May 31- Magic Kingdom closes at 7PM?!

[poeticdiabetic]

Our first day at WDW is on May 31st. I'm taking my goddaughter, whose trip may be her only one in her life. So I was thinking: Hey! Let's go to Magic Kingdom first- especially since we aren't buying parkhoppers. However as I'm looking at the calendar for park hours, they are saying that Magic Kingdom will close at 7PM!

Does anyone know why MK is closing so early?

Thanks!

 

[mom2rtk]

General consensus is that it's a private event (some sort of travel agent conference).

We were thinking of visiting the MK the day before (Saturday) but now I'm afraid the early close on Sunday is going to make that busy Saturday really insane.

If you can hop over another day for the night entertainment, I'd go on Sunday (we can't). Days the park closes early are generally much less busy.

 

[poeticdiabetic]

Thank you. It's interesting that you say that it may be less busy. So here's my thinking: Should we just go ahead and go to MK anyway? If it's less crowded, we can get all our fun in before 7, if we hit rope drop.

 

[mom2rtk]

If you don't care about the night entertainment (fireworks, MSEP) then I would absolutely choose that day. Generally the early close tends to scare people away.

 

[anniemae]

If I were you I think I would go anyway. You can get a lot done by 7 if you get there early, then you could go back to the hotel for a swim, or go to DTD.

 

[NickEslick]

That time of year it is very likely it could be some sort of a graduation night for High School Seniors. They'll take a bunch of schools in Florida and send the Seniors to a park for a night. Which park seems to rotate between years. I have a few friends who went to HS for their Senior night a few years ago.

 

[mom2rtk]

That time of year it is very likely it could be some sort of a graduation night for High School Seniors. They'll take a bunch of schools in Florida and send the Seniors to a park for a night. Which park seems to rotate between years. I have a few friends who went to HS for their Senior night a few years ago.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/magic-kingdom-closing-at-7-00pm-may-31st.3384200/#post-53177820

 

[mesaboy2]

That time of year it is very likely it could be some sort of a graduation night for High School Seniors. They'll take a bunch of schools in Florida and send the Seniors to a park for a night. Which park seems to rotate between years. I have a few friends who went to HS for their Senior night a few years ago.

Grad Nights ended a couple of years ago.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

It is the yearly IPW tourism conference for US Travel Association. Lots and lots of travel agents.

It's anticipated that with an early closing most guests who don't have hoppers will choose another park, keeping crowds a bit more reasonable.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

That time of year it is very likely it could be some sort of a graduation night for High School Seniors. They'll take a bunch of schools in Florida and send the Seniors to a park for a night. Which park seems to rotate between years. I have a few friends who went to HS for their Senior night a few years ago.

Grad night ended in 2011 at WDW.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/gradnight.htm

When it existed, it didn't start until 10pm.

 

[greentea]

I think you'd probably have a perfectly nice day there if you don't care about the fireworks. It might actually be nice to have day 1 be shorter. Go swim and relax or explore the resort or Downtown Disney.

We were thinking of visiting the MK the day before (Saturday) but now I'm afraid the early close on Sunday is going to make that busy Saturday really insane.

I'm thinking this, too, but I think we're still going to do it. Saturday is our arrival day, and I think our group will want to go to MK first. I also have Be Our Guest reservations for that night, so we're stuck with that, at least. We do have hoppers though, so if it's too ridiculous we can leave for a bit, come back for our dinner ADR and stay late.

 

[mom2rtk]

I think you'd probably have a perfectly nice day there if you don't care about the fireworks. It might actually be nice to have day 1 be shorter. Go swim and relax or explore the resort or Downtown Disney.


I'm thinking this, too, but I think we're still going to do it. Saturday is our arrival day, and I think our group will want to go to MK first. I also have Be Our Guest reservations for that night, so we're stuck with that, at least. We do have hoppers though, so if it's too ridiculous we can leave for a bit, come back for our dinner ADR and stay late.

We might end up still doing it too. Flights a week later are more expensive for some reason.

 

[GWhitten98]

I am planning on going to MK that day due to the early closing hoping for lower crowds. 9am to 7pm is still a lot of time in the park, especially if its not that busy!!

 

[mom2rtk]

I am planning on going to MK that day due to the early closing hoping for lower crowds. 9am to 7pm is still a lot of time in the park, especially if its not that busy!!

We are going specifically for the EMH that night, so that leaves Sunday out for us. If we were flexible on that, I would choose Sunday in a heartbeat. I think the difference will be remarkable.

 

[MagicPrincess]

Do you think they will extend the hours in another park that night since MK is closing so early?

 

[LetsTalkWDW]

I am planning on going to MK that day due to the early closing hoping for lower crowds. 9am to 7pm is still a lot of time in the park, especially if its not that busy!!

Now the Disney site is saying MK closing time is 6:00pm on May 31

 

[RJstanis]

I would totally do MK that day and if you still want the nightime entertainment just add park hoppers to one of your other days like an Animal Kingdom day if you plan to go there, and catch the MK nightime activities that way.

 

[11290]

Grad Nights ended a couple of years ago.

Thank the Lord for that. Working those nights was awful.

 

[busymommy2pink]

I loooooove parks on early close days. We get hoppers and particularly love to go on party nights. The crowds are so so low and we don't mind leaving early and taking in the resort that evening.