Magic Kingdom opening hours extended for selected dates in June

[DebbieB]

For those that were confused about how the 8am opening would 'screw up' peoples dining plans it's primarily because they were taking advantage of a loophole that allows people to book dining reservations prior to the official park opening. Then, by the time they get done with their breakfast they are positioned to hit many of the premium attractions with minimal wait since they're in ahead of most of the park guests. With the new park hours being changed to 8am they now potentially have issues getting to their breakfast reservations on time to to having to deal with the rope drop crowds (although Disney usually handles this fairly well) and also with coming out of their breakfast reservation to a park that has been open for almost a full hour...long enough for the standby lines to have built up.

That said, it should be noted that as with any loophole that is being taken advantage of, it should be expected that they will close eventually and the inability to take advantage of them any longer isn't 'poor customer service'. It's simply the way business and pretty much everything else works.

I wouldn't call it a loophole. It's not like it was a mistake that they started dining at 8:00 and people discovered it, that's what I would call a loophole. They want people in earlier so that they can make more money on breakfast.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

On the mornings then that now the park opens at 8am might they serve breakfast at 7am or is 8am as early as it gets?

 

[maryj11]

Exactly, constant changes. Every week something new! ROl, no Rol, Jungle Book, Soarin' new, Soarin' old, FEA, Early Magic, New Star Wars, Old Star Wars etc, etc, etc.

I'm happy to be going and will have a great time but this trip (mid June) has been the most complicated by far for me to plan ever. I'm exhausted and I'm not even there yet.

I would of listed them all but there were so many I couldnt remember Glad you could !

 

[Love Tink]

That said, it should be noted that as with any loophole that is being taken advantage of, it should be expected that they will close eventually and the inability to take advantage of them any longer isn't 'poor customer service'. It's simply the way business and pretty much everything else works.

Actually, the way business works is that companies will try to provide goods or services that are in demand, in the hopes people will buy those goods and services. An example of this is pre park-opening breakfasts, which are nothing new and which are a big moneymaker (breakfast in the castle is about $60, fast service breakfast at BoG is $24). Extending the hours in which they can sell these ludicrously priced meals is a great business idea.

Much like you don't seem to understand business, you don't seem to know what "loophole" means. FYI, there are dictionaries available online.

 

[capegirl]

I wouldn't call it a loophole. It's not like it was a mistake that they started dining at 8:00 and people discovered it, that's what I would call a loophole. They want people in earlier so that they can make more money on breakfast.

I agree, this is no loophole. These PPO breakfasts are super popular, but I wonder how many people show up for their 8am ADRs who have not rechecked the MK park hours since they booked, and keep the ADR to avoid the $10/person no show penalty. Disney knows these breakfasts are a cash cow, so they must expect the majority to keep their ADRs.

 

[Aravan24]

Actually, the way business works is that companies will try to provide goods or services that are in demand, in the hopes people will buy those goods and services. An example of this is pre park-opening breakfasts, which are nothing new and which are a big moneymaker (breakfast in the castle is about $60, fast service breakfast at BoG is $24). Extending the hours in which they can sell these ludicrously priced meals is a great business idea.

Much like you don't seem to understand business, you don't seem to know what "loophole" means. FYI, there are dictionaries available online.

Whatever you like to call it they provided a means for people to get into the parks prior to opening so that they are staged to have premium access to rides. They have now found another way to do this for even more money with the EMM event. I wasn't claiming that Disney's business practices in this regard were a genius move but the fact is that having access to the park prior to the other guests got in was never guaranteed with the pre-park opening dining reservations. When people feel like they're getting it over on Disney and something happens to prevent this it is always a touchy subject...as evidenced by all the discussions which touch on Free Dining.

Clearly my comments touched a nerve with you as well given your snarky response. I suppose it's too much to expect that you would be able to express your points and opinions in a civil manner given the earth-shaking nature of this topic.

 

[quagmire0]

So I was just running through our fastpasses for next week and I suddenly noticed that it was showing availability before 9am. This was an MK day for us, and I had a reservation for BOG at 8am to get into the park early. Turns out they must have recently pushed the opening up to 8am. Fortunately, I think I'm one of the first to notice because I was able to snag all the early Fastpasses in time. But I figured I'd send out this friendly reminder for all the keep an eye out - especially those going to MK next week.

 

[DebbieB]

This impacts one of our MK days. I had made a PPO ADR at Crystal Palace so we could get a jump on Adventureland and Frontierland. We still plan on going to CP because it's one of our favorite breakfasts. My concern is the crowds at the gate and getting to our ADR on time. My plan is to be at the bus stop around 6:30am and, weather permitting, go bag free so we can skip the bag check line. Would that time be early enough coming from AKL?

ETA - We drive to WDW. Would a better plan be to leave AKL around 6:15-6:30am, valet park at the CR then walk to MK? Our ADR is at 8:05am.

We did the EMM on 5/14. We were stayed at AoA, there was a MK bus waiting at the stop at 6:30am, only ones on the bus. Got to MK around 6:50. There were some security guards standing around, we were the only guests! They opened the security stations around 7:15 or so. We then went to a cm with a clipboard and he got our names and gave us our wristbands and stickers. We then waited by the train station entrance tunnel until 7:45 when we were let in.

 

[ashleyrm]

Whatever you like to call it they provided a means for people to get into the parks prior to opening so that they are staged to have premium access to rides. They have now found another way to do this for even more money with the EMM event. I wasn't claiming that Disney's business practices in this regard were a genius move but the fact is that having access to the park prior to the other guests got in was never guaranteed with the pre-park opening dining reservations. When people feel like they're getting it over on Disney and something happens to prevent this it is always a touchy subject...as evidenced by all the discussions which touch on Free Dining.

Clearly my comments touched a nerve with you as well given your snarky response. I suppose it's too much to expect that you would be able to express your points and opinions in a civil manner given the earth-shaking nature of this topic.

Dag, I don't come around these boards too often anymore and now I remember why.

I do agree that the more successful these "for pay" early mornings become the more likely we are to see less "free" morning EMHs. This one seems to be doing well. I remain thankful that the evening paid hour event at MK seems to have been a disaster.

 

[yulilin3]

I opened a thread about the changes yesterday

 

[Baptist]

I really dislike how Disney changes their hours the week before you go. Yet, they expect you to plan your dining reservations 6 months out and FPs 2 months out. It's unfair.

 

[quagmire0]

Sorry for the repost then.

 

[quagmire0]

On the mornings then that now the park opens at 8am might they serve breakfast at 7am or is 8am as early as it gets?

I'm wondering about this as well. Checked the date that was effected for us and didn't see any breakfasts available before 8am. Considering I was able to snag early fastpasses fairly easily, I'm guessing they don't have ADRs that early?

 

[quagmire0]

Honestly, I didn't even see this post until today and had kind of stumbled on the early entrance time on my own this morning. Even with that, I was still able to snag a handful of early fastpasses and cancel our BOG breakfast. The breakfast doesn't bother me in the least, as we can save $100 and eat breakfast at the condo. So, as long as you are diligently monitoring your plans, it shouldn't affect you. Who it will affect are those people that don't make plans or don't check them before their trip.

 

[bbjunkie]

Actually, the way business works is that companies will try to provide goods or services that are in demand, in the hopes people will buy those goods and services. An example of this is pre park-opening breakfasts, which are nothing new and which are a big moneymaker (breakfast in the castle is about $60, fast service breakfast at BoG is $24). Extending the hours in which they can sell these ludicrously priced meals is a great business idea.

Much like you don't seem to understand business, you don't seem to know what "loophole" means. FYI, there are dictionaries available online.

Wow! This is unnecessarily nasty.

 

[Praying Colonel]

So I was just running through our fastpasses for next week and I suddenly noticed that it was showing availability before 9am. This was an MK day for us, and I had a reservation for BOG at 8am to get into the park early. Turns out they must have recently pushed the opening up to 8am. Fortunately, I think I'm one of the first to notice because I was able to snag all the early Fastpasses in time. But I figured I'd send out this friendly reminder for all the keep an eye out - especially those going to MK next week.

I was just coming over to post this--we were able to move our 7DMT FP up from the evening (which no longer works for us) to 8:45-9:45, so get 'em while they're hot.

 

[maryj11]

I opened a thread about the changes yesterday

I didnt see it.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Thank you for explanation and other point of view. Why would a guest need to cancel an ADR if the park opened early?

Because the only reason they made the ADR is to get into the park ahead of the lines. Now, if they keep the ADR, the lines will be forming while they are at breakfast.

I am not sure that is a loophole. But I suppose it's up to Disney whether or not to take away the "advantage" on any given day. They do often extend the opening hours when expecting crowds.

And even on the days where the opening hours are extended, breakfast starts at 8. they don't extend ADRS to 7 AM.

With the opening hours change, I'd try to go for a later breakfast (assuming breakfast is still on the agenda) and get rides in first thing.

 

[JimmyV]

I updated my monthly analysis here: http://www.disboards.com/threads/ar...o-regular-hours-analytics-long.3511211/page-9

I looked at the entire month collectively instead of week by week.

2015:
Included hours = 469. EMHs (a.m.)= 4. EMH (p.m.) = 8 HT = 0
Operating Hours after 8:00 p.m.-----I = 128. EMHs = 8. HT = 0
Operating Hours before 10:00 a.m.---I = 42. EMH = 4. HT = 0
Number of days with an Included closing time of 11:00 = 0. 12:00 = 22. 1:00 = 8

2016:
Included hours = 436. EMHs (a.m.)= 4. EMH (p.m.) = 10 HT = 0
Operating Hours after 8:00 p.m.-----I = 95. EMHs = 10. HT = 0
Operating Hours before 10:00 a.m.---I = 40. EMH = 4. HT = 10
Number of days with an Included closing time of 11:00 = 25. 12:00 = 5. 1:00 = 0

So 2015 had 2 fewer evening EMHs, but that is accounted for by the shift in the days of the week. Generally, there has been no change week by week. There are 2 evening EMHs each week, and 1 morning EMH each week. It all just depends on which day of the week the 1st of the month falls to see if you get your full allotment for a month.

The big difference is in evening hours. A big drop from 128 included hours after 8:00 to 95 such hours in 2016. And 2015 had 36 Included hours after 11:00 p.m. and 2016 has 5. That is amazing. In 2015, the MK never closed at 11:00. This year it closes at 11:00 25 out of 30 days. In 2016, the MK never closes at 1:00 a.m.. In 2015, it did so 8 times. Early Included hours weren't really impacted by the Waffle Hour. 2016 saw a dip of 2 morning hours over the span of a month. Hardly significant. But guests could buy back 10 early hours if they wish. Thought you might like to know.

 

[capegirl]

I think it needs to be said that those who book PPO ADRs are in no way trying to 'put one over' on Disney. Disney is fully aware. They are the ones who encourage advance planning.