My empty Main Street/early entry CP morning is gone...

[Disneylover99]

A first timer would not know that this is Disney's normal holiday week practice :-(

Totally agree!

 

[Bellanota]

So after talking this over with my "party" my silver lining is extra sleep ... Going to drop my CP and do the Ohana almost 2 hours later...seems no one but me wanted to be up and in the park before 8. now I have to research ohana

Yall are right in finding the positve in this but it's still shady of disney

 

[itchin2go]

A first timer would not know that this is Disney's normal holiday week practice :-(

Well, I'm not a first timer to WDW, but I AM a first timer to Thanksgiving week.

The change in hours did not surprise me because I looked up LAST YEAR'S hours long ago.

I was surprised that they didn't announce this change before now. I had actually begun to believe that they wouldn't change the opening times, but lo and behold, they did.

 

[mh1973]

Because of the time change I was also able to get our friends 7DMT fp...where I haven't been able to before. So now just gotta decide if I keep the Tusker House breakfast ressie on Thanksgiving day at 8:10....or cancel.......never ate at Tusker House.

 

[bumbershoot]

Because of the time change I was also able to get our friends 7DMT fp...where I haven't been able to before. So now just gotta decide if I keep the Tusker House breakfast ressie on Thanksgiving day at 8:10....or cancel.......never ate at Tusker House.

IMO the breakfast there is ho hum. The big excitement for many is that they apparently have Krispy Kreme donuts. Those are available even in my area now; they are not a big deal. And my family can't eat them. Not a reason for us to book breakfast.

Lunch/dinner at TH, though, NOW you're getting some nice and interesting food.

 

[mh1973]

IMO the breakfast there is ho hum. The big excitement for many is that they apparently have Krispy Kreme donuts. Those are available even in my area now; they are not a big deal. And my family can't eat them. Not a reason for us to book breakfast.

Lunch/dinner at TH, though, NOW you're getting some nice and interesting food.

Hmm...we have Krispy Kreme here...the appeal for me was the characters...but, I have teenagers, and they really don't care...it was more for me

 

[jsk61006]

I just found out that Disney changed the hours for MK on December 6. That's our departure day and I have an 8:10 AM reservation at CRT. I'm pretty bummed but I keep telling myself that my kids (3-year-old twins) won't know the difference and will only have eyes for the "princess castle." I've planned this trip to the best of my ability but at the end of the day, it's all about the magic for my kids. Please don't think I'm downplaying anyone's inconvenience/frustration... I'm just trying to keep myself focused on what matters most to me on my trip and I hope that this may remind others too. We're going to Disney World!!

 

[Ladybug1112]

So after talking this over with my "party" my silver lining is extra sleep ... Going to drop my CP and do the Ohana almost 2 hours later...seems no one but me wanted to be up and in the park before 8. now I have to research ohana Yall are right in finding the positve in this but it's still shady of disney

Extra sleep is good & Ohana breakfast is yummy , IMO!!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I don't understand why Disney waits until the last minute to make changes. It's not like they didn't know the parks would be crowded over the holidays. Disney wants' people making ADR's 180 days out, why can't they be nice to their guests and post their extended hours 180 days out? This is simple courtesy!

Hours change due to expected crowds. At 6 months out, they had one expectation. 2 to 3 weeks out, they have a more realistic forecast. Hours on non-special event days are almost always tied to expected crowd levels.

 

[letsgoreds]

Like another poster suggested...walk in early at 7:45, take your pictures, line up at the rope for tomorrowland, quickly ride SM, then head to your breakfast.

or

Realize that the pictures taken pre-opening really aren't that great. We have done it twice with Photopass photographers (decent cameras), once with a YES class (late January), another with a pre-opening CRT breakfast (YUM-ey) (early January), and because the light hasn't hit main street yet, the pictures are pretty sucky/dark. Not good light at all. I would never include the pictures in a photobook or print out for frames. Might vary by time of year (days longer in summer). Not so much in the winter.

Some of my favorite shots are RIGHT before a parade. Everyone is lined up, and the street is empty...just hop up and take some shots with photographer. This only really works if you aren't parked for the parade.

If it were a CRT reservation, I would go because the food is super yummy, and it is fun to eat in the castle. If the food/experience doesn't really appeal to you, cancel and enjoy the extra 'free' hour of park time!

 

[maxiesmom]

A first timer would not know that this is Disney's normal holiday week practice :-(

I wonder how many first timers book an early ADR in the hopes of getting a shot of an empty Main Street? I wonder how many people overall do that.

It is a case of inconveniencing a few to make the many happier. It does stink if you are one of the few, but it is great if you are one of the many.

 

[Suvadoo]

Hours change due to expected crowds. At 6 months out, they had one expectation. 2 to 3 weeks out, they have a more realistic forecast. Hours on non-special event days are almost always tied to expected crowd levels.

So,Disney did not expect high crowds for Thanksgiving week and they just now realized it would be crowded? I don't think so. There's no excuse for Disney waiting to change hours on holiday weeks that always have huge crowds. They could've changed the hours 6 months ago, but they didn't. Guests are expected to plan six months out, why can't Disney when they know the parks will be crowded? Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years to name a few.

 

[pavicich]

It seems like they always do this. From now on prob best to just assume a 7 am opening at MK during Xmas, Thanksgiving & Easter week despite what they start out publishing.

 

[Disneylover99]

It seems like they always do this. From now on prob best to just assume a 7 am opening at MK during Xmas, Thanksgiving & Easter week despite what they start out publishing.

Now that I'm aware they do this, I will always assume it. But I do feel sorry for all the people that don't know about this.

 

[justanothermark]

they just updated hours for christmas and as expected, MK opens at 8am now instead of 9am with every day of the week of christmas with morning EMH (7am opening). A bit of research such as tourinplans or other sites will let people know the change in hours and what to expect. We didn't make an early ADR the week of christmas for this very reason.

 

[mudman]

they just updated hours for christmas and as expected, MK opens at 8am now instead of 9am with every day of the week of christmas with morning EMH (7am opening). A bit of research such as tourinplans or other sites will let people know the change in hours and what to expect. We didn't make an early ADR the week of christmas for this very reason.

Yup they did! There goes my pre opening ADR on Fri 1/2 at CP
Oh well, I was on the fence anyway about cost/benefit ratio of spending big buck$ for a quick pic on empty Main Street and a rushed meal of eggs.

I guess fate has made my decision. Probably releasing an 8:15 CP for 1/2/15 soon.

Oh well...

 

[luvsJack]

I wonder how many first timers book an early ADR in the hopes of getting a shot of an empty Main Street? I wonder how many people overall do that.

It is a case of inconveniencing a few to make the many happier. It does stink if you are one of the few, but it is great if you are one of the many.

Since an 8:05-8:15 or so is one of the hardest to get, or used to be, I would say quite a few. And don't they also have 8 am appointments at the Bippity Bobbity thing?

The thing is that its more than a picture on Main St. When we do that ADR at CRT, its also being one of the first people in Fantasy Land ahead of all those folks at RD. Its having a little part of WDW all to yourself for a moment. Its an experience that is just part of the magic.

I don't think it should ruin anyone's trip but it would irritate the heck out of me.

They knew 12 years ago that Thanksgiving is one of the busiest weeks of the year, I really think they knew 6 months ago.

In years past they extended the hours at night not in the morning. That worked great in giving the large crowds more time and in spreading them out through the day. Waiting until late night for some of the rides meant lots of walk ons.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

Now that I'm aware they do this, I will always assume it. But I do feel sorry for all the people that don't know about this.

We knew about it, which is why we requested time off work the week of the 11th, because they've never screwed around with hours that early in December, now we sit here with all our plans blown up because they did just that.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I wonder how many first timers book an early ADR in the hopes of getting a shot of an empty Main Street? I wonder how many people overall do that.

It is a case of inconveniencing a few to make the many happier. It does stink if you are one of the few, but it is great if you are one of the many.

I know many are disappointed with the new hours.

But my family is doing the happy dance since it gives us another hour at MK.

 

[Bellanota]

Extra sleep is good & Ohana breakfast is yummy , IMO!!

I got so wrapped up in wanting to finally see the park not super crowded (i can only go during peak season due to kid in school and work ) i didn't even think everyone else might just want to sleep in....

Whats sad is people warned me Disney did this, but I was starting to believe this year was different because we made it all the way to the week before with no change to the morning. They changed the nights a month ago