If you've been to Epcot in summer and winter I have a question for you

[aboveH20]

While some people would kindly say there's no such thing as a dumb question, my son assures me that there are. Hope this isn't one of them.

I've been to Disney World more than a dozen times, but always in the winter so it's dark for Illuminations. During the summer it's got to be light for Illuminations, right? I can't quite imagine seeing it while it's still light outside. Anyone who's seen it winter and summer care to comment?

Just curious. Thanks.

 

[BrianL]

While some people would kindly say there's no such thing as a dumb question, my son assures me that there are. Hope this isn't one of them.

I've been to Disney World more than a dozen times, but always in the winter so it's dark for Illuminations. During the summer it's got to be light for Illuminations, right? I can't quite imagine seeing it while it's still light outside. Anyone who's seen it winter and summer care to comment?

Just curious. Thanks.

Illuminations is at 9 PM almost all of the time. It is easily dark by then, only in the summer, it hasn't been dark for that long. I don't know that the ever do it earlier than 9, sometimes I think it is later though.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Illuminations is never earlier than 9.

On Fridays and Saturdays during the Food and Wine Festival (except the last Saturday) it is at 10 (because the park hours are extended).

Between the day after Thanksgiving and December 30 it is at 9:30 (to accommodate the latest showing of the Candlelight Processional.)

The rest of the time, it is at 9.

In the summer it is not light out at 9. The sun is down around 8:30.

 

[minnie mum]

What state are you in, OP? I'm thinking one of the northern ones, where the sun sets quite late in summer. I remember being surprised at how late the sun rose, and how early the sun set in the south, the first time I visited. A function of latitude.

 

[aboveH20]

Illuminations is at 9 PM almost all of the time. It is easily dark by then, only in the summer, it hasn't been dark for that long. I don't know that the ever do it earlier than 9, sometimes I think it is later though.

Thanks. I think you're right that they never do it earlier.

Illuminations is never earlier than 9.

On Fridays and Saturdays during the Food and Wine Festival (except the last Saturday) it is at 10 (because the park hours are extended).

Between the day after Thanksgiving and December 30 it is at 9:30 (to accommodate the latest showing of the Candlelight Processional.)

The rest of the time, it is at 9.

In the summer it is not light out at 9. The sun is down around 8:30.

I finally made it to the Candlelight Processional this year and got to see it myself at 9:30. I didn't realize that it's dark by 9 in the summer. That was my whole confusion.

What state are you in, OP? I'm thinking one of the northern ones, where the sun sets quite late in summer. I remember being surprised at how late the sun rose, and how early the sun set in the south, the first time I visited. A function of latitude.

You got it. I live in New York. I just checked sunset schedules and the sun does set later in NY than Florida. I've wondered about summer Illuminations for years, I guess I could have/should have checked the tables before.

Thanks to all who illuminated me.

 

[SeilerBird]

You got it. I live in New York. I just checked sunset schedules and the sun does set later in NY than Florida.

But only in the summer time. Right now the sun sets later in Florida than New York. Right now sunset in Miami is at 5:47. The sun sets in New York today at 4:47. On July 4th the sun sets at 8:31 in NY and at 8:16 in Miami.

 

[nessz79]

We're from Florida and I'm always surprised to see on live TV that it's still light up north at 9 PM. Even in the middle of summer it is dark by 9 PM here in Florida .

 

[aboveH20]

We're from Florida and I'm always surprised to see on live TV that it's still light up north at 9 PM. Even in the middle of summer it is dark by 9 PM here in Florida .

You're right. In the summer my husband and and I often sit on our front porch at dusk to watch for bats to appear so we're conscious of sunset time as our bat viewing times gets earlier and earlier. In early July dusk is around 9.

It didn't occur to me that sunset would be earlier in Florida. Ya learn something new every day!