August Hours

[Daisybelle]

I'm confused!
So I was looking at our dates on the Disneyland website, we are there starting August 10th. And it's now showing they are open 9 to 11 at DL and 9 to 10 at DCA.
Just yesterday it was showing the standard 8 to 12 and 8 to 10 hours. I know that it takes extra time for the EE and MM times to show up. Has it been showing the operating hours wonky when they first appear too? I would be sad if the hours are reduced the week we're there.

 

[hyperminimalism]

We'll be there that week as well and I checked it myself the last day or two, but I haven't seen the park hours change in the last few days. Sunday, August 10th park hours are 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. for DL. DCA looks like 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

 

[mirage0306]

That's the week we're going to be there as well. I am not too upset (though I wish DL were open until midnight), but my husband was pretty bummed when I told him this morning that it looks like they are doing reduced hours that week.

When do they usually have the EE stuff up?

 

[Daisybelle]

Last year it was about 4 weeks out I think. So I'm hoping it's just not filled in perfectly yet.

 

[gerilyne]

We will be there the same week too. I looked up the hours from the same week last year: Sunday was 9-11 and 9-10 and the rest of the week was 8-11 and 8-10. We arrive Sunday so I'm hoping the rest of the week they do 8am with a 7am EMH.

 

[Daisybelle]

I hope you are right about the 8am opening. I think the 7am EE weeds out the weak!

 

[Rubygoose]

We will be there the following week (Aug. 21-28th). I did some "detective work" by playing around with the Disney Dinning website, and it looks like regular park opening is at 9am starting on August 10th. I looked into reservations for Carnation Cafe to see what their first seating time is on different days in August compared to July, and it looks like they have seating 20 minutes before regular park opening even on MM days. In July and early August, the first seating available is 7:40am but from August 10th onwards the first seating is 8:40am.

 

[Daisybelle]

We will be there the following week (Aug. 21-28th). I did some "detective work" by playing around with the Disney Dinning website, and it looks like regular park opening is at 9am starting on August 10th. I looked into reservations for Carnation Cafe to see what their first seating time is on different days in August compared to July, and it looks like they have seating 20 minutes before regular park opening even on MM days. In July and early August, the first seating available is 7:40am but from August 10th onwards the first seating is 8:40am.

Thank you for sharing your detective work. I guess I will adjust!!

 

[Rainforest_Elf]

I wonder if they're adjusting based on the attendance based in June? It's been a fairly mild summer in terms of crowds, has it not?

 

[Rubygoose]

I wonder if they're adjusting based on the attendance based in June? It's been a fairly mild summer in terms of crowds, has it not?

I'm surprised by the shorter hours because they seem shorter than last year at the same time. I wonder if the University students are back in school by mid August? Maybe their staffing is affected, so that's why they're cutting back the hours? When we went in late Sept. 2012 the parks didn't open until 10am on weekdays and then closed at 8pm, but on the Sunday we were there I remember the park opening at 8am. That's why I'm surprised that it looks like the parks may be opening at 9am on weekend days in August.

 

[gerilyne]

it's very strange; in 2012 when we went DL was open 8am-12am, then in 2013 it was 8am-11pm and now this year 9am-11pm (all for the same week of the month). I am curious to know why they keep making them shorter hours, I can tell you the crowds were no different between 2012 and 2013 as far as walking around and wait times. I thought they adjusted the hours the week that the passes all become unblocked, but maybe they are expecting lower numbers this year from last? It's a disappointment to lose that morning hour

 

[Daisybelle]

it's very strange; in 2012 when we went DL was open 8am-12am, then in 2013 it was 8am-11pm and now this year 9am-11pm (all for the same week of the month). I am curious to know why they keep making them shorter hours, I can tell you the crowds were no different between 2012 and 2013 as far as walking around and wait times. I thought they adjusted the hours the week that the passes all become unblocked, but maybe they are expecting lower numbers this year from last? It's a disappointment to lose that morning hour

I know. I'm working hard at not being disappointed. We usually go in July but we just have too much going on this month to have made that work. If I had known of this change I could have gone a week earlier then planned.

 

[gerilyne]

I know. I'm working hard at not being disappointed. We usually go in July but we just have too much going on this month to have made that work. If I had known of this change I could have gone a week earlier then planned.

We're working at it too... and I wish we could go a week earlier as well, but ah well. Regardless we will all still be at DISNEYLAND!!!!!!!

I told DH when we start planning for 2015 we should just try going the week earlier which, if we can buy the annual passes would be worth it I think.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

it's very strange; in 2012 when we went DL was open 8am-12am, then in 2013 it was 8am-11pm and now this year 9am-11pm (all for the same week of the month). I am curious to know why they keep making them shorter hours, I can tell you the crowds were no different between 2012 and 2013 as far as walking around and wait times. I thought they adjusted the hours the week that the passes all become unblocked, but maybe they are expecting lower numbers this year from last? It's a disappointment to lose that morning hour

My speculation is that they are cutting back a bit in part to save money and in part because the guest visit pattern has changed. Back in 2011, Disneyland was often open those long hours 8 AM - 12 AM late into August. DCA though, year-round, didn't officially open until 10 AM any day. With the opening of Carsland and the revamped DCA in 2012, DCA's hours changed to 8 AM daily opening on the days when DL opens at 8 and 9 AM opening when DL opens at 9. Hours extended later in the evening on more days than before as well. In addition, DCA added an early entry day. So the parks went from offering 4 early entry days per week to 7. All of these extra park hours represent additional front line cast member hours and additional time rides are in operation and experiencing wear and tear. They also cut into the off hours for ride maintenance and park maintenance activities that would best be done when park guests aren't around.

I understand that it is disappointing (I, personally, love 8 AM openings), but I wouldn't be surprised to see hours disappear here and there whenever they can manage in the coming months. Some of it may have to do with preparations for the 60th. Some of it may be about balancing the park hours between the two parks. Some of it may have to do with scaling back now that the initial frenzied demand for all the newness has eased off just a little. I've read that overall attendance is higher than ever, but I guess the guests are more spread out across the two parks than they used to be pre-Carsland. And, as with everything, I expect some of it has to do with budgeting and money.

 

[back2disney]

I noticed that yesterday too. I'm hoping the hours aren't set yet because the ee hours aren't even listed and they are always the same I thought, otherwise its gonna be crowded. I'd go to Disneyworld if I wanted that:-(

 

[Daisybelle]

I noticed that yesterday too. I'm hoping the hours aren't set yet because the ee hours aren't even listed and they are always the same I thought, otherwise its gonna be crowded. I'd go to Disneyworld if I wanted that:-(

The EE and MM hours seem to get posted last so I'm not too worried about it. Yet. That happened last year too, and then a few weeks out it was all filled in.

 

[back2disney]

Looks like they are updating the early entry hours this very minute. If I hit refresh it disappears and then will re-appear if I refresh again.
But the main thing is that the 9am open hours look to be confirmed. If so thats a big bump to crowd levels. True they are shorter than the beginning of the month but I wouldn't guess that much. I was there last year this time and the parks were packed mid day on and a 12am DL closed would have been guest friendly but I did not expect that to happen, but the 9am open is really a slap on the face for those who love to get there early.. Oh well.
The one and only thing I dislike DL over DW is that they don't release park hours months in advance otherwise I would have picked the week earlier, but now it will be fewer rides per day:-(
For the newcomers its gonna be rough..

 

[back2disney]

I wonder if they're adjusting based on the attendance based in June? It's been a fairly mild summer in terms of crowds, has it not?

Hopefully thats the case. With Potter opening over at Universal Florida this week perhaps the herd will go there

 

[back2disney]

My speculation is that they are cutting back a bit in part to save money

This should never be an issue as long as Disney prints money which they currently do. Therefore maintaining guest satisfaction should be the number 1 priority. Micromanaging and squeezing every last bit out of guests instead of treating each one different is not the way to go. They are not doing this yet like DW is but its something to watch..

 

[scrapshappen]

We're going in August too. But the week after the current hours are listed. I was a little disappointed by the 9 a.m. opening, (which I assume will be our time too). But it is better than the 10 a.m. openings they did last time we were there in late November. At least the park is open later than 8 p.m. too.