Delay in updating park hours

[Lesverts]

They write hours in pencil.
They are known to change closing times that day. And opening times the day before.

Yep. First time I ever went to MK was a day they updated to an 8am opening the night before. Caught a bunch of people unaware. Saw this lady just pitch an epic fit over it. I was standing in line thinking; sweet I get extra time.

 

[sweetpea29488]

If they update to an earlier opening the night before, how do you find out?

 

[ElsasFan]

If they update to an earlier opening the night before, how do you find out?[/QU
When we were there in November 2014, there was a letter in our room one night when we got back from the parks saying that AK would open the next day at 8 am. Park hours are on the Resort TV channel, too.

 

[LilyWDW]

If they update to an earlier opening the night before, how do you find out?

It will be on the resort TV channel so make sure to check that the night before. Those sorts of changes have been happening for years.

 

[whiporee]

I do think it's important to point out that they very very very rarely reduce park hours once they've been published, so you can plan with the confidence of knowing that your time at any park can only be extended, not contracted. And if they happen to extend them, then it's a bonus.

Plan based on what you know, not what you expect or hope. I think you end up with a better experience that way.

 

[AngiTN]

I do think it's important to point out that they very very very rarely reduce park hours once they've been published, so you can plan with the confidence of knowing that your time at any park can only be extended, not contracted. And if they happen to extend them, then it's a bonus.

Plan based on what you know, not what you expect or hope. I think you end up with a better experience that way.

Yep, the only times I've seen them reduce hours are times such as AK park hours changed 1 night to allow them to close early for a media event related to Pandora opening. Most of the times these are scheduled far enough out they get park hours set at the start

 

[Branflakes]

We make our plans according to the hours posted when we book. And consider anything that extends the park hours a bonus. But it never makes me feel like I have to cancel all my plans and start over. If MK is open until 9, and I plan out everything, which by the way we plan quite loosely, and then suddenly it's closing at 11, that changes nothing other than two more hours after dark, and maybe a late ice cream on Main Street.
It's a little annoying, but it's not gonna change dinner to suddenly be at 10 pm.

 

[AngiTN]

We make our plans according to the hours posted when we book. And consider anything that extends the park hours a bonus. But it never. She's me feel like I have tot cancel all my plans and start over. If MK is open until 9, and I plan out everything, which by the way we plan quite loosely, and then suddenly it's closing at 11, that changes nothing other than two more hours after dark, and maybe a late ice cream on Main Street.
It's a little annoying, but it's not gonna change dinner to suddenly be at 10 pm.

I'd say this is the #1 attitude by guests when Disney changes hours. Annoyed but not enough to complain about more time because in the end, it is more positive than negative.

 

[Branflakes]

I'd say this is the #1 attitude by guests when Disney changes hours. Annoyed but not enough to complain about more time because in the end, it is more positive than negative.

I will add, that we will be there May 9-16, and would like some nights later than 9. This is good for disney in a sense, because it means we will spend time and money at the Crews Cup or Ale and Compass etc for snacks and cocktails. And some cocktails. Although the club lounge has drinks, some nights we just don't make it back by 10.

 

[dezprincesscc]

We'll be there on the 7th as well!

 

[Dizjunkieee]

It just makes it so difficult to plan. I spend all this time making up a chart and then have to try and cancel and reschedule things. Unbelievably annoying!

Agree that it is a tad annoying, but I've gotten to the point that I don't even bother trying to really plan my days until 60 days when I do FP, And even then know they will likely change again. So when my 180 opens for ADR's, I simply schedule a couple each of the hard to get spots so that I know I will at least have something. Once I get closer and hours get more firmed up. I then decide which ADR's I will keep and those I will cancel. Some people may frown on that, but I view it like this: I am brightening someone else's day when randomly a spot like BOG dinner opens up for their dates.