July Hours really cut back from 2008

[disneynuts777]

Just comparing last years July hours to this years. They have really cut back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Compared to last year most of the parks on most nights are closing an hour earlier then 2008. Sometimes more. Hollywood studios,AK & Epcot on EMH nights is closing at 7pm with EMH until 10pm. Last year they were open until 10pm and then had the EMH hours until 1am. The MK will now close at 10pm with EMH nights until 1a.m
I can hardly wait to see how badly they have axed August hours which is when we are going!!!!!
It does not make that Park hopper option worth it anymore IMO

 

[RayaniFoxmur]

The thing about park hours, especially this far away from the month is that it is simply a projection. The hours can, and probably will, change. Over this last week park hours (especially for the magic kingdom) have been extended, parades have been added and things change at the drop of a hat.

We'll know more about what the park hours will actually look like closer to July I believe.

 

[disneynuts777]

The thing about park hours, especially this far away from the month is that it is simply a projection. The hours can, and probably will, change. Over this last week park hours (especially for the magic kingdom) have been extended, parades have been added and things change at the drop of a hat.

We'll know more about what the park hours will actually look like closer to July I believe.

I hope so because right at the moment I am really sad
I am bringing a group that has never been and with the hours that are posted being so reduced it is kind of heart breaking.
I am not counting on them changing August's hours to much. We are going the last week of August into September which is generally a slower time even with the FD.
I guess I will have to wait another month and see.
It just means that those EMH hours have become very important when planning your day out. Where as it was just a bonus before.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

We are going the first week of Sept, so I feel your concern/pain!

I would just say that we have a few months for the economy to pick up a bit... some indicators are good right now, though things like unemployment will lag for some time. If attendance starts to pick up I wouldn't be surprised if hours are extended. Just a guess, of course. Keeping my fingers crossed, anyway!

 

[disneyobessed]

yeah i just looked at the July hours too. Only 2 Fantasmic Shows are shown for the week we are there.. in the past they have had 2 night a few times a week!!! now only 2 at 9 the whole week! I hope this changes.. another thing is the night of the EMH Spectro was always before Wishes and after.. now its only before.. Im really hoping this changes..

 

[pilesoflaundry]

I noticed two different saturdays in June that we will be there no emh. What? Ugh I'm so bummed. I hope the crowds aren't so unbearable because it will stink to go and be so bad and then no emh for things to thin out.

I know they have to cut back somewhere and it's better than closing or zero fireworks or something but it stinks.

 

[disneyobessed]

A girl I new just got back from Disney.. 2 weeks ago and she said many of the rides were 2hours!! So the crowds are still there!

 

[NJBILL]

many of the rides were 2hours!! !

 

[diskids2]

This will be our first summer trip, although our seventh trip overall. We've been during President's week and Spring Break before. The park hours seem comparable to those times....I was looking forward to later nights.....sleepier mornings.

 

[goofy4tink]

We are heading down in a little over two weeks. I know that the park hours have been extended for our time frame since they were first posted.
I think that Disney will post the hours, but make them the shortest they can get away with. Then, as the month gets closer, if they can extend them, they will. Everyone is going to cheer if the hours get extended, even by one hour. But, if they cut them back by an hour, after posting them, then you would hear a huge outcry. This way, they look like heros.
But....I've been wrong before.

 

[diskids2]

We are heading down in a little over two weeks. I know that the park hours have been extended for our time frame since they were first posted.
I think that Disney will post the hours, but make them the shortest they can get away with. Then, as the month gets closer, if they can extend them, they will. Everyone is going to cheer if the hours get extended, even by one hour. But, if they cut them back by an hour, after posting them, then you would hear a huge outcry. This way, they look like heros.
But....I've been wrong before.

Actually I think you are right....from what I've been reading all over..not just WDW sites....many people are waiting until the last minute to book vacations.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

July park hours right now look quite similar to our early December trip 2007. Well except MK, that closed at 7 many nights for MVMCP. I couldn't imagine July being as quiet as early December, but I guess it could happen.

I have never known Epcot to close any time other than 7PM FW and 9PM WS. If it is FW that is closing at 7PM, then PM EMH should still run from 9-12. They go by WS hours most of the time, being a lot of FW does stay open until 9 anyway.

 

[disneynuts777]

We are heading down in a little over two weeks. I know that the park hours have been extended for our time frame since they were first posted.
I think that Disney will post the hours, but make them the shortest they can get away with. Then, as the month gets closer, if they can extend them, they will. Everyone is going to cheer if the hours get extended, even by one hour. But, if they cut them back by an hour, after posting them, then you would hear a huge outcry. This way, they look like heros.
But....I've been wrong before.

I so hope your right. We have been going the last week of August for the past few years and the park hours were never this short.
I loved being able to go to the AK in the morning then going back to the resort mid afternoon when it was just to hot. Having a nice dinner and then head over to HS for the evening because it was opened until 1 or 2 am.
If they keep the posted hours like July I will not be able to do this as HS would be closing at 10pm....the time we would normally be arriving

 

[bicker]

I suspect that if the down-turn in travel doesn't turn out to be as bad as expected, that they will add hours.

 

[Nikisha421]

it will most likely ge better

 

[Tiffany]

Just comparing last years July hours to this years. They have really cut back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Compared to last year most of the parks on most nights are closing an hour earlier then 2008. Sometimes more. Hollywood studios,AK & Epcot on EMH nights is closing at 7pm with EMH until 10pm. Last year they were open until 10pm and then had the EMH hours until 1am. The MK will now close at 10pm with EMH nights until 1a.m
I can hardly wait to see how badly they have axed August hours which is when we are going!!!!!
It does not make that Park hopper option worth it anymore IMO

Well, take it as a sign that crowds are going to be lighter this year than last. Less people to deal with during the day so you can get more done in less time and therefore the park does not have to be open as late as last year. Just trying to find the brightside to shorter park hours.

 

[disneynuts777]

Well, take it as a sign that crowds are going to be lighter this year than last. Less people to deal with during the day so you can get more done in less time and therefore the park does not have to be open as late as last year. Just trying to find the brightside to shorter park hours.

The hard part with the hours being cut back so much in the evening is that it does not allow you to go back to the resort during the hottest part of the day and take a break. If HS and AK are only open from 9-7 it really does not allow a nice mid afternoon break as well as being able to see most of the attractions.
I am keeping my fingers crossed that the hours might get better if enough people take advantage of the FD promo.

 

[hapandpam]

I was helping a friend plan for a trip next week and came up with a whole spread sheet with the hours, parade times etc. about a month ago. Then, earlier this week I checked it over and most of it was wrong. Disney wants to make money. People in the parks spend money. The summer crowds may not be as large as previous years but I doubt if it is going to be slow. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see July hours change a lot. At least I hope so... That's when I'm going too!

 

[meliss8599]

Have Epcot's hours been posted yet?

 

[Hook's Girl]

Just comparing last years July hours to this years. They have really cut back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Compared to last year most of the parks on most nights are closing an hour earlier then 2008. Sometimes more. Hollywood studios,AK & Epcot on EMH nights is closing at 7pm with EMH until 10pm. Last year they were open until 10pm and then had the EMH hours until 1am. The MK will now close at 10pm with EMH nights until 1a.m
I can hardly wait to see how badly they have axed August hours which is when we are going!!!!!
It does not make that Park hopper option worth it anymore IMO

Um, Epcot had not been open until 10 pm in the last two and a half years that I have worked here, including the summer, and I close most EMH nights.

And according to the Walt Disney World website Epcot has two emh nights a week and the hours are from 9 pm to 10 pm. That is the exact same schedule as last summer.http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/epcot/calendar/