Why are the park hours so short?

D

DTale

Active Member
Original Poster
I'll be going to WDW from April 22 to April 27, and I'm getting nervous since the park hours are extremely skimpy.

http://media.disneywebcontent.com/S.../pdf/ParkHours/WDW_Operating_Calendar_apr.pdf

When I went two years ago it wasn't event the week after easter (which this year it will be) and everyone park I went to was open until midnight or later! Is there a chance the hours will change in the future? I need to know by October 25 so I can make my dining reservations, and whichever park is open the latest effects my decision. I don't want to be one of those annoying people who makes a reservation every night of there stay and then cancels them when they finally find out the park hours.
 
JohnD

JohnD

Well-Known Member
My guess is that Easter is April 20, so much longer hours leading up to Easter. That's also a block out period for Florida Resident passes. Your trip is just after Easter, so they're probably cutting back on hours for the post-Easter season if only to give Disney cast members a much needed break.

I would make ADRs based on known park hours now. There are also plenty of good restaurants outside the parks too at the resorts.
 
D

DTale

Active Member
Original Poster
JohnD said:
My guess is that Easter is April 20, so much longer hours leading up to Easter. That's also a block out period for Florida Resident passes. Your trip is just after Easter, so they're probably cutting back on hours for the post-Easter season if only to give Disney cast members a much needed break.

I would make ADRs based on known park hours now. There are also plenty of good restaurants outside the parks too at the resorts.
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The thing is, even the hours for the week leading up to Easter are shorter than usual. And last year, the week following Easter (parallel to when I'm going now), the Magic Kingdom was open from 7 AM - 1 AM every single day!

I was hoping I'd have the same deal this year, but now I'm disappointed.
 
JohnD

JohnD

Well-Known Member
DTale said:
The thing is, even the hours for the week leading up to Easter are shorter than usual. And last year, the week following Easter (parallel to when I'm going now), the Magic Kingdom was open from 7 AM - 1 AM every single day!

I was hoping I'd have the same deal this year, but now I'm disappointed.
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Well, I went two weeks ago and the hours look comparable. In some cases your hours are better than mine. MK goes to 10 imstead of 9. AK to 7 instead of 5 (gets darker later in Spring). The offset for you appears to be earlier closing a for Epcot and HS. Epcot closes every night at 9. Right now Epcot has the same hours except it closes Fridays at 10. HS closes every night for you at 8. Keep in mind these are the regular hours.

Check the schedule for EMH, although sometimes the thinking is you want to avoid parks with evening EMH--all resort guests show up. You can make morning EMH work to your advantage if you're willing to get there at EMH opening and tackle the popular rides.
 
D

DTale

Active Member
Original Poster
JohnD said:
Well, I went two weeks ago and the hours look comparable. In some cases your hours are better than mine. MK goes to 10 imstead of 9. AK to 7 instead of 5 (gets darker later in Spring). The offset for you appears to be earlier closing a for Epcot and HS. Epcot closes every night at 9. Right now Epcot has the same hours except it closes Fridays at 10. HS closes every night for you at 8. Keep in mind these are the regular hours.

Check the schedule for EMH, although sometimes the thinking is you want to avoid parks with evening EMH--all resort guests show up. You can make morning EMH work to your advantage if you're willing to get there at EMH opening and tackle the popular rides.
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While that is what I would do on a typical trip, this is a Band Trip, so we only have one "full day" without interruptions. One day is spent in universal also, and two others have a performance smack-dab in the middle of the day. We usually would just stay at the parks extremely late and we were able to do everything, but now I'm not sure if the trip is even worth the money if 2 out of the three Disney days if I'll only get minimal hours at the park.
 
JohnD

JohnD

Well-Known Member
DTale said:
While that is what I would do on a typical trip, this is a Band Trip, so we only have one "full day" without interruptions. One day is spent in universal also, and two others have a performance smack-dab in the middle of the day. We usually would just stay at the parks extremely late and we were able to do everything, but now I'm not sure if the trip is even worth the money if 2 out of the three Disney days if I'll only get minimal hours at the park.
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Is your band staying at a Disney resort? Maybe evening EMH work better for you. The best answer I can give is to plan your schedule based on known posted park hours. Good luck!
 
D

DTale

Active Member
Original Poster
JohnD said:
Is your band staying at a Disney resort? Maybe evening EMH work better for you. The best answer I can give is to plan your schedule based on known posted park hours. Good luck!
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Yes, Pop Century.

Thank you, I guess I'll have to hope for changes!
 
mrerk

mrerk

Premium Member
DTale said:
I'll be going to WDW from April 22 to April 27, and I'm getting nervous since the park hours are extremely skimpy.

http://media.disneywebcontent.com/S.../pdf/ParkHours/WDW_Operating_Calendar_apr.pdf

When I went two years ago it wasn't event the week after easter (which this year it will be) and everyone park I went to was open until midnight or later! Is there a chance the hours will change in the future? I need to know by October 25 so I can make my dining reservations, and whichever park is open the latest effects my decision. I don't want to be one of those annoying people who makes a reservation every night of there stay and then cancels them when they finally find out the park hours.
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Unfortunately, that is how you have to play the game now. All you can do is plan with the info you have now and adjust as the hours get updated.

I do find it odd that the hours aren't later for that week. Typically the week before and the week after Easter are extended. I would guess the hours will get extended at some point. That week is also a school vacation week up here.
 
mattdenine

mattdenine

Well-Known Member
mrerk said:
Unfortunately, that is how you have to play the game now. All you can do is plan with the info you have now and adjust as the hours get updated.

I do find it odd that the hours aren't later for that week. Typically the week before and the week after Easter are extended. I would guess the hours will get extended at some point. That week is also a school vacation week up here.
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I'm also going that week did not know there was a school vacation that week thanks for the heads up.
 
luv

luv

Well-Known Member
Make your ADRs using what is posted now. It isn't annoying and people looking for last-minute reservations always appreciate a cancellation at Chef Mickey's or the Garden Grill. :) Disney knows there will be cancellations, too. They figure that into the reservations system. I forget what it is called, but there is a name for it. An F&B guy explained it to me in a bar once. :)

They may change the hours later. They've been known to do that. :)
 
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disneygirl1

disneygirl1

Well-Known Member
Its funny, I thought the same thing when we were there in Jume this year. I feel like every night parks were closing at 9p, 10 at the lastest. And evening EMH seem to be non existant anymore. I remember years past when I was in MK till 2am!
 

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