Mk's Park Hours Stink!

[civileng68]

I know there have been posts on this before but Im continuing another one since it's popular.

I notice that the MK is only open until 7:00 late March while im there. I was there the EXACT same time last year and it was open much much later!

I know the times are based on business but that is considered PEAK times.

In my opinion ANY TIME considered PEAK time should be open much later than 7:00 in late March (when it will barely be dark by then!)

I won't get to see SPECTROMAGIC which is my favorite parade!

What's the chances of Disney changing these times on each day early in the morning? Last year upon arriving we noticed the hours on the board were later than posted on the net.

What gives?

 

[pheneix]

There's a moderate chance that the hours may be increased while you are there, but the crux of it all is that Burbank has ordered WDW to cut costs to the bone by cutting hours. This is nothing new, as it has been going on for a few years now. The fact that the Magic Kingdom is closing several hours earlier than it was during the same time frame 4 or even 5 years ago is still going to burn a lot of fans.

 

[Main Street USA]

I'd bet on them, if nothing else, extending the hours over the weekends while you're there.

 

[Superman]

You are very right those hours do stink.. ive started a few threads on this topic, and i couldnt believe how crappy the hours were for a time where they consider peak... I know my hotel rate is being charged for a peak time. so i felt as if im being jipped a bit and feel very rushed having the parks close so early :hammer:

 

[Wckd Queen]

Ive experienced this phenominom as well. One of our trips was in June, 1997 and for the first couple of days that we were there, the park was closing at 7, but the rest of the trip it closed much later. I believe Epcot was open an hour later.

I remember that Easter of 1976 it was open until something like 2am!!

I wonder how they determine "peak". The parks werent any more crowded from off peak to peak in one day during my 1997 trip.

I find that part of the "magic" in WDW is being there after dark. The light parades, the fireworks, the glow from the streetlights that hangs in the air. Its like a whole new world at night, and when it closes early, you miss that.

 

[Superman]

i agree totally it loses so much leaving at 7 o clock.. part of the mystique of disney is its appeal at night.. and i dont consider 7 pm to be night

 

[orangefan15]

I agree that it does suck...but there's not much that can be done about it. What gets me is that you have to pay the same admission price no matter what the park hours...something about that seems a little bothersome.

 

[Nansafan]

Originally posted by civileng68
I know there have been posts on this before but Im continuing another one since it's popular.

I notice that the MK is only open until 7:00 late March while im there. I was there the EXACT same time last year and it was open much much later!

Was it Easter week when you were there last year? Since Easter is a holiday that changes every year this might be the reason last year MK was open later than March of this year.

 

[Tramp]

I remember a time when the MK was open until 1am and the Main Street stores closed at 2am...from mid-June thru August. This was when there was ONLY 1 park, maybe 2 (Epcot).

In a lot of ways, Disney does exactly what grocers have done for years...it doesn't raise the price on ya, it simply reduces the quantity or size and charges ya the same.:lol:

(ah, the good ol days)

 

[Dizknee_Phreek]

i've been done that way with MK park hours too...usually when I got in Oct. i just don't understand why they always mess with MK hours, but the other 3 parks usually have the same hours year-round. (notice i say usually...i'm not there year-round, so i'm not sure if i'm completely accurate on that assumption)

 

[niteobsrvr]

if there were only one park, I am sure they would stay open later. I bet it would be lots of fun hanging out with 75-80,000 people till 2 am just to get up and do the samething again the next day.

The hours are based on experience as well as bookings for the resorts. Just because it is a "peak" period does not necessarily mean that it will be "peak" attendance. Disney has also been conservative in posting their hours too far in advance sine 9/11. The looming war doesnt help matters either.

If you want better park hours, write your congressman asking them to put the IRaq thing to rest one way or the other and get on with warming up the economy.

On a less serious note, the parks have had similar hours during march for the last three years. THis is nothing new. BTW, the only park hours that dont really change are EPCOT. Animal Kingdom, MGM, and MK all adjust hours based on time of year, sundown, and attendance projections.

 

[alrcam]

I,m sure easter was in March last year so that is probably why the parks were open later


57 days to go till trip no 5

 

[Sansaarai]

Originally posted by niteobsrvr


If you want better park hours, write your congressman asking them to put the IRaq thing to rest one way or the other and get on with warming up the economy.

This is one of the most off the wall comments I have heard in a long while.

"Dear Congressman,

Can you put a stop to the war in Iraq because I have a vacation coming up and would like the theme park (Walt Disney World) to be open later for my own pleasure. I really don't care about the hundreds of thousands of American troops risking their lives, I just wnat to have good time.

Thank you.
A Close minded American.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Remember - "the hours are subject to change" - If the parks are busy then you can bet that they will remain open and that the posted hours will change with very little notice.

 

[Tramp]

Last summer, Disney 'ticked off' a LOT of people at MGM when they reduced the park hours from 11pm to 9pm in mid-July. That meant only 1 Fantasmic show per night and they literally turned away 100s of people at the gate. I sat on a bench directly across from the entrance and saw hundreds of disappointed and/or angry people mulling around in total bewilderment. The park was packed at that time of year and CMs told us they were very surprised when the new park hours were ordered so early in the summer. I'm sure there were very valid reasons for doing that but I just wished those in charge could've sat where I sat and saw the look on the kid's faces when they couldn't get to see the show.

I don't recall such inconsistency in park hours as there is now in the heart of the summer. Maybe I just didn't notice it before. Last summer, the MK closed at 10 pm on certain nights (usually the E-ride nights), 11 pm on others, and 12 on weekend nights.

 

[EchoOfOphelia]

MK Hours

I remember as a kid that we would get there the minute they opened in the morning and leave real late at night, I remember them closing anywhere from 10-12, it was great. You could actually do MK in one day instead of the 1 and a half it now usually takes me.

You're right though about the hotel charging you a peak rate but not getting peak hours. I'd be p.o.'d too!

 

[niteobsrvr]

Originally posted by Sansaarai
This is one of the most off the wall comments I have heard in a long while.

"Dear Congressman,

Can you put a stop to the war in Iraq because I have a vacation coming up and would like the theme park (Walt Disney World) to be open later for my own pleasure. I really don't care about the hundreds of thousands of American troops risking their lives, I just wnat to have good time.

Thank you.
A Close minded American.

I beleive it is rather unfair to expand upon my comment in such a manner that portrays callousness and selfishness. My point was that one of the major conditions affecting all of our lives in many ways (including Disney park hours) is the direct result of action and/or inaction on the part of our elected officials. It is in the best interests of everyone of us that the issues making headlines in the news reach some kind of conclusion. It is these responsibilities that we place on our elected officials. Therefore, it is our responsibility to make sure our Congressmen understand how we feel about the current state of our lives.

Personally, I don't find Disney park hours to be of utmost importance in relation to everything else going on today. However, it is apparent from this thread, this is a big issue for some people. The great thing about being in this country is the freedom for each us us to choose what is important to us and pursue those things.


As for the comment about our troops, I would like to remind you that we are not only deploying our Servicemen but also those from various countries around the planet. As such, I have the utmost concern for their well being and sincerely hope that we are not leading these soldiers into a very unfortunate situation for the wrong reasons. To each of them or their families who may be reading this, we are each indebted to you for a job well done.

 

[Becky]

Originally posted by Tramp
[

In a lot of ways, Disney does exactly what grocers have done for years...it doesn't raise the price on ya, it simply reduces the quantity or size and charges ya the same.:lol:

Good point Tramp Of course Disney has gone the grocers one, no actually two, better. They have reduced the hours at both ends and raised the prices two to three times a year. Make that three. By closing early they can come up with E-Ride nights and charge you to stay in a park you have already paid to get into

Walt's favorite time of the day at Disneyland was night time.

Hum, make it four:animwink: 1. Reduce hours at both ends. 2. Create E-Ride nights to collect twice for the same day. 3. Rise ticket prices and 4. Replace shows like Hunchback or the Lion King which have dozens of preformers, technicians etc. with rides that require 2-3 operators making $6-7 an hour

All that said, it still beats Six Flags

 

[Superman]

bump

 

[disneyfamily]

I can remember just a few years ago staying in MK until 2am. My wife and I enjoy sitting in the rocking chairs at Tony's Rest. and people watch while everyone is exiting. Don't pay to much attention to the hours posted on the website. If you goto WDW on a Fri.,Sat, or Sun., the almost always stay open later than the posted hours.