Shortened EPCOT Hours For May 5th!?

[Ned Brainard]

Just curious but does anyone know why EPCOT is closing at <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1:time Hour="15" Minute="0">3:00 PM</st1:time> on May 5th? I thought it was a mistake at first. Why start the Happiest Celebration on Earth by closing early? <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>

 

[NemoRocks78]

I believe it is for a press event.

 

[Tim G]

I believe it is for a press event.

It IS for the press event...

Greetz!

 

[peter11435]

One of the parks always has an early closing with these type of events. They have to close the park to host the press festivities.

 

[Ned Brainard]

Thank you for the information guys! BTW, not sure what was going on with my first post... Looks like I got a little to excited with the old flubber juice...

 

[Pioneer Hall]

I'm surprised that the event is being hosted at Epcot. I would think that it would be at the MK considering it looks like it will be the center of festivities for the celebration (mainly the castle rehab).

 

[scorp111]

I would speculate that it is being held at Epcot for three reasons:

Soarin

Capacity

Being able to use the World Showcase restaurants to feed the Press Corps

 

[General Grizz]

Keep the park open for guests...

Send the press to DCA to see the SAME experience...

 

[scorp111]

Keep the park open for guests...

Send the press to DCA to see the SAME experience...

Because there are no guests there.... :lol:

I never said I agreed with their plans, especially since I will be down there at that time.

I think I am just going to TL on the 5th....

 

[General Grizz]

Because there are no guests there.... :lol:

I never said I agreed with their plans, especially since I will be down there at that time.

I think I am just going to TL on the 5th....

Tomorrowland?

Typhoon Lagoon?

The Land?

 

[scorp111]

Tomorrowland?

Typhoon Lagoon?

The Land?

Well if I am going to be there starting on April 27th....

I don't think I want to wait a week to visit the 1st or 3rd option..... :lol:

 

[deemarch]

And that's where all of the Happiest Passholders will be!!

I hope I'm there with them!

 

[wdw4ever]

I was there when they had the press event for Mission Space...it wasn't really an issue for us because the staff reminded us many times that they would be closing, and actually, Epcot was NOT crowded at all during the day, so we went there until they closed. It was kind of nice not having to wait in such long lines for the attractions

 

[PlutoLover]

I understood the 50th Celebration material to say that Epcot would be the center of the celebration...I figured it was because of attendance figures...

 

[shakes20]

I was there when they had the press event for Mission Space...it wasn't really an issue for us because the staff reminded us many times that they would be closing, and actually, Epcot was NOT crowded at all during the day, so we went there until they closed. It was kind of nice not having to wait in such long lines for the attractions

Good point! I hadn't thought of it that way... with the park closing early, people will probably stay away in droves! And hey, I can just hop on a boat to Disney Studios in the afternoon and see Fantasmic! that night!
Thanks for the post!

 

[ScrapIron]

I'm surprised that the event is being hosted at Epcot. I would think that it would be at the MK considering it looks like it will be the center of festivities for the celebration (mainly the castle rehab).

You'd think it'd be Disneyland.

Cheers.

 

[MysteryJames]

The press event at Disneyland is May 4th. The park will be closed the whole day to host the press. WDW's is May 5th, the beginning of the celebration. w00t! ^^

 

[Ned Brainard]

I understand the need for a press junket. I do think it is funny that they would choose to celebrate 50 years by closing Disneyland for a full day and closing EPCOT early.
In reality I'm just complaining because I will be there and had planned to go to EPCOT that day. "Getting over it now"

 

[artdude323]

It does kinda seem like an odd choice to do it at Epcot, because they're also doing a Press Preview of the new MGM Stunt Car show that day, so that means making everyone change parks, and probably closing MGM early for that too.

 

[Thrawn]

It does kinda seem like an odd choice to do it at Epcot, because they're also doing a Press Preview of the new MGM Stunt Car show that day, so that means making everyone change parks, and probably closing MGM early for that too.

Bigger open spaces at EPCOT, and Soarin is there, and could you imagine the complaints if they closed MK at 3?