Hoping I was misinformed about AK hours in september

[MarkY117]

Hello,

While dealing with a reservation issue with an online chat representative through Disney's website, I thought I would see what the representative would have to say about animal kingdom nighttime hours for my vacation September 18-24. Since the hours on the website only show through September 5, I asked if Disney would be planning on updating night time hours for animal kingdom during my stay. Expecting a typical run around answer like hours are always subject to change or something like that, I was caught off guard when they said "sir, animal kingdom will definitely be going back to regular 9-5pm hours during the month of September."

I am hoping I am misinformed here, did anyone else hear about this?

Thanks!

 

[Tom P.]

In my experience, Disney's phone and chat cast members are often perhaps the least well informed employees of a company I have ever seen. And also, they seem to have a tendency to just make up information they don't have or, at the very least, to repeat rumors they've heard from no one official.

Nothing official has been said one way or the other about Animal Kingdom's hours in September. However, given all that has gone into the nighttime attractions at that park, I find it hard to believe that they are just going to decide to scrap it all and go back to daytime-only hours.

 

[joanchris]

That seems very clear cut. I do hope they're wrong. Do we really think they went to all the trouble of the night time preparations just for summer?

 

[TWK]

In my experience, Disney's phone and chat cast members are often perhaps the least well informed employees of a company I have ever seen. And also, they seem to have a tendency to just make up information they don't have or, at the very least, to repeat rumors they've heard from no one official.

YES!!!!!!!!

 

[MarkY117]

Good to hear, the guy couldn't even help me with my reservation issue. I have to call a cast member at the phone number he gave me, which I still haven't resolved! I hung up after being on hold for 20 minutes!

 

[DisDadDVC]

Don't like the answer you get from a CM? Call back in 5 minutes and get completely different one. Keep trying till you get the answer you want. Then wait 3 months to get actual answer.

 

[MariMama]

Hello,

While dealing with a reservation issue with an online chat representative through Disney's website, I thought I would see what the representative would have to say about animal kingdom nighttime hours for my vacation September 18-24. Since the hours on the website only show through September 5, I asked if Disney would be planning on updating night time hours for animal kingdom during my stay. Expecting a typical run around answer like hours are always subject to change or something like that, I was caught off guard when they said "sir, animal kingdom will definitely be going back to regular 9-5pm hours during the month of September."

I am hoping I am misinformed here, did anyone else hear about this?

Thanks!

Don't ever let a phone CM answer worry you. They are almost always incorrect. If you have a question, ask it here and multiple people will be able to help you.

I don't know the answer to your question, though. LOL

 

[Jennasis]

I'd be shocked if they spent all that money on a night safari and lighting for the tree of life to NOT use it in December by closing the park at 5pm.

 

[shanethesaint88]

Im with other posters in that this just wouldnt make any sense. Why would they start having nightime hours and then just axe it for a month. Presumably all this nightime stuff is for the park to be practicing for when Avatar Land opens and the park will see an influx of guests throughout the entire day. So instead of having to start comepletely new at nightimw operations with an influx of guests, you get adjusted a year out with something far more easier. So it makees no sense that they would just take a month off. I was under the assumption that nightime hours are now permanent at AK. Just like every other park. As someone going in Sept. Ill be highly disappointed if the OP's story turns out to be legit.

 

[wilkeliza]

I highly doubt this was a "summer only" promotion. It would make no sense to acquire the new animals on the safari, build an amphitheater for a night time show, a new table service Dinner restaurant, and start working on lighting issues in the park just for a couple of months worth of extension.

I think September and forward is honestly up in the air due to the Reflections of Light issues. I bet they are hoping to have that up and running in September and if it really is they will run some promotion over that.

 

[supersnoop]

Expecting a typical run around

CM's are trained to give very authoritative (and often incorrect) answers.

"The schedule says it closes at 5PM, so, by golly, I'm certain it will close at 5PM."

Seriously, the folks on the phone know less than we do. The folks on chat know even less.

 

[CAS239]

Generally, if you have a question it's better to ask it here than on the phone with Disney CM's.

 

[tlmadden73]

They probably haven't figured out what their new night time hours will yet for the fall/winter.

As the it gets darker earlier, maybe they will only have the park open to 7 or 8 instead of 9 or 10.

With Rivers of Light seemingly nowhere in sight, maybe the Jungle Book thing is just to help with capacity during the summer and they'll just stop nighttime AK in the fall and winter. Or just have it to one earlier show?

I wouldn't be surprised with all the budget cuts and the fiasco with Rivers of Light that they may simply go back to AK being 9-5 until Pandora opens.

 

[Hopefully]

Josh of easywdw stated today in his December hours intro a RUMOR he believes is possibly true that the Jungle Book show will be ending on September 5th as currently scheduled and the ROL show will not be ready until late November. He states he thinks it is definitely possible that the AK will close early in the Fall.

 

[MarkY117]

I agree with everyone posting that it would make no sense to have this just as a summer event. I guess my worry is, he said for the month of September. Meaning that maybe rivers of light will not be completed and with the poor reviews of the jungle book, maybe nighttime hours will be suspended until rivers of light is fully complete?

Hoping its not the case but that is the main thought that popped in my head.

 

[HopperFan]

Here is the deal with phone/chat CMs etc.

They can only help with or state as fact what is happening RIGHT NOW! written down in front of them. If they proclaim to know ANYTHING that is not actually happening or officially announced .... they are probably making it up. SADLY all are trained to never say "I don't know" so they just seem to make stuff up cause that makes sense....

So they can book today's special offers, not predict future. They can read to you posted hours, they can't predict the changes that will come. They can book existing dessert and event parties, they can not predict future After Hours, Club Villain or anything else that hasn't been announced.

Don't even bother asking them anything that you probably couldn't look up on your own on reliable sites. Once had a lively discussion with someone ranting about their training as a phone CM and they knew everything, to the point of calling me names...... and our topic was they said they could 1000% guarantee connecting rooms at hotels every time ............. we all know how that ends for many.

I've never had issues with phone CMs cause I ask them nothing that I don't already know.



Even if Jungle Book ends ....... highly doubt that they will close down the Tree, the two parties and the new restaurant - way too much invested. A high level project manager another poster had Dinner with Imagineer with said when they were asked said there are other shows in the pipe that can be put on after Jungle Book until RoL is ready. I think that's been a solid guess since Disney started advertising AK at night with Alive with Magic and no reference to JB, just an open end.

Could it happen, sure. Will it? WOW, if they go back to no night activities after all this - HUGE ADMITTANCE OF FAILURE! I see saving face and staying open and acting like no big deal.

 

[Hopefully]

I agree with everyone posting that it would make no sense to have this just as a summer event. I guess my worry is, he said for the month of September. Meaning that maybe rivers of light will not be completed and with the poor reviews of the jungle book, maybe nighttime hours will be suspended until rivers of light is fully complete?

Hoping its not the case but that is the main thought that popped in my head.

This is consistent with how I read Josh's speculation. Clearly the AK is being prepared for night time hours and it will have them all summer. I think the rumor is that they will not be included in the Fall until Rivers of Light is ready in late November and then re-implemented then.

I agree with HopperFan though, with Tiffins open and all that has gone into night time AK they will not close it down without great thought. That said, I still can not book dinner at Tiffins in October - right now it is not open for dinner.
Time will tell.

 

[FirstTimeDisneyVisit]

I hope they are wrong . Going back in September and absolutely looking forward to night hours at AK

 

[MarkY117]

Here is the deal with phone/chat CMs etc.

They can only help with or state as fact what is happening RIGHT NOW! written down in front of them. If they proclaim to know ANYTHING that is not actually happening or officially announced .... they are probably making it up. SADLY all are trained to never say "I don't know" so they just seem to make stuff up cause that makes sense....

So they can book today's special offers, not predict future. They can read to you posted hours, they can't predict the changes that will come. They can book existing dessert and event parties, they can not predict future After Hours, Club Villain or anything else that hasn't been announced.

Don't even bother asking them anything that you probably couldn't look up on your own on reliable sites. Once had a lively discussion with someone ranting about their training as a phone CM and they knew everything, to the point of calling me names...... and our topic was they said they could 1000% guarantee connecting rooms at hotels every time ............. we all know how that ends for many.

I've never had issues with phone CMs cause I ask them nothing that I don't already know.



Even if Jungle Book ends ....... highly doubt that they will close down the Tree, the two parties and the new restaurant - way too much invested. A high level project manager another poster had Dinner with Imagineer with said when they were asked said there are other shows in the pipe that can be put on after Jungle Book until RoL is ready. I think that's been a solid guess since Disney started advertising AK at night with Alive with Magic and no reference to JB, just an open end.

Could it happen, sure. Will it? WOW, if they go back to no night activities after all this - HUGE ADMITTANCE OF FAILURE! I see saving face and staying open and acting like no big deal.

All they really had to say was hours are always subject to change. That gets them out of saying "I don't know"

I've learned my lesson with asking questions like that to the phone or online representatives! Thanks for the good info!

 

[HopperFan]

All they really had to say was hours are always subject to change. That gets them out of saying "I don't know"

I've learned my lesson with asking questions like that to the phone or online representatives! Thanks for the good info!

EXACTLY!!!!!! There is an easy answer for everything and be in compliance. But no, for whatever reason, which is so strange, they consistently just tell stories.