December hours posted: And do they ever look good!

CTXRover · Oct 2, 2003

For the last two or so years, there has been a lot of talk about Disney's park hours being cut and the parks closing earlier than ever before over the busy periods. Well, that trend seems to be coming to an end. For instance, over the busy holiday weeks between Christmas and New Year's Eve, the MK is open 9am to midnight, EVERYNIGHT with two showings of Spectro each night. Not to mention, MK is open to 10 or 11 during all the Saturdays of December.

Epcot's future world will go back to being open until 7pm (actually this starts next week) and WS (along with TT, MS, and HISTA, I presume) will be open to 9:30pm, its usually always been 9pm!

Over the holidays after Christmas, MGM will be open everyday starting at 8:00am until 10:00pm with THREE showings of Fantasmic!

And get this, AK will be open from 8am to 7pm over the Holidays. I haven't seen AK's hours like this since the year it opened!

See folks, everything comes full circle. The hours were cut when they needed to be after attendance drops. From the looks of it, they must be expecting a pretty good holiday season this year to post such good hours so far in advance

Source: disneyworld.com

General Grizz · Oct 2, 2003

Ah yes...and Disney's expecting a general rebound in 2004...

We can only hope so!

They seem to be getting right on track with the new projects - this is very good news!

CTXRover · Oct 2, 2003

I had one quick question about the water parks that I forgot to ask. A while back there was a rumor that TL and BB would "switch" places from their normal rehab closures (TL first then BB) in order to allow enough time for a new attraction to be built at TL. Well, they have in fact switched places with BB closing for its rehab first then TL. So, is there any word on TL getting a new ride for next year???

Supermatt70 · Oct 2, 2003

And Wishes preforms everynight. When was the last time that the Magic Kingdom had fireworks everynight? The 25th anniversary?

Better hours? New attractions? Perhaps we are finally seeing an end to Paul Pressler's edicts.

CTXRover · Oct 2, 2003

Originally posted by Supermatt70
And Wishes preforms everynight. When was the last time that the Magic Kingdom had fireworks everynight? The 25th anniversary?

Better hours? New attractions? Perhaps we are finally seeing an end to Paul Pressler's edicts.

I didn't think of it that way. But I got to say, it may just be the truth

It is just so different from a few years ago when MK was closing at 10 over the busy periods, AK open only from 9-5, etc and nothing new approved beyond little things like Dinorama! and Aladdin's MCR at MK. Now every park is expected to be working on some type of new E-ticket attraction all at once (Stitch Escape! may or may not be an E-ticket, but AE is considered one now so why not) and hours are returning. Great news.

General Grizz · Oct 2, 2003

Just as a General Rundown...

We've got:

- Magical Gatherings
> Wishes (Entertainment)
> Mickey's Philharmagic (New Take)

- Coming Soon
> Expedition Everest (Thrill)
> Lucky, the Dinosaur (Revolution)
> Stitch Escape! (Rehab)
> Soarin' (New Style)
> Auto Stunt Show (Refreshment)
> Haunted Mansion Holiday (New Twist)

- Perhaps?
> Carousel of Progress/Timekeeper left unseasonal (BUT OPEN! :lol: )
> Indiana Jones?
> Replacement of 20K?

In general, everything seems nice and fresh, mainly adding on instead of replacing. It looks like a generally good trend.

I totally respect Rasulo - - and I admire his wish to keep the "classics" running while keeping the place fresh and vibrant.

CTXRover · Oct 2, 2003

Originally posted by grizzlyhall
Just as a General Rundown...

We've got:

- Magical Gatherings
> Wishes
> Mickey's Philharmagic

- Coming Soon
> Lucky, the Dinosaur
> Stitch Escape!
> Soarin'
> Auto Stunt Show
> Haunted Mansion Holiday

-

Don't forget that MS just opened (not Rasulo's doing, but a pretty big addition) and Expedition Everest at AK!

General Grizz · Oct 2, 2003

Snork...I forgot Everest but put it back in.

Mission Space already opened...a month ago..er.. :lookaroun

General Grizz · Oct 2, 2003

Almost forgot - Orlando Sentinel rumors:

- PoTC rehab? (This BETTER not have the film in it! :fork: )
- GMR rehab

CTXRover · Oct 2, 2003

Originally posted by grizzlyhall

Mission Space already opened...a month ago..er.. :lookaroun

I think that still classifies it as "just opening"

:lol: But really, my point with that was that something huge and new just opened, but they aren't relying on that single thing to market and help them through the next couple years as I would have expected. Heck, Epcot is already working on their next E-ticket with MS still just getting its feet wet with guests

surfsupdon · Oct 3, 2003

BUT, the parks seem to only be open till midnight on New Years Eve. Last year was 1am. Maybe they will extend them soon enough, who knows....:xmas:

Cannot WAIT!!

CTXRover · Oct 3, 2003

Originally posted by surfsupdon
BUT, the parks seem to only be open till midnight on New Years Eve. Last year was 1am. Maybe they will extend them soon enough, who knows....:xmas:

Cannot WAIT!!

I wouldn't be a bit surprised New Year's Eve hours are changed. What I find amazing is that they have such great hours during the holiday week so far in advance. In the past few years, for the MK, it would be like 9-10 when the hours were first posted and then as December came around would extend to 9-11 on some nights. But now they have 9-12 everynight that week, 3 months in advance!

Also, MGM has no indication of Sorcery in the Sky NYE, and I can guarentee they will have that. I imagine the parks being open to 1am that night. Maybe even 2am, at least that's how late they used to stay open, pre-tourism slump.

surfsupdon · Oct 3, 2003

Thanks for your positivism. I'm feeling the same way.

They will def extend their hours on New Years Eve for my family. I jsut hope is does not rain this year...torrentially!!:xmas:

Donfan · Oct 4, 2003

New Stuff

In your list, don' forget about the rumors of Nemo at Living Seas. I know it is still only a rumor, but if true, and if handled properly, (maybe changing the Sea Cabs to Nemos), it could be interesting and liven the place up.

CTXRover · Oct 18, 2003

Originally posted by surfsupdon
BUT, the parks seem to only be open till midnight on New Years Eve. Last year was 1am. Maybe they will extend them soon enough, who knows....:xmas:

Cannot WAIT!!

Just thought I would bring up that the hours for New Year's Eve have indeed changed since they were first posted. Both Epcot and MGM will now be open from 8am to 1am. MK is still posted as just 9am-midnight, but I guarentee that will be changed shortly as well. (Afterall, MK usually fills up to capacity before Epcot and MGM)

surfsupdon · Oct 18, 2003

Thanks for the update!

My dad made PS's for us at an Epcot WS restaurant today for 12/31 and boy am I excited!

I jsut knew they'd ahve to extend the hours!!

:xmas:

KevinPage · Oct 19, 2003

It seems like Disney really goes on how booked the resorts are, to judge how late the park hours would be open this past year or so.

You would see certain non peak weeks open a few hours later than the previous week, for no apparent reason, AND certain days, like a Wednesday with extended hours, right smack in the middle of a slow/normal season.

Unlike Seaworld, which doesn't have hotels to contend with, have their hours for the entire year mapped out at the beginning of the year (schedule included with your annual pass).

Even this week at Disney has been quite busy, heck I've had to wait about 10 minutes a few separate times just to book a PS. I've never had to wait more than 30 seconds before.

prberk · Oct 21, 2003

Has anyone ever noticed that The World of Disney Store is always crowed when it closes at midnight? I think it should also consider later hours, at least until 1 a.m., especially on nights when the parks close later.

A lot of people head over to Downtown Disney after leaving the parks, but do not want to go to Pleasure Island. The World of Disney is always crowded at that time.

Does anyone else think it would make sense to keep it open later, since that is their busy time?

How crowded are those Downtown Disney Marketplace shops in the morning?

December hours posted: And do they ever look good!

CTXRover

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