MK hours- curious as to logic

[philbrody]

More from a curiosity standpoint looking at July and Aug hours and trying to discern factors that would go into the algorithm for park hours. For July 30-31 MK closes at 11. The next week on M & T MK closes at 10. The week after that on the 13th and 14th back to closing at 11, then back to 10 on the 20th and 21st. I've always read August crowds lessen as the month goes along due to schools starting at different time so trying to think of logic that would not cause closing hours to work in a similar linear fashion.

BTW- I'm a compulsive planner. Family thinks I enjoy understanding the puzzle and choreographing the vacation as much as going

 

[DLgal]

They did the special event after hours at MK from 10pm-1am on those days the park closed at 10.

 

[hiroMYhero]

The Disney After Hours paid event impacts MK’s hours:
From @GADisneyDad14 in the DAH thread:

2018 June-September DAH Dates / Times
Tickets Went on Sale: May 2, 2018

 

[GADisneyDad14]

OP, it doesn't look like DAH events impact any of the specific dates you mentioned as examples, so it's really just whatever logic Disney implements in determining hours. And good luck figuring that out! After last August which saw 0 11pm closings, I think many are just happy to see more days added with slightly longer hours.

August might, in theory, trail off as kids go back to school (which of course isn't the case for everyone, it's a big Northeast vacation time). But Disney is very good at attracting folks at all times of the year. For example, MNSSHP starting mid-August, F&W starting later August, summer season resort rates, etc. And for every family like us that is back in school in August, there are plenty of others who are just getting to their summer vacations.

If you really want to see the impact on crowds and park hours - compare August to Sept... that's where you typically see the notable shift in hours.

 

[philbrody]

Thanks. It's the logic I'm trying to discern. I'm thinking there has to be an underlying algorithm. Was thinking there are probably numerous factors. Hotel occupancy for the week and perhaps FP's booked in the hours leading up to first scheduled closing would be a part of it. That would give Disney an approximation of how many people would be in the park (and still spending money) to support the labor costs of an extra hour or two. Was also thinking there is a rides per refurbishment factor that would get applied.

 

[philbrody]

or it's just some person sitting at their PC going 'Hmmmmm...... 11 sounds good on the 13th'

 

[hiroMYhero]

Thanks. It's the logic I'm trying to discern. I'm thinking there has to be an underlying algorithm. Was thinking there are probably numerous factors. Hotel occupancy for the week and perhaps FP's booked in the hours leading up to first scheduled closing would be a part of it. That would give Disney an approximation of how many people would be in the park (and still spending money) to support the labor costs of an extra hour or two. Was also thinking there is a rides per refurbishment factor that would get applied.

Disney does know occupancy rates of not only the onsite resorts but also the offsite resorts. They know ADR and FP totals. That’s why the hours are still being modified only a few weeks out.

When it comes to special events and hard ticket events, Disney sets schedules around them. Conventions that used to buy out Studios now buy out other parks so that affects park hours. Events have priority as well as not wanting to pay overtime wages so those come well before algorithms are used to set park hours.