Anyone else notice park hours are not what they used to be?

Sharkreef11

Sharkreef11

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I was checking into the upcoming park hours for our trip in October and was a little disappointed looking at the Extra Magic hours. They are starting to fade a bit and the latest any park is open is until midnight. I checked September and August and they weren't really any better. I remember just a year ago around that time, Magic Kingdom had hours until 1, 2, and even 3am. When we go at the end of October, I don't even see any late night hours at Magic Kingdom. I know they have the Halloween Party but last year they still had some late night hours too when we went. Maybe I'm just crazy..

What's the deal?? Did anyone else notice this?
 
wm49rs

wm49rs

A naughty bit o' crumpet
Premium Member
I'm not sure the crowd levels in September or October warrant keeping the parks open that late.....:shrug:
 
Sharkreef11

Sharkreef11

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
wm49rs said:
I'm not sure the crowd levels in September or October warrant keeping the parks open that late.....:shrug:
Click to expand...

I know what you mean. That's a big draw for us why we are going then with lower crowd levels, but I am going off of what they were when we went last October and parks were open much later. Like I mentioned, Magic Kingdom had a few 1 and 2am hours and Hollywood Studios had some Midnight hours.
 
Sans Souci

Sans Souci

Well-Known Member
Yes, I noticed last year as I was planning our ADRs.There was one fewer EEMH at Epcot than there was the previous year (2010) for the same week.
 
MichWolv

MichWolv

Born Modest. Wore Off.
Premium Member
I've gone in October about every other year for the past decade, usually the week of Columbus Day, and hours have been roughly consistent. Epcot 9-9, of course. DAK (8 or)9-5(or 6). DHS 9-7(or 8 or 9, if MNSSHP is running at MK). MK 9-9 during the week if no MNNSHP, 9-7 if MNSSHP, and 9-11(or 12) on weekends. EMH takes Epcot to midnight once a week, MK to 1 or 2 am once a week, DHS to 11 or midnight once a week, and, when they had them, DAK to 8 once a week.

Looks like the hours posted so far for that week this coming October are a tad lighter than that at MK, with weekends closing at 9 instead of being later, and DAK calls for 5 pm closing every day and no more evening EMH, but there are no 7 pm closings for DHS, and Epcot is open until 10 on weekends instead of 9 (for F&W crowds). Not that big a change, really, except for the loss of EMH at DAK, which hasn't necessarily been picked up at another park.

I would bet, though, that you'll see one or two days extended at MK before all is said and done. Columbus Day weekend usually turns out busy, and they update things.
 
MissM

MissM

Well-Known Member
Park hours for months far from now ALWAYS start off conservative. As they get closer and Disney has a better sense for actual crowd patterns, they often extend. It's why you'll regularly see announcements about hour extensions here on the board.

From Disney's point of view, it makes much more sense to plan for less and add than find themselves with wildly long hours of operations and no crowds to warrant it.
 
Polydweller

Polydweller

Well-Known Member
MissM said:
Park hours for months far from now ALWAYS start off conservative. As they get closer and Disney has a better sense for actual crowd patterns, they often extend. It's why you'll regularly see announcements about hour extensions here on the board.

From Disney's point of view, it makes much more sense to plan for less and add than find themselves with wildly long hours of operations and no crowds to warrant it.
Click to expand...

Exactly. I've looked every year for the hours for our week in October and every year at this time they look short. But by the time we get there at least some have been extended. I'd guarantee that our first Saturday MK which is now showing 10pm will be midnight by October. It always has worked that way.
 
Sharkreef11

Sharkreef11

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
MissM said:
Park hours for months far from now ALWAYS start off conservative. As they get closer and Disney has a better sense for actual crowd patterns, they often extend. It's why you'll regularly see announcements about hour extensions here on the board.

From Disney's point of view, it makes much more sense to plan for less and add than find themselves with wildly long hours of operations and no crowds to warrant it.
Click to expand...

That's fair. I can understand that. I suppose that would make sense to gauge crowd levels. Looking back I just remembered them being later as soon as they were posted, so I was a little concerned when they first posted them and they were quieter right off the bat. I just hope that they add some hours for our trip!
 
bethymouse

bethymouse

Well-Known Member
EMH do seem rather slim in nature!

When we go 9/24-9/28 this year, EPCOT has 1 midnight closing and 1 8am opening. For F&W it closes @10pm. HS only has 1 11pm closing and 1 8am opening! AK only has 1 early opening!:eek: MK only has 1 early opening!:mad: MNSSHP is 2 times when we're there so closing @7pm!:cry: Not sure what Disney is thinking w/ free dining, MNSSHP, TofT 10 miler weekend, and beginning of F&W!:veryconfu Hope crowds won't be too heavy!:eek:
 
wdwmagic

wdwmagic

Administrator
Moderator
Premium Member
Sharkreef11 said:
That's fair. I can understand that. I suppose that would make sense to gauge crowd levels. Looking back I just remembered them being later as soon as they were posted, so I was a little concerned when they first posted them and they were quieter right off the bat. I just hope that they add some hours for our trip!
Click to expand...

MissM is right, since they started posting 6 months out they tend to be conservative. They pretty much always modify the hours about a month out.
 
Sharkreef11

Sharkreef11

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
bethymouse said:
and add to that mix EPCOT's 30th celebration on 10/1! So... TT has to be open by then, right?:goodnevil
Click to expand...

I will be bummed if TT isn't open by October. I haven't been on TT since 2009! I will be understanding if it isn't, but doesn't mean I can't be extremely bummed!
 
bethymouse

bethymouse

Well-Known Member
That's it.

wdwfan22 said:
not within the past 10 years unless you are speaking of Extra Magic Hours from Midnight to 3:00 am.
Click to expand...

Yep- that's what I meant. Never done the very late night thing yet because my boys are only 7, but hopefully some day. We didn't like the late night hours @ HS. It was packed! Sometimes EMH are good and sometimes not so good.:goodnevil Sorry if I wasn't clear about 3am being EMH.:o
 
chrissyw14

chrissyw14

Active Member
last year when it got closer to august and September they extended the park hours so it could be just for now.

its a tough situation because you want to go when there are low crowds but i would also love to stay in MK til 3 which only happens during peak season!
 

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom