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Future World always closing at 7pm. Why?

A

ag2000

New Member
Original Poster
Now I may be wrong, but it seems like ever since my first visit in 1995 future world has ALWAYS closed at 7pm or earlier. Is there any reson behind this? My only thought is there arnt enough people there at night for them to keep it open.
 
Legacy

Legacy

Well-Known Member
A big reason for it is because it helps funnel people towards the back of the park for Illuminations. It also forces last minute eaters to eat at the slightly more expensive World Showcase resturaunts.
 
DDuckFan130

DDuckFan130

Well-Known Member
Legacy said:
A big reason for it is because it helps funnel people towards the back of the park for Illuminations. It also forces last minute eaters to eat at the slightly more expensive World Showcase resturaunts.
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That's pretty much it :lol:

Although it's not even that many things in Future World that close at 7pm. Major attractions like Soarin', Test Track, Mission Space, and even Spaceship Earth stay open until 9pm/9:30pm. Others, like Innoventions and JIYI do close at 7pm.
 
Computer Magic

Computer Magic

Well-Known Member
DDuckFan130 said:
That's pretty much it :lol:

Although it's not even that many things in Future World that close at 7pm. Major attractions like Soarin', Test Track, Mission Space, and even Spaceship Earth stay open until 9pm/9:30pm. Others, like Innoventions and JIYI do close at 7pm.
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I did not know this......
 
CrashNet

CrashNet

Well-Known Member
Universe of Energy, Living with the Land, Innoventions, Honey I Shrunk the Audience, and Imagination all close at 7:00 because honestly, the attendance shows fewer people visit those places later in the evening. Its a financial decision to save money on running costs, maintenance, and payroll. However, on big nights, like tomorrow night for example, everything will stay open until 1:00 AM.
 
Horizons1

Horizons1

Well-Known Member
Originally though, FW was open from 9 A.M. to 9 P.M.

This was everything, not just a few select attractions. I don't remember when they started making it 9 A.M. to 7 P.M., I guess sometime after 9/11 maybe?
 
disney9752

disney9752

Member
Horizons1 said:
Originally though, FW was open from 9 A.M. to 9 P.M.

This was everything, not just a few select attractions. I don't remember when they started making it 9 A.M. to 7 P.M., I guess sometime after 9/11 maybe?
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this is one of the left overs of the "eisner era" :( . it was one of his bright ideas, it was 93 or 94 maybe, when euro disney was still having problems & wdw suffered cutbacks to make up for problems in paris.:brick:
 
Horizons1

Horizons1

Well-Known Member
disney9752 said:
this is one of the left overs of the "eisner era" :( . it was one of his bright ideas, it was 93 or 94 maybe, when euro disney was still having problems & wdw suffered cutbacks to make up for problems in paris.:brick:
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Ya sure? It couldn't have been that long ago because I remember it being reported online. Either that or my memory is going early...
 
disney9752

disney9752

Member
Horizons1 said:
Ya sure? It couldn't have been that long ago because I remember it being reported online. Either that or my memory is going early...
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it's been at least 10 years, i moved back to orlando in early 96, a friend was working at living seas then, i emember them closing at 7 then, just the coral reef was open later, it seems all of fw except space ship earth & may innoventions closed at 7 then. so its been at least 10 years now.
 
Horizons1

Horizons1

Well-Known Member
Found this in the past Epcot news, this is what I was thinking of...

26 March 2003: Changes at Epcot due to reduced attendance and subsequent cost reductions.

The International Gateway Stroller shop is now only open from 8am - 10 am, and then reopens at 8:30pm - 10:30pm. During the day, stroller, ECV and wheelchair operations will be ran from the World Traveller Shop.

Future World's hours are now 9am -6pm, however Test Track, Spaceship Earth, and Honey I shrunk the Audience will remain open until 9pm.

All greeters have been removed from the front of attractions.

I still swear that hours for FW were till 9 P.M. before this occured. Looks like I've got some digging to do...
 
v_misses_epcot

v_misses_epcot

Member
cac2889 said:
Universe of Energy, Living with the Land, Innoventions, Honey I Shrunk the Audience, and Imagination all close at 7:00 because honestly, the attendance shows fewer people visit those places later in the evening. Its a financial decision to save money on running costs, maintenance, and payroll. However, on big nights, like tomorrow night for example, everything will stay open until 1:00 AM.
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Not only that, a lot of us at innoventions are part of crowd control for illuminations, character connections and plus we're the main central location for when other cast members pick up extra magic hour shifts to wrist band. At least that's the case for us innoventions cast.
 
The Mom

The Mom

Moderator
Premium Member
An "oldie but goodie" chiming in. :lol:

I started going to Epcot (EPCOT) in 1982, when it first opened.

The whole park used to open from either 9AM/10AM - 10PM. The Daughter and I have eaten breakfast at the American Adventure with "minuteman" Mickey because no one else was around for him to sit with. This was just run of the mill counter service - totally spontaneous. I have many photos of The daughter as a toddler and preschooler sitting alone on a bench with different characters dressed in costumes from different countries. No meet and greets back then.

And that may have been why it changed to opening at 11AM. WS was almost empty until 11 anyways, so why pay to staff it?

We would also go to FW in the evening, because, again, things were totally uncrowded, as everyone was over in WS eating dinner and finding spots for Illuminations.

This was long before 9-11.

BTW, I am not going to go through the trouble to locate and post those photos (I'm terrible at doing it, and had to scan and email my photo to Steve so he could make an avatar) so please don't waste your time "calling" me on it.

Those who know me would not question their existance. Perhaps some day I can actually sit down and scan them all, as I know many of you would get a kick out of seeing vintage photos of Epcot. :lol:
 

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