Park Hours?

[GatorChris]

it is my understanding that they wait to get booking info from area hotels to judge crowd size to make adjustments to hours.

Other parks don't make this kinds of fine adjustments, so don't need to wait 6 weeks out to set park hours.

If that's truly the case, then Disneyland is worse than I thought. They're actually depending on someone else to figure out their business model.

Just now, this very moment, I checked the WDW website for hours. I was able to get them IN JUNE!!! Not just that, but I could see when the parade and fireworks at the MK are happening, as well as seeing when Illuminations happens at Epcot along with certain entertainment at the Rose&Crown. Shoot, I can tell you Epcot hours without looking - 9am to 9pm, except when the holidays come when they stay open an extra 30 minutes. It's been the same for years. Sometimes you need all 12 hour to hit this park, and sometimes it's light enough that you don't. But it's still open for those hours.

I realize they have 20+ of their own hotels to get their info from, but I would imagine that they don't have a complete picture of occupancy of those hotels until 1-2 months out. And guess what....they still have park hours 6 months out. Then again, they've also had the ability to put park tickets on room key cards (and now magic bands) since at least 2000. DL hasn't even caught up with that yet.

If they're the world class business they claim to be, DL should know their hours for AT LEAST 3 months out. Disneyland: Quit being so beholden to stock holders and execs who want to squeeze every penny they can out of us and cut the hours of all your employees. Maybe this is part of the reason I feel so much more magic at WDW.

 

[Malcon10t]

Hmm... maybe the park will be opening at 9:00 am that day then. It's Friday, Feb 3rd. The system gave me an 8:10 reservation for Plaza Inn. That works out nicely.

I'll keep trying for WOC then. Thanks!

That is indicative of a 8am opening. On a non-MM day, 8am opening, reservations start at 10 mins after 8. If the park opens at 9 without MM, turnstiles will open at 830 and reservations will start at 840a. If the park opens at 10 without MM, turnstiles will open at 930 and reservations will start at 940a. If there is a MM, they reservations start 10 mins after MM starts.

 

[dshimel]

If that's truly the case, then Disneyland is worse than I thought. They're actually depending on someone else to figure out their business model.

If the WDW hotels are not full, then Disney sends out discount offers and ads to get them full. The on-site hotels and restaurants are the bulk of the business in WDW. In Orlando, Disney keeps the hotels full, so the parks know what their crowd size will be.

In SoCal, Disney does not have that kind of control over the crowd. Sure, they can run a lot of ads, but those ads help the surrounding hotels and restaurants as much or more than they help Disney itself. They would have to count on 100+ hotels teaming up to offer discounts, and advertise those room discounts, to drag more guests in. So in Anaheim, the parks adjust to the crowds instead of being like Florida where they can ensure park crowd levels with hotel policy.

 

[GatorChris]

So in Anaheim, the parks adjust to the crowds instead of being like Florida where they can ensure park crowd levels with hotel policy.

Then explain Universal Hollywood, Knott's Berry Farm, and LegoLand. They have hours slated for the whole year of 2017. I know you're trying, but the six week calendar for DL is indefensible.

 

[Darkbeer1]

Then explain Universal Hollywood, Knott's Berry Farm, and LegoLand. They have hours slated for the whole year of 2017. I know you're trying, but the six week calendar for DL is indefensible.

Add SeaWorld San Diego, Six Flags Magic Mountain and other popular Tourist attractions. Does those hours get changed,yes, but usually have hours added when they see the needed extra demand.

But the six week calendar only benefits one group, the Disney Execs, it even hurts the CM's, who do have access to a bit longer in the future plans, but still are left in the dark as to upcoming scheduling.

 

[dshimel]

Then explain Universal Hollywood, Knott's Berry Farm, and LegoLand. They have hours slated for the whole year of 2017. I know you're trying, but the six week calendar for DL is indefensible.

Locals fill those parks, so they don't need to adjust hours to out-of-state travelers.

I am not saying that I don't want them to change. I am simply explaining why it is the way it is.

Disneyland's crowd level is significantly effected by out of state visitors, which Disney has little control over since most stay off-site. They wait to set park hours, shows, etc until they can get a good idea of the crowd level from occupancy data of the surrounding hotels is available, which isn't until about 6 weeks out.

As I said, I wonder what would anger people more.... being forced to wait until 6 weeks out to make detailed plans, or making detailed plans only to have Disney alter the park hours at the 6 week out mark.

Stick to what they promise? Then they would promise the minimum.

 

[Darkbeer1]

Basically do what other parks do, they stick to the minimum hours posted a year in advance, and then add hours when they see the need arise... Not too hard to do, why can't Disneyland do that, you are trying to paint back and white, such as JUST minimal hours. But Disney does have private party and special events scheduled way in advance, sometimes years in advance, such as Grad Nites, the 2018 dates are being firmed up now, and will be released early next year, so schools can start booking. Let Disney tellits guests what they know today, make minor adjustments if needed by adding hours, and if they find out they might have a bit too much staffing on a specific day, well, that is just a cost of doing business,and keep the park open as promised, even if it is only 85% of the profit that Disney could have made if they waited until 6 weeks out.

GUESTS need to be part of the equation, and their satisfaction is a combination of communicating the future hours, AND staying open the hours they post in advance.

Add a show, great, but at least folks can book the first showing of World of Color, and then book the second when it is announced. Doesn't seem to hard to me, but TDA wants to total control and forget about the guests, they want to do what is best for them. No wonder people are saying the Disney is getting worse, and not better in customer service.

 

[dshimel]

Basically do what other parks do, they stick to the minimum hours posted a year in advance, and then add hours when they see the need arise... Not too hard to do,

Which brings me back to the question.

I wonder what is more annoying to guests?
Having to wait until 6 weeks out to plan
or
Planning 6 months out, then having to scrap those plans and start over when Disney changes the park hours 6 weeks out.


MAYBE, just had a thought....
Perhaps posting times well ahead of time was reinforcing busy, non-busy pattern. People would see Disney had short hours some times of the year, and book their vacation for the times when the parks are open longer. That would make the slow times slower and busy times busier. Perhaps Disney's goal is to take the park hours and shows out of the equation of selecting when to go, until it is too late to reschedule, thus spreading guests out around the year more.

We all know that long hours means a busy park. However, when I lived in Colorado and was planning the once-in-a-decade trip to Disney, I didn't know that, and would have selected the dates with the longest park hours.

 

[Darkbeer1]

Is still don't see the either/or...

Plan 6 months out, and make adjustments if the park opens an hour earlier, or stays open later and add shows and performances. Your basic plan is still good and valid, and you can just add on the additional options. No need to "start over".

 

[dshimel]

Is still don't see the either/or...

Plan 6 months out, and make adjustments if the park opens an hour earlier, or stays open later and add shows and performances. Your basic plan is still good and valid, and you can just add on the additional options. No need to "start over".

Your argument is a loop. If you don't need to know exact park hours and show times to make a plan, then there is no need for Disney to post hours more than 6 weeks ahead of time for you to plan. If exact park hours are so important that you do need to know the park hours 6 months out to make a plan, then they are so important that you would have to scrap the plan if Disney changes the hours.

You say "but they know when grad nites are a year ahead of time". Yeah, and maybe, just maybe, they don't want out-of-state visitors planning their air and hotel bookings around the parks closing 2 hours early for grad nites.

Does it suck Disney would keep information from guests to prevent planning around that information? Yeah.

Do I understand why a company would do it, to spread out crowds by not giving them all the info they need? Yeah.

 

[Darkbeer1]

Look, I don't own Disney stock nor work for Disney. I don't care how Disney tries to spread out crowds when planning a trip. I Give me the basic info, just like the other major parks/attractions do.

Heck, my flight might get changed, something comes up, and such as a starting time for a sporting event, etc.

I expect to make adjustments, but to not offer any info, and that is what Disney is doing except for six weeks away, and is a major disservice to their potential guests.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Your argument is a loop. If you don't need to know exact park hours and show times to make a plan, then there is no need for Disney to post hours more than 6 weeks ahead of time for you to plan. If exact park hours are so important that you do need to know the park hours 6 months out to make a plan, then they are so important that you would have to scrap the plan if Disney changes the hours.

You say "but they know when grad nites are a year ahead of time". Yeah, and maybe, just maybe, they don't want out-of-state visitors planning their air and hotel bookings around the parks closing 2 hours early for grad nites.

Does it suck Disney would keep information from guests to prevent planning around that information? Yeah.

Do I understand why a company would do it, to spread out crowds by not giving them all the info they need? Yeah.

But releasing or not releasing the hours isn't going to make a huge difference, is it? Since one can easily look to see when grad nites are. I mean, we purposely booked AFTER grad nites (well, now it's really grad-all-days) are done.

 

[dshimel]

But releasing or not releasing the hours isn't going to make a huge difference, is it? Since one can easily look to see when grad nites are. I mean, we purposely booked AFTER grad nites (well, now it's really grad-all-days) are done.

You think most people in Colorado or Australia, planning a once-a-decade, or once-in-a-lifetime Disney trip know that they need to know about grad night, and that they need to book around them?

Of course they don't. They jump online and do a search of Disney's site, then book a room and air, never even knowing that there are certain times they should avoid.

So yeah, I think it makes a HUGE difference that they don't give you the info that you would need in order to avoid those shorter hour days.

Sucks for the guests, but I understand why Disney does it.

 

[Malcon10t]

Here's my thoughts on hours... I figure hours will be 10-8 Monday thru Thurs, 9-10 Fri-Sun. During the 2 weeks of Christmas and June-Aug, I figure M-Th 9-10 and Fri-Sun 9-10. If the hours are longer, I win!

 

[dshimel]

Here's my thoughts on hours... I figure hours will be 10-8 Monday thru Thurs, 9-10 Fri-Sun. During the 2 weeks of Christmas and June-Aug, I figure M-Th 9-10 and Fri-Sun 9-10. If the hours are longer, I win!

And then you show up in Sept to find DL closes at 5PM because of after-hours Halloween party.

 

[ClaraOswald]

You think most people in Colorado or Australia, planning a once-a-decade, or once-in-a-lifetime Disney trip know that they need to know about grad night, and that they need to book around them?

Of course they don't. They jump online and do a search of Disney's site, then book a room and air, never even knowing that there are certain times they should avoid.

So yeah, I think it makes a HUGE difference that they don't give you the info that you would need in order to avoid those shorter hour days.

Sucks for the guests, but I understand why Disney does it.

Those types of people aren't likely to even check hours beforehand anyway or do any planning at all though. So I don't think it really would be that big of a difference.

 

[Malcon10t]

And then you show up in Sept to find DL closes at 5PM because of after-hours Halloween party.

Actually, 6pm. But the parks open at 8am on those days. Yes, you may need to adjust your hours. But then I remember the days prior to the internet when you arrived without knowledge of the hours or the rides available. Or if the park was open.

 

[figment_jii]

Yeah, and maybe, just maybe, they don't want out-of-state visitors planning their air and hotel bookings around the parks closing 2 hours early for grad nites.

This doesn't really have anything to do with the larger posting of park hour discussion, but neither park closes early for Grad Nights. So while guests may want to avoid being in the parks on Grad Nights due to crowds, it doesn't really impact park hours. Grad Nites are an after hour event in DCA. I looked at this year's dates and DCA opened until the same time regardless of Grad Nite or not.

And then you show up in Sept to find DL closes at 5PM because of after-hours Halloween party.

DL usually closes at 6:00 pm (weekdays) or 7:00 pm (Fridays and weekends) for Mickey's Halloween Party. In that way, the MHP nights have been announced in early July for the last few years, so in that way, you know the closing time for the parks earlier than the normal 6 weeks time frame.

 

[goooof1]

Actually, 6pm. But the parks open at 8am on those days. Yes, you may need to adjust your hours. But then I remember the days prior to the internet when you arrived without knowledge of the hours or the rides available. Or if the park was open.

YES!! I was thinking the same thing!

 

[wongck]

What Disney needs to do is suck it up and keep its promises, which might mean they open a hour early or stay open a hour late, then what the "precise" data says is "most efficient".

Not only do they not keep the opening times, they also changes the refurbishments schedule in the last few days running to the refurbishment.