Park hours

[Mermaidtails1323]

Does anyone know when they will have “final” park hours? We are going in a couple of weeks, and I’m not sure if we can rely on the posted hours, or if they could extend them further. This is probably most relevant for us at DHS. I tried finding the answer, but didn’t have any luck.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Park hours are never really finalized. I have been in a park only to find they have changed closing time that day. Always in those cases to a later time but still, same-day caganges can happen. Park hours can change at any time.

 

[Mermaidtails1323]

Park hours are never really finalized. I have been in a park only to find they have changed closing date that day. Park hours can change at any time.

Thanks for this! I was kind of hoping it would be a “2 weeks out” or something more definite, but I sort of figured it was this way. I’m assuming they’re going to extend the hours based on recent changes, but I guess we wait!

 

[Leigh L]

I was just coming to ask this question as well! Thank you for starting the thread.

From previous trips I seem to remember Disney did do park updates on a specific day (while of course subject to change - we've also been there when they did same-day changes), but does anyone know what day they tend to update the calendar? I seem to think it was on a Friday pattern for some reason?

 

[philbrody]

Similar question for July. with some June hours at MK going to 11 and AK opening at 8 was thinking there would be a late June/July update at some point to mimic the update early-mid June got.

 

[jmrmwaller]

Is it normal for closing times to alternate back and forth between 10pm and 11pm at MK? Most days next week are 11, but then all of the sudden it goes back to 10 on the 8th. Do they base it on reservations, how busy it’s supposed to be, etc.? We’re there the following week. Hoping they stay open a little later.

 

[Ariel620]

I still have this same question. It seems for all of June and most of July AK opened for EE at 7:30 am, but for the last week of July it still says 8:30. But I think they just updated the week of July 17-20 so that it opens at 7:30 now too (it says 7:30 now for sure, and I think last time I checked it said 8:30), so I think it looks like they update about 3 weeks in advance. So, if I'm correct, in a few days July 24-29 hours will update too, but right now July 24-29 still say 8:30 EE for AK and HS.

 

[weather_lady]

I still have this same question. It seems for all of June and most of July AK opened for EE at 7:30 am, but for the last week of July it still says 8:30. But I think they just updated the week of July 17-20 so that it opens at 7:30 now too (it says 7:30 now for sure, and I think last time I checked it said 8:30), so I think it looks like they update about 3 weeks in advance. So, if I'm correct, in a few days July 24-29 hours will update too, but right now July 24-29 still say 8:30 EE for AK and HS.

Park hours fluctuate in response to anticipated crowd levels and time of year, and you are correct that updates are made gradually, in waves, as any given week draws closer.

It's frustrating, to be sure. However, in our experience, we've rarely seen changes made with less than 2 weeks to go. Once you arrive, the My Disney Experience app is the easiest way to check park hours, and it's a good idea to give it a glance every morning before you head out, to stay abreast of the occasional last-minute development.

 

[VeronicaZS]

I think I saw recently on another thread someone said park hours are typically updated on Fridays 2-3 weeks out but of course updates can happen at any time including up to the day before.

 

[Ariel620]

I think I saw recently on another thread someone said park hours are typically updated on Fridays 2-3 weeks out but of course updates can happen at any time including up to the day before.

Thanks! This would be consistent with what I think I just observed, but I hadn't made note of it, so I wasn't sure, which is why I made note of the hours in this mornings message. So this Friday or Sat, I will check to see if they update July 24-29 to open AK and HS earlier than 8:30 EE.

 

[Leigh L]

We had our last park day on Sunday. Pretty much nothing was updated within weeks of our arrival which seemed unusual. Most days, MK closed at 10 p.m., DHS 9 p.m., Epcot 9 p.m., and AK 7 p.m.

MK opened at 9, DHS 8:30, AK 8 a.m. and Epcot 9 a.m. (excluding early entry).

With that being said, wait times were pretty low and we've gone this week in June in 21, 22, and 23, this was by far the slowest. Parks weren't shoulder to shoulder and wait times were pretty reasonable for the most part with a few exceptions.

This makes me wonder if the earlier closures are here to stay for a bit if crowds aren't as high. Even July 3 and 4, MK appeared closed by 11 p.m. (I'd checked the app last night out of curiosity since it was a sold-out reservation day).

 

[QueenofPrideRock]

I think I saw recently on another thread someone said park hours are typically updated on Fridays 2-3 weeks out but of course updates can happen at any time including up to the day before.

Yes! This is the post in question from @meremac if you are curious, I found it super helpful: https://www.disboards.com/threads/hs-how-early-are-they-opening.3922908/post-64898610

 

[Ariel620]

Thanks! This would be consistent with what I think I just observed, but I hadn't made note of it, so I wasn't sure, which is why I made note of the hours in this mornings message. So this Friday or Sat, I will check to see if they update July 24-29 to open AK and HS earlier than 8:30 EE.

Theory confirmed! This morning (Friday July 7), they updated the hours for July 24-29 so that AK EE is 7:30 and HS EE is 8:00.

So most likely the same thing will happen next Friday (July 14), hours will update for week of July 31- Aug 5 (which still list 8:30 EE for HS and AK).

 

[nuge67]

It’s been a while so I was shocked when I seen the hours of 9-9 with very little mention of early openings and late closures, except if you pay the 150 dollars from 9-12 at selected parks.

Any info on hour changes after 1/9/23

 

[scrappinginontario]

It’s been a while so I was shocked when I seen the hours of 9-9 with very little mention of early openings and late closures, except if you pay the 150 dollars from 9-12 at selected parks.

Any info on hour changes after 1/9/23

This question comes up often and the answer is always the same - Disney may or may not change park hours. The best suggestion is to keep an eye on them. Recently one of the parks had it's hours extended while guests were there that day.

Disney hours are never completely finalized until they close for the day.

 

[LisaMc]

Do we expect Disney to update the current Dec park hours? For instance, there are currently 2 Fantasmic times for most of Nov but only showing 9pm as the one Fantasmic showing for December. Thx

 

[scrappinginontario]

Do we expect Disney to update the current Dec park hours? For instance, there are currently 2 Fantasmic times for most of Nov but only showing 9pm as the one Fantasmic showing for December. Thx

Disney frequently updates park hours and offerings but there isn't a real schedule of when this is done, at least that I'm aware of. Best to just keep looking.

I would anticipate additional Fantasmic offerings being added but there is no guarantee.

 

[Jeantenojoos]

We will be there 11/20 and MK is open until midnight. Do a lot of people leave after fireworks? My kids are finallly getting to the ages where we can stay out longer and I love it.

 

[MaxDrake79]

Sorry guys, one of the reasons for my indecision in choosing the resort is precisely related to the closures of the parks in July in particular which is the month where I will go, with luxury resorts it is sure that I can participate in the extended hours in the evening but about the extended hours in the evening, if you stay in a non-luxury resort you can not stay in the parks maybe paying a special ticket etc? How does that work? It is possible to do so or only those staying in deluxe can stay afterwards

 

[Tom_E_D]

Sorry guys, one of the reasons for my indecision in choosing the resort is precisely related to the closures of the parks in July in particular which is the month where I will go, with luxury resorts it is sure that I can participate in the extended hours in the evening but about the extended hours in the evening, if you stay in a non-luxury resort you can not stay in the parks maybe paying a special ticket etc? How does that work? It is possible to do so or only those staying in deluxe can stay afterwards

Only those staying deluxe can attend Extended Evening hours. They don't sell tickets. After Hours events are different. They sell tickets to those and people staying deluxe have to buy tickets to attend, just like everyone else.