Expanded Epcot Hours

[Nabas]

It looks like Epcot's closing time has changed from 9 PM to 10 PM through at least through mid July.

We are planning a trip in mid-May and had been watching this.

 

[nerdyone]

we are also going mid-May and I am hoping they expand the hours further.

 

[SPAM]

Yeah any extra hours are good, but it would be nice if they would move up the open time. 11am is kind of ridiculous.

 

[dancergirlsmom]

So happy to see the extension. We were there the week before Easter and they were closing at 11. It was great to be able to park hop over and have a good amount of time to enjoy. We are going again in July so hoping the same will happen.

 

[Nabas]

With hot summer days and the sun not setting until after 8 PM, the 10 PM closing gives you a couple of hours to enjoy the sunset and cooler evening weather while strolling around the World Showcase.

 

[Nabas]

Yeah any extra hours are good, but it would be nice if they would move up the open time. 11am is kind of ridiculous.

If you don't have a hopper, 11 AM is really late.

Still, some people like to sleep in and stay up late on vacation. If you are not hopping, an 11 AM lets those late sleepers get breakfast and still not miss rope drop.

It can be exhausting being there for DAK's rope drop (8 AM) and staying till Epcot closes (10 PM). I know some do it, but it's tough in the Florida summer heat. (Especially with masks all day long.)

 

[nivekious]

Is it likely the other parks add some hours too? I'm going June 25-July 3 and HS closing at 7 and AK closing at 6 seems insanely early. I guess we can just hop to Epcot those days, but it would be nice to see different parks after sunset.

 

[Nabas]

Is it likely the other parks add some hours too? I'm going June 25-July 3 and HS closing at 7 and AK closing at 6 seems insanely early. I guess we can just hop to Epcot those days, but it would be nice to see different parks after sunset.

As we get closer to your travel dates, there's a good chance that WDW will expand hours.

Recently, Disney has been waiting a couple of weeks prior before expanding hours.

 

[scrappinginontario]

The Park Hours thread on this board tracks all updates in Post 1. It’s a great thread to keep an eye on.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/park-hours.3829921/

 

[nivekious]

As we get closer to your travel dates, there's a good chance that WDW will expand hours.

Recently, Disney has been waiting a couple of weeks prior before expanding hours.

Thanks, that's good but also frustrating. Having to book park passes and dining reservations before knowing what the hours will be makes it all extremely stressful!

 

[DebbieB]

Yeah any extra hours are good, but it would be nice if they would move up the open time. 11am is kind of ridiculous.

They are spreading out bus times.

 

[Nana2Callie]

Yes would really like to see them open earlier.

 

[DisneyFive]

We need those 11 AM Epcot days to finally get some rest after all of the crazy super early rope dropping mornings that we will have since FP+ does not exist with the Covid protocols right now

Dan

 

[auntlynne]

Is it likely the other parks add some hours too? I'm going June 25-July 3 and HS closing at 7 and AK closing at 6 seems insanely early. I guess we can just hop to Epcot those days, but it would be nice to see different parks after sunset.

Our early May closing hours are HS 8 pm, AK 7 pm. I can’t imagine June hours being earlier. Check the calendar closer to your date for changes.

 

[auntlynne]

Thanks, that's good but also frustrating. Having to book park passes and dining reservations before knowing what the hours will be makes it all extremely stressful!

You have made park reservations already - right?

 

[nivekious]

You have made park reservations already - right?

Oh yeah, all set there. It's just frustrating not knowing what park closes when before you make those, and then having to make dining reservations later and force them to work with the park reservations you already have, and then adjust those reservations when tge opening times change a month later.

I know this makes things easier for Disney, but from a customer viewpoint it would be much easier to know the hours, then book the restaurants, then reserve the parks based on what restaurants you could find.

 

[auntlynne]

Oh yeah, all set there. It's just frustrating not knowing what park closes when before you make those, and then having to make dining reservations later and force them to work with the park reservations you already have, and then adjust those reservations when tge opening times change a month later.

I know this makes things easier for Disney, but from a customer viewpoint it would be much easier to know the hours, then book the restaurants, then reserve the parks based on what restaurants you could find.

Someone else posted something similar. Are you trying to eat as late as possible? Or maybe trying to leave some time after dinner to catch some more rides?

(I am fascinated by others’ planning to see if I’m missing something, hence the questioning).

 

[nivekious]

Someone else posted something similar. Are you trying to eat as late as possible? Or maybe trying to leave some time after dinner to catch some more rides?

(I am fascinated by others’ planning to see if I’m missing something, hence the questioning).

Mostly trying to maximize park time, so depending on how late it closes often as late as possible for dinner. Mostly though I want to avoid being at dinner during the last hour the parks are open since lines are low then. So if I have say a 6pm Tiffins reservation for dinner because AK closes at 6 so I'm not missing park time by going when they close, and then they extend hours to 7 or 8, we would now miss an hour or two of the lowest lines for the day if I can't move the reservation later.

Epcot on the other hand stays open too late to eat right at closing with 10pm or 11pm closes, so I'd want to move my 9pm dinner earlier for those days after hours became extended after 9 so I'm missing a more crowded hour instead of a less crowded hour.