January 2018 hours

[TheFloatingBear]

I'm traveling 1/25-29/18 with my DD11 with her dance studio. We have three park days, but need to consider obligations with the group. We're making our plans - parks, FPs, etc., - with one other family (mom, DD11, DD7).

The hours for that weekend at this point (excluding EMH) seem to be 9-8 for MK, HS, and AK, and 9-9 for Epcot. Looking back at the last couple of years, MK hours were a bit later, closing more like 11pm or midnight.

I've never traveled this time of year, and would expect shorter hours, but not sure if they tend to extend 30 days out like they often do other times of year?

I mainly asking since I'm trying to figure out park days based on the girls' activities. We have full free day on Friday (probably MK), but Saturday is tough. The girls are committed to a workshop (including travel) from 10:30am to 3pm, when we're meeting them for 4pm HDDR. Trying to figure out the best plan for the evening - back to MK? Epcot? Any thoughts/ideas would be appreciated!

 

[Robo]

History says that they extend some of the early-posted hours and add some events every single month, every year.

 

[TheFloatingBear]

History says that they extend some of the early-posted hours and add some events every single month, every year.

That's what I figured, but since I've never traveled that time of year, I haven't kept track or paid attention, so looking at the historical hours, couldn't tell if they were extended or always that late - thanks for the feedback!

 

[shellyj]

This is our first time traveling in January, too, and I am hoping we get at least one late night at MK. Right now MK is open until 10 once and most other nights everything is closing by 9.

 

[drdrowsy]

based on past years, i wouldn't count on extended hours, especially on weekdays and at the non-MK parks

they may push back closing hours at MK, but even then midnight is unlikely, 10 might be more likely. you might find that they do extend hours, but they may not do so until that very day (I have seen them do this is some januaries past)

 

[TheFloatingBear]

This is our first time traveling in January, too, and I am hoping we get at least one late night at MK. Right now MK is open until 10 once and most other nights everything is closing by 9.

Sounds like they will, hopefully? I'm guessing we'll do our full day on Friday at MK, but it would be easier just to roll the dice and expect longer MK hours and take the boat over there after HDDR on Saturday, but then since we only have three days, not sure if we should just plan Epcot? It's just tough since they're essentially booked up almost the whole day on Saturday!

 

[TheFloatingBear]

based on past years, i wouldn't count on extended hours, especially on weekdays and at the non-MK parks

they may push back closing hours at MK, but even then midnight is unlikely, 10 might be more likely. you might find that they do extend hours, but they may not do so until that very day (I have seen them do this is some januaries past)[/QUOTE


We're only there for the weekend. What I've seen from the historical hours supports what you're saying - only MK seems to have any later hours in January. We'd probably be deciding between MK and Epcot for Saturday night, but since we're not done until 6ish with HDDR, not sure of the best plan. I think it's safe to say, we won't have the complete park picture for hours before we need to pick FPs (not that we can book much that day anyway since the kids are booked most of the day with the dance stuff). MK seems easier to get to, but Epcot open until 9 so we could just plan that and then call it a night...thanks!

 

[amylevan]

MK is going to be much easier to get to from HDDR. The boat to the MK is right nearby. Getting to EP will require a bus to the front of campground where you either would get into your vehicle if you're driving or hop another bus to EP. So with the current hours you only have 1 more hour in EP but some of that will be offset by travel. So my suggestion would be to plan on MK and keep your fingers crossed for a later closing.

 

[Sammi & Mittz]

Just to let you know that Jan 26 has a DAH party that is scheduled from 8-11 pm.

 

[TheFloatingBear]

Just to let you know that Jan 26 has a DAH party that is scheduled from 8-11 pm.

Yes, I saw that, thanks! I'm really hoping to do it with my daughter! But if her friends still want to do MK on Friday morning we probably will!

 

[TheFloatingBear]

MK is going to be much easier to get to from HDDR. The boat to the MK is right nearby. Getting to EP will require a bus to the front of campground where you either would get into your vehicle if you're driving or hop another bus to EP. So with the current hours you only have 1 more hour in EP but some of that will be offset by travel. So my suggestion would be to plan on MK and keep your fingers crossed for a later closing.

That's what I was thinking about the transportation to MK, but I wasn't sure about the Epcot transportation, so thanks! We had to commit to the group HDDR thing before we had the whole itinerary, so we're kind of locked in now to lose most of the day...