Planning park hours for next year

[smallworldnh]

I've booked my trip for September 2017 and am trying to preplan using one of those wonderful spreadsheets I heard about on the DISboards! Of course, this is all just speculation right now, but is it safe to assume that the park hours, EMH hours, and show/parade times would be basically what they are this year? I realize things change all the time, but I am just itching to start with all the preliminary planning!! When will next years set times be released? Thanks!

 

[siskaren]

Well, one issue with September hours is the MNSSHP, which won't be on the same dates next year as this year. September hours should be posted mid-February.

 

[smallworldnh]

That makes sense. I'll have to wait until February, in the meantime I guess I'll just "practice" my planning and I can change it later! Thank you!

 

[Delirium]

It's pretty safe to assume that there will NOT be parties on Wednesday or Saturday nights.

 

[IrishNYC]

It's pretty safe to assume that there will NOT be parties on Wednesday or Saturday nights.

Are the parties historically on the same nights? Thursday, Sunday, and another day?

 

[smallworldnh]

I would imagine the EMH hours will change as well. The last time we were there, MK had their evening hours on Sunday night and it was from 9 to about 1am. This year it's on a Wednesday, but only until 11pm. I also remember Epcots' evening EMH ended much later than this year in September.

 

[siskaren]

Are the parties historically on the same nights? Thursday, Sunday, and another day?

They're typically Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, but especially in September, I don't think they're held every one of those days, and when they have the first one isn't always consistent.

 

[Delirium]

Thursday is the most common night in both September & October. Friday, Sunday, & Tuesday are fairly common as well, but not every week. There is even an occasional Monday thrown in when Sunday does not have a party.

 

[siskaren]

Thursday is the most common night in both September & October. Friday, Sunday, & Tuesday are fairly common as well, but not every week. There is even an occasional Monday thrown in when Sunday does not have a party.

I'm pretty sure that the only Monday you'll see a party on is Columbus Day and Halloween itself if it falls on a Monday.

 

[Hoosier Mom]

My question about hours pertains to the pay-extra evening events that I've read about this year....the ones where they pay per person to stay in the park and ride rides. Are those events usually on the hours calendars? We are not going to pay extra. I was hoping to know if these events will continue and if I need to plan our daily park accordingly. Does the pay extra event make Magic Kingdom close down early for those not paying? Is that the only park that has been hosting these events? We are going end of January. Thanks in advance......

 

[Laura's Dad]

One thing that you can do is to check the DIS park hours for last year in their Park Hours section. That can give you some guidelines based on last years' times. I think the biggest change is going to be at DHS for the Star Wars fireworks. We are going in September this year and are waiting somewhat impatiently for the possibility of fireworks times.

 

[Hopefully]

I would imagine the EMH hours will change as well. The last time we were there, MK had their evening hours on Sunday night and it was from 9 to about 1am. This year it's on a Wednesday, but only until 11pm. I also remember Epcots' evening EMH ended much later than this year in September.

Extra Magic Hours were never 4 hours long. At one time they were 3 hours, but they have been 2 hours extra for a long time now. Same with Epcot. Epcot closes at 9 PM most evenings, and always has. It is open until 10PM on Friday and Saturday nights during the Food & Wine Festival, but that is fairly new. And it is open until 9:30 during the XMas holiday season.

My question about hours pertains to the pay-extra evening events that I've read about this year....the ones where they pay per person to stay in the park and ride rides. Are those events usually on the hours calendars? We are not going to pay extra. I was hoping to know if these events will continue and if I need to plan our daily park accordingly. Does the pay extra event make Magic Kingdom close down early for those not paying? Is that the only park that has been hosting these events? We are going end of January. Thanks in advance......

The ticketed evening extra hours is only in the MK at this point. They start after the normal MK hours and up to now they have not resulted in the MK closing earlier on those nights.