Nov. & Dec. Hours Changed-MK opens: 8AM, Daily-Starting TODAY

[Robo]

November 21 is VERY early in the holiday season to start the "Christmas Hours" (8AM regular opening, and on selected days, 7AM EMH) but that's what the "official" WDW calendar (HERE) has listed right now.

Stay tuned.

In 2010, 2011 and 2012, the 8AM opening time began about Dec. 16th-18th.

In 2013, they did not begin the 8AM opening that early in the month.

 

[Disneylover99]

Thanks for the heads up!

 

[allsaintsatx]

I was afraid that was going to happen, after seeing that they extended the Thanksgiving hours. Looks like I have about 4 "before opening" character breakfasts I may have to cancel now. Oh well.

 

[Figmentmommy]

Dec. 13 seems a bit too early in the month to start the Christmas Hours (8AM regular opening, and on selected days, 7AM EMH) but that's what the "official" WDW calendar (HERE) has listed right now.

The TA calendar (HERE) -usually the more accurate calendar- has not been updated to reflect this as yet.

Stay tuned.

Agreed. Last year's Christmas Hours appear to have started on 12/21- the Saturday before Christmas.

****TA Calendar has now been updated**** 8 AM opening beginning 12/13

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

My family is doing the extra happy dance. We get an extra hour at Magic Kingdom.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

Disney philosophy, force you to decide where you will be at what time, 180 days from when you'll actually be there. Then at 26 days out they pull the rug out from under you and force you to scramble to rearrange plans. This is awful for us. A Disney trip is simply not viable for us if we can't RD, but having to wake a 3.5 year old at 5:30am to do it, is a recipe for disaster.

 

[Hgage224]

Not sure how I should change my plans in light of these new hours. We also have a young child that I don't want to be too worn out for afternoon fast passes and reservations, but I want to take advantage of the EMH. What's everyone else doing?

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

Not sure how I should change my plans in light of these new hours. We also have a young child that I don't want to be too worn out for afternoon fast passes and reservations, but I want to take advantage of the EMH. What's everyone else doing?

Trying to get a full refund.

 

[Hgage224]

I've been at this time of year many times before, once when our son was 2 1/2, and it's definitely do-able. I wouldn't cancel your whole trip just because of this. With any disney vacay, flexibility is a must.

 

[aprilfoolwed]

Oooh - thank you! This affects our trip - yay for extra time!

 

[Figmentmommy]

Fortunately for us this only impacts our 8AM ADR at Crystal Palace on 12/19. Does anyone know if we will still be allowed to enter a little earlier? Opening is 8AM that day- no morning EMH.

Good luck to all who are trying to adjust plans accordingly!
FWIW.....I still think 12/13 is too early to begin expanded Christmas hours. I would expect it from 12/20 on - but this seems a little excessive.

 

[DVCkidsMOM]

Has anyone found earlier FP+s with the new hours? I found one at Epcot, but nothing yet at MK or HS.
How soon after posting new hours were new FP+s available Thanksgiving week?

 

[smitty0705]

Has anyone found earlier FP+s with the new hours? I found one at Epcot, but nothing yet at MK or HS.
How soon after posting new hours were new FP+s available Thanksgiving week?

Wondering this too

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

Has anyone found earlier FP+s with the new hours? I found one at Epcot, but nothing yet at MK or HS. How soon after posting new hours were new FP+s available Thanksgiving week?

Thinking they haven't been released yet. Just did a search for a new time for Splash Mountain and the earliest time I was given was 9:15am. If you're hunting one I'd be stalking all day. If Epcot already updated maybe the others are far behind

 

[wareagle57]

This has me really worried about crowds. The 13th is our 2nd day in MK but we aren't going until the afternoon. We were going for the 2AM EMH but now it looks like that's been extended to 3! I'm not sure if we can make it that long.

 

[Skywise]

Hmmm... still haven't updated Christmas week yet and Wishes is still set for 7:30 with the MSEP set for 6:30 on 12/30 and 12/31 (I'd think the 6:30 MSEP would interfere with the first castle lighting and wishes would interfere with the 2nd? Or are they not doing the castle lighting those days?)

It'd also be nice if I could put Holiday Wishes on my itinerary...

 

[Robo]

Hmmm... still haven't updated Christmas week yet and Wishes is still set for 7:30 with the MSEP set for 6:30 on 12/30 and 12/31 (I'd think the 6:30 MSEP would interfere with the first castle lighting and wishes would interfere with the 2nd? Or are they not doing the castle lighting those days?)

Count on them doing the Castle Lighting ceremonies.

The event times will eventually get justified.

 

[wollydoodle]

Well, shoot. I was so excited about rope drop being at a "reasonable hour" for the 9am opening.

 

[mom2rtk]

Actually we were there 12/6 to 12/16 in 2012. On the morning of the 15th (the same Saturday) they switched to an 8 AM opening a few weeks out. We had a BBB apt scheduled at 8 hoping to be done by park open. We kept the appointment but were really happy to have done most of our other touring earlier that week.

We have traveled that same week before and had hours switched late in our trip. It really sounds like last year was the exception waiting so late to start making the changes.

 

[KimBean]

Well looky there. Thought I had nothing left to do but my BOG FP and now I have to rework 3 days of touring plans.

At least I don't have any breakfasts scheduled. I will want to accomplish the same amount so thinking if we can get up at day break and be there at rope drop this might enable us to have more late afternoon to early evenings for rest before dinner.