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

[DVCkidsMOM]

Has anyone seen an extra batch of 8-9am FP+s for Buzz?
I've been looking, but haven't seen them - did I miss them while I was out this morning or have they not yet hit the system?

 

[luvsJack]

Ok...but if it was to open at 9...and you were to be eating at 8...and are done at 9, you are still hitting the park at the SAME TIME you would have...yes, you lose the ADDITIONAL hour Disney just gave everyone, but you still have the same amount of park time as you would have if they didn't change the hours.

ok, so you don't get to see an "empty" Main Street...but being upset about that is like being upset at an attraction that is under refurb...if you booked your trip for that one thing, then you have bigger issues.

As for being ahead of the crowds at RD...an 8am ADR wouldn't be a guarantee of that at all...knowing how service sometimes goes, that is a crapshoot and we all know it.

Sorry, but I can only feel happy for the majority of the visitors that are now getting an extra hour in the park.

Sure the idea that this signal's larger crowds then I want is a negative, but I can't blame Disney for that.

Nope, stand by my original thought that there is just no pleasing some people.

Last trip we had 8:05 at CRT. Got in the park at 7:45. Took pictures on Main Street and just enjoyed the walk to the castle. Did all that CRT offers and were back down stairs well before 9. We were at the doorway when it hit 9 am. All of Fantasyland was ours (and the rest of the folks that were eating in CRT). We were the first ones on Peter Pan and had the rest of Fantasyland and most of Tomorrowland done in no time with no waiting. THAT is why I was up at midnight 180 days before our trip getting the CRT ADR. If you eat at 8 and the park opens at 8, then no it is not anywhere close to the same thing.

And we have had numerous 8:05 ADRs and not once have we missed rope drop from where ever we were.

Big crowds are not some crazy surprise to them. They knew way before now how full their resorts were.


Its about what is important to you and YOUR trip. That extra hour means more to you. The great experience of a before park opening ADR means more to me. That doesn't make me or anyone else that feels that way wrong. I prefer my extra hours tacked on at night.

Of course I wouldn't book a trip just based on getting an early ADR. That doesn't mean someone can't be bummed about having to replan their day due to Disney making a last minute change.

Being aggravated because of things like this in no way means that someone is letting it ruin their trip or can't be pleased. It means that something was important to them and now they have to regroup and its aggravating.

When you plan these ADR's at 180 days out and then have Disney come along and upset your apple cart, its frustrating.

 

[nats311]

Here's the deal from my perspective. The whole plan 180 days out, 60 days out stuff is crazy if you ask me. But Disney put that in place because the type A's are taking over the world. Be happy that you have these reservations. My family plans "late" and thus we don't really get any good dining reservations.

People need to understand that when you book something 180 days out there is a very good chance the surrounding circumstances may change.

A little flexibility by the type a's of the world would be a good thing!

 

[Airship Ariadne]

Sorry, I just can't justify being upset at Disney for making a change that alters an unofficial perk of an early ADR...had Disney included "come early to be alone in New Fantasyland" or "See Main Street with nobody on it" in the breakfast descriptions for CRT, then sure you would have a gripe. But what they did was assess their hours and it altered a secret tip some people enjoy using...happens all the time and again, it is just like when we found out HM was closed most of our trip...we jokingly said, "let's cancel!" but wouldn't go so far as to calling it having upset our apple cart...maybe we lost one apple, maybe you lost two if you want to count being ahead of the RD crowd...but that's about it...but they left you an orange in its place, additional park hours

If you notice, they DID add hours on at the end since the 180 days past...so you got your wish for later hours too.

Why didn't they set these dates at 180? Well, perhaps they weren't certain about the crowds...or once they were, maybe the logistics of staffing and other facilities required a more recent decision.

BUT...if you fault them from not expecting the need, having seen that they have changed openings like this for a few years now, aren't you falling victim to the same charge of "should have seen it coming?" Sure this is the earliest to date that they have done this, but people have been saying the crowds are getting bigger earlier every year.

What they did is a benefit to more than 99% of the people going to the park those dates...and it isn't a tangible harm to the other less than 1% so pretty much is a no-brainer win-win.

 

[Figmentmommy]

Ok...but if it was to open at 9...and you were to be eating at 8...and are done at 9, you are still hitting the park at the SAME TIME you would have...yes, you lose the ADDITIONAL hour Disney just gave everyone, but you still have the same amount of park time as you would have if they didn't change the hours.

ok, so you don't get to see an "empty" Main Street...but being upset about that is like being upset at an attraction that is under refurb...if you booked your trip for that one thing, then you have bigger issues.

As for being ahead of the crowds at RD...an 8am ADR wouldn't be a guarantee of that at all...knowing how service sometimes goes, that is a crapshoot and we all know it.

Sorry, but I can only feel happy for the majority of the visitors that are now getting an extra hour in the park.

Sure the idea that this signal's larger crowds then I want is a negative, but I can't blame Disney for that.

Nope, stand by my original thought that there is just no pleasing some people.

Having a pre RD breakfast is not the same as having one at RD - please don't try to make it the same. Just because I am disappointed about this change to my morning does not mean I can't be pleased.

Last trip we had 8:05 at CRT. Got in the park at 7:45. Took pictures on Main Street and just enjoyed the walk to the castle. Did all that CRT offers and were back down stairs well before 9. We were at the doorway when it hit 9 am. All of Fantasyland was ours (and the rest of the folks that were eating in CRT). We were the first ones on Peter Pan and had the rest of Fantasyland and most of Tomorrowland done in no time with no waiting. THAT is why I was up at midnight 180 days before our trip getting the CRT ADR. If you eat at 8 and the park opens at 8, then no it is not anywhere close to the same thing.

And we have had numerous 8:05 ADRs and not once have we missed rope drop from where ever we were.

Big crowds are not some crazy surprise to them. They knew way before now how full their resorts were.


Its about what is important to you and YOUR trip. That extra hour means more to you. The great experience of a before park opening ADR means more to me. That doesn't make me or anyone else that feels that way wrong. I prefer my extra hours tacked on at night.

Of course I wouldn't book a trip just based on getting an early ADR. That doesn't mean someone can't be bummed about having to replan their day due to Disney making a last minute change.

Being aggravated because of things like this in no way means that someone is letting it ruin their trip or can't be pleased. It means that something was important to them and now they have to regroup and its aggravating.

When you plan these ADR's at 180 days out and then have Disney come along and upset your apple cart, its frustrating.

. Agreed!

 

[practicallyperfect77]

Here's the deal from my perspective. The whole plan 180 days out, 60 days out stuff is crazy if you ask me. But Disney put that in place because the type A's are taking over the world. Be happy that you have these reservations. My family plans "late" and thus we don't really get any good dining reservations.

People need to understand that when you book something 180 days out there is a very good chance the surrounding circumstances may change.

A little flexibility by the type a's of the world would be a good thing!

Disney imposing the same rules on themselves as they do their guests would be a good thing. If they don't wanna have their hours in place for a couple weeks prior to the date, don't have ADRs open 180 days in advance.

I def feel for those impacted. I think it stinks. The tiers in Epcot and HS, make rope drop pretty much a necessity if you want to ride both tier 1s and don't want to stand in line an hour for the non FP+ ride.

 

[Laketravis]

Sorry, I just can't justify being upset at Disney for making a change that alters an unofficial perk of an early ADR...had Disney included "come early to be alone in New Fantasyland" or "See Main Street with nobody on it" in the breakfast descriptions for CRT, then sure you would have a gripe. But what they did was assess their hours and it altered a secret tip some people enjoy using...happens all the time and again, it is just like when we found out HM was closed most of our trip...we jokingly said, "let's cancel!" but wouldn't go so far as to calling it having upset our apple cart...maybe we lost one apple, maybe you lost two if you want to count being ahead of the RD crowd...but that's about it...but they left you an orange in its place, additional park hours

If you notice, they DID add hours on at the end since the 180 days past...so you got your wish for later hours too.

Why didn't they set these dates at 180? Well, perhaps they weren't certain about the crowds...or once they were, maybe the logistics of staffing and other facilities required a more recent decision.

BUT...if you fault them from not expecting the need, having seen that they have changed openings like this for a few years now, aren't you falling victim to the same charge of "should have seen it coming?" Sure this is the earliest to date that they have done this, but people have been saying the crowds are getting bigger earlier every year.

What they did is a benefit to more than 99% of the people going to the park those dates...and it isn't a tangible harm to the other less than 1% so pretty much is a no-brainer win-win.

The big deal for me was that I had several pre-RD ADR's that would have allowed us to have breakfast and be finished before the park opened, in effect preserving our RD strategy for that morning.

Now that the park would be open while we would be eating breakfast, a chain reaction ensued - I cancelled those ADR's so that we would not miss RD, but there are three meals that need to be made up somewhere else. And I can't easily insert them into days where FP's are already scheduled based on known park hours and already existing ADR's, and that's assuming that I can get any ADR's at all now for next week! To illustrate, I'm constantly clicking on "Find a Table" in another browser session in between posting on the DIS.

So yeah, it can have a measurable impact.

 

[Airship Ariadne]

Disney imposing the same rules on themselves as they do their guests would be a good thing. If they don't wanna have their hours in place for a couple weeks prior to the date, don't have ADRs open 180 days in advance.

Ahh, but the restaurant hours haven't changed...and ADRs are for restaurants, and from WDW's perspective, the change in opening time has zero effect on these ADRs. AFAIK the restaurant hours have been set for 180 days...so in fact, they are using the "same rules."

 

[nats311]

If they don't wanna have their hours in place for a couple weeks prior to the date, don't have ADRs open 180 days in advance.

Oh I would LOVE that...that is perfect for folks like us that don't plan far in advance! But if you want to talk about making people go crazy, that would do it.

 

[mom2rtk]

I guess I just don't get what's wrong with saying "I'm sorry you had a monkey wrench thrown into your plans at the last minute."

Nobody is saying the world is coming to an end. But anyone reading here on the DIS knows a park plan is like a jigsaw puzzle of park hours, ADRs, and FP+ reservations. Change one piece and it has the potential to affect everything else.

Sorry to everyone who is dealing with this last minute curve ball.

 

[Nancyg56]

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.

I think you have reason to worry. Disney changed hours on my last trip and the parks were crazy busy. I received a pin in the mail for the December week that has changed, so I wonder if the change in hours reflects the response to that offer.

 

[Nancyg56]

I guess I just don't get what's wrong with saying "I'm sorry you had a monkey wrench thrown into your plans at the last minute." Nobody is saying the world is coming to an end. But anyone reading here on the DIS knows a park plan is like a jigsaw puzzle of park hours, ADRs, and FP+ reservations. Change one piece and it has the potential to affect everything else. Sorry to everyone who is dealing with this last minute curve ball.

I get it. I am one of those reluctant planners with everything but ADR's and park days. I love to plan my meals!! Anyway, when the hours change, the dynamics of touring change, many times in ways that can't even be determined until you arrive. For me, the changes impacted how I felt in the parks because they were a result of a bigger crowd expectations, and those crowds arrived. While I understand some folks not caring about changes in hours, I think it is a little disrespectful to disparage those who do care.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

Ahh, but the restaurant hours haven't changed...and ADRs are for restaurants, and from WDW's perspective, the change in opening time has zero effect on these ADRs. AFAIK the restaurant hours have been set for 180 days...so in fact, they are using the "same rules."

I do not believe for 1 second that Disney does not realize the impact this causes for folks that thought they had a pre-opening ADR. I do believe with every ounce of my being that they don't care. That's what I think is sad.

 

[pmaurer74]

Thanks for the heads up. We were there that week last year and the crowds were great and low moderate level. This has me concerned a little that the crowds will be higher than expected.

 

[nuzmom]

... While I understand some folks not caring about changes in hours, I think it is a little disrespectful to disparage those who do care.

I guess I just don't get what's wrong with saying "I'm sorry you had a monkey wrench thrown into your plans at the last minute."

Nobody is saying the world is coming to an end. But anyone reading here on the DIS knows a park plan is like a jigsaw puzzle of park hours, ADRs, and FP+ reservations. Change one piece and it has the potential to affect everything else.

Sorry to everyone who is dealing with this last minute curve ball.

+1


Can we stop debating how people "should" feel? I subscribed to this thread to stay up to date on any other changes to December hours and/or FP+s that are released due to the change in hours. I also value hearing how others are changing or not changing their plans due to the change in hours. Everyone is welcome to say "this stinks" or "this is great" - but can we at least TRY to keep this thread from falling into a debate over whether adding hours is good or bad?

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

This is great news for the late night crowd. Earlier opening time increases the odds that a vast majority of the visitors will get tired and leave early.

Multiple rerides with minimal waiting. Good things come to those who wait.

 

[mymermaid]

Disney must have a lot of bookings for the week. So they are adjusting. I am excited to get the extra hours as we are all adults so we will benefit from waking up early and staying up late. The atmosphere will be exciting thats for sure.

 

[mymermaid]

We check in on 12/15 will our Magic Bands already be activated before we check in?

 

[Nancyg56]

We check in on 12/15 will our Magic Bands already be activated before we check in?

Mine worked to gain us entrance on DME, so I think they are good to go. I had linked them to my tickets and reservations so the only thing that had a glitch was the new resort change that I had made. When I checked in at DME I was shown at BWI, but was staying at the GF. One small glitch, that was it!

 

[DVCkidsMOM]

+1


Can we stop debating how people "should" feel? I subscribed to this thread to stay up to date on any other changes to December hours and/or FP+s that are released due to the change in hours. I also value hearing how others are changing or not changing their plans due to the change in hours. Everyone is welcome to say "this stinks" or "this is great" - but can we at least TRY to keep this thread from falling into a debate over whether adding hours is good or bad?

Amen

We did not have preRT ADRs, but wish that when parks open earlier they would shift restaurant hours earlier. We'll just have a snack to hold us over between pre-dawn in-room breakfast (so we make amEMH) and a noon ADR.
As for FP+ availabilities I have found some and not others. I saw 8 am added to FP+ (HM) at MK on 23rd, 8 am added to FP+ (MS) at Epcot on 25th, and 8 am added to FP+ (KS) at AK on 26th. I am still looking for an earlier FP+ for Buzz on 27th - don't know if it's not available yet or I missed it. We basically wanted earliest FP+s possible so that we could be done earlier and have DTD and resort decorations time in the afternoons. The exception is the 25th where we wanted to earliest FP+ so we are done in FW early and could spend the afternoon seeing many of the holiday storytellers in WS. FP+s didn't show up for me all at once when hours changed - each earlier FP+ was available to me on a different day. It looks to us like the FP+ additions are trickling in but there have been plenty of options between 8am and 9am when they do. YMMV