Does Disney adjust park hours a couple weeks before?

[Mark Wilson]

Hello, We are going to WDW from Oct 24th to the 30th. When we first booked we looked at the hours, and some of them were fairly short. We finally started planning what days we were going to go to what parks, and some of the parks are open much later then when we originally thought. (Could be wrong, we didn't write the times down, but they certainly seem to be open later!)

Thanks,

Mark

 

[WDW Monorail]

Generally, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom never change their hours once they are set for each season. Magic Kingdom's hours occasionally change same day.

Which park's hours are you most curious about?

 

[SyracuseOrange]

Hello, We are going to WDW from Oct 24th to the 30th. When we first booked we looked at the hours, and some of them were fairly short. We finally started planning what days we were going to go to what parks, and some of the parks are open much later then when we originally thought. (Could be wrong, we didn't write the times down, but they certainly seem to be open later!)

Thanks,

Mark

I noticed this today too. I'm going down early/mid November for the F&W half marathon, and Magic Kingdom's hours were extended one night for a couple hours. Score!

 

[wdwfan22]

Parks hours are often adjusted as the actual date gets closer, especially Magic Kingdom

 

[marni1971]

Often the MK gets extended on the day, much to the dislike of many of those working.

 

[PhilharMagician]

MK's hours change quite often and sometimes will change same day depending on the amount of guests through the gates.
DHS and AK also change quite often from when they are first published approximately 6 months out. Most of the changes happen within a month of the actual date.
Epcot almost never changes hours. The schedule stays fixed with 9:00 PM close all year except for: (I hope my memory is good)

• Black Friday through Christmas they close @ 9:30 PM
• Christmas through 12/30 close @ 10:30 PM
• New Years Eve close @ 1:00 AM
• Weekend nights during Food and Wine they close @ 10:00 PM
• July 4th open until 12:00 midnight

 

[wogwog]

Studios was just extended tonight a little bit ago and they also added a second Fantasmic performance. MK often makes in park announcements late afternoon for extensions that same evening. It is all about scheduling as few labor hours as possible in advance but looking at reality of not getting guests too angry as projections and actual attendance changes to much from plan. That is the good news. But when WDW does extend the hours prepared to be slammed in a huge crowd. So I prefer the shorter hours that indicate smaller crowds personally.

 

[draybook]

They closed an hour early on us last year, which led to a not so pleasant ending to our trip. The hours were the same before we left, and then WHAMO!!

 

[wogwog]

They closed an hour early on us last year, which led to a not so pleasant ending to our trip. The hours were the same before we left, and then WHAMO!!

All about the Benjamins, not the guest

 

[Disvillain63]

Just before our last trip I rechecked the hours and many of the times had changed...extended. I know this because I had my worksheet with times for each day from when they were first posted. So, in answer to your question...Yes, they can be readjusted as you get closer to that time period...all parks.

 

[Hakunamatata]

All about the Benjamins, not the guest

And this will likely happen much more often.

3pm park manager gets a report that shows that 75% of park guests have gotten to experience 75% of park attractions. Attendance is 10% lower than normal. Park closing moved up. Why, because they will be able to track via the new wrist laden technology. Then, should you decide to go to guest services and complain that you didnt get to see anything, with a quick scan of your wrist band they pull up each and every attraction you experienced, each shop you went into, and how much stuff you purchased that day.

 

[myhappyplace]

We are going from the 19th to the 26th and yes, noticed the same hour changes you're speaking of, too.

 

[luv]

Yup, they switch hours a lot.

 

[PhilharMagician]

They closed an hour early on us last year, which led to a not so pleasant ending to our trip. The hours were the same before we left, and then WHAMO!!

Wow, I have not heard of hours being shortened the day of. That really stinks if you had planned your day around the published hours.

 

[jkl2000]

Where's the most up to date place online to check the park hours? I don't mean when on property, I mean maybe a few days before.

 

[wdwmagic]

Where's the most up to date place online to check the park hours? I don't mean when on property, I mean maybe a few days before.

http://www.wdwmagic.com/calendar.htm
We update frequently

 

[jkl2000]

Hello, We are going to WDW from Oct 24th to the 30th. When we first booked we looked at the hours, and some of them were fairly short. We finally started planning what days we were going to go to what parks, and some of the parks are open much later then when we originally thought. (Could be wrong, we didn't write the times down, but they certainly seem to be open later!)

Thanks,

Mark

Wow, thanks for posting this! I just checked the crowd levels and hours again (we're 2 days out and I last checked them maybe a month ago) and they've changed drastically! As far as hours, the changes are good. As far as crowd levels, not so much. Days where the crowd levels were previously close to 1 are now at 4. Dang!

The weird thing about the Touring Plans crowd levels is there are days where the park that's listed as Best Park has higher crowd levels than other parks. Huh?