Hours further cut in March!

[ToTBellHop]

If you thought the original hours were bad, look now...

Several of the days MK was supposed to be open until 8pm have been reduced to a 7pm closing.

All of MGM's late closings have been removed--the park will now be open until 7pm through the 15th, and 7:30pm after.

AK will be open from 9a-5p daily.

The big change is that Blizzard Beach will no longer open March 2, as planned--it will now open March 16.

 

[DMC-12]

Argh!!! I am planning on going in the next week or two

They must be planning on low attendance figures... with the pending war crap... and the economy.....

 

[Walter]

Originally posted by DogsRule!
If you thought the original hours were bad, look now...

Several of the days MK was supposed to be open until 8pm have been reduced to a 7pm closing.

All of MGM's late closings have been removed--the park will now be open until 7pm through the 15th, and 7:30pm after.

AK will be open from 9a-5p daily.

The big change is that Blizzard Beach will no longer open March 2, as planned--it will now open March 16.

:brick: :hurl: :fork: Are just some of my emotions in reaction to this.

 

[jwbeck3]

O MY GOD, I had my heart set on going on Summit Plummet and now I can't b/c it isn't opening March 1. I am sad now

 

[Jerm]

Well BB might not be because of anything other then a rehab taking longer then expected. Alot of the time a rehab can run longer then expected due to something major, so it is better to take care of it and run a lil longer then put it off and have something happen.

J

 

[Superman]

It really doesnt surprise me that they cut the hours further... my one question is why on earth is my credit card bill so high after i booked a trip for mid march and PAID PEAK RATES for parks to close AT 7 thats not right and to tell you the truth im pretty angry about it :fork:

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Originally posted by Superman
It really doesnt surprise me that they cut the hours further... my one question is why on earth is my credit card bill so high after i booked a trip for mid march and PAID PEAK RATES for parks to close AT 7 thats not right and to tell you the truth im pretty angry about it :fork:

Gee, that really sucks. Park hours could change again between now and March - keep checking and lets hope that they increase.

 

[DisneyPhD]

Originally posted by Superman
It really doesnt surprise me that they cut the hours further... my one question is why on earth is my credit card bill so high after i booked a trip for mid march and PAID PEAK RATES for parks to close AT 7 thats not right and to tell you the truth im pretty angry about it :fork:

I agree.

When we started our annual WDW trip in 1996, March was not Peak time (maybee even value session.) I don't mind less hours when you aren't paying as much to stay there, but if it is peak session, you should be getting extended hours (not reduced!!)

I hope this means disney does not antispate large crowds next week and we will have the palce to ourselves!!!!!

:sohappy: (Yea, right!)

 

[DDPGambit]

So this means that every night I my trip I have to go to Epcot or Downtown Disney after 7pm?
I can't do Pleasure Island since the person I'm going with is only 17. At least the previous hours of 8pm weren't that bad. But 7 p.m. is really crummy.
Someone hates me

 

[KathyG/poohbear]

They must have really low attendance for March because they send all the Disney club members via email a special deal. They have it listed on Mousesavers.com.

I can't help but think it's because some people don't want to fly....until they know if and when the war will start. Just my opinion.

 

[Superman]

I dont care if attendance is low thats great but if there is a good amnt of people in the parks and they are closing around 7 each day i think thats a bit unfair to those like myself who paid a great deal of money to enjoy the parks, and 7pm doesnt exactly sound like a fair amount of time to see everything that i intend on visiting... I also agree there is nothing to do after 7 pm.. Im 21 but pleasure island doesnt interest me so much im more of a park junkie!! we can only cross our fingers and hope Disney comes to there senses.. I was told when i booked my trip in DECEMBER that this was peak season which is why i paid peak rates and the parks would close around 9 -10 or so ... This man of steel is not happy

 

[Fantasmic303]

I agree with you guys - not only did we pay PEAK rates, but we also got the "ultimate" park hoppers for our 5 day stay. With the reduced hours, we won't even have time to park hop, and Blizzard Beach is no longer an option either. We might as well have saved ourselves $50 and gotten a regular 5-day.

 

[Jerm]

Originally posted by DDPGambit
I can't do Pleasure Island since the person I'm going with is only 17.

You can so do PI... I have run into so many people that said they didn't go to PI cause of underage people in there group. The last time I remember anyone can go into to all the clubs except BET and Mannequins (which now i think you can get into Mannequins). I have always been a big PI fan and I don't drink at all. I know some people don't like going around all the drinking with young ones and I agree but teenagers would have more fun I think there then at Epcot (which has almost as many drunk people at times;-) )

just 2 cents worth,
J

 

[BRER STITCH]

BOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Justin St]

THE HOURS ARE CRAPPY, EVEN ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE IS OPENED TO 9:00P.M ON EVERY SATURDAY DURING MARCH, AND UNIVERSAL IS PRACTICEY OPENED TO 12 AT NIGHT WITH MARDI GRAS. NOT THAT I BLAME THEM BOTH THE UNIVERSAL PARKS WERE EXTREMELY PACKED DURING THIS PAST PRESIDENT'S DAY HOLIDAY, ALMOST EVERY LINE WAS A HOUR LONG

 

[aj_macack]

I am fumming right now... I've been so excited for like 4 months planning our trip, we get the park hours, so I finally get to figure out what we can do each day... and then the "high and mighty" execs. at disney go and mess it all up... oh there better be some changes with the park hours, and I mean it a good way, or someone is going to get a phone call and "nasty gram"... :fork: I am not pleased about this at all.... UGH.... "breath, breath" Why does disney go and do this, like 10 days before my vacation... ************... by the way I'm not a violent person or one who swears a lot but all he * are choice words I'm thinking of right now.....UGH!!!!!!!:fork:

 

[Brooke]

i wish all the parks were open till atleast nine, because i usually only go after school.

 

[civileng68]

no excuses

Even with all the slamming of Disney about the hours, it always seems that there are those that makes excuses for them.

Many use the: War War War and 9-11. CMON people. I truly don't think that many people avoid going on a family trip because a war may take place. Some may, but not many.

Either way..........my point is this...........for those who make excuses for WDW, there are no excuses. I'm going to WDW for my honeymoon for 15 nights March 22 (which is Peak time). They're planning on closing the parks early yet do you think they're going to not charge peak rates? no way!

They're closing early but we're still paying peak rates for our resort. That's why there's no excuse. If you're going to close the parks early and let it affect us..........reduce the rates.

 

[Superman]

AMEN TO THAT, I AM GOING THE SAME TIME AND BROUGHT UP THE SAME POINTS. THERE IS NO EXCUSES IN MY EYES

 

[niteobsrvr]

I am not going to defend disney because they do not need any defense. Everyday business make decisions based on concrete and not so concrete data that affects our lives. Disney has done nothing more than make these kinds of adjustments.

March is not value season therefore you will not get value prices. In Florida, March is prime time for people to come and visit. The vacation season, if you will, starts a week or so before the Daytona 500 which is direcctly followed by Bike Week in Daytona. Just as the motorcycle enthusiasts begin to leave the area, spring break season kicks in bringing college and highschool students and their parents to Florida. Spring Break continues through the week following Easter Sunday which this year is April 20. That means the Spring break season which is usually compacted into 3 to 4 weeks will extend almost two months. If you notice near Easter Sunday the hours do extend later into the evening.

The net effect of this extended spring break season is the parks will be less busy in march and early April that what would be considered normal. Therefore the hours were adjusted to reflect the fact that a guest will need to spend less time in the parks in order to experience all the rides and attractions. I know many people think this is wrong but you have to keep it in perspective. When purchasing any other form of entertainment you dont get unlimited refills. If you go to a broadway play, your admission prices doesnt entitle you to unlimited performances. You watch the play once and depart.

On the average day at the Magic Kingdom, like the ones they are apparently expecting in March, you can cover a lot of things not just once but twice or more in the 9 hours the park will be open. The best part of course is that after that you can head over to EPCOT, watch an awesome fireworks show and eat popcorn with your family at no additional charge.

That to me doesn't sound like a bad deal at all. However, if you still want longer hours in the park, then I suggest you postpone your Disney trip until mid July. Not only will the hours in the parks be extended but you will also be able to enjoy only part of the attractions they have to offer no more than one time each day with 40 or 50 thousand of your closest friends.