January park hours changing - just got a FP+ notice about it

[Harambe]

Just an FYI that they have changed some of the January hours, with times being extended here and there by an hour or a half hour. Nothing major, but I was a little surprised since this is the second week of January, after the marathon and before MLK weekend. So I guess there are a fair amount of people around! I don't mind, since I don't expect those "dead" days any more.

I am most excited about them extending the hours at AK, which is why they changed one of our fast passes. Don't want to mention anything and jinx it, but maybe . . . .

 

[mom2rtk]

Just an FYI that they have changed some of the January hours, with times being extended here and there by an hour or a half hour. Nothing major, but I was a little surprised since this is the second week of January, after the marathon and before MLK weekend. So I guess there are a fair amount of people around! I don't mind, since I don't expect those "dead" days any more.

I am most excited about them extending the hours at AK, which is why they changed one of our fast passes. Don't want to mention anything and jinx it, but maybe . . . .

I'm curious. How does them extending hours get your fastpass time changed?

 

[Harambe]

We had a fast pass for Dinosaur for the end of the day - 6:30 to 7pm. They extended the AK hours until 7:30pm, so they made our fast pass for the whole hour, like normal (6:30-7:30pm). So I started to check all the other park hours for our trip and saw some of those slight changes.

 

[NYCANC]

That's funny- I just checked like 2 days ago and nothing was changed yet!
Looks like the Saturday and Sunday of MLK weekend- MK is now open until 11.
I think before that it was showing 9pm.

 

[Eric LeJeune]

I think we will be there around the same time, I didnt get an email about it however.

 

[Disneylover99]

Yes, I just got 2 fp notifications for January 3rd and 4th at HS.

 

[Ds4angels]

Does that mean wishes is pushed back to 11 on those Sunday nights then

 

[Disneylover99]

I think we will be there around the same time, I didnt get an email about it however.

You would only get a notification if you have a fp booked for a timeslot that is less than an hour long. Those times lots have been extended to a full hour now because park hours were extended.

 

[Harambe]

Does that mean wishes is pushed back to 11 on those Sunday nights then

You can go to the disney go site and call up all the days you want to check. We don't do the parades/fireworks other than Illuminations, so not sure when the other fireworks will be going off. As I said in the beginning, I am wondering if River of Lights (there - I said it!!) might be testing on those days that AK is now open later. Probably not, but one can dream!!!!

 

[figmentedfollies]

Thank you for the heads up! I'm going the third week of January and more park time is always better. Comparing the times on the app versus the hours listed on the 4 Park Planning PDF meant for Travel Agents (last updated 11/18) the following days have changed:

• Jan 01 - HS open until 8
• Jan 02 - HS open until 8
• Jan 03 - HS open until 8
• Jan 04 - HS open until 8
• Jan 05 - HS open until 8
• Jan 06 - HS open until 8
• Jan 07 - HS open until 8
• Jan 08 - HS open until 8, AK open until 7:30
• Jan 09 - HS open until 8, AK open until 7:30
• Jan 10 - HS open until 8, AK open until 7:30
• Jan 11 - HS open until 8, AK open until 7:30
• Jan 12 - HS open until 8, AK open until 7:30
• Jan 13 - MK open until 11, HS open until 8, AK open until 7:30
  
• Jan 14 - MK open until 11, HS open until 8, AK open until 7:30
• Jan 15 - MK open until 11, HS open until 8, AK open until 7:30
• Jan 16 - MK open until 10, HS open until 8, AK open until 7:30
  
• Jan 17 - MK open until 9, HS open until 8, AK open until 7:30
  
• Jan 18 - HS open until 8, AK open until 7:30
  
• Jan 19 - HS open until 8, AK open until 7:30
  
• Jan 20 - MK open until 9, HS open until 8, AK open until 7:30
  
• Jan 21 - MK open until 11, HS open until 8, AK open until 7:30
• Jan 22 - MK open until 10, HS open until 8, AK open until 7:30
  
• Jan 23 - MK open until 8, HS open until 8, AK open until 7:30
  
• Jan 24 - MK open until 9, HS open until 8, AK open until 7:30
  
• Jan 25 - HS open until 8, AK open until 7:30
  
• Jan 26 - HS open until 8, AK open until 7:30
  
• Jan 27 - MK open until 9, HS open until 8, AK open until 7:30
  
• Jan 28 - MK open until 12, HS open until 8, AK open until 7:30
• Jan 29 - MK open until 11, HS open until 8, AK open until 7:30
  
• Jan 30 - MK open until 9, HS open until 8, AK open until 7:30
  
• Jan 31 - HS open until 8, AK open until 7:30

So basically it looks like HS has had their hours extended by an hour for entire month. For the last three weeks, AK has an extra half hour added. MK usually had an hour (sometimes two) added during the last two weeks, except for Wednesday and Thursdays when they might have had PM EMH.

 

[Accident]

Jan was insane in 2016.. I hope this isn't a repeat where the holiday crowds don't go away until late feb but they don't keep holiday park hours and makes it harder to do a lot of things.

 

[louisianab]

They also had Star Wars Galactic Spectacular for most nights at HS. Yay for the hubby, he has been hoping.

 

[rteetz]

Jan was insane in 2016.. I hope this isn't a repeat where the holiday crowds don't go away until late feb but they don't keep holiday park hours and makes it harder to do a lot of things.

I did not find January insane in 2016. Definitely not anywhere near summer crowds or anything. It was crowded but not crazy.

 

[rteetz]

I have a trip from Jan 2nd to Jan 10th I didn't get any notifications of any changes.

 

[Anal Annie]

We're there from the 3rd to the 9th - I guess I didn't have any FP's booked in that last hour that would have promted an email. For us the only change is that HS is now open until 8:00 rather than 7:00. I HATE that they screw with the hours this close to the trip. I didn't plan any evenings at HS because it was scheduled to close so early. Now I'm wondering if they will extend the fireworks beyond the end of Dec.?? I really hate that I can't make informed decisions on stuff at 60 days out when we have to book FP's. Since there probably won't be any RoL that week we could have booked our FP's at HS instead. So frustrating.

 

[rdominy]

We're there from the 3rd to the 9th - I guess I didn't have any FP's booked in that last hour that would have promted an email. For us the only change is that HS is now open until 8:00 rather than 7:00. I HATE that they screw with the hours this close to the trip. I didn't plan any evenings at HS because it was scheduled to close so early. Now I'm wondering if they will extend the fireworks beyond the end of Dec.?? I really hate that I can't make informed decisions on stuff at 60 days out when we have to book FP's. Since there probably won't be any RoL that week we could have booked our FP's at HS instead. So frustrating.

The Star Wars fireworks at HS were extended into January several days ago. We booked a dessert party for 1/1.

 

[SuperTink]

If MK closes at 9:00, what time will they have Wishes?

 

[Anal Annie]

The Star Wars fireworks at HS were extended into January several days ago. We booked a dessert party for 1/1.

Oh good! Thanks. How can I find out the schedule / nights / times?!

 

[rdominy]

Oh good! Thanks. How can I find out the schedule / nights / times?!

They haven't added the times on many 3rd party calendars but if you look at the Disney world calendar on their page all entertainment is listed just go to your HS date

 

[Anal Annie]

They haven't added the times on many 3rd party calendars but if you look at the Disney world calendar on their page all entertainment is listed just go to your HS date

Duh. Thanks. I'll look on MDE.