Navigating shorter hours

[slpeters]

So I am looking at attending the International Festival of the Arts at Epcot. I would be looking at a week in late January/Early February. The festival sounds like a lot of fun. I'm a little concerned about the cooler weather--my only other experience at WDW was last November--but the main concern I had was the shorter hours. It seems like most of the parks will be 9-8 for most of our time. We did park hoppers last time and enjoyed it. We were in the parks by 7 or 8 each day, took an afternoon nap when it was busy and generally stayed at the parks until 10 -12 at night.

I'm not quite sure how to adjust our plans for such short hours. I would still like to do two parks a day with EMHs each day, but as I draw up plans it just seems like there's so much less time than when I was drawing up last trip. How do people adjust for shorter hours? I guess if you have small children it might work out well, but it's just my husband and I and I'm worried it will just feel like we're missing out. Do people go out to dinner after the parks close? Do people just content themselves with being more rested? I don't think of myself as really commando--I mean we took naps last time--but there's something decidedly uncommando about the plans I'm drawing up. Any thoughts on dealing with shorter park hours?

 

[DebbieB]

So I am looking at attending the International Festival of the Arts at Epcot. I would be looking at a week in late January/Early February. The festival sounds like a lot of fun. I'm a little concerned about the cooler weather--my only other experience at WDW was last November--but the main concern I had was the shorter hours. It seems like most of the parks will be 9-8 for most of our time. We did park hoppers last time and enjoyed it. We were in the parks by 7 or 8 each day, took an afternoon nap when it was busy and generally stayed at the parks until 10 -12 at night.

I'm not quite sure how to adjust our plans for such short hours. I would still like to do two parks a day with EMHs each day, but as I draw up plans it just seems like there's so much less time than when I was drawing up last trip. How do people adjust for shorter hours? I guess if you have small children it might work out well, but it's just my husband and I and I'm worried it will just feel like we're missing out. Do people go out to dinner after the parks close? Do people just content themselves with being more rested? I don't think of myself as really commando--I mean we took naps last time--but there's something decidedly uncommando about the plans I'm drawing up. Any thoughts on dealing with shorter park hours?

Hours may be extended a month or two before.

Make the best use of fastpass. After you "tap" your third pre-reserved fastpass, you can look for another.

I was there last weekend and it was weird that on Sunday and Monday, all parks were closed by 9:00. On Sunday, we grabbed a snack at a resort after the parks closed. Monday, we came back to the room and watched the second half of Monday Night Football (our team was playing).

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

During shorter hours I usually don't park hop and don't leave the park for a break. I also usually go out at night to Disney Springs or hang out more at the resort at the bar.

I also look for any parks with an evening EMH during times when there are shorter hours.

 

[Scar1199]

We were there the third week of January this year and the weather was awesome. I remember Epcot staying open until at least 11:00 for EMH, and I'm quite sure MK had a midnight close in there as well. Like others have said, times seem to get adjusted the closer your time comes, so expect some changes.

 

[gharter]

when we have been there during shorter hours, we also don't tend to park hop as that takes time.
We tend to be there at RD, don't leave during the day and stay till close.
If the crowds aren't too bad, you can still do everything you want. Use of FPs is really important.