Aargh! Disney Changes Park Hours and Messes up My Plans!

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

This happened to us on our May trip, we had an 8:05 CRT reservation. We kept it because I had a pre-park BOG breakfast on our other day, and I knew we would have plenty of time to get everything we wanted done even missing the first hour. We were let in about 20 minutes before 8am. Plenty of time. The benefit of this opening over a true pre-park ADR was that the photopass photographers were all out and we got empty pictures from them. Very nice. Plenty of time to check in to CRT. We met Cinderella and were seated before 8, and were out the door before 8:45. Crowds on the ground were still very light.

Wow. That is tempting - to get those photos. We plan to get MM, and it is so hard to get non-packed castle photos. Hm. I will have to think about this. Getting rides in is important, but hey, this will be our first trip with APs, so we will have several trips to do rides. Might be a nice experience for Mom to walk up Main Street slowly with fewer crowds and to get a family shot with the castle.

 

[sharona]

Identical trip. 12/10-12/15. We thought we were early enough in December to avoid the 8am openings, but last year it was pretty much the whole month.

Ugh, thanks for your response. I was thinking the same thing but I guess in the end, the extra hour of touring before the masses wake up is a good thing. We have one pre RD ADR at Tusker House that I'm assuming will be ok. My main reason for wanting one at MK is that my nephew has Aspergers and sometimes experiences anxiety in crowds so no way can he handle the RD stampede in MK. We'll have to either do the breakfast for the uncrowded 15 minute early entry then just start our day at 8:45 or so and be a bit behind the RD'rs but still miles ahead of those who arrive after 9 or, we can arrive about 8:20 when most of the RD'rs are already on a ride and still be ahead of most of the crowds but save the cost of the breakfast...

We'll probably cancel the 8:10 res we made for CP and then if BOG opens for breakfast in December, we'll try for one of those at 8am because my SIL loves BaTB and would love to see the inside of BOG.

 

[itchin2go]

I was thinking the same thing but I guess in the end, the extra hour of touring before the masses wake up is a good thing.

This was exactly my thought when it happened to me. And the extra hour in the morning DID turn out to be a good thing. It's just inconvenient to change plans, and a little hard to make that turn with your mindset.

Does it seem to anyone that this is happening more often - MK hours beginning about 8:00? Or am I just hearing about it more because of (a) BOG breakfast or (b) wider knowledge of the value (whatever it is) of the pre-opening breakfast, and thus more complaints?

 

[sharona]

Well, if they're going to open at 8 I guess I'll hope for a 7am EMH to really make it work!

 

[jtowntoflorida]

What week in December was this? We're going 12/10 - 12/15 and are considering an 8am on our MK day... tia

They changed all the openings in December for the entire month to 8:00 a.m. And let me tell you...touring at 8:00 is golden. When you're standing around at 9:30 having done "everything" (and some of that multiple times) it's a nice feeling. Especially when a wave of people floods the MK at 10:30!

 

[AngiTN]

This was exactly my thought when it happened to me. And the extra hour in the morning DID turn out to be a good thing. It's just inconvenient to change plans, and a little hard to make that turn with your mindset.

Does it seem to anyone that this is happening more often - MK hours beginning about 8:00? Or am I just hearing about it more because of (a) BOG breakfast or (b) wider knowledge of the value (whatever it is) of the pre-opening breakfast, and thus more complaints?

It's happening more often. Crowds are up, period. As such Disney changes park hours, both opening (typically only at MK) and closing, at various parks, often. I have never sat down and studied the dates they change to see what the crowds are to figure out what criteria they look for to decide when to change hours

Well, if they're going to open at 8 I guess I'll hope for a 7am EMH to really make it work!

Problem is they do not move ADR options back. ADR at MK start at 8:00, no matter if it opens at 9:00 or if it gets moved to 8:00.

 

[sharona]

...


Problem is they do not move ADR options back. ADR at MK start at 8:00, no matter if it opens at 9:00 or if it gets moved to 8:00.

Yes, I realize that thanks! I was referring to prime park touring time. Last time we went to a 7am EMH it was a great 3.5 hours before it got even close to crowded. My previous visit to MK was a 9am open and even with the pre park ADR, we only got about 90 minutes of rides before everything was busy.

 

[Mikie]

Lots of good specific tips here about what options work depending on if you want empty main street or short ride lines. I had this same thing happen to me on my Oct trip and it is a strange feeling to complain about your plans getting jacked up because the parks offered MORE hours. But, with ADRs, fastpasses, crowd calendars and touring plans, it's quite a puzzle to put together and it stinks to have to start over. Best of luck!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

What are the chances they will change back to a 9 am opening before our trip?

Zero and zip.

MK changing to an 8 AM opening was not widespread before last year. Now it's pretty common so that if you are going at any kind of high-traffic or special event time, you need to expect that the opening time will be pushed back.

 

[AngiTN]

Yes, I realize that thanks! I was referring to prime park touring time. Last time we went to a 7am EMH it was a great 3.5 hours before it got even close to crowded. My previous visit to MK was a 9am open and even with the pre park ADR, we only got about 90 minutes of rides before everything was busy.

Urgh, sorry, my brain read EMH as ADR

 

[Aggieamy5]

I didn't realize Disney added so many EMH for MK last December!
Does anyone know if they did this last November? We are going Nov. 15th to 22nd (week before Thanksgiving) and have an 8 am ADR at CP on the 17th. I am hoping they do NOT add EMH that day. Just curious as it seems like Disney is adding morning EMHs like crazy lately!

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

I didn't realize Disney added so many EMH for MK last December!
Does anyone know if they did this last November? We are going Nov. 15th to 22nd (week before Thanksgiving) and have an 8 am ADR at CP on the 17th. I am hoping they do NOT add EMH that day. Just curious as it seems like Disney is adding morning EMHs like crazy lately!

It isn't EMHs that we are talking about. It is 8 a.m. opening for the general public. That is what has been changed for the months of June and July. Disney didn't add any EMHs. They just changed the opening for the general public from 9 a.m. to 8 a.m.

 

[Aggieamy5]

It isn't EMHs that we are talking about. It is 8 a.m. opening for the general public. That is what has been changed for the months of June and July. Disney didn't add any EMHs. They just changed the opening for the general public from 9 a.m. to 8 a.m.

Sorry, I didn't realize the 8 am opening was for everyone, but regardless, my question is still the same:
Did Disney change to 8 am openings a lot last November, specifically the week before Thanksgiving? We have an 8 am ADR on a Tuesday (Nov. 17th) and am hoping the hrs do not change. I wonder if they ever change the openings of MK on Christmas party nights?

 

[Wdw1015]

I know that MK changes to earlier hours quite often and that Epcot hardly ever does but what about HS and AK? We have 8:00 reservations for both parks and I really really don't want them to change, especially HS. Jedi Training is a top priority!

 

[AngiTN]

I know that MK changes to earlier hours quite often and that Epcot hardly ever does but what about HS and AK? We have 8:00 reservations for both parks and I really really don't want them to change, especially HS. Jedi Training is a top priority!

No, they rarely do. But HS (at least, maybe the others) opens 15-20 min early 99% of the time. It makes it hard to finish an 8 AM ADR before the crowds start pouring in

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Sorry, I didn't realize the 8 am opening was for everyone, but regardless, my question is still the same:
Did Disney change to 8 am openings a lot last November, specifically the week before Thanksgiving? We have an 8 am ADR on a Tuesday (Nov. 17th) and am hoping the hrs do not change. I wonder if they ever change the openings of MK on Christmas party nights?

I believe the change to regular 8 a.m. openings (not EMH) started the week of Thanksgiving last year, but I could be wrong.

 

[HeyIt'sMe]

We have an 8:00am BOG ADR on Tue Aug 18. As of now the MK opens at 9:00am that day.
I looked at MK hours (on the Disney website) for Tuesdays from Jun 23-Aug 18 to see when the park opens. Not that it's going to help me or anything! I know things can change......

Tue Jun 23: 8:00am
Tue Jun 30: 9:00am
Tue Jul 07: 9:00am
Tue Jul 14: 8:00am
Tue Jul 21: 8:00am
Tue Jul 28: 9:00am
Tue Aug 04: 9:00am
Tue Aug 11: 9:00am
Tue Aug 18: 9:00am