Last Minute Updates to Park Calendars

[maryj11]

I certainly understand it is not intentional, but they are kind of undercutting their own resort stay value if things are not available in time to be reserved early.

I agree. Hopefully Disney will get over this hump caused by opening to many new attractions and shows around the same time.

 

[RLGNC]

This is frustrating and does make planning difficult. We are going in August and I'm wondering about AK hours and nighttime activities. Is it true they also change EMH days with very short notice?

 

[maryj11]

This is frustrating and does make planning difficult. We are going in August and I'm wondering about AK hours and nighttime activities. Is it true they also change EMH days with very short notice?

Two years ago they changed one of our non EMH days to an evening EMH 2 weeks before we left.

 

[d-train]

It is a frustrating situation for those of us that want to plan ahead for sure!
Waiting for the same info... Hard to believe that MK would close at 10PM in June...

 

[soniam]

It is a frustrating situation for those of us that want to plan ahead for sure!
Waiting for the same info... Hard to believe that MK would close at 10PM in June...

I think it's going to be like mid-May. Those hours are already up. I have specifically avoided looking at Memorial Day weekend though.

 

[CookieGVB]

I've actually been in the park when they've announced hours were extended for the day. Hadn't seen anything online about it before we got there...

 

[Duckiedee]

How often do they add Early Morning Magic Hours vs Evening hours... I'm most concerned about our pre-park ADRs being affected, the rest I can live with.

If they add Early Magic Hours - do the restaurants open an hour earlier as well?

 

[DBDiz]

I wouldn't be surprised if they're waiting and judging the popularity of After Hours pay events, and considering augmenting the EMH schedule to fit around more of them.

 

[Mikie]

I've actually been in the park when they've announced hours were extended for the day. Hadn't seen anything online about it before we got there...

I've seen posts on DIS about day-of changes. The odd thing about this summer's calendars is that there's often the initial calendar posted months out, possibly some changes in between, then a fairly big sweeping change on or by the 6-8 week mark, then possibly more changes just prior and day-of. This time around, those preliminary calendars have early (historically, for the same month in prior years) closings and have had NO adjustments yet, only 4 weeks away, to come close to other summer schedules.

How often do they add Early Morning Magic Hours vs Evening hours... I'm most concerned about our pre-park ADRs being affected, the rest I can live with.

If they add Early Magic Hours - do the restaurants open an hour earlier as well?

No. If they add EMH, an 8:00 ADR that used to be "pre-park-open" becomes an 8:00 "during EMH" reservation, but no earlier times are added.

 

[Mikie]

I wouldn't be surprised if they're waiting and judging the popularity of After Hours pay events, and considering augmenting the EMH schedule to fit around more of them.

I've got no guess whether Disney would do this intentionally, but perhaps the stress of looking at these shorter hours will make people who were previously uninterested in after-hours stuff suddenly be enthusiastic or reluctant purchasers of them as their only option for later/longer days. I.e. The events may not be "popular" but may instead become "necessary".

 

[pktbMouse]

I want to book late night fastpasses! comon Disney...

 

[Shanti]

I've got no guess whether Disney would do this intentionally, but perhaps the stress of looking at these shorter hours will make people who were previously uninterested in after-hours stuff suddenly be enthusiastic or reluctant purchasers of them as their only option for later/longer days. I.e. The events may not be "popular" but may instead become "necessary".

Except they don't have the after-hours events decided upon, either.

 

[disneynutz]

IMO they keep the hours short, watch what the bookings look like especially with all of the media adds that they are running and they add hours if necessary.

If they add hours they are wonderful, if they take them away, they are evil.

Bill

 

[Anal Annie]

I've actually been in the park when they've announced hours were extended for the day. Hadn't seen anything online about it before we got there...

We were there in January when they extended MK hours on the same day. We had a dinner res at the Turf Club with another family that ran later than expected and we THOUGHT MK was going to close at 10:00 & that we'd not have time but it ended up going to midnight so we had time to go after dinner after all. But it was pure luck that they extended hours on the same day.

 

[Kimberly9701]

IMO they keep the hours short, watch what the bookings look like especially with all of the media adds that they are running and they add hours if necessary.

If they add hours they are wonderful, if they take them away, they are evil.

Bill

I think this is probably the most accurate guess.

 

[luvallprincesses]

I've got no guess whether Disney would do this intentionally, but perhaps the stress of looking at these shorter hours will make people who were previously uninterested in after-hours stuff suddenly be enthusiastic or reluctant purchasers of them as their only option for later/longer days. I.e. The events may not be "popular" but may instead become "necessary".

At first I thought they were waiting to see the popularity from the May dates but then my thoughts evolved into exactly this. But I've also felt like they would "try" the evening magic hours for a longer period of time before being able to determine its success (or failure), needing time for word to get out. How many will bite the bait on this and result in its success?!

 

[Fuhnuh]

My 60-day date begins tonight at 12. I have been hoping that the hours for July would be extended. I can plan around it, but it's kind of a hassle. I haven't read through all of the threads concerning this, but I have to wonder if late announcements that seem to be happening this year is mostly to minimize the number of people who cancel their WDW hotel reservations if something happens that upsets the party? How many people, even those with room-only reservations, would cancel 14-30 days before the trip as opposed to 60+ days? It seems that this is another way they are trying to operate at optimum efficiency ($$). I can't imagine that June and July will not result in at least some later MK and HS hours, but they are probably waiting to see if they can get away with less than last year. It is frustrating that planning seems to get harder every year. We do not do ADR's, so the 60-day park planning was kind of a drag to begin with. As soon as I became used to planning park days that far in advance, now I've got to watch for hours changes, EMH changes, private event changes, and FP+ changes for new hours and new/reopening rides. I actually like planning to maximize our WDW experience, but have never liked planning our trips by the hour. I miss the flexibility of the old system, though I have accepted the changes FP+ brings. Waiting for all of these updates has made me check Disboards and Lines chat daily for developments, so we don't miss out on FP+ selections. To me this is kind of a hassle and must be quite frustrating to people whose hobby is not planning their trips.