Sept Park hours really this short???

[Suzanne74]

Looking back on this one website it has MK closing at 6pm the whole first week of September. Last year even Labor Day weekend Saturday, they were only open until 6pm. Latest opening 8pm on Labor Day itself. Now I definately want to enjoy the off-peak time but I do not want to book the first week of Sept if MK doesn't offer any Spectromagic or Fireworks. To me it doens't seem complete without that and I want my daughter to experience it. Looks like Specromagic was only shown twice in all of Sept last year - every OTHER Saturday.

My 3 yr old turns 3 on 9/5 and we were almost ready to book 1 wk 9/4 to 9/11 for a 1 bdrm villa in OKW for under $900 taxes included, which I thought was a great deal (is it?) That on top of her being free is a BIG incentive!!

So really I am asking advice - should I wait and book first week October to have more night time hours and MNSSHP hoping to get a good deal or should I just stick with my deal and HOPE MK has at least one late night the week we are there.

When do the Sept hours normally post??

Thanks in Advance

 

[lisareniff]

I don't have years of WDW experience but I just wanted to add one thought...

Travel really took a down turn after 9/11 and did not start coming back until last Thanksgiving. Since then things have been more normal (crowded) at WDW. I don't know what means for Sept. Also, I have also heard they have wishes every night! I don't know how they could do that at 6pm in Sept???? I wish they would post their hours more in advace then they do now. It was driving me crazy when we went over Thanksgiving!! The even switch EMH for two of the days a few days before we left!

 

[GailT]

I remeber when the parks were open till 1am. It is disapointing they close early but like everything else in life things change. I am going in November and I think they are not open late either. I guess we just have to go with the flow, we have no control over DWs hrs so go and have fun no matter what time they close

 

[dansyr]

I believe there were fireworks everynight except Nights of Joy.
Here is a link to last Sept. hours.
http://www.themeparks.com/wdw/calendar/september.htm.
We were there last year the first week of sept. I think they showed spectro once a week but fireworks were every night except NOJ nights.
Don't worry about the parks closing slightly earlier.......the crowds were so minimal we didn't have to wait for any rides.
We could get an entire park like MGM done in half a day.

 

[Kimberle]

Yes, when we were there last Sept, Spectro & FW's were only done on Sat nights. Boy, was it PACKED!!!

Don't worry, the rest of the parks aren't that crowded and the lines aren't that long, so you really don't need extended hours.

 

[LATigger]

Suzanne74, I too am awaiting the September hours! I have never been at that time of year but usually go at Mardi Gras (to escape the mania here at home!). It is a shorter-hours time of year in Feb/March and we usually get to do everything anyone'd want to do/see without feeling gipped. So I am confident that September will be fine too. Most times, my feet couldn't have taken one more step anyway!

I am more concerned about hurricane season than shorter hours. I read a thread about how it is usually NOT a problembut... most of those writing were from the Northeast. Having lived through 43 hurricane seasons, I know it can cause quite an upset trying to figure out where the darn thing is heading! If that works out fine, NOTHING can affect my trip otherwise. Have fun!

 

[SnackyStacky]

Originally posted by LATigger
I am more concerned about hurricane season than shorter hours. I read a thread about how it is usually NOT a problembut... most of those writing were from the Northeast. Having lived through 43 hurricane seasons, I know it can cause quite an upset trying to figure out where the darn thing is heading! If that works out fine, NOTHING can affect my trip otherwise. Have fun!

Florida faces hurricane season EVERY year.

Since 1971, Disney World has closed its gates once due to a hurricane threat.

The hurricane didn't even hit.

It may be a bit rainier, but don't worry about the hurricanes.

 

[Suzanne74]

thanks for the input everyone...

I know I won't feel like I am getting ripped off and I know the lines will be short but there is just something about going to Disney at night that I like.

Also - my main reason is that I would want to take a midday break so my daughter could nap and then go back after. All what staying inside the park is about for us.

Does anyone remember how far in advance they put the hours out?

Also is Night of Joy just the 11th or the 10-11th this year? They would be my only two weekend nights there and I would hate to miss out on my only spectromagic because of the parks closing early just this one weekend...

 

[dansyr]

I believe NOJ is the 9th, 10th 11th and 12th this year...but don't quote me on it.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Epcot is open every night until 9PM with Illuminations every night (Unless something big happens and they change it).

They usually have Fantasmic at least once a night at Disney Studios. It has to be dark to get the full effect, so that park will probably close about 7 or 8 with Fantasmic starting at that time.

Fewer guests = shorter hours.
More guests = longer hours (ala summer, Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc.)

 

[DisneyFreaks]

Keep watching the events calendar at disneyworld.com. There was no Spectro Parade scheduled for our trip last May and my family was so dissappointed but a few weeks before we left for the World they did list one. It was hard changing all of our itinerary around just to include that parade but it was worth it. Deb & Bill is right too. If the park gets really crowded they will extend the closing a few hours. Hope it works out for you.

 

[LAWalz23]

The first time we took my niece and nephew (twins, now 6) they were just short of 3 1/2 yo and it was the beginning of May so the park hours were similar to Sept. We did MK and AK in the mornings, took an afternoon break then did EPCOT or the Studios after dinner. Also my sister did not even attempt to take them to Spectro that year and they did not know the difference as they got to see all the afternoon parades. We did do an Illuminations Cruise and they really enjoyed that. It was really great not to have to deal with long lines and we had a great time. This year we are going in the beginning of August (because of school and my parent's 50th anniversary) and we are already dreading the crowds and trying to figure out how to cope. And of course now that this is their 4th trip to WDW, my niece and nephew what to see everything and go on every ride. It should be an intersting trip.

 

[Jay-Jay]

We went in September last year and they first posted the hours for all of the parks on June 2nd. Beware, however, because the final hours were drastically different for the Magic Kingdom and MGM by the time our visit rolled around. I printed the original schedules on June 2nd, then returned to verify them a few days before our trip, and the hours for Magic Kingdom & MGM had (thankfully!) been lengthened by as much as 2 hours a day. They also originally showed *NO* Spetcro Magic parades during our visit, but added one at the last minute. The later hours at Magic Kingdom messed with some of our PSs there and when we had planned to hop to World Showcase, but since the hours were lengthened rather than shortened, it was worth the hassle to rearrange our schedule at the last minute. So, bottom line is, take the schedules you find in the next few days with a grain of salt, and plan on them changing a bit by the time your trip countdown is in the single digits!

Jay-Jay

 

[Suzanne74]

thanks for the responses - I just have to hope that we can see specromagic the first Sat we are there which would be over Labor Day weekend. Nights of Joy are 9th, 10th and 11th the following weekend and I know MK will be closing at 6pm those nights.

Since August dates are out now - hoping Sept will follow soon!

 

[kelscross]

It seems like they post it 60 days in advance. I wish they would at least post it 90 days in advance. To me it's harder to decide what time you want dinner PS if you don't know when the park closes or when the shows start.

As far as the hours go, we went the last week of August last year and the parks closed a bit earlier than the rest of the summer months (but not too early) and it was still pretty crowded. Only one day was the MK dead and we got to ride everything in half a day. I didn't realize that MK will close that early though.

Oh well, it will give us more time to enjoy the resort, but honestly I would have scheduled our vacation another week if I would have known.

 

[lulu71]

Originally posted by SnackyStacky
Florida faces hurricane season EVERY year.

Since 1971, Disney World has closed its gates once due to a hurricane threat.

The hurricane didn't even hit.

It may be a bit rainier, but don't worry about the hurricanes.

I'm also going in September and worried about hurricane season. It's not only the issue of a hurricane hitting Florida, but also one hitting home here in New Orleans. I just hope the Atlantic AND the Gulf are clear when we go!

 

[Karalea]

We went last year in September and totally enjoyed ourselves. We have made our plans for this September again and I am not at all worried about hurricane season. It rained for 15 minutes ONCE the entire week we were there-Sept 18-25. It rains more than that during June & July.

I believe Magic Kingdom closed at 7:00 most nights we were there and neither Fireworks or Spectro were presented any night except Saturday. Fantasmic was every night at 8:00 and Illuminations was presented nightly as well. Animal Kingdom was only open from 9-5.

Lines were so short for most attractions, fast pass was not even offered for most attractions. We walked onto everything including Splash Mountain, Test Track, and Mission Space. Only stood in line for Jungle Cruise (15 Minutes??).

The lack of crowds totally make up for the short hours and lack of nightime events in my opinion.

Kara

 

[tnkrbell]

Im wondering if you mind telling me what discount you used for the rate you got?? That is really good!!! 900 for a week is awesome!! You will love sept!! It is our favorite tiem to go!! We also are going then!!