Park Hours (WDW vs DLR)

[eticketplease]

Hours for busy times have consistently not been extended until closer in. I wouldn’t expect those hours to stick.

I agree they seem to always extend them closer to the dates.

I actually wish they wouldn’t extend them as it is getting harder to do the extra hours between 11-1 am lol

 

[gottalovepluto]

Are you saying that your mode of visiting is the norm, that WDW does not expect guests to stay all day, and that is why they close early?

Have you done stuff at park close at WDW? It’s awesome! …because everyone else is leaving.

Post-Covid Disney became much more aware of operating costs vs demand. Dollars to donuts later hours at WDW simply don’t math out.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I agree they seem to always extend them closer to the dates.

I actually wish they wouldn’t extend them as it is getting harder to do the extra hours between 11-1 am lol

I hit DLR at open, afternoon break and then stay to close- yet I cannot make extra hours at WDW to save my life even with an afternoon break

 

[LKing]

Have you visited WDW or, at this time only DL?

I’m asking because I wonder if after your trip (that hopefully will be/was more than just a couple of days an many Disney guests visit for more than just a couple of days) did you find once you were there that there were not enough open hours? Were you there from open to close and felt like you wanted to stay longer?

This will be my 4th time visiting. I went in 1991, 1997 and 2009. I don't remember many details about the previous visits. Stayed in the Contemporary in 1991. Was there for the 25th in 1997. Both 1991 and 1997 were without kids. 2009 was with my kids. We spent a week at WDW after a Disney cruise. I don't remember the hours but remember that my kids were more impressed with Disney Springs than Magic Kingdom. I remember the parks being chaotic and the guests seemed manic. Since then, we have been on multiple Disney cruises, to Tokyo Disneyland and spend pretty much every weekend at Disneyland in California. We've never had interest in or felt the need to return to WDW.

My kids are grown and out of the house so this trip will just be my spouse and me. I am there for a conference and we will be spending the week following the conference at WDW. In the restaurant forum, Happy Days forum and on the DL forum, I keep reading about people leaving the parks to get better (quality and pricing) food. I'm not looking for a $50+ dinner. I'm talking about a burger that isn't wrapped in foil paper and kept under a warming lamp. People talk about taking a skyliner, monorail or boat to a resort for lunch. I asked about it in another thread and it didn't sound like leaving the parks to eat was all that common. But then I keep seeing things like this pop up. With all of the comments (including in this thread) about how difficult transportation is and how long it takes to get from Point A to Point B, I feel like we shouldn't plan to leave a park, eat at a resort and then come back. By the time we finish a 7 pm dinner, it is already 8 pm and the parks close at 9 pm.

 

[LKing]

Have you done stuff at park close at WDW? It’s awesome! …because everyone else is leaving.

I have not. We love hanging out and taking pictures in DCA after closing. It was mentioned up thread that stores close an hour after park closure. That might be part of our plan. Stay for the show then hang out during the mass exodus and spend time taking pictures of a relatively empty park.

 

[eticketplease]

I have not. We love hanging out and taking pictures in DCA after closing.

We loved doing this in the mornings when they staying on site gave you an hour instead of 30 minutes early into DL.

 

[scrappinginontario]

This will be my 4th time visiting. I went in 1991, 1997 and 2009. I don't remember many details about the previous visits. Stayed in the Contemporary in 1991. Was there for the 25th in 1997. Both 1991 and 1997 were without kids. 2009 was with my kids. We spent a week at WDW after a Disney cruise. I don't remember the hours but remember that my kids were more impressed with Disney Springs than Magic Kingdom. I remember the parks being chaotic and the guests seemed manic. Since then, we have been on multiple Disney cruises, to Tokyo Disneyland and spend pretty much every weekend at Disneyland in California. We've never had interest in or felt the need to return to WDW.

My kids are grown and out of the house so this trip will just be my spouse and me. I am there for a conference and we will be spending the week following the conference at WDW. In the restaurant forum, Happy Days forum and on the DL forum, I keep reading about people leaving the parks to get better (quality and pricing) food. I'm not looking for a $50+ dinner. I'm talking about a burger that isn't wrapped in foil paper and kept under a warming lamp. People talk about taking a skyliner, monorail or boat to a resort for lunch. I asked about it in another thread and it didn't sound like leaving the parks to eat was all that common. But then I keep seeing things like this pop up. With all of the comments (including in this thread) about how difficult transportation is and how long it takes to get from Point A to Point B, I feel like we shouldn't plan to leave a park, eat at a resort and then come back. By the time we finish a 7 pm dinner, it is already 8 pm and the parks close at 9 pm.

Is WDW the right option for you? Possibly a cruise might be a better option? Somewhere else?

It could be me, and please forgive me if I’m wrong but it seems you’re going to WDW because you’ll already be in Orlando but are already thinking it’s not a vacation you think you’ll enjoy. A week is a long time to spend somewhere you don’t think has the options you’ll want.

I find Disney transportation and all of the options are great although reality is, things are spread out so logistically it takes time to move between locations. We use this time to sit, rest and get excited about and discuss what we’re going to do next! For us, the transportation and variety of options are part of the fun and adventure!

 

[gottalovepluto]

This will be my 4th time visiting. I went in 1991, 1997 and 2009. I don't remember many details about the previous visits. Stayed in the Contemporary in 1991. Was there for the 25th in 1997. Both 1991 and 1997 were without kids. 2009 was with my kids. We spent a week at WDW after a Disney cruise. I don't remember the hours but remember that my kids were more impressed with Disney Springs than Magic Kingdom. I remember the parks being chaotic and the guests seemed manic. Since then, we have been on multiple Disney cruises, to Tokyo Disneyland and spend pretty much every weekend at Disneyland in California. We've never had interest in or felt the need to return to WDW.

My kids are grown and out of the house so this trip will just be my spouse and me. I am there for a conference and we will be spending the week following the conference at WDW. In the restaurant forum, Happy Days forum and on the DL forum, I keep reading about people leaving the parks to get better (quality and pricing) food. I'm not looking for a $50+ dinner. I'm talking about a burger that isn't wrapped in foil paper and kept under a warming lamp. People talk about taking a skyliner, monorail or boat to a resort for lunch. I asked about it in another thread and it didn't sound like leaving the parks to eat was all that common. But then I keep seeing things like this pop up. With all of the comments (including in this thread) about how difficult transportation is and how long it takes to get from Point A to Point B, I feel like we shouldn't plan to leave a park, eat at a resort and then come back. By the time we finish a 7 pm dinner, it is already 8 pm and the parks close at 9 pm.

I'm with @scrappinginontario here actually- I think you should seriously reconsider spending a week at WDW. You already have a list of judgements against the parks encompassing everything but the rides (hours, food, transport). You're setting yourself up to spend thousands of dollars just to be mad for a week. Please take a couple giant mental steps back and re-evaluate this entire plan.

 

[HeiHei2018]

If you live close enough to DL to spend every weekend there, you will not be impressed with WDW food, and it’s unlikely you will find the time it takes to travel to a resort for a meal worthwhile. The food at the parks and resorts is okay, but you probably get better food for less at home. If you are already in town, I might recommend trying a few days at WDW with either some resort days or some days at other attractions. That will give you time to see the attractions that aren’t in DL. We are semi local and go for 1-4 days a year. Our last trip, we could have easily skipped the fourth day; we did one ride.