Anyone else hoping they change park hours in summer months?

[pixiedust2u]

I’m sure it’s about the cost of keeping the park open later. However, I was really hoping that come June they’d keep the parks open at least a little later. MK open 9-6 is a little lame. I love hot nights without the heat of the sun. Kind of a bummer if you plan on doing a mid day resort break for some relief if you can only head back to the park for 2 hours. Fingers crossed, I’d even be happy with an extra hour!

 

[scrappinginontario]

They most likely will. I highly recommend reading the Park Hours post as it will help you see when your dates may be increased.

 

[GBRforWDW]

I’m sure it’s about the cost of keeping the park open later. However, I was really hoping that come June they’d keep the parks open at least a little later. MK open 9-6 is a little lame. I love hot nights without the heat of the sun. Kind of a bummer if you plan on doing a mid day resort break for some relief if you can only head back to the park for 2 hours. Fingers crossed, I’d even be happy with an extra hour!

It's been 2 months since the last 6pm close at MK. Basically, disney has been releasing a really generic set of hours each week, then about 2-3 weeks before the actual dates, they update based on projected crowd levels. The busier they think they'll be, the later the closing time. Then if those hours were too conservative, they adjust during the week leading up to the actual days.

 

[pixiedust2u]

Thank you both! That’s reassuring. I’ll keep my eye on the thread posted above.

 

[WickstarRunner]

Only speaking from experience, but we're going in two weeks and they only JUST expanded the park hours about 2 days ago. So pack your patience.

 

[Dug720]

They have been changing them even to the week before (did that in Feb for the Valentines Weekend/Presidents Week/Mardi Gras trifecta). They are most certainly not set in stone. It is far easier for them to expand them than it would be to try to decrease them.

 

[Simba's Mom]

So glad to hear about park hours being extended. I'm going in July, and with the hot afternoons, I was hoping that the parks may remain open until evening.

 

[ww52]

I didn't even know this was a thing (park hours "on the fly - almost)

"Planning" for our trip in July is going to be very different - (almost) in a good way. That is, the idea is "be flexible and be ready to change as close as a week out."

Or the same day? Unheard of! WDW - flexible? I don't' recall ever saying that before! It was always "plan MONTHS in advance!!"

We are 3 months out and there is nothing to do. No fast passes; no ADRs yet. I guess I'm supposed to be calm. Habits die hard (and we don't even go that often compared to many)

 

[pixiedust2u]

I think it has it's pros and cons. For pros- it might help ease out crowds later in day, especially the later they announce the hour increase. People may have made other plans such as dining reservations etc. This could also be seen as a con because now you have a dining reservation or other plans, but could have left the park later.

This was a trip we planned on a whim, and we plan on being super flexible. We are at CR so have luxury of coming and going at MK as we please. If anything the past year has taught us you can't always plan for things, and just live in the moment. Very "unDisney" mentality of trips past. But I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully we don't miss FP+ too much though, as I'm not sure my young kids would be as patient with long lines as we are. But again, going to use that as an opportunity to do things like find hidden mickeys, try some snacks we've always wanted to try, and ride the less popular but very much loved rides (by our family at least) ie. Tikki Room, Carousel of Progress etc. We are also excited to explore Tom Sawyer Island which we've never done! After a year + at home we will gladly take what we can get. Can't wait!

 

[AC7179]

Is there a chance of the MK opening before 8 am, or is that pretty much the earliest they open?

 

[ww52]

This could also be seen as a con because now you have a dining reservation or other plans, but could have left the park later.

That's the biggest issue I have and I suspect many others. Given restaurants won't be at full capacity (presumably) it will be challenging enough to assure we have a place to eat every evening (given we will have 4 grandkids there ages 7 and under). We don't want to be grabbing junk food out of desperation.

So we are ready to simply get the best ADR (for dinner) we can get and let our evenings be dictated by that.

 

[ww52]

Click on Park Hours" to the right of the discussion and look at May.

The first week of May is VERY much later for most parks (esp MK) compared to the rest of May. Why? Because they just haven't gotten that far out yet. No reason to think the first week of May is somehow special. No reason to think the hours the first week of May will be better than June/July.

 

[GBRforWDW]

Is there a chance of the MK opening before 8 am, or is that pretty much the earliest they open?

Since pandemic reopening, each park has been fairly consistent with opening roughly 45 minutes before posted official opening. This will change when they switch to the resort guest early entry for theme parks, but the start for that hasn’t been announced yet, so until then, continue planning for the 45 minute early opening.

 

[beesly]

Click on Park Hours" to the right of the discussion and look at May.

The first week of May is VERY much later for most parks (esp MK) compared to the rest of May. Why? Because they just haven't gotten that far out yet. No reason to think the first week of May is somehow special. No reason to think the hours the first week of May will be better than June/July.

That info is inaccurate, and I emailed the site admin days ago to notify them. For now, I recommend referencing the WDW website or app for actual park hours for May.

Recommend reviewing this thread for more info on park hours being extended: Park Hours

 

[ww52]

Hi beesly - thanks much for the link to the (now sticky) thread. Great info!

(now if the admins could just correct the link I referenced; I sure don't want to doubt information I get on DIS - but now I see I have to.)