Amazed and Disappointed

[JerseyJanice]

I agree with you. Going in the summer used to mean later nights and being able to enjoy time out of the baking sun. With shortened hours, it looks like we'll be doing RD every day.

The trip when I have to do rope drop every day to feel like I got my money's worth out of my park ticket will be the last Disney vacation I take.

 

[Ava L]

To me, it's a bigger issue that they're apparently using a tiered system that labels this time as "peak" but not reflecting that. If June and July are truly less busy and need less operating hours to be cost effective, of course I understand that. Less hours means less CM salaries, less electricity/AC costs, less food costs, etc. However, it seems that they are charging peak season prices and not operating under peak season hours, which rubs me the wrong way. Hopefully next year's pricing will reflect the shorter hours or longer hours will be reflective of the higher cost.

 

[Planogirl]

We do try to make rope drop some days but then I need a rest during the afternoon. I'm a night owl too and a quick nap is nice before enjoying the much cooler parks in the evening. I love Universal but I always saw their shorter hours as a disadvantage.

 

[starstruck93]

We were just in WDW in the first week of June. My older DD was especially disappointed in the hours. She loves spending late nights at EMH, especially at MK. Closing down parks is one of her main Disney joys. Sure, AK was open until 1:00 am on weekdays, but it was two rides (one of which younger DD is too short for), and the wait times were insane. If we'd had EMH at MK, we would have been able to ride a number of attractions. Instead, we watched the drum show in Pandora three times. At the very end of the night, we hopped in line and did the River Journey, while the older kids did FoP. Luckily, they opened EE late on the weekends, so DD and friend were able to ride it 12 times in row. That was their idea of a great time. Pandora is beautiful at night, but you can only look at the scenery for so long. Kids want to, you know, DO stuff. And having only one ride with 60+ minute waits available to younger DD made her decidedly less than enthusiastic about going back. We could have gone back for additional nights at Pandora, but we ended up going back to swim and then relax in the room. Us at theme parks at night=us spending money. Us in the pool=$0 for Disney.

For me, longer nighttime hours are crucial. I am extremely fair and I burn badly. Reapplying sunscreen every hour and baking in the heat and humidity is misery to me. Being out in the parks after dark is so much more enjoyable. I sent an email to Disney last year regarding July 3rd hours, as the original calendar had a 10:00 pm close. The hours ended up being until 1:00, and 3:00 am with EMH. We stayed until the last ride closed, and it was fantastic. I'm not saying that my email made them change their minds, but the more feedback they get, the more inclined they may be to make changes.

We've had APs the past two years. We own DVC. We love Disney. But when they make a change that has a negative impact on my family's vacations, I'm going to send them feedback. I don't think that makes me whiny or entitled, and I don't think the others who've expressed their displeasure about these changes are whiny either.

I can't thank you enough for this post or your feedback to Disney! We're also DVC owners and annual passholders; I agree with everything you said!

 

[poppinspenguins]

Here is the problem: People like the late hours mostly because the parks empty out, and you can ride a lot without having to wait a lot. Disney dislikes the late hours because the parks empty out, and a relatively empty park doesn't make enough money for keeping the parks open to be worthwhile to them.

Being able ride Everest 12 times in a row sounds great to me too! But to Disney it most likely sounds like that section of the park is not busy enough to warrant the money needed to keep it open.

I don't think it is all about being totally empty. Sometimes later is just a better fit when you factor in the heat, adrs, etc.

We went in summer 2011 (last time,in summer, we prefer spring or fall) and the mk was open til 3. It was still pretty crowded at midnight and gradually went down, but our bus was still jam packed at 2 am.

Do I think they are "punishing" us? No.
Do I think they are trying to maximize profit at the expense of a relatively easy way of improving customer satisfaction? Yes.

I don't think for a minute they were losing money. On those extended hours not every ride is running, very few character meets if any, very limited food and shopping.

In my opinion they were probably making money, but they wanted a bigger return. IMO, in business sometimes it is better to have a lower profit at some times to maximize guest or customer satisfaction. A little can go a long way.

Just like the retail example. Stores probably don't have a huge profit staying open crazy hours at Christmas. But the brand loyalty you create and positive word of mouth may be worth it.

I know I gushed to my friends about that trip. It was before my kids came along and so many of my friend's couldn't understand why we loved Disney as adults. I went on and on about how Disney can be awesome at night. I was definitely talking them up. Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to do that as often lately.

 

[JungleCruiseFan]

I just looked at Cedar Points operating hours and almost all of July they are open 10am-11pm weekdays and 10am-12am weekends. No reason whatsoever that Cedar Point should be open later than the Magic Kingdom

As others have pointed out it's not just total operating hours, it's that the Florida heat and sun makes being in the parks at night much more enjoyable and the parks, especially the Magic Kingdom look amazing at night!
I like to go on the rides both during the day and at night at the Magic Kingdom. At night the whole dynamic of the outdoor rides change.

 

[squirrel]

All I can say is stop by Guest Relations and complain about the hours. They won't change them unless enough people voice their opinion.

 

[JungleCruiseFan]

All I can say is stop by Guest Relations and complain about the hours. They won't change them unless enough people voice their opinion.

I will do that. We have to go to guest relations to activate our annual passes when we get there.
Anyone know of any email addresses I could voice my opinion to that someone might actually read and pass it along? Our trip starts August 14th, would like to let them know before that as well
Thanks

 

[kathy884]

I just looked at Cedar Points operating hours and almost all of July they are open 10am-11pm weekdays and 10am-12am weekends. No reason whatsoever that Cedar Point should be open later than the Magic Kingdom

As others have pointed out it's not just total operating hours, it's that the Florida heat and sun makes being in the parks at night much more enjoyable and the parks, especially the Magic Kingdom look amazing at night!
I like to go on the rides both during the day and at night at the Magic Kingdom. At night the whole dynamic of the outdoor rides change.

I wondered how people survived Florida parks in the summer and kept going during that season and finally from this thread understand the morning, rest / pool middle of the day, evening strategy. Pretty smart. I can understand why if this is what you have been doing and loved that the shorter hours would be disappointing.

Cedar Point is really seasonal. Disney has been trying really hard to even out crowds over 12 mos. Ticket pricing (tiered), resort pricing (tiered), etc. are all designed to encourage people to go at what used to be slower times vs. traditionally crowded times. Maybe they are succeeding in that and that is contributing to the change in summer hours many have alluded too. People certainly post a lot about previously slow times not being that slow anymore.

As for staffing and staff hours, I've heard from kids in the Disney College Program say that they get the worst hours, the ones the full time and part timers really don't want. Those I have talked to feel like they are a resource for Disney to try to give fewer of these horrible shifts to full and part timers. My nephew was in the program and it was pretty shocking sometimes how late he would work and they how early his next shift would be and how little sleep he would get, especially figuring in Disney transportation too (He got a car down there to get more sleep). He and others in the program used to joke that they were Disney's slave labor, yet all actually seemed to enjoy the experience. Then again, it was a limited time gig for them.

 

[Karin1984]

My nephew was in the program and it was pretty shocking sometimes how late he would work and they how early his next shift would be and how little sleep he would get, especially figuring in Disney transportation too (He got a car down there to get more sleep). He and others in the program used to joke that they were Disney's slave labor, yet all actually seemed to enjoy the experience. Then again, it was a limited time gig for them.

Completely unrelated, but in my country there are laws regulating how much hours need to be between shifts, 11 hours in NL. If your shift ends at midnight, your next shift cannot start before 11 the next day, unless of course you chose to work it. And even longer periods if it was a night shift. Doesn't the US have laws regarding rest between shifts?

 

[GreatLakes]

All I can say is stop by Guest Relations and complain about the hours. They won't change them unless enough people voice their opinion.

I agree with this but the reality is unless people cancel their trips or stop booking future trips due to park hours and are vocal about why a complaint won't really do much. It is like complaining about a meal after you cleaned your plate. It couldn't have been that bad, you ate it all. Similarly you can't be all that upset about the hours, you did book your trip and spend thousands of dollars to come here anyway.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Completely unrelated, but in my country there are laws regulating how much hours need to be between shifts, 11 hours in NL. If your shift ends at midnight, your next shift cannot start before 11 the next day, unless of course you chose to work it. And even longer periods if it was a night shift. Doesn't the US have laws regarding rest between shifts?

Not sure this is relevant, as different people can work those different shifts.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

All I can say is stop by Guest Relations and complain about the hours. They won't change them unless enough people voice their opinion.

I think it's never bad to give feedback, but I think Disney will change hours when/if Income>Expense per their forecasts given crowd sizes expected, etc.

I think that's how a business should be run, so if this is what's behind reduced hours I get it -- I still don't love it (!!), but I get it.

ETA: I'd have more of a problem with it if as some suggested it's a way to funnel everyone into Pandora's 2 rides... I doubt that's it... hope that's not it... but we'll never know!

Did I mention that despite all of this I STILL HATE looking at my Aug trip calendar and seeing 10pm closures...??

 

[squirrel]

I think it's never bad to give feedback, but I think Disney will change hours when/if Income>Expense per their forecasts given crowd sizes expected, etc.

I think that's how a business should be run, so if this is what's behind reduced hours I get it -- I still don't love it (!!), but I get it.

ETA: I'd have more of a problem with it if as some suggested it's a way to funnel everyone into Pandora's 2 rides... I doubt that's it... hope that's not it... but we'll never know!

Did I mention that despite all of this I STILL HATE looking at my Aug trip calendar and seeing 10pm closures...??

I must be arriving after you as most of my trip has the parks closing at 9pm, with AK at 9:30pm. It is disappointing after planning for a year and not knowing the hours until closer to the trip. If someone has an e-mail address and posts it I would send one off letting Disney know how disappointed I am in the park hours this year.

 

[maltdizzy]

Completely unrelated, but in my country there are laws regulating how much hours need to be between shifts, 11 hours in NL. If your shift ends at midnight, your next shift cannot start before 11 the next day, unless of course you chose to work it. And even longer periods if it was a night shift. Doesn't the US have laws regarding rest between shifts?

No.

With the exception of relatively recent requirements for rest time in the trucking industry, there are almost no Federal laws on scheduling employees. An employer can require an employee to work a double/triple shift or indefinite weekly overtime, irregardless of turnaround time. Overtime pay is only guaranteed to hourly and low-salary employees. The general American sentiment has always been, "if you don't like your job, you are free to go elsewhere."

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I just looked at Cedar Points operating hours and almost all of July they are open 10am-11pm weekdays and 10am-12am weekends. No reason whatsoever that Cedar Point should be open later than the Magic Kingdom

As others have pointed out it's not just total operating hours, it's that the Florida heat and sun makes being in the parks at night much more enjoyable and the parks, especially the Magic Kingdom look amazing at night!
I like to go on the rides both during the day and at night at the Magic Kingdom. At night the whole dynamic of the outdoor rides change.

I get your point but is it really fair to compare a seasonal place to an annual place?

Here in my area we've got Worlds of Fun/Oceans of Fun, which is owned and operated by the same company as Cedar Point.

If you're looking at crowd distribution in our ares the ONLY time we can go is April/May through Halloween usually. If our weather allowed it there would be people who would choose to wait when it's hot hot hot out and instead go when it's cooler. I mean this is the first year that Worlds of Fun will be open in the colder months for the Winterfest.

Worlds of Fun is ONLY open on the weekends this season from April til mid-May when it opens daily. AND in mid-August Worlds of Fun stops being open during the weekday and only open on the weekend-schools are back in session. Worlds of Fun closes October 29th reopens November 24th and closes again December 30th. Again this is the first year they are doing this. It's meant for Christmas stuff and at least in our area take away some business from Silver Dollar City. Oceans of Fun closes September 4th.

So I mean really you're getting daily access to Worlds of Fun this season from May 17th-August 11th. That is 87 days. Does that really compare apples to apples with WDW that is open daily 365 days a year?

Just my opinion here. I get the underlaying argument though.

ETA: For Winterfest. the park is only open at night (either 5pm-10pm or 5pm-11pm). Plus it's only open at night daily for 2 weeks total the other days it's just the weekend it is open not during the week (some parts of the time period it isn't even open at all).

 

[TheDisneyNurse]

Today's my last day of a week long trip. Just a travel day, really. I thought the AK, Epcot, and HS hours were appropriate. After the 4th, AK closed at 10pm instead of 11pm. Last night we did AK from 8:30-10 and got to ride EE 3 times, and Dinosaur twice. Really fun! We tried twice during the trip with EMH for Pandora, but it's just a mad house. A humid, miserable mad house. Twice we just looked around and left. It's beautiful, but virtually noting to do. Way too crowded.

We wished MK was open later! It was nice on the 4th, open to 1am. On the 5th they extended to 11pm. The 10pm closing, with the fireworks at 9pm, was way too early. We used to like staying til' midnight and letting the crowds die before walking our usual 10 mile journey to Pop's bus stop. But we still had a great time and did a lot of stuff. YMMV

 

[poppinspenguins]

I get your point but is it really fair to compare a seasonal place to an annual place?

Here in my area we've got Worlds of Fun/Oceans of Fun, which is owned and operated by the same company as Cedar Point.

If you're looking at crowd distribution in our ares the ONLY time we can go is April/May through Halloween usually. If our weather allowed it there would be people who would choose to wait when it's hot hot hot out and instead go when it's cooler. I mean this is the first year that Worlds of Fun will be open in the colder months for the Winterfest.

Worlds of Fun is ONLY open on the weekends this season from April til mid-May when it opens daily. AND in mid-August Worlds of Fun stops being open during the weekday and only open on the weekend-schools are back in session. Worlds of Fun closes October 29th reopens November 24th and closes again December 30th. Again this is the first year they are doing this. It's meant for Christmas stuff and at least in our area take away some business from Silver Dollar City. Oceans of Fun closes September 4th.

So I mean really you're getting daily access to Worlds of Fun this season from May 17th-August 11th. That is 87 days. Does that really compare apples to apples with WDW that is open daily 365 days a year?

Just my opinion here. I get the underlaying argument though.

ETA: For Winterfest. the park is only open at night (either 5pm-10pm or 5pm-11pm). Plus it's only open at night daily for 2 weeks total the other days it's just the weekend it is open not during the week (some parts of the time period it isn't even open at all).

I think it is a valid comparison. Theme park to theme park.

Yes, one is seasonal, but it is also regional. The other is year round and international. There is no reason the busiest park in the world can't even match a regional park with closing time

 

[mom2rtk]

I think it is a. Valid comparison. Theme park theme park.

Yes, one is seasonal, but it is also regional. The other is year round and international. There is no reason the busiest park in the world can't even match a regional park with closing time

I agree. If anything, I expect more out of Disney as the industry leader. What a local park does in the off season shouldn't make a difference in this summer hours comparison.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I think it is a. Valid comparison. Theme park theme park.

Yes, one is seasonal, but it is also regional. The other is year round and international. There is no reason the busiest park in the world can't even match a regional park with closing time

That's fine if you think it is one but I really don't.

Technically speaking Cedar Point and Worlds of Fun are amusement parks not theme parks like WDW but that could be considered semantics for this context.

As far as your second comment...you sorta missed the whole point of my comment. The underlying part of your argument in that it's July=summer=longer hrs I agreed with. It was the whole seasonal/annual comparison that I didn't.