Really why do the wait so long

[mummabear]

to publish the hours?

It makes no sense that I van make dining reservations/BBB appointments before I know what hours the park will be open.
How can WDW have theirs sorted and published months ahead of time and DLR waits until a few weeks?
(I know I can look at historic hours as a guide but I just don't see why we can't have the official hours)

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

to publish the hours?

It makes no sense that I van make dining reservations/BBB appointments before I know what hours the park will be open.
How can WDW have theirs sorted and published months ahead of time and DLR waits until a few weeks?
(I know I can look at historic hours as a guide but I just don't see why we can't have the official hours)

With respect to you, and me, and everyone else who lives far away--DLR's core market is locals, many of whom are day visitors and who don't make their DLR plans very far in advance. That doesn't help those of us who live farther away, but that's why it is the way that it is. Most WDW visitors are non-locals, and WDW caters to their need for greater advance notice/planning.

 

[Dot2Vegas]

With respect to you, and me, and everyone else who lives far away--DLR's core market is locals, many of whom are day visitors and who don't make their DLR plans very far in advance. That doesn't help those of us who live farther away, but that's why it is the way that it is. Most WDW visitors are non-locals, and WDW caters to their need for greater advance notice/planning.

I was going to say the same thing. I live 4 hours away from Disneyland. Our trip planning, and for many people that we know, happens within weeks of leaving. Not very far in advanced. Disneyland definitely seems to cater more towards locals and families within a "short" driving distance.

 

[GatorChris]

Maybe that's true that most people come from less than 200 miles and plan a trip just a month in advance. But there are tons of people who come from Seattle, Denver, SLC.... These folks are planning 3-6 months in advance and even further. I like what the OP said. If WDW can plan hours 7+ months in advance, why can't DL at least give us 3 months?

 

[Gisele]

Maybe that's true that most people come from less than 200 miles and plan a trip just a month in advance. But there are tons of people who come from Seattle, Denver, SLC.... These folks are planning 3-6 months in advance and even further. I like what the OP said. If WDW can plan hours 7+ months in advance, why can't DL at least give us 3 months?

Agreed!

 

[figment_jii]

I agree with mikedoyleblogger and GatorChris both in that, DLR still has the scheduling/operational mind-set that most visitors are local or semi-local and aren't going to make reservations/plans that far in advance. However, I do wish that the dining reservations and operating calendar were in sync; either release both at the 60-day mark or both at 45-day mark. I'd be okay with 3-months, but I really don't think DLR needs to go the 180+ schedule that WDW uses.

 

[zanzibar138]

I agree, it makes it difficult to plan meal times etc when we don't know what the park hours are.

I realise that DLR caters for more of a local market, but there's no reason why they shouldn't be able to put the park schedule up at the 60 day mark when dining reservations open. Surely there's no harm in putting the schedule up a little earlier.

 

[LongTimeFan]

I understand that they get so much of their business from locals, but not all their business is from locals. Many come from far and wide. Their hours should be listed for all to see before the restaurant reservations time frame, or at the very least at the same time. The other way around makes no sense at all.

 

[grnflash]

I'm in the 60 or 90 day camp. It's 90 miles door-to-door for us and single day trips are few and far between. We average an overnight, 2 day trip monthly and due to work and school and activity schedules, there is still some planning involved. Hours 45 days out is just little short even for us. 60 days would be ideal and I can see that 90 days would be even better for those further away.

 

[mummabear]

I just don't see what disadvantage it would be to locals to have the hours out earlier. I know locals are the largest group visiting but there are still thousands of international visitors as well as those coming from the rest of the US. I agree dining doesn't need to be booked at the 180 mark, but hours could be or at least 90 days for hours.
Dining reservations/hours just need to be aligned.

 

[momof2n2]

I just don't see what disadvantage it would be to locals to have the hours out earlier. I know locals are the largest group visiting but there are still thousands of international visitors as well as those coming from the rest of the US. I agree dining doesn't need to be booked at the 180 mark, but hours could be or at least 90 days for hours. Dining reservations/hours just need to be aligned.

This is what I am thinking. It can't really HURT anyone to have hours decided earlier. ?? Right?

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

I would bet there are many levels of planning and operating practice at work here that have been in place for years (if not decades) at DLR that cause the schedules to be released and announced the way they are currently. That's not to say it wouldn't be more useful to have the schedules come out earlier (I know I'd find benefit in that), but it's not likely an easy or inexpensive thing to make happen. What I do think, though, is if TDA thought there would be an economic benefit to making the change, they would. Perhaps MagicBand technology will change things eventually on the west coast.

For now, though, considering how well the west coast parks are doing financially, I doubt TDA sees much need to change anything. I do also kind of think this is applying WDW thinking to DLR (for PPs who have said if WDW can do it why can't DLR.) Esteemed Disney friends, you know those comparisons always lead us into trouble.

Now if this was a discussion about why WDW parks can have wifi but DLR parks can't...

 

[mom2rtk]

As long as they stay successful without committing on park hours sooner, I doubt that will happen. I imagine it's just a matter of them preferring to hold off as long as the can, to keep options open. If people just accept that as the have for so long, it will continue.

Drives me nuts though since we travel half way across the country and have to book air much further in advance than that.

 

[valiamo]

Maybe that's true that most people come from less than 200 miles and plan a trip just a month in advance. But there are tons of people who come from Seattle, Denver, SLC.... These folks are planning 3-6 months in advance and even further. I like what the OP said. If WDW can plan hours 7+ months in advance, why can't DL at least give us 3 months?

I have to ask the question.... Why, what is the advantage?

The venue's don't fill up as they do in WDW, the character meals are easier to get reservation close in, there is no real advantage to booking a meal 3 months early, other than to have it crossed off the bucket list.

I so, so much love the fact that, in DL, my days are much more leisurely and I do not have to book my every waking second to ensure that I have fit the maximum fun into the least amount of time.

I have been to both parks multi times, and much prefer the liaise faire atmosphere on the west coast.

As for WDW, having to reserve in advance for the special meals, means much more planning with locations and rides. It is a bummer to be having fun in Epoct, and having dinner reservations in DTD.

I would like to see the hours out earlier, but it does not take away from the fun you have.

 

[mummabear]

I have to ask the question.... Why, what is the advantage?

The venue's don't fill up as they do in WDW, the character meals are easier to get reservation close in, there is no real advantage to booking a meal 3 months early, other than to have it crossed off the bucket list.

I so, so much love the fact that, in DL, my days are much more leisurely and I do not have to book my every waking second to ensure that I have fit the maximum fun into the least amount of time.

I have been to both parks multi times, and much prefer the liaise faire atmosphere on the west coast.

As for WDW, having to reserve in advance for the special meals, means much more planning with locations and rides. It is a bummer to be having fun in Epoct, and having dinner reservations in DTD.

I would like to see the hours out earlier, but it does not take away from the fun you have.

Well I know to check the historic hours and we tend to go for 5-10 days so a couple of days with short hours are not the end of the world.
BUT for people who have not travelled to DLR so regularly and travel from this side of the world-we need to book our air travel quite far out,.
Can you imagine how disappointing it would be to book $5,000+ in flights in May for September having only seen park hours for June/July then later finding out the park is open 5+ hours less than you thought they would be and because your days in LA are Tues/Wed/Thurs you don't get any fireworks...

 

[winkytink]

Now if this was a discussion about why WDW parks can have wifi but DLR parks can't...

Hold up. Whaaaat now?!

 

[zanzibar138]

I have to ask the question.... Why, what is the advantage?

The venue's don't fill up as they do in WDW, the character meals are easier to get reservation close in, there is no real advantage to booking a meal 3 months early, other than to have it crossed off the bucket list.

I so, so much love the fact that, in DL, my days are much more leisurely and I do not have to book my every waking second to ensure that I have fit the maximum fun into the least amount of time.

I have been to both parks multi times, and much prefer the liaise faire atmosphere on the west coast.

As for WDW, having to reserve in advance for the special meals, means much more planning with locations and rides. It is a bummer to be having fun in Epoct, and having dinner reservations in DTD.

I would like to see the hours out earlier, but it does not take away from the fun you have.

I agree. This is why I love DLR too And I'm not saying they need to make any changes to when you can start booking meals, and I certainly hope we NEVER have to book rides in advance I'm just saying that it would be handy to be able confirm the park hours before booking any meals. The other side of the coin would be if ADRs only opened at 45 days when the schedule is released. Just seems silly to be able to book meals before the hours come out.

 

[bryanb]

I remember the days when the attendance forecast would change the night before, forcing schedulers to scramble and adjust all of the cast member hours. Disneyland attendance is definitely susceptible to a little extra sun, a little extra rain, or any of a thousand things going on in Southern California.

I've personally never had problems getting dining reservations on the same day or a couple of days in advance. And I really can't imagine a future where Fast Passes must be reserved for weeks ahead of time. Yikes.