ToTBellHop
Well-Known Member
the only thing I noticed is shortened hours over President's Weekend--but I recall the same decreases after 9/11. Hours are contingent upon attendance, plain and simple.
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09 Hours SLASHED!
- Thread starter Jerm
- Start date
progroupie
Member
I think plenty of people will always stay on property just because it's Disney. You can risk staying in a hotel that has the potential to be icky and in a bad location or you can have the guarentee of Disney quality by staying on property plus you know you'll be close to all the attractions. People like that sort of thing and there are plenty of people who are suckers for Disney theming. I feel like even if they cut back on the benefits of staying on property they wouldn't have a hard time getting people to stay in the resorts.
disneytopdog
Active Member
I would tend to disagree, I used to always stay off property(boy was I stupid back then). But this was before they built the Values and Moderates. I knew I could never afford to stay at the CR, Poly or GF.
But given the price of a moderate(my catergory of choice) you can stay at a real nice place off property. Sure its not the same as being on property, but what is there to do after 7p or 8p after the parks have closed and you are on vacation and still want to play
But given the price of a moderate(my catergory of choice) you can stay at a real nice place off property. Sure its not the same as being on property, but what is there to do after 7p or 8p after the parks have closed and you are on vacation and still want to play
CleveRocks
Active Member
Here's how I KNOW they reduced some hours ...
They ABSOLUTELY DID trim some hours.
How do I know???
I waited and waited for the official Disney site to have the hours up for early-Feb. '09. And when that happened, I made a chart of every park, every EMH, and every relevant (to me) fireworks/show/parade.
Well, I checked out the same official WDW site a few weeks ago. The MK hours on 4 of our 7 nights were reduced by one hour each (it had been a 9 p.m. closing some nights, but was changed to a uniform 8 p.m. for the whole week). And the Studios' hours also reduced by one hour on a few nights. Epcot's always the same, and so is AK. The EMHs, morning and night, were unchanged.
They ABSOLUTELY DID trim some hours.
How do I know???
I waited and waited for the official Disney site to have the hours up for early-Feb. '09. And when that happened, I made a chart of every park, every EMH, and every relevant (to me) fireworks/show/parade.
Well, I checked out the same official WDW site a few weeks ago. The MK hours on 4 of our 7 nights were reduced by one hour each (it had been a 9 p.m. closing some nights, but was changed to a uniform 8 p.m. for the whole week). And the Studios' hours also reduced by one hour on a few nights. Epcot's always the same, and so is AK. The EMHs, morning and night, were unchanged.
wvdisneyfamily
Well-Known Member
I honestly don't know if I could ever stay off property and be happy even if EMH cuts are drastic. I love the WL and POR.
My list of reasons to stay on property
1. I love the WL! :kiss: (I guess this one is all theming.)
2. 24/7 Magic
3. EMH
4. DDP
5. free transportation
6. Mousekeepers (If anyone sees Priscilla at the WL, tell her she is fabulous!)
The first time I went, we stayed off property. It was only a one day trip from Daytona Beach so on property wouldn't have really made sense. It is depressing to leave the property gates. One of my favorite things about the WL is staying inside the MK gates.
PhotoDave219
Well-Known Member
Park Hours, Week of January 6, 2003:
1/6
MK 9a–7p
EF 9a–7p
EW 11a–9p
MGM 9a–7p
AK 9a–5p
BB Closed
TL 10a–5p
1/7
MK 9a–7p
EF 9a–7p
EW 11a–9p
MGM 9a–7p
AK 9a–5p
BB Closed
TL 10a–5p
1/8
MK 9a–7p
EF 9a–7p
EW 11a–9p
MGM 9a–7p
AK 9a–5p
BB Closed
TL 10a–5p
1/9
MK 9a–6:30p
EF 9a–7p
EW 11a–9p
MGM 9a–7p
AK 9a–5p
BB Closed
TL 10a–5p
1/10
MK 9a–7p
EF 9a–7p
EW 11a–9p
MGM 9a–7p
AK 9a–5p
BB Closed
TL 10a–5p
1/11
MK 9a–7p
EF 9a–7p
EW 11a–9p
MGM 9a–7p
AK 9a–5p
BB Closed
TL 10a–5p
1/6
MK 9a–7p
EF 9a–7p
EW 11a–9p
MGM 9a–7p
AK 9a–5p
BB Closed
TL 10a–5p
1/7
MK 9a–7p
EF 9a–7p
EW 11a–9p
MGM 9a–7p
AK 9a–5p
BB Closed
TL 10a–5p
1/8
MK 9a–7p
EF 9a–7p
EW 11a–9p
MGM 9a–7p
AK 9a–5p
BB Closed
TL 10a–5p
1/9
MK 9a–6:30p
EF 9a–7p
EW 11a–9p
MGM 9a–7p
AK 9a–5p
BB Closed
TL 10a–5p
1/10
MK 9a–7p
EF 9a–7p
EW 11a–9p
MGM 9a–7p
AK 9a–5p
BB Closed
TL 10a–5p
1/11
MK 9a–7p
EF 9a–7p
EW 11a–9p
MGM 9a–7p
AK 9a–5p
BB Closed
TL 10a–5p
Hours at MK around MLK weekend have been cut - my wife said they initially were 12a-1a closing depending on the night (Friday vs. Saturday), and now it's 9 and 10pm. Now granted, I don't mind, because there's little chance we'd be at the parks that late (or even at a park on Saturday since we're making that our chill-out-and-swim/relax/shop day).
What I find interesting is that you can't book many rooms online (I know the Poly and both PO resorts were full, based on our attempts to book rooms) and DVC is pretty much booked that weekend (We couldn't get an additional room for another family that's joining us at BWV), plus it's a 3-day weekend for many, yet they are reducing hours? What am I missing?
What I find interesting is that you can't book many rooms online (I know the Poly and both PO resorts were full, based on our attempts to book rooms) and DVC is pretty much booked that weekend (We couldn't get an additional room for another family that's joining us at BWV), plus it's a 3-day weekend for many, yet they are reducing hours? What am I missing?
Timmay
Well-Known Member
As I said, the hours are no different than what they were in January 08 (other than the EMH nights at Epcot)...and if I were to pull out my info from 2006 and 2004 I would be willing to bet 2009 is right in line with those years as well.
There has been no "slashing" of 2009 hours.
Chape19714
Well-Known Member
I think many people are making a false association between 2 facts 1-Short park hours and 2-other resort cutbacks. There is no relation between the two.
As mentioned before, it's no differant than any other year. Jan/Feb are slow times for the parks.
Two Other important things:
Disney is posting thier park hours on the website much farther in advance than in previous years. Those who say they've seen the hours cut back when they check the site should remember that this has likely happened in the past, but you never saw it because hours were not released by this time yet. WDW used to only post hours for the current month and the following month.
2nd- to those who are stating things about EMH, please remember as well that EMH did go away once (around 01, I think), and people still stayed at hotels. It's also worth noting that evening EMH are a relitively new thing to the parks, Disney could just change EMH to be in the mornings only like it used to be. People still stayed at the resorts. Be thankful that evening EMH isn't a seasonal event either (as it was when they tested the idea a few years back), then the parks would just close early in the time of year in question. Before EMH Disney could still fill resorts, and if EMH (mornings, evenings, or both) were to go away, hotels would still book. EMH is a BONUS, not a requirement, much like Magical Express, which is also new, and while it may be a deciding factor for many people, it is not the sole reason for staying on property. Most people (meaning many of those outside these boards who don't have an extensive knowledge of Disney), will either want to stay on property or not, and EMH+Magical Express are just extra "magic" they find out about while booking or sometimes later.
Sorry to ramble...
As mentioned before, it's no differant than any other year. Jan/Feb are slow times for the parks.
Two Other important things:
Disney is posting thier park hours on the website much farther in advance than in previous years. Those who say they've seen the hours cut back when they check the site should remember that this has likely happened in the past, but you never saw it because hours were not released by this time yet. WDW used to only post hours for the current month and the following month.
2nd- to those who are stating things about EMH, please remember as well that EMH did go away once (around 01, I think), and people still stayed at hotels. It's also worth noting that evening EMH are a relitively new thing to the parks, Disney could just change EMH to be in the mornings only like it used to be. People still stayed at the resorts. Be thankful that evening EMH isn't a seasonal event either (as it was when they tested the idea a few years back), then the parks would just close early in the time of year in question. Before EMH Disney could still fill resorts, and if EMH (mornings, evenings, or both) were to go away, hotels would still book. EMH is a BONUS, not a requirement, much like Magical Express, which is also new, and while it may be a deciding factor for many people, it is not the sole reason for staying on property. Most people (meaning many of those outside these boards who don't have an extensive knowledge of Disney), will either want to stay on property or not, and EMH+Magical Express are just extra "magic" they find out about while booking or sometimes later.
Sorry to ramble...
WDW1974
Well-Known Member
Actually, there are.
When times are tough, Disney cuts back in every way it possibly can. Labor is a huge cost and Disney can save tremendously (even for the pathetic wages it pays most CMs) by trimming hours a week off operating schedules
It's no different than any other year EXCEPT that there are cuts. From no 11 p.m. and midnight closings on MLK weekend and President's week at MK ... to Epcot getting 8 p.m. closings on Fridays ... to no 10 p.m. closings at Studios in February and March.
I wish I had schedules in front of me that I could scan in and PROVE to people that no while these changes aren't as drastic as say EC going from regular midnight closings in summer to 9 p.m., these are still significant.
That's (mostly) incorrect.
For years WDW has been putting hours up for up to six (or more) months in advance. Indeed, the website had hours up through July 2009 until all hours after April were pulled a few weeks ago. The only time that Disney went two months with operating schedules online was in the 2001-02 time period after the terrorist attacks.
FWIW, Disney used to SEND APers operating calendars in the mail (hard copy as we're talking 80s and early 90s here) that went six months out and they never changed them except on some of the busiest days when they'd ADD an hour.
EMH isn't new at all. It started in the early 90s as 'early entry' and it ran that way until the 9/11 attacks when Disney stopped the program. It was reinstated in 2003 with the new name Extra Magic Hours and a year later they began offering them at night as well.
And while EMH's are a nice perq for staying at a Disney resort (or Swan, Dolphin, Hilton), they don't exactly make up for the wholesale slashing of hours that began in the 1990s as a cost-saving tool and are once again being used that way.
I should also state for the record that I don't have any issue with Disney doing this IF booking AND attendance are way down come 2009. That's simply smart business and they can't be faulted for that.
But closing The Park Formerly Known as The Disney-MGM Studios over Thanksgiving week at 8 p.m. when crowds are clearly there and resort load levels are healthy is another story ... it's a premptive type of deal to save now and that shortchanges current guests.
Just some thoughts ...
Chape19714
Well-Known Member
^While I see what you are saying, I still stand by what I said before.
I believe this entire subject is an overreaction. Past hours have been posted above, and show that this year is really not much different.
When I say EMH EVENING is a new thing, it really is. You even said that. 2004 was only 4 years ago. That's new...REALLY NEW in Disney terms. The resort is 37 years old!
Which we are looking at simular economic times! The economy is down, and things may start to really be simular to that time period.
The company is much different than it used to be, the huge resort growth during the 90s and early 00s, put so much more on property. If these other things weren't around, the way Disney adjusts things for tough times would be FAR different. We can't look at things as they were in the 90s, because the resort has changed too much. We can learn more from the time frame of 2001-Present to see how things may happen. This may seem a contridiction to the above about EMH, but it really plays along well, because EMH was added when a resort similar to the one today was in operation, after the slump of 01-02. Evening EMH is very new, and may be something to let go if things take a turn for the worst.
I believe this entire subject is an overreaction. Past hours have been posted above, and show that this year is really not much different.
When I say EMH EVENING is a new thing, it really is. You even said that. 2004 was only 4 years ago. That's new...REALLY NEW in Disney terms. The resort is 37 years old!
Which we are looking at simular economic times! The economy is down, and things may start to really be simular to that time period.
The company is much different than it used to be, the huge resort growth during the 90s and early 00s, put so much more on property. If these other things weren't around, the way Disney adjusts things for tough times would be FAR different. We can't look at things as they were in the 90s, because the resort has changed too much. We can learn more from the time frame of 2001-Present to see how things may happen. This may seem a contridiction to the above about EMH, but it really plays along well, because EMH was added when a resort similar to the one today was in operation, after the slump of 01-02. Evening EMH is very new, and may be something to let go if things take a turn for the worst.
mousefan1972
Well-Known Member
In 2007 we were at Disney Dec. 19-27. Disney's Hollywood Studios closed at 10:30 most, if not all, nights during our trip. This year, according to the calendar on disneyworld.com, DHS is closing every night in December at 8 p.m. (except New Year's Eve) How is that not a cutback? Touringplans.com has crowd levels at 9 beginning Dec. 23rd, and DHS is closing at 8? :shrug:
CleveRocks
Active Member
And as I said, they changed the hours listed on their website some time in the past month or 2. I checked the hours ... I entered them onto a chart ... I double-checked them ... I had them listed correctly ... and then they changed.
I never used the word "slashed." I said "trimmed." I'm a very precise person, especially with numbers and with vacation info. I'm certain I transcribed the numbers correctly when I first made my chart. Hence, I am certain that Disney trimmed the hours, as I noted in the other post, some time after they originally posted the hours on their website.
DisneyMusician2
Well-Known Member
I wonder if the 'insiders' are keeping some info from the GP. I think Disney is in more dire travel straits than people have been led to believe. I'm not sure, but this sounds more like Disney is planning for the worst, and perhaps in retrospect, we will say that this was the right move for the company.
touringplans.com uses historical information to ESTIMATE crowd levels. Disney has ACTUAL hard information to evaluate and determine crowd levels.
DisneyMusician2
Well-Known Member
Touringplans.com estimates are so close to real numbers that I would trust them hands-down every time. But you may see a smaller crowd at Christmas this year.
It like I said before, I feel like upper management may know something we don't about these attendance figures.
mousefan1972
Well-Known Member
If it means smaller crowds this Christmas, that would be fine with me. If it means we'll be packed in like sardines with tens of thousands of our closest friends, all trying to view the Osbourne Lights before park closing at 8 p.m., that would not be so fine. :lol:
DisneyGigi
Well-Known Member
Where do you stay offiste? Because we use to stay offsite and to get a decent hotel we were saving nothing when taking into consideration that the parking is free if we stay onsite since we drive our own car.
I like staying onsite for the "Magic" we actually don't use the Extra Magic Hours that often but it is nice to know that it is there if we want to. I would not stay offsite again now that we are used to staying on property.
