EPCOT hours....Why the different times?

[DisneyMedic]

I have a question that I can not answer. Why are there two different operating times for Epcot??

Future World opens two hours before WS and Closes Two hours before the rest of the park? Why??

The late opening time makes sence but why the earlier closing time onf 7:00pm. I do not get it...


Anyone in the know understand or know why they list these two different times?? Seems the whole park should open and close together with the exception of extra magical hours....

 

[Captain Hank]

I have a question that I can not answer. Why are there two different operating times for Epcot??

Future World opens two hours before WS and Closes Two hours before the rest of the park? Why??

The late opening time makes sence but why the earlier closing time onf 7:00pm. I do not get it...


Anyone in the know understand or know why they list these two different times?? Seems the whole park should open and close together with the exception of extra magical hours....

I suppose the reason WS opens later is that it doesn't have any major E-ticket draw, unlike FW, which has M:S, TT, and Soarin'. Therefore, traffic in WS in the early morning is probably very light, not enough to justify the added expense of the many, many CM's required to operate WS.

As for why most of FW closes early--beats me. Probably because most guests are drawn to the WS lagoon to get ready for Illuminations. This probably reduces guest flow down to an absolute trickle, except for the most popular FW pavilions (which tend to remain open until WS closes).

 

[Pioneer Hall]

Since almost everyone enters the park from the front of Future World, they all head to Future World attractions when they get there. If World Showcase was open when the park opened, it would be a ghost town anyway. The transition comes as the evening comes and people start looking for dinner and a spot for illuminations. This now leaves Future World less crowded and allows the less popular attractions to close. They are all money saving ideas, that really do make a lot of sense. No reason to open World Showcase at 9 when no one is going to be there (it would take you until 9:30 practically to walk to parts of it anyway).

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Its definitely a cost / wages / staffing thing

 

[UKMickeyFan]

Disney prpbably close FW at 7 to encurage everyone to head in the WS. Most people stay for the fireworks and WS is over flowing with shops and restaurants so you are more likely to spend more money if these are the only areas open than if the whole park were open.

 

[Robfasto]

It all comes down to 1 thing....

The bottom line...

Just as you have seasonal attractions and attractions that have different operating hours from the parks they are in. Personally this is about the only thing the ruins the magic for me, what is more un-magical than walking up to an attraction that you would like to see and find that it doesn't open for another 2 hours or has closed 2 hours before.

 

[Edeyore]

Personally, (and I know I am a little older than some of you), but I really
like World Showcase and would think they could open it, at least, an
hour earlier than they do. I would love to stop in France for a coffee
and croissant, or go through some of the stores when it isn't wall to wall
people. They should experiment with the times a little more.
Future World closing down makes a bit more sense, but you will notice
that even after the park is supposedly closed, Mouse Gears is usually still
open and doing a rather brisk business.