Any thoughts about mid March park hours?

[momto2js]

We travel for March 16-20 and the posted hours are pretty short still for spring break. Any thoughts about when and if they will extend them?

 

[MudQueen22]

Following

 

[growingupdis]

I'm patiently watching the hours for March 4-11 and have only seen the 4th extend so far (about a week and a half ago). That's pre-spring break week so it's less likely but fingers crossed on my end too.

 

[Deuce84p]

They'll almost definitely be extended. We were there in mid-march last year and the parks were open later.

 

[Araminta18]

Everyone is saying they'll be extended, but I've seen just as many people saying "disney's cutting costs, they won't open later..." so I'm not quite sure what to think. Hoping they are extended!

 

[MichelleWDWfan]

following. Going March 8-14. Last yr on my birthday MK was open till midnight.
We should be seeing some changes soon I hope. I always end up juggling my plans around, based on the changes they make.

 

[cnunley424]

I'm wanting to the know the same! We will be there 12-18

 

[CAS239]

Everyone is saying they'll be extended, but I've seen just as many people saying "disney's cutting costs, they won't open later..." so I'm not quite sure what to think. Hoping they are extended!

100% they'll be extended

The hours that you see for March and further out are simply placeholder hours and will all be adjusted.

Hours since last year have been updated about 15-45 days in advance

 

[starjazz]

We're going the 10th and 11th. I'm hoping those dates get extended as well. Since we only have 2 park days, we're trying to take advantage of as many hours as they'll give us!

 

[cole4/25]

Same! We will be there March 22-28 & are not rope drop people so really hoping for extended hours!! Fingers crossed......

 

[Dr Gunnie]

Following. We will be there after our cruise from the 16th to the 20th and I've been checking each day. The last update to the travel agent calendar was Jan 12th, so one should be coming any day now!

I just have a hard time believing a St Patrick's Day on a Friday wouldn't get more than a 9:00pm closing time!

 

[FigmentSpark]

Any idea if the hours will go early (like open at 8am instead of 9am)?

 

[dlavender]

You can always look at last years to kind of get an idea.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/hours/march16.cfm

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/hours/march15.cfm

Not to say they will definitely replicate the schedule, but usually they come close.

Currently, MK in March of 17 has 369 regular hours scheduled.

MK in March of 16 had 449 regular hours

MK in March of 15 had 467 regular hours

I'd say March of 17 should come close to 16's hours. Not sure we will see anymore 8 am -1 am operating schedules anymore...

 

[CAS239]

Any idea if the hours will go early (like open at 8am instead of 9am)?

It's very possible, but more so guaranteed that night hours will extend. They do adjust the morning hours but it won't be as frequent as the closing hours

 

[Kagoguen]

I'll be there from 3/24-4/2/17, I check every couple of days and started checking since December and noticed since checking that the times do keep changing. In December the only late nights were Tuesday at Ep and Wednesday MK in February. Then in January, Friday at HS was added for February. So I am hoping by atleast the middle of February we'll all know March's schedule

 

[dlavender]

So, since I'm trying to avoid doing any real work, I thought I'd look at hours this year compared to the last two years.

2017 total MK hours for January and February are 690 (370 Jan, 320 Feb)

2016 total MK hours for January and February were 781(374 Jan, 407 Feb)*adjusted to remove leap day hours

2015 total MK hours for January and February were 817(403 Jan, 414 Feb)

Can these February hours be for real? We are already a week deep, but man seems like they are really running a tight February. If they hold where they are, March could not see too much improvement.

 

[abnihon]

I'm wondering the same thing about May..
If MK does get extended will Wishes be 10 instead of 9?

 

[WhitneyMB]

My guess is the March hours--especially the first two weeks--will not be quite as extended this year as the past two years because Easter is 2-3 weeks later. The spring break crowds aren't all condensed into the last two weeks of March.

 

[eastendlights]

So, since I'm trying to avoid doing any real work, I thought I'd look at hours this year compared to the last two years.

2017 total MK hours for January and February are 690 (370 Jan, 320 Feb)

2016 total MK hours for January and February were 781(374 Jan, 407 Feb)*adjusted to remove leap day hours

2015 total MK hours for January and February were 817(403 Jan, 414 Feb)

Can these February hours be for real? We are already a week deep, but man seems like they are really running a tight February. If they hold where they are, March could not see too much improvement.

So much for the often repeated statement that park hours really haven't been reduced much! And all the excuses regarding the timing of Easter last year....
Those are very significant differences.

 

[dlavender]

So much for the often repeated statement that park hours really haven't been reduced much! And all the excuses regarding the timing of Easter last year....
Those are very significant differences.

I think its part of their strategy to shift the focus from MK to other parks. They cut hours at MK, took away the night time parade, and made it more expensive. I wonder if its working? It would be interesting to look at actual attendance figures and see if their hard work is paying off. I don't agree with it, as I think MK needs longer hours as their is so much to see and do there.