Decreased Summer Hours at MK; Increased Summer Hours at AK: Even Trade?

[Mikie]

I'm not 100% on what JimmyV intended, but I answered as if it were a choice between 1-2 more hours at MK (not including EMH) daily and 4-5 extra hours at AK (so, yes, closing at 6-7). Not that anyone's asking, but of course, I'd be most happy with more, More, MORE everywhere; and realistically happy with more of a mix. MK gets maybe half a week of midnight thru 2am closings, leaving the others at 11; AK gets half a week of night hours lasting til 11 but 6-8pm closes the other days. And, due to the nature of planning and starting reservations at 180 and 60 days out, I'd want all of these hours set FAR, FAR in advance!!

 

[minnie mum]

I love AK and definitely not in the "half-day park" camp, but I have always done it justice between about 10-4 or 5. Although I am excited to see the things already added (street performers, Tree of Light, Jungle Book) and do EE and safari at night, at the moment, that just isn't 6 more hours of things to do. We have generally been open-ish to until-we-poop-out visitors, so we don't hop and we don't take long midday breaks. Longer hours at AK really don't currently translate into the kind of park day we do. It seems like I'd just shift my existing AK hours from day to evening, but we're not the type to hang out at the pool half the day waiting for park time. In my case, I say it's not an even trade - but that could definitely be different when Pandora arrives.

You pretty much wrote my post for me. The current AK offerings, while very good (with the exception of JB), are not sufficient to fill a full day plus evening in the park. No one has a problem filling those hours at MK. I'm not even sure that Pandora will be enough, although I hope so.

The fact is, for us, the value of park hours are not equal. With the exception of Tom Sawyer Island, IIRC, all MK attractions are available all day. And then there are the extra shows at night. In AK, Rafikis Planet Watch and the train, all of the trails, and the live shows end around sunset. I'm not sure that the evening KS (where you can see precious little after dark), the very poorly received JB, and the live music entertainment are sufficient to occupy the available hours.

 

[jade1]

I'm not 100% on what JimmyV intended, but I answered as if it were a choice between 1-2 more hours at MK (not including EMH) daily and 4-5 extra hours at AK (so, yes, closing at 6-7).

Well is 34 hours so just over an hour on average and still multiple midnights or later at MK, but fair enough.

So did you vote to eliminate AK nights then?

 

[MariMama]

There is no comparison between AK after dark and MK after dark. AK is not a night time park, no matter what disney tries to sell to customers. I would 100% prefer the extra night time hours at MK, especially in the summer.

 

[Mikie]

Well is 34 hours so just over an hour on average and still multiple midnights or later, but fair enough.

So did you vote to eliminate AK nights then?

I did vote that I'd prefer late MK nights. My kids are finally old enough (and certainly like to sleep in enough!) for us to be night owls, which we never have been before. Although I'd like to have it all, given only one choice I'd want to milk my time in MK and do all of it at night, which we'd do multiple times, re-riding many things for both the day and night version, fireworks and night parade as compared to AK which I'd only do 1 day and probably not spend the WHOLE day there anyway. Interestingly, when you phrase it as "eliminate AK nights" - I'd scream NO! don't eliminate! expand! But for the reasons I outlined, giving limited choices, I would pick MK instead.

 

[jade1]

I did vote that I'd prefer late MK nights. My kids are finally old enough (and certainly like to sleep in enough!) for us to be night owls, which we never have been before. Although I'd like to have it all, given only one choice I'd want to milk my time in MK and do all of it at night, which we'd do multiple times, re-riding many things for both the day and night version, fireworks and night parade as compared to AK which I'd only do 1 day and probably not spend the WHOLE day there anyway. Interestingly, when you phrase it as "eliminate AK nights" - I'd scream NO! don't eliminate! expand! But for the reasons I outlined, giving limited choices, I would pick MK instead.

I get it, really just trying to see if AK in the dark is even wanted by the masses. We could be odd on it-biggest improvement of our trip and only going to get better. But this poll does eliminate AK at night.

 

[minnie mum]

Dang it Jimmy, you left out the "other" option.

 

[DisneyFive]

I view MK and AK as mutually exclusive. It's a fun discussion, (and no offence JimmyV), but IMO this comparison shouldn't be made. You have MK hours and AK hours. There is no trade.

We are losing MK hours. (Me) Big. Major. Yelling Boooooo!
We are gaining AK hours. (Me) Quietly clapping yeah!

Dan

 

[jade1]

I view MK and AK as mutually exclusive. It's a fun discussion, (and no offence JimmyV), but IMO this comparison shouldn't be made. You have MK hours and AK hours. There is no trade.

We are losing MK hours. (Me) Big. Major. Yelling Boooooo!
We are gaining AK hours. (Me) Quietly clapping yeah!

Dan

And I would think Disney would be all over closing AK 5 hours earlier and keeping MK open an hour if the masses want that.

Not sure it would go over as well as folks on here might think but.

 

[tlcdoula]

My favorite park is MK and I love being there late after the sun is down. We are going late August and park hours are between 9-10pm. Last time we went I liked the option of hopping over to MK in the evenings for a couple of rides.

 

[aprincessatlast]

I am just curious on how much did Disney under-deliver on AK Nights? The hype was big or at least I fell for it, I was/am so excited about the nighttime offerings. Losing ROL was a major let down but what about the other aspects? It seems ho hum from the reviews. We leave soon and I am excited about spending my evening there but I am not happy with MK hours at all.

 

[ckelly14]

Keeping AK open at night spreads the crowd out more than an extra hour at MK, IF AK become as popular at night as the Disney executives hope it will be. Although we are not seeing that so far, I voted for AK being a fair trade. Hopefully AK will find it's potential with Rivers of Light...

 

[jade1]

I am just curious on how much did Disney under-deliver on AK Nights? The hype was big or at least I fell for it, I was/am so excited about the nighttime offerings. Losing ROL was a major let down but what about the other aspects? It seems ho hum from the reviews. We leave soon and I am excited about spending my evening there but I am not happy with MK hours at all.

It was more than the offerings for us. Mostly the heat made another night option (esp AK) a nice addition, and they have drinks as well.

I think ROL would have been much better, TOL shows are very amazing IMO, EE at night is way better, we enjoyed night safari being cooler and a different look to it (too dark though), also having a night schedule put new dining options out there. We have never gone back to AK for dinner before.

Maybe they will close it soon though, we would miss it but was great to see once anyway.

 

[mom2rtk]

Some of them might want those hours when they see their paycheck though.

No joke.

 

[bryanb]

Most people will choose MK, which is why it's the most crowded and expensively priced park at WDW.

This summer is an odd one though. Attendance is softer than it has been, based on anecdotal evidence from this board.

So, aside from the fact that they're making a big investment in AK at night this year, I'm not sure there is a direct trade-off between MK hours and AK hours.

That said, I think the food offerings at AK are the best, so for no other reason than staying late for dinner, I like that the park is open after dark.

 

[ckelly14]

That said, I think the food offerings at AK are the best, so for no other reason than staying late for dinner, I like that the park is open after dark.

This!

 

[JimmyV]

I view MK and AK as mutually exclusive. It's a fun discussion, (and no offence JimmyV), but IMO this comparison shouldn't be made.

Well, to be fair, it isn't me who insists on making the apples to apples comparison. I am just the one who codified it into a poll. I agree that the loss of MK hours has to be viewed in its own vacuum. But others kept shouting at me that I was ignoring the added AK hours, as if those additions were the guest's panacea against decreased value. So this poll was set up to test that theory. We all knew from the get-go what the result would be. But sometimes it has to be proven to be believed. So don't shoot the messenger!