Any guesses as to when (if) Disney will extend park hours for Christmas Week?

[elaine amj]

Making my FP+ for Christmas week tonight. Curious as to what folks here think about Disney extending hours for Christmas week? From what I can tell in the past, MK has opened for EMH at 7am and Holiday Wishes was at 10pm.

When I looked it up, MK still shows park hours of 9am - 1am all Christmas week with morning EMH (so 8am?). I talked to someone who had booked a Wishes FP+ for 9pm who mentioned she would be upset if they changed it to 10pm since her other plans/ADRs were planned for that time in mind. With FP+, I can imagine people would be much more upset to find that the time for something they had booked changed on them. Does this mean Disney is less likely to extend park hours?

I had planned to be there for 7am and not sure if I would be happy or upset about not having to wake up quite that early. Then again, it will cut short my touring time since I had planned to get out of dodge by 10:30am.

 

[Robo]

Any guesses as to when (if) Disney extend park hours for Christmas Week?

I figure within the next 10-15 days.

 

[illinidp]

Last year it was Nov 18.

 

[elaine amj]

I guess this where I learn to "Let It Go"!

One trip they extended AK by 1 hour and that messed me up. I had it stuck in my head that my Boma ressie was "1 hour after park close". Forgot to account for that when they extended park hours and showed up to Boma 1 hour late. Boy was I embarrassed when they pointed out I had missed my ressie! Thank goodness they were able to accommodate us

 

[thebs19]

I didn't realize it was that late. I asked a similar question for Spring Break week in the stickied thread up top here but I'm guessing most don't read that.

Last year we were there the week before Easter and MK had some 7am openings and as late as 3am closures. This year its listed only as 8 am openings and nothing past 1 am. I assume these will be expanded, but it looks like it won't be before the 60 day window? That kind of stinks - in addition to ADRs (which can be worked around) I'd love to be able to plan my MK days for those when the parks open up REALLY early - we did a 7am rope drop last year and it was amazing - very chilly but EMPTY for 3.5 hours during a supposed "10" crowd level day. Got all of tomorrowland and fantasyland done with no FP+ and even got over to BTMRR before a FP+ BOG lunch - great start to our vacation after hearing for weeks about how all we were going to do was be stuck in crowds and on lines.

 

[PEC]

Earlier this month they did some extension to the evenings but not the mornings yet. I too went over Easter one year and in the morning you can get lots done with short waits on almost eveything. It would also add an extra hours of FP+.

 

[Skywise]

I based my ADRs off of last year's schedule and am hoping they conform to that (they don't currently so I'm in the opposite boat as your friend!)

 

[DVCkidsMOM]

...we did a 7am rope drop last year and it was amazing - very chilly but EMPTY for 3.5 hours during a supposed "10" crowd level day...

DH and I have a theory that WDW is "putting all its overtime eggs into one basket" this year to maximize profits. If the park was nearly empty for 3.5 hours, I wouldn't expect a repeat of those extended hours. They also seem to have more extended hours at MK and less at other parks - keeping with the overtime in one area theory.
To some extent, I hope we are wrong; but we also have ADRs and FP+s based on current times. I hope if times change, that somehow those of us with rezzies will be notified in advance so we can shuffle as much as possible around...
Another thing we noticed is that MSEP isn't followed by Celebrate the Magic and fireworks as years before and as dates before Christmas week. We think (fear?) that this inconvenience is intentional to spread out crowds - not everyone will park themselves in one spot near the hub for events as spread out as currently scheduled. We will be among the many who leave after the 9 p.m. fireworks and skipping the show on the castle and MSEP ... if things stay as currently scheduled...
Disclaimer: FWIW, we are just guests who have been to WDW a lot, though never at Christmas. These are only our observations and uninformed opinions as we had discussed them around the dinner table. Take this with as large a grain (or boulder) of salt as you deem appropriate.

 

[js]

Wow! I am headed to MK on a Saturday after Christmas, December 27.
Even though I will be at a 9 pm Victoria and Alberts dinner the night before, I would be up and ready and waiting for RP at 7 am. I can't imagine that others would not take this opportunity to do the same? I will be at BLT and will simply walk. I didn't realize that it will be another few weeks for the opening time to change, if any.

 

[DaisyNY]

Any chance week prior may be included in extended hours? Looking at Dec 14-19 which everyone lists as low to moderate crowd days?

 

[Robo]

Any chance week prior may be included in extended hours? Looking at Dec 14-19 which everyone lists as low to moderate crowd days?

In 2010, MK's regular hours opening time moved to 8AM (from 9AM) on Dec. 18 and ran that way thru Dec. 31.
Daily MK AM EMH (7AM) started about a week later on Dec. 25, and ran that way through Dec. 31.

In 2011, MK's regular hours opening time moved to 8AM (from 9AM) on Dec. 16 and ran that way thru Jan. 1, 2012.
Daily MK AM EMH (7AM) started about a week later on Dec. 24, and ran that way through Dec. 31.

In 2012, MK's regular hours opening time moved to 8AM (from 9AM) on Dec. 15 and ran that way thru Jan. 4, 2013.
Daily MK AM EMH (7AM) started about a week later on Dec. 23, and ran that way through Dec. 31.

In 2013, MK's regular hours opening time moved to 8AM (from 9AM) on Dec. 21 and ran that way thru Jan. 4, 2014.
Daily MK AM EMH (7AM) started the next day, Dec. 23, and ran that way through Dec. 31.

So, if we look at what happened last year, it's unlikely that they will start the 8AM opening time this Dec. (2014) on an date as early as they used to.

Sorry to say that it looks like the "cutbacks" have affected this kind of thing, too.
(But, just keep watching for the hours to be amended. You never know.)

 

[elaine amj]

I'll cross my fingers - not quite sure whether I'm wishing for an early or later open.

Early open = more touring time
Later open = more sleep in time

I'll let Disney make the decision!

 

[kangaand2roos]

Exactly the question I was going to ask. I'll keep my eyes peeled!

 

[mom2rtk]

If you have a pre-park open ADR, you really need to pay close attention to changes in the schedule. If days are moved back to an 8 AM opening, your early breakfast will suddenly cost you the best hour of touring of the day. They do not alter the restaurant schedules.

If you are looking for a character meal, it's a great time to catch one as people decide to cancel and tour instead of eat.

 

[elaine amj]

if they move Wishes from 9pm to 10pm, it will be interesting to see if they notify the people who have a Wishes FP+. I'm sure there will be a lot of howling if people arranged their ADRs and FP+ around the 9pm time.

I suppose Disney has dealt for years with people having their ADRs messed up so I imagine it doesn't concern them too much.

 

[DVCkidsMOM]

if they move Wishes from 9pm to 10pm, it will be interesting to see if they notify the people who have a Wishes FP+. I'm sure there will be a lot of howling if people arranged their ADRs and FP+ around the 9pm time.

I suppose Disney has dealt for years with people having their ADRs messed up so I imagine it doesn't concern them too much.

I understand extending park hours when there is some unexpected high reservation rate. Christmas isn't unexpected, so why don't they just post the real hours from the beginning?
I am not appreciating the game of (possibly) a last-minute-vacation-rescue(ruin?) of more hours. Makes WDW conniving rather than heroic to me...

 

[melbatoast]

I agree. They know it will be crowded Christmas week, so why not make the hours set from the get go, instead of extending them several times. I made all of our plans around the parade, and the fireworks so if they change the times, things on my end will be messed up! HS closes at 8pm most nights Christmas week, which is super early - and we want to see Osborne Family Lights!

 

[mudman]

If you have a pre-park open ADR, you really need to pay close attention to changes in the schedule. If days are moved back to an 9 AM opening, your early breakfast will suddenly cost you the best hour of touring of the day. They do not alter the restaurant schedules.

If you are looking for a character meal, it's a great time to catch one as people decide to cancel and tour instead of eat.

YUP-Looks like I may be dropping that pre park opening ADR at CP.

 

[thebs19]

In 2010, MK's regular hours opening time moved to 8AM (from 9AM) on Dec. 18 and ran that way thru Dec. 31.
Daily MK AM EMH (7AM) started about a week later on Dec. 25, and ran that way through Dec. 31.

In 2011, MK's regular hours opening time moved to 8AM (from 9AM) on Dec. 16 and ran that way thru Jan. 1, 2012.
Daily MK AM EMH (7AM) started about a week later on Dec. 24, and ran that way through Dec. 31.

In 2012, MK's regular hours opening time moved to 8AM (from 9AM) on Dec. 15 and ran that way thru Jan. 4, 2013.
Daily MK AM EMH (7AM) started about a week later on Dec. 23, and ran that way through Dec. 31.

In 2013, MK's regular hours opening time moved to 8AM (from 9AM) on Dec. 21 and ran that way thru Jan. 4, 2014.
Daily MK AM EMH (7AM) started the next day, Dec. 23, and ran that way through Dec. 31.

So, if we look at what happened last year, it's unlikely that they will start the 8AM opening time this Dec. (2014) on an date as early as they used to.

Sorry to say that it looks like the "cutbacks" have affected this kind of thing, too.
(But, just keep watching for the hours to be amended. You never know.)

Hey, can I ask where you found the historical opening times? Would love to just look up the same thing re: the Spring Break questions I had above to see if I can expect there to be something similar happening there as we get closer.

We don't have early morning ADRs that we need to worry about, but IIRC, the 7am EMH wasn't a daily thing last year and I'd like to schedule my MK days around that if possible, which would affect dinner ADRs.

Thanks!

 

[Robo]

Hey, can I ask where you found the historical opening times?

HERE is one place to check.

There are others.