Rookies And Park Operating Hours

[johnruuu]

Hi,

Thank you for your website and the wonderful participation/information shared throughout.

I am a single, full time parent. I have saved for years and am now taking my 12 Y/O daughter on a 2500 mile journey to Disney World for the first time. I have never been either. I cannot afford to stay at any of the Disney resorts and I have successfully booked out complete travel and hotels for an 11 night stay in Orlando from June 17 to 28th on an very tight budget.

Problem: I started to look at the various Park operating hours and am SHOCKED to see that in the 3rd and 4th week of June they close EARLY. This potentially appears to be happening due to Magic hours ONLY avail to visitors staying at the Disney Resorts. What are my options (if any) so that my child and I can enjoy the parks, some of the nights?

I purchased the new MYW premium tickets, but they do not appear to allow us to remain the parks during true *darkness*night hours in June. Maybe the sun sets very ealry in Florida, and I am unaware. This is particularily disturbing since we love the notion of night time Disney (and the anticipated lighting, shows and parades). Literally. if we take a 2-3 break in the afternoons, the park operating schedule barely leaves any time to even return for additional fun (or night time extravagence).

Am I incorrect in this information? Are there any alternatives so that we may be part of the night fun at the various parks, particularily MGM, Epcot and AK ? Looks like MK is generally open till 10PM

Again, many thanks for you site. The last 60 days have been the beginning of our journey and your site has provided valuable information in helping me develop a much better understanding of the scope, depth and splendor of WDW.

JR
(kind of confused Newbie)

 

[ReninDetroit]

First of all, congrats on the first WDW vacation!!!

I think you will be pleasantly thrilled.

There's not much you can do to enjoy the extra magic hours, as they are indeed a benefit of staying onsite.

My only suggestion might be to reevaluate your choice to stay offsite. If the extra hours are important to you, perhaps you could stay for maybe 7-8 nights instead of 11 at the All-Stars or Pop Century? The rooms are around $70 per night, and oftentimes you can get a really good deal on tickets if you stay on Disney property.

Even the offsite hotels around Disney are quite expensive, and most likely the All Star hotels will be just around $10-20 more per night than what you're paying now, and you'll be able to get a discount on MYW tickets that may even make up for the difference in hotel costs. And if it doesn't, 11 nights is a very long vacation - perhaps you could consider staying onsite for a shorter amount of time? You'd be able to use all the extra magic hours you'd want, at all of the parks.

At the WDW website right now, you could stay for 8 nights at the Pop Century at $77/night and the tickets for both of you, with park hopper option, are a total of $446. Without park hopper, it's $398. (7 day passes. adding more days is going to be about $8 per day for you and $4 per day for her, or thereabouts) Remember that the more days you add to your park tickets, the cheaper the add on rate gets. The difference for BOTH of you between 6 day passes and 7 day passes is just $8.

Good luck!

 

[snowy76]

Welcome and congrats on your first trip!

This website http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=867&obj=sun&month=6&year=2005&day=1 can show you sunset times in Orlando for June. Looking at this, I wouldn't worry too much! I think you'll have plenty of dusk and some nighttime to enjoy. From what I can tell, MK and MGM are open until about 10 most nights, Epcot is 9 and AK is 6 or 7 pm.

The park hours are pretty typical for summer -- and often the hours listed are a bit misleading. The nighttime shows all run within regular park hours, but sometimes that means the show STARTS at closing time. Park shops are usually open past official closing time too. Epcot's FW closes at 7 but the major rides stay open until 9. WS "closes" at 9 but actually, Illuminations starts then. You WON'T be kicked out.

Also remember that many resort guests avoid EMH because they get so crowded. You'll mostly miss out on a lot of crabby people who can't get any more Fastpasses

And... the parks close but you can still enjoy DTD and maybe even grab a late dinner at a resort.

Just remember: enjoy this trip! You worked long and hard for it!

 

[Cyndirella]

As far as the Extra magic Hours, you do have to be a WDW resort guest to take advantage.

How many days are you planning on spending in the parks?

 

[ReninDetroit]

Welcome and congrats on your first trip!

This website http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=867&obj=sun&month=6&year=2005&day=1 can show you sunset times in Orlando for June. Looking at this, I wouldn't worry too much! I think you'll have plenty of dusk and some nighttime to enjoy. From what I can tell, MK and MGM are open until about 10 most nights, Epcot is 9 and AK is 6 or 7 pm.

The park hours are pretty typical for summer -- and often the hours listed are a bit misleading. The nighttime shows all run within regular park hours, but sometimes that means the show STARTS at closing time. Park shops are usually open past official closing time too. Epcot's FW closes at 7 but the major rides stay open until 9. WS "closes" at 9 but actually, Illuminations starts then. You WON'T be kicked out.

Also remember that many resort guests avoid EMH because they get so crowded. You'll mostly miss out on a lot of crabby people who can't get any more Fastpasses

And... the parks close but you can still enjoy DTD and maybe even grab a late dinner at a resort.

Just remember: enjoy this trip! You worked long and hard for it!

Yeah, and also remember that World Showcase is often open until 11:00, while FW closes at 9:00 (even though you have to walk through FW to get out). And I've been there where the posted hours were 9:00 for both and then you get there and the signs say 11:00

And I agree, there's always DTD!

 

[disgirl]

I just wanted to say even though we are complete strangers, I am soooo excited for you on your first trip!! You will LOVE it!! As others have said, I do think MK and MGM are open till 10, which is a decent time. Although being on site is very nice for convenience to the parks, many have posted here that they have gotten more done during a regular day than during some of the EMH (extra hours in the parks, especially at MK). The EMH parks seem to be really crowded.

Again, I hope you and your daughter have a WONDERFUL trip. My ds is 12 and he loves Disney.

 

[kilee]

Unfortunately, EMH is for onsite guests only. So, there will really not be too much of anything you can do in that respect.

I'm sure MK must be open at least 1 night later while you're there (to show Spectro and Wishes). I'd take full advantage of it. You may find that taking a 2-3 hour break everyday isn't very feasible. When we stay offsite we don't do this. Too much travel time involved.

Have a great trip!!!

 

[rwodonnell]

It looks like the Magic Kingdom stays open until 10 each night during your visit. This is not due to the EMH as you suppose; after all, the EMH is only one park per night (and no park on a couple nights during your visit). Generally the park hours are determined by the number of people expected, so hopefully the good news is it won't be as crowded while you are there as it could be. (It will still be crowded, I don't want you to think it won't be!)

I second the motion to see if you can get into the All Stars. I haven't stayed there, but have stayed on site and off site, and on site is so much better, in my opinion. It really is worth the extra money if you can swing it.

 

[Corryn]

Snowy76 is right about the shows....They start near or at the park closing time, such as the MGM Fantasmic show, which is really fantasmic! And the EPCOT show I think starts a little before closing time. In any case, you guys won't even realize how pooped you are until after sitting down and watching the show for a half hour; you'll appreciate leaving the park when it closes!
Closing time is also the time we take to really slllooooooowwwww down and check out the shops. No need feeling like cattle trying to exit the park, right?
Even if you're not buying anything, it's nice to take it slow and just browse.
Another thing, there's nothing like looking around the parks when they're emptying out. The lighting is different and the whole atmosphere is different from the day.
You're going to have an awesome time. Don't let your not spending three extra hours in the park for a few nights ruin your time. Remember, it's all about the fun!

 

[bizeemom4]

I just returned from a trip last week. My DH and DD stayed at home. So, it was a solo trip w/ my three sons.

My 5 and 9 year old were wiped out and needed a midday break. However, my 12 year old had WAY more getup and go energy than I did. He certainly did not need a 3 hour break every day. Depending on how far away your offsite hotel is, I'd say scrap the nap every day - maybe do a pool break every OTHER day???

 

[b4u2love]

The parks are open pretty late during your visit. MK is open every night till 10 pm to day guest. MGM is open most nights till 10pm as well. There are a couple of 9PM nights in your stay dates. AK always close early and Epcot is open till 9PM for everyone as well.

Don't forget about Disney Quest at Downtown Disney as well.

Hope this helps.

 

[Corryn]

I heard that Animal Kingdom closes early every night because of the mosquitos and not being able to use the chemicals to control them because of the animals; am I right?

 

[cruiseonmagic]

I heard that Animal Kingdom closes early every night because of the mosquitos and not being able to use the chemicals to control them because of the animals; am I right?

Animal Kingdom closes earlier than the other parks because the animals are placed in their "houses" every night. It takes a couple of hours to get them all put away, and they do it while it is still daylight. It's really cool how they get the animals to come in--each group is trained to respond to a different sound. The zebras might be trained to come when they hear a triangle, while the gazelles come when they hear a bicycle horn, etc.

 

[johnruuu]

Thanks to everyone for the responses




I had tentatively scheduled park visits based upon some historical data I found. It showed which days historically have had the lowest and the highest visitation per WDW park, during the week. Last week, I had *scheduled* parks into date(s) that historically have had lower attendance on a given day. Later (today), when I saw the June 05 schedules for opening and closings, I kind of freaked, since those parks on those days closed earlier than the general, summer 9PM 10PM . Dugh! It makes sense.

Thanks for all of the tips and insights too.


16 days until departure !!!!!!

 

[johnruuu]

BTW we are ticketed for the Disney Parks, including TL, BB and Quest with hopping.

Sounds like the EMH's aren't necessarily all that grandious, if they are way too overcrowded and there is very limited (if any) fastpasses distributed.

Many thanks for the updates, warm welcome and tips.

 

[johnruuu]

I just wanted to say even though we are complete strangers, I am soooo excited for you on your first trip!! You will LOVE it!! As others have said, I do think MK and MGM are open till 10, which is a decent time. Although being on site is very nice for convenience to the parks, many have posted here that they have gotten more done during a regular day than during some of the EMH (extra hours in the parks, especially at MK). The EMH parks seem to be really crowded.

Again, I hope you and your daughter have a WONDERFUL trip. My ds is 12 and he loves Disney.

Many thanks for your post.