Easter and Extended Hours

[danceteachermom]

We have been to WDW a few times during Easter...arriving the Friday before and staying until the Friday after. In the past there have been a lot of extended hours particularly at the MK. I am still seeing 9 AM openings. Is this just it now or do you think I can expect to see added hours?

We like to get to the parks really early and then make our way back for lots of relaxing by the pool. Even during the week after Easter we have found low crowds in the early morning. I think one time we were in before 7 and rode pretty much all we wanted by 11 AM, has lunch and left.

If they do still add hours, when does this happen?

 

[mesaboy2]

Hours may yet still be added, often just a few weeks before. There is no set schedule for these things to happen. All you can do is roll with it.

 

[mom2rtk]

Hours are often added. But sometimes they aren't. A couple years ago, everyone was waiting for some added hours the week after Easter and it never happened.

 

[amymgould]

We have been to WDW a few times during Easter...arriving the Friday before and staying until the Friday after. In the past there have been a lot of extended hours particularly at the MK. I am still seeing 9 AM openings. Is this just it now or do you think I can expect to see added hours?

We like to get to the parks really early and then make our way back for lots of relaxing by the pool. Even during the week after Easter we have found low crowds in the early morning. I think one time we were in before 7 and rode pretty much all we wanted by 11 AM, has lunch and left.

If they do still add hours, when does this happen?

I've been waiting for the same thing! Your family sounds exactly like us, so we are hoping for an earlier opening too!

 

[Lovetherodent]

It's so hard to tell. Last time I went (Spring Break), hours were added, then more added about a week in advance. I'm going again for Spring Break, and I keep waiting and hoping...

 

[GADisneyDad14]

If you haven’t looked at this page yet, it can help give you a feel for park hours last Easter: http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/hours/april17.cfm

Past performance is not always indicative of future results when it comes to park hours, but it may help give you a sense of what it ‘could’ look like, when/if they do add/adjust hours.

 

[fhtpdw20]

My personal belief is that since they have added the Arts Festival, Easter and Flower/Garden are low on radar until after 2/19. When I have tried to schedule I am getting told to call back after the 19th.

 

[Donalyn]

I'm expecting hour changes. We are getting there the Thursday after Easter. Since I started watching the park hours, they have made some minor changes to the closing hours at HS and once to AK. Then they extended the AK hours to close at 10:00 for most of the days we are there (and for the week before Easter too). So, I keep expecting some movement for the hours at MK and Epcot, but still nothing.

I am expecting closing times to change, though since it seems very odd to me that AK would be the park open the latest for most of these nights. Morning hours - hard to say.

But the waiting is hard on me too.

 

[DVCcurious]

I have gone the past 5 Easter weeks. I expect the MK hours to be 8-12 with at least one 12-2 EMH. In the past there have been daily EMH from 7-8AM but that’s not guaranteed and I don’t think they had those 7AM hours in 2017 or 2016.

Epcot will keep its normal 9-9PM schedule with at least 1 morning and 1 evening EMH.

HS should have 9-10 with at least 1 AM and PM EMH.

AK is a wild card now that Pandora is open. I’d expect 9-10pm hours daily with at least 1 am and 1 pm EMH.


Of course I could be way off. That’s why I give you a warning in my signature!

 

[wisblue]

I have gone the past 5 Easter weeks. I expect the MK hours to be 8-12 with at least one 12-2 EMH. In the past there have been daily EMH from 7-8AM but that’s not guaranteed and I don’t think they had those 7AM hours in 2017 or 2016.

Epcot will keep its normal 9-9PM schedule with at least 1 morning and 1 evening EMH.

HS should have 9-10 with at least 1 AM and PM EMH.

AK is a wild card now that Pandora is open. I’d expect 9-10pm hours daily with at least 1 am and 1 pm EMH.


Of course I could be way off. That’s why I give you a warning in my signature!

At least some members of our family have gone to WDW the week after Easter every year for the last several years, and our experience and recollection is similar to yours. The MK did have 7 AM EMH several days last year, but didn’t have them in 2016. In 2016 hours were added less than 2 months before to make regular opening 8 AM every day.

The pattern so far this year has been much like 2016, so I’m still expecting hours at the MK to be added. Maybe they won’t, but having the MK open only from 9 AM to 9 PM would be a significant break from recent practice.

 

[sharonabe]

HS should have 9-10 with at least 1 AM and PM EMH.

HS hasn't had a late EMH in forever. I wouldn't expect them to have a late EMH until Toy Story Land opens.

AK also has not been on the late EMH list since last summer's Pandora late EMH nights. Once that ended, they didn't put it into rotation as expected.

 

[JeninBuffalo]

We are also going during Easter and I was surprised that AK is open later than MK during that week.

 

[ChristineOH]

I think Disney expects to extend the MK hours, but I'd say the 8am to 10pm AK hours will stay the same.

I really would like to see some 7am EMH! I've never been during a time busy enough to have that, and I kind of like the idea of trying to tour from 7am to around 11am and then taking off to have lunch at a resort and a break till the evening.

 

[danceteachermom]

I love 7 AM extra magic hours! Hoping for at least one or two 7 AM days. We can do all we want and still get back in time to lay in the sunshine for a few hours. If I can ride all I want and be poolside with a drink by 12:30 PM, we are having a great vacation.

 

[10CJ]

I am hoping for earlier MK openings as well. My kids typically get up early so might as well take advantage of it.

 

[teachmedis]

I went at Easter 2015 and those 7 a.m. emh at MK were a beautiful thing. Really hoping for some of those this time around.

 

[kalynn]

They added extra hours for AK right before Easter. Hours are 8-10 rather than 9-9 as originally scheduled. Fingers crossed additional hours will be added.

 

[amymgould]

I just checked today and some hours have been adjusted! MK on Easter now opens at 8!

 

[22Tink]

I just checked today and some hours have been adjusted! MK on Easter now opens at 8!

Ugh. There goes my PPO BOG and Tusker House breakfasts! They extended AK again, too.

 

[amymgould]

Ugh. There goes my PPO BOG and Tusker House breakfasts! They extended AK again, too.

I just noticed AK. Sorry