Park hours

[Surgie2]

In my post #11 above is a recipe for success if your goal is to ride FOP at rope drop without a fastPass+. Go for it and enjoy your flight!

Yes, this plan works! On a 9:00 opening, we were in the AK lot at 7:15, at the turnstiles by 7:30 and off of FOP by 9:10. We were let into the park much earlier than 9:00.

 

[Ensusieasm]

I hyperplan as well. You should see my trip planning spreadsheets! It gets frustrating when things like this happen! But just like rain, cold, an occasional 30 minute wait for a bus, and a run-in with a BTG, it's hard to predict when a schedule change will negatively affect one's park experience. I am curious...what did you expect a CM to do for you when you called? What was your goal? You talked with 3 people on one call? Or did you make three calls? I only ask because I *hate* the whole rigmarole of calling, waiting 5 minutes (or 20) to speak to a human, communicating what I want, and then being asked to complete a survey. I do it to make a room request or book a bounceback, but that's about it.

"BTG" ?

 

[Animal]

Brazilian Tour Group = BTG

 

[Ensusieasm]

Brazilian Tour Group = BTG

Thanks!

 

[Mddohmen]

It looks like park hours changed starting March 10. Does this mean park hours the week before are unlikely to change or might this still happen?

 

[Linkura]

It looks like park hours changed starting March 10. Does this mean park hours the week before are unlikely to change or might this still happen?

They already did change the week before for AK.

 

[MDDdisney]

They already did change the week before for AK.

For magic Kingdom/Epcot: is there still a chance park hours could change to 8am for dates before March 10? Or will the most likely stay at 9am at this point?

 

[GADisneyDad14]

For magic Kingdom/Epcot: is there still a chance park hours could change to 8am for dates before March 10? Or will the most likely stay at 9am at this point?

While anything can happen with park hours these days, I would be prepared for them to not likely change at this point.

 

[quest4dl]

For which season does this strategy work? I will be there at one of the busiest times - trying to decide if I should try for the rope drop stampede or try to get on at night before park closing The latter was my current plan as I read that if you are not in the first wave, the wait time quickly climbs to 2 hours (and I was already waiting an hour early for rope drop that would not make me happy).

 

[rpb718]

If you put yourself in the position as the person at Disney answering the phone you might understand why they had no idea what you were trying to accomplish. Assume they aren't Disney-philes and are just working a job. Now someone is calling them and complaining that a particular park is now open for an extra hour in the morning. It doesn't matter to them that you were trying to do something you thought would give you an advantage, they see it as someone complaining about having more time at the park and were totally confused.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

For which season does this strategy work? I will be there at one of the busiest times - trying to decide if I should try for the rope drop stampede or try to get on at night before park closing The latter was my current plan as I read that if you are not in the first wave, the wait time quickly climbs to 2 hours (and I was already waiting an hour early for rope drop that would not make me happy).

For an attraction as popular as FoP, it's always going to be more efficient and less stressful to hop in line just before closing time than it is to fight through the morning crowds.

Just keep in mind that posted waits are intentionally exaggerated at night to discourage late riders.

 

[cassie58]

Has anyone who will be going to Disney World specifically Animal Kingdom next week noticed that the park hours have recently changed? Or am I just going crazy?
I booked an early morning breakfast at Tusker House at 8:15 on Friday the 16th.
When booking the reservation a few months ago the park opening was at 9am.
I rechecked many times and the hours remained the same.
The whole purpose was to be in the park before opening so my daughter and myself could get in line for Avatar Flight of Passage before the park opened.
The park hours now say 8am.
I called this morning to inquire but the first person I spoke to was not very helpful, the second was very nice and helpful but didn't solve or answer my question.
The third person was kind of rude and kept interrupting and questioning me.
She actually said why are you complaining that Animal Kingdom is opening an hour earlier?
Did I need to explain...again..!!! why I booked the the early reservation?

This change may be due to President's weekend crowds, but you would think they could do these added hours sooner, as it is not a surprise that this holiday weekend is coming! I agree, very frustrating for us planners! If you are interested in eating at TH anyway, you could try to move it to the latest brft time to eat after a few good hour of touring - it is one of our faves, and that is the time we usually pick to take advantage of the early hours for shorter lines, especially since PPO no longer guaranteed, and can also get some lunch items as they change over. I agree with PPs, you could now get there super early to get in line for FoP, which will actually work better than if you'd had brft.

 

[Kins1111]

On a 9am opening at AK everyone gets in at 8:15 and most everyone heads straight toward Pandora, where they are held back until around 8:30, then allowed to proceed to the Flight of Passage. A couple weeks ago I did this three different mornings. Anyone going to breakfast would definitely end up in a three hour line for the ride after they ate. Whereas, I rode flight of Passage and walked off the ride at 9am on a 9:00 opening, or 8:10 on an 8am extra magic hour opening.
Cancel your breakfast, grab a granola bar, and get to the park 75 minutes before scheduled opening. FOP is awesome and so worth getting up early.

Thanks for the advice!
I already cancelled our breakfast reservation and we will get there early way before opening.
We were able to ride it once when we were there in October.

 

[LizzyS]

Has anyone who will be going to Disney World specifically Animal Kingdom next week noticed that the park hours have recently changed? Or am I just going crazy?
I booked an early morning breakfast at Tusker House at 8:15 on Friday the 16th.
When booking the reservation a few months ago the park opening was at 9am.
I rechecked many times and the hours remained the same.
The whole purpose was to be in the park before opening so my daughter and myself could get in line for Avatar Flight of Passage before the park opened.
The park hours now say 8am.
I called this morning to inquire but the first person I spoke to was not very helpful, the second was very nice and helpful but didn't solve or answer my question.
The third person was kind of rude and kept interrupting and questioning me.
She actually said why are you complaining that Animal Kingdom is opening an hour earlier?
Did I need to explain...again..!!! why I booked the the early reservation?

Our AK day is March 1st and it was a 9am opening for the longest time, but upon checking today, the park opening time is now 8 am. Not a huge deal for us, luckily, but that sucks for you since you've tried to schedule your ADR before park opening!