Dinning reservations and Park hours

[Frogglet]

In 15 days we will be at our 180 day mark and able to make dining reservations. And I have heard that the park hours are not released until 6 months in advance. So how am I supposed to plan which reservation to pick on which day? We want to get a couple character meals, with Akershus being one of them. And possibly a couple sit down meals. How is this usually done?

First time in 17 years and first time with kids and I want to get it as right as possible

 

[sxeensweet]

The hours will be out for your trip near your 180 day mark. In the next 2 weeks they will be there. Now do note hours can and will change the closer to your trip. They get extended usually several times by the time your trip gets here so keep that in mind.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

And I have heard that the park hours are not released until 6 months in advance. So how am I supposed to plan which reservation to pick on which day?

Other than in exceptional circumstances Park Hours are released BEFORE the ADR 180 day point.

You can search on this site for HISTORIC park hours which will give you a rough guide to future hours. As @sxeensweet states, the hours are always subject to change right up to the day of your visit

 

[Rob562]

Also note that even if they change the park hours closer to your trip, it'll always be to *extend* park hours. They won't reduce them below what they first publish.

-Rob

 

[Schneewittchen]

As others have said, the park hours will be pretty close to what you should expect by the 180 day mark. It sounds like you will be traveling around Spring Break/Easter, so worst case scenario, the hours get extended by an hour or so here and there.

Anyway, we go to WDW with the kids (DS6 and DD4) every year around Easter. I have a method, but one caveat, we are park commandos and we stay in our motorhome at Ft. Wilderness.

On park days we eat oatmeal in the motorhome or grab quick service breakfast while in the park. And we arrive at the park at rope drop. And do rides all morning.

On park days for lunch, we eat a quick service meal before 11:30 am. The exception is Epcot. We will get a lunch reservation for 11:30 at a restaurant there.

On park days for dinner, we always do a table service or character meal. Crystal Palace at MK and Akershus at Epcot. Usually very close to our normal dinner time at home - something between 6:30 - 7:30.

So don't worry about park hours. Sit down breakfasts aren't worth it if you're in the park, it just eats into your ride time. Har har har.

 

[andy773]

Also note that even if they change the park hours closer to your trip, it'll always be to *extend* park hours. They won't reduce them below what they first publish.

-Rob

They DO sometimes reduce hours. I'm going October 5th through the 10th. For Thursday, October 6, the first published hours for Hollywood Studios had the park closing at 7:30 pm. Sometime this summer, they changed that to a 6:00 pm closing. Evidently there is a private event there that night.

It didn't affect me, but there were some people who had ADR's who were upset. I can't remember if it was here or another board that there was a whole thread about it. Disney called them to offer them an earlier ADR if I recall.

 

[Frogglet]

Thanks! Yes, we will be there spring break (first week of April) hubby is a Teacher so getting other time off is difficult. I think our sit down meals will be mostly lunches. This is my reasoning, we are west coasters so mornings will be really early for the littles (2 & 7) and if everything melts down after lunch I don't feel guilty about leaving a park early, I am hoping this is the first of many trips so if I am totally wrong we will be back Good to hear the hours generally get extended not reduced.