DHS Fantasmic/Fireworks now an either/or, and never both????

[Keyser]

OK, Disney decided to update their park hours today for our trip in less than 3 weeks. And, just as everyone predicted, they extended the hours at DHS and added fireworks to the schedule. However, it seems that Fantasmic is (still) at 9:00, but Fireworks are now set to start at 9:15 instead of the 9:35 or whatever that they used to start. Unless I'm missing something, that means these are an either/or, not both option now. Am I missing something? I'm trying to picture how this will even work - it will seem strange to have fireworks going off behind us during Fantasmic!

<rant>
Assuming these times are accurate, yes, this makes me very upset with Disney. If we are being forced to plan (with Fantasmic Dinner Package reservations, and planning FP+, etc.) way ahead of time as far as which day to be in which park, it sure would have been nice to know more than 3 weeks ahead of time that we'd want to plan on 2 nights at DHS instead of 1. Seriously - we've made all sorts of plans (like choosing to spend a night at Cirque du Soliel instead of the parks, and choosing not to get park hoppers, and arranging our whole schedule of parks accordingly) that we very well would have done COMPLETELY DIFFERENTLY if they could have just let us know about things like this earlier. For our family, Fantasmic is our favorite show in all of WDW. And, as a big Star Wars fan, I was really looking forward to the fireworks, which I've heard numerous good things about. Now, we'll have to pick one or the other (it's almost certainly too late to change everything else in our vacation around at this point).

It's also annoying that they are taking the one park that people see as a "less than a full day" park now (with all the closures) and making IT the one that you have to spend two nights at to see the nighttime shows. All the other parks, you can see all the shows, without having to make an either/or choice: Wishes and MSEP and Celebrate the magic; Jungle Book and Tree lighting and nighttime safari; Illuminations is on its own... Why would they schedule DHS to have two things people want to see in a way that you can't possibly see both?!?!

Or, maybe they will change again. I mean, after all, they just now changed the hours - why wouldn't they change them yet again in another week? I would feel awfully stupid if I now rearranged my whole schedule to follow these hours, with no guarantee that they are not going to change again.</rant>

 

[Robo]

Or, maybe they will change again. I mean, after all, they just now changed the hours - why wouldn't they change them yet again in another week? I would feel awfully stupid if I now rearranged my whole schedule to follow these hours, with no guarantee that they are not going to change again.

I'd expect that to be the case.
The hours, so far, only list the Star Wars fireworks times up thru July 9.

 

[zebsterama]

OK, Disney decided to update their park hours today for our trip in less than 3 weeks. And, just as everyone predicted, they extended the hours at DHS and added fireworks to the schedule. However, it seems that Fantasmic is (still) at 9:00, but Fireworks are now set to start at 9:15 instead of the 9:35 or whatever that they used to start. Unless I'm missing something, that means these are an either/or, not both option now. Am I missing something? I'm trying to picture how this will even work - it will seem strange to have fireworks going off behind us during Fantasmic!

<rant>
Assuming these times are accurate, yes, this makes me very upset with Disney. If we are being forced to plan (with Fantasmic Dinner Package reservations, and planning FP+, etc.) way ahead of time as far as which day to be in which park, it sure would have been nice to know more than 3 weeks ahead of time that we'd want to plan on 2 nights at DHS instead of 1. Seriously - we've made all sorts of plans (like choosing to spend a night at Cirque du Soliel instead of the parks, and choosing not to get park hoppers, and arranging our whole schedule of parks accordingly) that we very well would have done COMPLETELY DIFFERENTLY if they could have just let us know about things like this earlier. For our family, Fantasmic is our favorite show in all of WDW. And, as a big Star Wars fan, I was really looking forward to the fireworks, which I've heard numerous good things about. Now, we'll have to pick one or the other (it's almost certainly too late to change everything else in our vacation around at this point).

It's also annoying that they are taking the one park that people see as a "less than a full day" park now (with all the closures) and making IT the one that you have to spend two nights at to see the nighttime shows. All the other parks, you can see all the shows, without having to make an either/or choice: Wishes and MSEP and Celebrate the magic; Jungle Book and Tree lighting and nighttime safari; Illuminations is on its own... Why would they schedule DHS to have two things people want to see in a way that you can't possibly see both?!?!

Or, maybe they will change again. I mean, after all, they just now changed the hours - why wouldn't they change them yet again in another week? I would feel awfully stupid if I now rearranged my whole schedule to follow these hours, with no guarantee that they are not going to change again.</rant>

In a word ....... Agreed

 

[preemiemama]

OK, Disney decided to update their park hours today for our trip in less than 3 weeks. And, just as everyone predicted, they extended the hours at DHS and added fireworks to the schedule. However, it seems that Fantasmic is (still) at 9:00, but Fireworks are now set to start at 9:15 instead of the 9:35 or whatever that they used to start. Unless I'm missing something, that means these are an either/or, not both option now. Am I missing something? I'm trying to picture how this will even work - it will seem strange to have fireworks going off behind us during Fantasmic!

<rant>
Assuming these times are accurate, yes, this makes me very upset with Disney. If we are being forced to plan (with Fantasmic Dinner Package reservations, and planning FP+, etc.) way ahead of time as far as which day to be in which park, it sure would have been nice to know more than 3 weeks ahead of time that we'd want to plan on 2 nights at DHS instead of 1. Seriously - we've made all sorts of plans (like choosing to spend a night at Cirque du Soliel instead of the parks, and choosing not to get park hoppers, and arranging our whole schedule of parks accordingly) that we very well would have done COMPLETELY DIFFERENTLY if they could have just let us know about things like this earlier. For our family, Fantasmic is our favorite show in all of WDW. And, as a big Star Wars fan, I was really looking forward to the fireworks, which I've heard numerous good things about. Now, we'll have to pick one or the other (it's almost certainly too late to change everything else in our vacation around at this point).

It's also annoying that they are taking the one park that people see as a "less than a full day" park now (with all the closures) and making IT the one that you have to spend two nights at to see the nighttime shows. All the other parks, you can see all the shows, without having to make an either/or choice: Wishes and MSEP and Celebrate the magic; Jungle Book and Tree lighting and nighttime safari; Illuminations is on its own... Why would they schedule DHS to have two things people want to see in a way that you can't possibly see both?!?!

Or, maybe they will change again. I mean, after all, they just now changed the hours - why wouldn't they change them yet again in another week? I would feel awfully stupid if I now rearranged my whole schedule to follow these hours, with no guarantee that they are not going to change again.</rant>

We are in the exact same boat. I wrote an e-mail to them. I got a call back from a very nice lady, who told me that the lack of extended park hours was because there is "less to do" at DHS and "it doesn't take as long". I specifically asked about the fireworks- and she confirmed the 9:15 start. She thought it was "odd" that the dessert party had not been extended/SHE did not have any further info about it on her end past 7/9.

FWIW, I would recommend sending an e-mail and saying exactly what you posted here. Maybe if they hear from more of us things will be extended?

 

[Klayfish]

We're here now, and our plan is to be in HS tomorrow night. We had planned on doing Fantasmic and being the first ones out of that show so that we can catch Star Wars. I can tell you on Wed morning how that worked out.

If it doesn't work out that we can see both back to back, I'm not going to be as upset or make a rant out of it. Sure, that's frustrating, and no I'm not a "Disney apologist". But the reality is they don't owe it to me or anyone else to accommodate my personal schedule. I do believe they have to walk a fine line of balance between being profitable and keeping all of their guests happy...or at least as many as they can. HS is undergoing a MAJOR change right now, half the park is closed. So there just isn't as much to do there as there once was. Whenever it's done, it'll be incredible (I hope), but for now the park is compromised. If I was in their shoes, it wouldn't be an easy decision. If the only reason for them to keep the park open late is to accommodate those wanting to see Fantasmic and fireworks, that's not an easy choice. They need to keep CMs staffed at all rides, the trams running, security, etc.... Guess my point is that while as a guest I can definitely see some things here that may not be exactly to my liking, but I can also see the Disney point of view (not that I know what it is, but I can guess).

 

[Keyser]

We are in the exact same boat. I wrote an e-mail to them. I got a call back from a very nice lady, who told me that the lack of extended park hours was because there is "less to do" at DHS and "it doesn't take as long". I specifically asked about the fireworks- and she confirmed the 9:15 start. She thought it was "odd" that the dessert party had not been extended/SHE did not have any further info about it on her end past 7/9.

FWIW, I would recommend sending an e-mail and saying exactly what you posted here. Maybe if they hear from more of us things will be extended?

Where did you email?

We're here now, and our plan is to be in HS tomorrow night. We had planned on doing Fantasmic and being the first ones out of that show so that we can catch Star Wars. I can tell you on Wed morning how that worked out.

If it doesn't work out that we can see both back to back, I'm not going to be as upset or make a rant out of it. Sure, that's frustrating, and no I'm not a "Disney apologist". But the reality is they don't owe it to me or anyone else to accommodate my personal schedule. I do believe they have to walk a fine line of balance between being profitable and keeping all of their guests happy...or at least as many as they can. HS is undergoing a MAJOR change right now, half the park is closed. So there just isn't as much to do there as there once was. Whenever it's done, it'll be incredible (I hope), but for now the park is compromised. If I was in their shoes, it wouldn't be an easy decision. If the only reason for them to keep the park open late is to accommodate those wanting to see Fantasmic and fireworks, that's not an easy choice. They need to keep CMs staffed at all rides, the trams running, security, etc.... Guess my point is that while as a guest I can definitely see some things here that may not be exactly to my liking, but I can also see the Disney point of view (not that I know what it is, but I can guess).

I hope it will work well for you - you will have 9:45 fireworks this week, so you have a chance of seeing both. That is what we were planning - maybe not ideal (in that we would've had to rush from one to the other) but doable. However, for July 3-9, they have scheduled Fantasmic and the fireworks at the exact same time (as in, the fireworks will start during the middle of Fantasmic).

Well, I agree Disney "owes" me nothing. But, when they orient their whole vacation process toward advance planning, you would think they would give the information you need to do some at least rough advance planning. This is a little different than just extending park hours once they see demand. I know some get upset when a pre-park-opening reservation is no longer one, but that's a different ballgame in that you still can get in to the park as planned, you have a chance to cancel your reservation, etc.: here they've deliberately scheduled something in a way that's impossible for people who have planned to make use of it.

And, it's not as though this is a surprise. They've been showing fireworks. EVERYONE predicted they'd have fireworks the week of the 4th, even though they hadn't updated their schedule until yesterday. EVERYONE predicted the hours would be extended, even though they hadn't been updated until yesterday. And, sure enough, the fireworks were added and the hours extended, just like everyone predicted. However, instead of scheduling them the way they have for months, where someone doing advance planning could've still done them, OR letting us know far enough in advance that we could have made plans to do both, they did this last-minute release that leaves us stuck. If I had known this schedule 2 months ago, I could have actually planned our schedule to make sure we were in DHS for 2 nights. I no longer really have that option.

And DHS being a less-than-full-day park is part of the problem here. I understand why the park has large parts closed, and have no problem with that. But, given that, why would they schedule two "nighttime spectacular" events (that's what they call them) at the exact same time, making it impossible to see both unless you come two days during the trip? I guarantee I won't be the only one annoyed by an inability to do both - not just the advance planners but also those in the park for the day. I am very much in the "enjoy what you can and don't worry about what you can't do" camp, but I'm just super-annoyed that something that Disney created an annoying situation that could have been substantially avoided if they had just released their plans a little earlier.

Or, maybe like Robo says, I shouldn't trust these hours, either... Which would be, again, quite annoying to have caused this much of a headache 2 weeks before our trip.

 

[preemiemama]

Where did you email?


I hope it will work well for you - you will have 9:45 fireworks this week, so you have a chance of seeing both. That is what we were planning - maybe not ideal (in that we would've had to rush from one to the other) but doable. However, for July 3-9, they have scheduled Fantasmic and the fireworks at the exact same time (as in, the fireworks will start during the middle of Fantasmic).

Well, I agree Disney "owes" me nothing. But, when they orient their whole vacation process toward advance planning, you would think they would give the information you need to do some at least rough advance planning. This is a little different than just extending park hours once they see demand. I know some get upset when a pre-park-opening reservation is no longer one, but that's a different ballgame in that you still can get in to the park as planned, you have a chance to cancel your reservation, etc.: here they've deliberately scheduled something in a way that's impossible for people who have planned to make use of it.

And, it's not as though this is a surprise. They've been showing fireworks. EVERYONE predicted they'd have fireworks the week of the 4th, even though they hadn't updated their schedule until yesterday. EVERYONE predicted the hours would be extended, even though they hadn't been updated until yesterday. And, sure enough, the fireworks were added and the hours extended, just like everyone predicted. However, instead of scheduling them the way they have for months, where someone doing advance planning could've still done them, OR letting us know far enough in advance that we could have made plans to do both, they did this last-minute release that leaves us stuck. If I had known this schedule 2 months ago, I could have actually planned our schedule to make sure we were in DHS for 2 nights. I no longer really have that option.

And DHS being a less-than-full-day park is part of the problem here. I understand why the park has large parts closed, and have no problem with that. But, given that, why would they schedule two "nighttime spectacular" events (that's what they call them) at the exact same time, making it impossible to see both unless you come two days during the trip? I guarantee I won't be the only one annoyed by an inability to do both - not just the advance planners but also those in the park for the day. I am very much in the "enjoy what you can and don't worry about what you can't do" camp, but I'm just super-annoyed that something that Disney created an annoying situation that could have been substantially avoided if they had just released their plans a little earlier.

Or, maybe like Robo says, I shouldn't trust these hours, either... Which would be, again, quite annoying to have caused this much of a headache 2 weeks before our trip.

WDW.Guest.Communications@disneyworld.com

And agreed- they don't "owe" me anything. But the amount of planning involved is a lot for them to just jump in and change things literally last minute. They have done this to people for the past few months, and many of us are frustrated. Rightfully so. How can we plan months in advance if Disney changes the information like this??

 

[Klayfish]

Understand what you're saying, and as I said I can see why people may be frustrated. Guess I just don't see things the same way. You said they "deliberately scheduled something in a way that's impossible for people who have planned to make use of it". I don't know any more than you do, but I'd find it hard to believe that somewhere in a boardroom the Disney decision makers said "Let's make it impossible for people to see everything they really want to see. How can we best do that (insert evil laugh here)" Wouldn't make good business sense. I think they're making decisions trying to balance guest satisfaction and finances.

Also, while WDW can definitely be geared toward advance planning, not everyone does it the way we do. In fact, I'd venture to say that most don't. Much of the planning done here, from what I've seen, is based on "predictions", as you pointed out. Fair enough, I used the predictions too. But predictions aren't always right. If something doesn't work out for me because it didn't go as I predicted, while I may get frustrated, I won't be screaming at Disney for it. It's well know that Disney changes park hours frequently. Yet people get mad when they do it, even thought they know it's a possibility.

I'm here to have a good time, I'm going to roll with the punches. I know it's different, but on a similar concept...part of our planning, which we do in advance, is time at the water parks. We were supposed to spend all of this past Saturday afternoon into early evening there. Well, we got to BB at 3:00pm. At 3:45, there was lightning. Park closed. Done. There goes our planned day. Sucks, but we found other things to do and had fun just the same. My wife and I agreed in advance that we won't get so wrapped up and consumed by the schedule that we become a slave to it and can't have a good time if things don't work out how we "planned"...no matter how important the plan. Funny thing about that is that in my normal day to day life, I'm not like this at all. I am much more type A personality and would get pretty frustrated and upset over these types of things. But WDW has been my happy place since the mid-70's and I intend to keep it that way. I'll plan to the best of my abilities, but if Disney changes their hours and it effects my plans, I'm still here in WDW. Still love it, still other things I can and will do.

 

[WhitneyMB]

I would be upset in your shoes also. Thinking from a business perspective, if more people see HS as a "half-day park" and are planning less time than in the past, it would make sense to try to increase the nighttime offerings and schedule them in a way to encourage (force!) multiple evening visits.

I hope you can still have a fabulous visit--it sounds like you are doing a lot of fun stuff. We may opt for just the fireworks this time around, as we have seen Fantasmic several times before.