Walt Disney World Park Hours cut starting September 8 2020

[MickeyLuv'r]

That's my thinking as well. We were staying club level at Portofino, so moving us anywhere else is a cost downgrade. I suppose I will need to call to see what's up. My preference is for RPR, but they seem to always book up the fastest and didn't have an availability when we booked pre-covid. I suspect that is a bit different now.

I've actually seen HR rooms going higher than Portofino in the past, pre-covid. RPR's CL tends to book relatively early because the price was low, the food was the best (in the sense of being the most substantial offerings). Though I've also seen HR fill very quickly, because it is closest to the parks, and it has a funky/fun vibe.

In these times, I've really been wondering what CL is like. I'm guessing more packaged/wrapped items....or maybe staff gets food/drinks for everyone? I'm actually really curious to know what CL looks like right now....

 

[JohnD]

Except perhaps when approaching the toll booth to pay/have your band/card scanned at the parks, or perhaps in some cases at the resorts.

At least, I gather WDW still charges for parking and/or requires a band scan (or card scan) to park.

Sometimes I put on my mask at drive thru sometimes I don’t. Either way whether WDW or drive thru the person at the drive up point is wearing a mask

 

[JoeCamel]

Sometimes I put on my mask at drive thru sometimes I don’t. Either way whether WDW or drive thru the person at the drive up point is wearing a mask

Your mask is for them, their mask is for you. Wear it when you are less than 6 feet in face to face transactions.

 

[Disstevefan1]

I don't think it's a mistake at all. I got an ADR for 7:15 for 50s Prime Time with a 7pm close of HS. That's in Echo Lake. All the attractions are outside that hub area. Easy to rope off all the access points and keep guests in the hub area for dining.

With all that stinks in the current situation, I think the opportunity to stroll the empty park after dining even if it’s only to exit is special.

 

[Lilofan]

With all that stinks in the current situation, I think the opportunity to stroll the empty park after dining even if it’s only to exit is special.

You can stroll right to the front of the park observed and followed by cast members to ensure the family departs.

 

[goofy5380]

I think it's a rip-off to close early starting 9/8. That will be my first day there of my trip, not happy about it at all. The magic is more pronounced at NIGHT......
I paid for Park Hopper tickets back in February 2020 which I can't use so I'm screwed for that and now they are cutting back the hours ??? really come on... NOT HAPPY
pay staff who want to work the hours.....no catering to the paying customers anymore...??? more concerned with staff ??
a little backwards to me...this has gone on long enough.......really considering my future trips if ANY.........
covid is here to stay...........learn to deal with it or lose...............I'm very upset about this..........

 

[monothingie]

I think it's a rip-off to close early starting 9/8. That will be my first day there of my trip, not happy about it at all. The magic is more pronounced at NIGHT......
I paid for Park Hopper tickets back in February 2020 which I can't use so I'm screwed for that and now they are cutting back the hours ??? really come on... NOT HAPPY
pay staff who want to work the hours.....no catering to the paying customers anymore...??? more concerned with staff ??
a little backwards to me...this has gone on long enough.......really considering my future trips if ANY.........
covid is here to stay...........learn to deal with it or lose...............I'm very upset about this..........

Disney has offered to extend the life of all unused tickets, they are also waiving all cancelation and rebooking fees, and the majority of airlines are waiving change fees through the end of 2020.

Sounds like you would be happier rescheduling to a future date. I've done so twice already this year and it couldn't have been easier and more straightforward.

 

[giantgolfer]

I think it's a rip-off to close early starting 9/8. That will be my first day there of my trip, not happy about it at all. The magic is more pronounced at NIGHT......
I paid for Park Hopper tickets back in February 2020 which I can't use so I'm screwed for that and now they are cutting back the hours ??? really come on... NOT HAPPY
pay staff who want to work the hours.....no catering to the paying customers anymore...??? more concerned with staff ??
a little backwards to me...this has gone on long enough.......really considering my future trips if ANY.........
covid is here to stay...........learn to deal with it or lose...............I'm very upset about this..........

There’s literally zero monetary penalty for cancelling and rebooking to a later date. If you don’t want to take advantage of that, no one else to blame but yourself. We moved our November 2020 trip to June/July 2021. Didn’t cost me a penny.

 

[ParentsOf4]

Disney has offered to extend the life of all unused tickets, they are also waiving all cancelation and rebooking fees, and the majority of airlines are waiving change fees through the end of 2020.

Sounds like you would be happier rescheduling to a future date. I've done so twice already this year and it couldn't have been easier and more straightforward.

The problem is that vacationers have already sunk cost into those Disney World tickets. There will be many who can't afford to pay for a vacation this year while also having money invested in WDW for a vacation that might occur next year, if and when the situation improves.

If Disney was being truly magnanimous, they also would offer to refund tickets purchased for dates in 2020.

Disney would then do everything in its power to earn back that business in 2021.

Annual Pass Holders were given a choice to take it or leave it. Other ticket holders were not.

 

[nickys]

The problem is that vacationers have already sunk cost into those Disney World tickets. There will be many who can't afford to pay for a vacation this year while also having money invested in WDW for a vacation that might occur next year, if and when the situation improves.

If Disney was being truly magnanimous, they also would offer to refund tickets purchased for dates in 2020.

Disney would then do everything in its power to earn back that business in 2021.

Annual Pass Holders were given a choice to take it or leave it. Other ticket holders were not.

They have refunded some people. You have to be persistent and insist that you will not be returning. Escalate it as far as necessary.

 

[nickys]

I think it's a rip-off to close early starting 9/8. That will be my first day there of my trip, not happy about it at all. The magic is more pronounced at NIGHT......
I paid for Park Hopper tickets back in February 2020 which I can't use so I'm screwed for that and now they are cutting back the hours ??? really come on... NOT HAPPY
pay staff who want to work the hours.....no catering to the paying customers anymore...??? more concerned with staff ??
a little backwards to me...this has gone on long enough.......really considering my future trips if ANY.........
covid is here to stay...........learn to deal with it or lose...............I'm very upset about this..........

They will refund you the park hopper cost, you can phone or go to Guest Services when you get there.

But I agree with the others, reschedule for another time.

 

[Herdman]

Getting back to the topic at hand (again there is another thread for COVID discussion), there is one silver lining to early park closures: you could dine at resort or DS restaurants you always wanted to try but the lure of staying in the parks in the evening kept you from doing it. My 60 days just opened up today. I made an ADR at Kona after MK closes, Sanaa after AK closes, and on my second day at HS, my plans are to spend the evening in DS where I have an ADR for The Edison.

We're planning to do the same thing when our ADR window opens on Sunday. Dinners at Homecomin', House of Blues, Raglan Road planned in the evenings, as well as a chance to go to Polite Pig, which is a place we've always wanted to go, but couldn't really work it in. It concerns me a little that DS is going to be packed, and the rules don't seem to be followed quite as well there. We'll have to cope with that I'm sure.

 

[JohnD]

We're planning to do the same thing when our ADR window opens on Sunday. Dinners at Homecomin', House of Blues, Raglan Road planned in the evenings, as well as a chance to go to Polite Pig, which is a place we've always wanted to go, but couldn't really work it in. It concerns me a little that DS is going to be packed, and the rules don't seem to be followed quite as well there. We'll have to cope with that I'm sure.

Part of the reason, which I'm sure you've figured out, with parks closing early, there is no reason to make a dinner ADR in the parks. I'm guessing that you're arriving at the parks by bus. So when you leave the park, you're taking the bus to DS which explains all of your ADRs there. So take your family and multiply by the thousands and you get large crowds at DS.

 

[Herdman]

Not sure if it’s just a mistake or not, but it looks like they are still taking reservations for in park dining for times after the Park is closed. It’s so great to exit the restaurant into an empty park; like the park remained open just for you.

Just keep an eye on your times. I've read that Disney may alter or cancel ones that are made after park closing, and be preapred to take a lyft or uber back to your resort. I haven't seen anything that says park transportation will run past an hour after park closing.

 

[marni1971]

Not sure if it’s just a mistake or not, but it looks like they are still taking reservations for in park dining for times after the Park is closed. It’s so great to exit the restaurant into an empty park; like the park remained open just for you.

Just keep an eye on your times. I've read that Disney may alter or cancel ones that are made after park closing, and be preapred to take a lyft or uber back to your resort. I haven't seen anything that says park transportation will run past an hour after park closing.

Indeed. I’d keep an eye on ADRs that are beyond the new closing time.

 

[JohnD]

Just keep an eye on your times. I've read that Disney may alter or cancel ones that are made after park closing, and be preapred to take a lyft or uber back to your resort. I haven't seen anything that says park transportation will run past an hour after park closing.

I saw on another blog that this applies only to four restaurants at this time: Be Our Guest, Skipper Canteen, 50s Prime Time, and Sci Fi Dine-In.

 

[Herdman]

Part of the reason, which I'm sure you've figured out, with parks closing early, there is no reason to make a dinner ADR in the parks. I'm guessing that you're arriving at the parks by bus. So when you leave the park, you're taking the bus to DS which explains all of your ADRs there. So take your family and multiply by the thousands and you get large crowds at DS.

No doubt, which is a little strange I think by the way Disney has put all of this together. You would think they would try to keep that from happening by making dining in the parks more available and keeping the crowds down some at DS, but that doesn't seem to be the case. We are prepared to take Lyft or Uber rides as alternate transportation if the bus service gets too backed up.

 

[Herdman]

I saw on another blog that this applies only to four restaurants at this time: Be Our Guest, Skipper Canteen, 50s Prime Time, and Sci Fi Dine-In.

Sci-fi seems to be very hard to get from the test runs I've done. It looks like all the places that are "kid fun" are being eaten up by parents because of almost no character dining being available. Topolino Terrace breakfast is another, even T-Rex has very little availability. I'm guessing the more "adult" restaurants won't have much issue in getting ADR's.

 

[JohnD]

No doubt, which is a little strange I think by the way Disney has put all of this together. You would think they would try to keep that from happening by making dining in the parks more available and keeping the crowds down some at DS, but that doesn't seem to be the case. We are prepared to take Lyft or Uber rides as alternate transportation if the bus service gets too backed up.

Yeah. Depending on park, I'll be mostly driving, or riding Skyliner so my ADRs are sometimes near the parks but sometimes at DS. So for me:

• EP: Via Napoli, 5:30pm. Drive straight to park before check in at resort.
• HS (1st visit): 50s Prime Time Dinner at 7:15. No breakfast. Want to get there early enough for virtual queue for ROTR. Skyliner from Pop.
• MK: GF Cafe Breakfast, Wilderness Cafe Dinner. Will probably drive. Park at TTC. Monorail to GF for breakfast. Monorail to MK. Monorail back to TTC after park close. Drive to WL.
• AK: Sanaa Dinner. Drive to AK. Drive to Sanaa after leaving park. Beaches & Cream dessert. Drive to Yacht Club.
• HS (2nd Visit) : Ale & Compass Breakfast, The Edison Dinner. Looks like this is a driving day.

 

[JohnD]

Sci-fi seems to be very hard to get from the test runs I've done. It looks like all the places that are "kid fun" are being eaten up by parents because of almost no character dining being available. Topolino Terrace breakfast is another, even T-Rex has very little availability. I'm guessing the more "adult" restaurants won't have much issue in getting ADR's.

I've seen plenty of nighttime availability for 50s Prime Time. But as has already been discussed that may be an issue of getting transportation when finished at restaurant. I may even re-think my ADR there. Which explains the availability.