events. Those were so much fun!
We are THRILLED to see this come back. We had managed to go to the first two events in 2020, and we’re hoping to do more. We’re staying offsite again this time during the EPCOT ones and hope to be able to get in!! Yay! Finally Disney is doing something fun…and free for us DVC members!!
We have been looking forward to this for many months, great to see it back!! We will actually be there for the March 31st at EPCOT, can’t wait!!
Are DVC members who bought thru resale eligible for this as well?
So happy this is back!
I was in CA when I got to go to one with 3 guests (the limit at that time)
It was GREAT! So uncrowned. Better than the after hours we went to at Magic Kingdom in December.
Any chance this will interfere with regular park hours for those of us with vacations planned but not DVC membership? It would be annoying to be subject to reduced access to the parks because of this, especially during busy times such as summer. How do they kick out nonmembers?
We don’t know the hours this will run is that right or did I miss it?
That’s correct. If past precedent is any indication, it should be park closing to midnight or 1 am.