high pts = longer operating hours in april?

[yasuern]

OK heres my question - If we go to WDW during april vacation (highest point range time) are the parks open later? like to 9pm or 10pm (MK) or do they still close early around 7pm (MK)? Just curious - I'm looking for something to push me over the edge so I will book and go and longer hours (Already know about the great weather), would probably do it

 

[dianeschlicht]

Yes, during higher occupancey times, the parks are open later, except for Animal Kingdom.

 

[drusba]

I assume you are talking about the two weeks surrounding Easter, for which the highest point cost applies. Yes, there are longer hours. For example during Easter in the past, MK has been at 11 or 12 and MGM at 10:30 or 11, and even AK at 7 or 7:30; sometimes they even just open all the parks an hour early. However, those long hours exist for a reason other than the high point cost. Those are the two most crowded weeks of the year along with Chjristmas Week; you can expect close to elbow to elbow crowds on the streets at MK mid-day and sustained lines (all day, all night) at popular rides in excess of 90 minutes and some to 3 hours (like Test Track) with fastpasses running out for popular rides for the day by noon.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I'll still take the shorter hours and cooler temps of January over the crowds and heat of other times of the year.

 

[mmmcq]

We've tried all diferent high and low times of the year at WDW. We've gone in Oct, Feb, twice in April and this past summer in August/Sept. I loved the October weather, but I can't take my kids out of school like that anymore. I did not like February vaccation (Valentine's week) because it was too cold. I used to live in Florida and Dec-Feb is iffy sometimes. We had snow once in Key West over Christmas.

The April weather is wonderful, but the crowds are unreal. You have to be able to deal with that - otherwise don't go at that time. It doesn't bother us. We just know we aren't going to be able to do the high profile rides like Test Track or Rock N'Rollercoaster unless we go there first thing (8-9am) and get a FAST Pass. We only spend 2-3 hours in the am in the parks. Go back to our room to swim and nap mid-day and then head out again around dinner time. We sometimes stayed in the parks until 12am. I remember riding Buzz Lightyear 5-8 times in the last 30 minutes one night and had a blast.

This past August the crowds were lighter, the lines were much shorter....but the early park closings were a pain and it was sooooo hot. But having tried it, we would probably do August again. We are right now trying to decide between April and August for the 2003 trip.