June 2016 Park Hours - Seem to be closing 1 hour earlier this year

[SabresFan]

So looks like the final park hours are posted for June, and for Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, they seem to be closing 1 hour earlier each day when compared to 2015. Kind of a bummer for us. It's nice that Animal Kingdom is staying open longer, but I am not pleased with this constant reduction from year to year of things like Extra Magic Hours (used to be twice a week for Evening EMH at MK and Epcot, now once a week, and used to be 3 hours instead of 2 hours) and now the parks themselves are also closing earlier.

Annoying.

 

[hiroMYhero]

@JimmyV posted earlier today and analyzed and compared MK park hours: Are "After Hours" and "Early Morning Magic" Cutting Into Regular Hours?-Analytics (Long)

 

[SabresFan]

I don't think there are any "After Hours" in June, so that's not the contributing factor there - just closing earlier than a year ago.

 

[maryj11]

They have been known to change hours right up until the day of, so hopefully they will change MK to be open until 12:00am

 

[jknc]

FWIW - I believe the reduction in anticipated crowds is causing the earlier closures.

 

[SabresFan]

So, just curious - why would they expect a reduction in crowds for June 2016 versus June 2015? Has attendance been declining year-over-year?

 

[mom2rtk]

So, just curious - why would they expect a reduction in crowds for June 2016 versus June 2015? Has attendance been declining year-over-year?

I believe the recent shareholder report indicated that while revenue was up and attendance was up at DLR, there had been a moderate decrease in attendance at WDW. Perhaps resort bookings indicate that will continue.

I've lost track of what's happening with hours at DLR, but entertainment is still scaled back. That tells me this isn't all about attendance, but that maybe attendance is giving them cover to continue to cut.

 

[JonUK]

The official calendar was showing half past whatever they were closing Hollywood Studios for Friday 10th, and then they added half an hour to close just a little later. It's not much, but that's nice for me. I think I noticed when the times were being reviewed - the times on the 10th and 11th disappeared for about a minute and reappeared with that update. This update with the dashes instead of times happened park by park, I found that interesting.

 

[cjparker0110]

I believe the recent shareholder report indicated that while revenue was up and attendance was up at DLR, there had been a moderate decrease in attendance at WDW. Perhaps resort bookings indicate that will continue.

I've lost track of what's happening with hours at DLR, but entertainment is still scaled back. That tells me this isn't all about attendance, but that maybe attendance is giving them cover to continue to cut.

1. Perhaps enough people are becoming fed up with the increasing costs and perceived loss of value. In light of many of the changes they have been making that I see people are not very happy about, I can see less bookings trending over the next year or two...especially in light of ALL of the construction headaches. We are going next year and the ONLY reason we might go to Hollywood Studios is for Star Tours. My kids won't be big enough for Rock n Roller coaster and I know my wife will not allow them on the Tower of Terror (she is not wild about "ghost" stories being introduced to our kids yet) so that pretty much rules out my enjoyment of the park. We won't do Fantasmic with them yet, either. So basically there is no reason to go to that park except for this Star Wars nerd...

 

[mom2rtk]

1. Perhaps enough people are becoming fed up with the increasing costs and perceived loss of value. In light of many of the changes they have been making that I see people are not very happy about, I can see less bookings trending over the next year or two...especially in light of ALL of the construction headaches. We are going next year and the ONLY reason we might go to Hollywood Studios is for Star Tours. My kids won't be big enough for Rock n Roller coaster and I know my wife will not allow them on the Tower of Terror (she is not wild about "ghost" stories being introduced to our kids yet) so that pretty much rules out my enjoyment of the park. We won't do Fantasmic with them yet, either. So basically there is no reason to go to that park except for this Star Wars nerd...

I agree that Disney is seeing the natural consequence of what has been happening in the parks in recent years. I think people plan their trips a long ways in advance and it takes a while for that effect to "catch up". They hear about things they don't care for (longer lines, higher prices, understaffed areas of operation) but can't cancel a long planned trip on a hunch, so follow through. Then maybe they decide to wait longer and take a shorter trip next time. Then finally they decide the value just isn't there for them. Likewise, I think it takes a while for that trust to be regained and to get them back again.

I would love to see attendance over time by park. It really seems like MK is busier than ever, but the other neglected parks must be dragging that total down.

Star Wars Land will likely pack the bodies in again, but at the rate Disney constructs new things it will be a very long time before that will come to the rescue.

It remains to be seen whether Fro-strom can have a listing impact on attendance at Epcot or whether a last minute thrown together night show can do the same for AK.

 

[maryj11]

Well it it looks like MK is closing at 11:00. I thought they would change to 12:00 by now

 

[LisaCM614]

Well it it looks like MK is closing at 11:00. I thought they would change to 12:00 by now

Many of the midnight closings last year were day of changes. Meaning they were planned to be 11 and moved that day to midnight. Don't give up. I'm not!
I just wish Typhoon Lagoon had a later closing than 6pm on the day we were planning on going!

 

[revdon64]

Haven't we had this thread already? Didn't it get locked because it turned nasty?

 

[maryj11]

N

Haven't we had this thread already? Didn't it get locked because it turned nasty?

No that was a different one.

 

[pktbMouse]

leaving Friday and hoping for more hours too...fingers and mouse ears crossed

 

[maryj11]

Well I see some days at the beginning of June have changed to an 8:00 am opening. I know there are a few that are really upset because they thought they had a pre park dining reservation. I wished they would change the closing to 12:00.

 

[maryj11]

Correction- different days all through June have been changed to 8:00 am opening. Why only certain days and not all of them?

 

[Aravan24]

It has been speculated that the economy/echange rates in Canada as well as Argentina...along with the struggling Brazilian economy...have been a large contributor to the reduced crowds for the summer months. I know there are a lot of our Canadian 'neighbors to the North' that visit Disney World and every time I'm there during the summer months there are large tour groups from South American on property.

 

[MissKIA]

It has been speculated that the economy/echange rates in Canada as well as Argentina...along with the struggling Brazilian economy...have been a large contributor to the reduced crowds for the summer months. I know there are a lot of our Canadian 'neighbors to the North' that visit Disney World and every time I'm there during the summer months there are large tour groups from South American on property.

It's true. As a Canadian this trip is costing us literally thousands more because of the poor dollar, and Disney gives us no breaks. Other vacation companies do have deals for Canadians when the dollar is poor to entice us to go. It's very frustrating. If we hadn't had this trip planned for years I would definitely think twice about it. I can see why many other Canadians would cancel their plans and stay in the country, especially in the summer months. I'm really hoping it improves before next years trip.

 

[cvjpirate]

It has been speculated that the economy/echange rates in Canada as well as Argentina...along with the struggling Brazilian economy...have been a large contributor to the reduced crowds for the summer months. I know there are a lot of our Canadian 'neighbors to the North' that visit Disney World and every time I'm there during the summer months there are large tour groups from South American on property.

It seems to me, no data to back it up, that each year I go and I seeing less and less people from over seas. I think this is where the big part of any drop offs has impacted crowds.