***Official Planning Thread -DECEMBER 2024 - Welcome all!***

[Disturbia]

Any idea if they add hours for the extended hours. Meaning right now 12/4 EEH at AK are 6-8. When you look at 10/11 AK is 8-8 and then EEH 8-10. That would be awesome if they did that for the 4th as well get in at 6 and hopefully at hotel by 730pm.

Most likely AK hours will be extended to 8 pm closer to Dec. I would look at previous year’s hours as a guide.

Hopefully Epcot is 9:30-11:30. Any later and that perk becomes less useful for us (young kids).

https://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/hours/december2023.cfm

 

[Disturbia]

So at least through 12/18 it looks like the Disney Deluxe After hours will be Mondays at Epcot and Wednesdays at Animal Kingdom! I thinks that's great! Looks like they changed from last year when they were having them same night as parties and deluxe guests had to miss out on their perk if they booked a party.

Anxiously waiting the extended evening hours week of 12/22 as Christmas falls on Wed. I believe they will move Epcot to Wed on 12/25 and AK to maybe Thur (usually they direct park crowds to Epcot if MK reaches capacity).

I see you can see park hours a few days ahead on the app vs 60 days on the website (on ADR day you can view park hours for your vacation; I’ll be able to see hours until 12/31 on 10/22).

 

[MermaidMommy]

Thanks for putting this thread together! If you could add me to the list, we’ll be at Pop from 12/4-12/8.

 

[japanese maple]

Thanks for putting this thread together! If you could add me to the list, we’ll be at Pop from 12/4-12/8.

Welcome! You are on the list.

 

[AussieFan8]

So at least through 12/18 it looks like the Disney Deluxe After hours will be Mondays at Epcot and Wednesdays at Animal Kingdom! I thinks that's great! Looks like they changed from last year when they were having them same night as parties and deluxe guests had to miss out on their perk if they booked a party.

I’m curious where you saw that? I received emails this week from Touring Plans with updated hours for that week that show EEH at Epcot on Monday and MK on Wednesday. I was actually disappointed as we have Jollywood Nights tickets on Wednesday. Also showed a 9pm close for MK on Monday which I’m hoping they’ll change to 11pm.

 

[japanese maple]

I’m curious where you saw that? I received emails this week from Touring Plans with updated hours for that week that show EEH at Epcot on Monday and MK on Wednesday. I was actually disappointed as we have Jollywood Nights tickets on Wednesday. Also showed a 9pm close for MK on Monday which I’m hoping they’ll change to 11pm.

It's on the Disney website and MDE if you check hours for December.

 

[Disturbia]

The website will only show you hours if you’re within your ADR window. On the app you can see 10 days extra from 60 days.

On the app you can click on park hours and scroll to Dec (until Dec 20 today). Dec 18 (Wed) is showing AK extended evening hours

 

[japanese maple]

Maybe it does happen on some Jollywood Nights though, sorry I didn't realize that.

 

[Disturbia]

Allears is also a good resource but slightly delayed

https://allears.net/walt-disney-world/wdw-planning/extended-evening-hours-at-walt-disney-world/

 

[Disturbia]

Also, the regulars park hours will change a few weeks before your trip so park close ADRs will need to be changed (if any). Positive: new ADRs will be added for the extra hours.

 

[Disturbia]

Maybe WDW would consider adding MVMCP on 12/22!!! Wishful thinking..

 

[Disturbia]

Also there have never been MK extended evening hours during Halloween or Christmas parties. Last year Dec mostly had only Epcot EETPH mon and Thur except mon 12/4 and Thur 12/28 (note: AK hours were changed to 8 pm sometime on Dec 8-link below)

https://blogmickey.com/2023/10/delu...-january-2024-following-epcot-heavy-december/



extra hours added to last week of Dec on Dec 8 (AK start changed to 8 am)

https://www.wdwmagic.com/other/oper...s-extended-during-the-peak-christmas-week.htm

Even more hours were added again on Dec 15 (AK close changed to 8 pm)

https://www.wdwmagic.com/other/oper...ating-hours-extended-at-walt-disney-world.htm

 

[Artygal90]

Now this is interesting….I’m looking at dining packages for Fantasmic for 12/6-12/8 (just to see, I don't think I'll actually be booking one). There is nothing at all available for a party of 2, 3, or 4 on Friday 12/6 and or Sunday 12/8 - both Christmas Party dates over in Magic Kingdom. Plenty of options on Saturday 12/7 though. I wonder if everyone who can't go to the party will plan on showing up at Hollywood Studios those days?

 

[Disturbia]

Now this is interesting….I’m looking at dining packages for Fantasmic for 12/6-12/8 (just to see, I don't think I'll actually be booking one). There is nothing at all available for a party of 2, 3, or 4 on Friday 12/6 and or Sunday 12/8 - both Christmas Party dates over in Magic Kingdom. Plenty of options on Saturday 12/7 though. I wonder if everyone who can't go to the party will plan on showing up at Hollywood Studios those days?

Makes sense with free park hoping. People can hop easily between HS and Epcot.

 

[pixiedust2u]

Got some ADRs last week, have my MVMCP & Jollywood Tix, but otherwise feel very much in limbo. I have a Tifffin’s reservation for our AK afternoon/evening, but I’m hoping they change park hours until 7pm so can move the reservation a little later. I’m anxiously awaiting CP info, and to see if they release any fireworks cruises or dining packages for Epcot. Also excited for them to release details regarding Festival of the Holidays. Feel like I have some stuff planned but it might all get shook up once they finally get around to making announcements and opening up new reservations

 

[Disturbia]

After extending hours on Dec 8, WDW again added hours to NYE week on Dec 15 (revised post above)

 

[AussieFan8]

It's on the Disney website and MDE if you check hours for December.

Thanks! I have been watching the website but didn't see anything for the week of December 15.

 

[AussieFan8]

We only have one day planned for AK, and it's the day with EEH. Trying to decide if that will make AK more crowded in the afternoon and maybe we should switch to another day. We are not rope droppers.

 

[Artygal90]

We only have one day planned for AK, and it's the day with EEH. Trying to decide if that will make AK more crowded in the afternoon and maybe we should switch to another day. We are not rope droppers.

If it were me and I were paying $$$ to stay at a deluxe resort with EEH, I definitely would be taking advantage and going to AK that afternoon and evening. So yes, I would guess it would make it slightly more crowded than normal. But if it works best with your plan, I can't imagine it would make a *huge* difference in crowds. After all, the pool of guests at the deluxe resorts is much smaller than the pool of guests who could take advantage of Extra Magic Hours back in the day.

What would you do on that day instead of AK?

 

[Artygal90]

I made a standalone post but thought I'd ask here too, since we're all planning around party season....what are we doing about Hollywood Studios? Are you planning to avoid Jollywood nights? Specifically going ON Jollywood nights despite more crowds for Fantasmic? Avoiding Hollywood Studios on Magic Kingdom party days, since all the non-partygoers need to show up somewhere? Splitting up your strategy over multiple days (e.g. close out the park one night, rope drop on a different morning)?

This park has the most new *stuff* to see and lots of popular rides that get long wait times very quickly! It's hard to figure out how to fit most of it in on a 3-day trip.