Seriously Big Park Hours Update 8/29-11/2 - Daily AM EMHs added for DHS, DAK, & MK

[SaintsManiac]

In addition to the added EMHs, TP decreased the crowd levels at all parks today except HS which increased for the week we are staying 9/21-9/28. With that said, it seems that Disney is adding every incentive possible to attract more guests to their resorts. I guess they aren’t getting the ROI they were expecting from SWGE. I know some are thinking that it’s to disperse the crowds but that’s just the kicker, there isn’t enough crowds for Disney to disperse.

As for my family, I’m slightly frustrated as I just squared away our final touring plans (given that we get the FPs we want), and ready to start spending time towards other things in my life that needs attention LOL. Now it’s back to the drawing board again! I really like the extra time in the parks but if we want to watch the closing shows, it’s not going to provide enough rest time for my young children. Kinda over spending every spare moment (even moments I can’t spare) trying to perfect our first trip to WDW. What a time to take a first trip to Disney!

Reservations for Disneyland sold out in a matter of hours. It will be busy at WDW.

TP is wildly inaccurate. They sent out updates today saying HS would be “crowd level 1.”

I know those of you with trips in September are unhappy with the early opening of GE. You have to do what’s best for you. No trip to Disney is perfect. Let that idea go.

 

[rteetz]

I'm curious if this will change breakfast starting times at restaurants. It might make getting those harder to get breakfasts easier to get, or just less crowded. I know if I'm up and going by 5am, there better be someone for me to eat.

But I really hope this is extended through the rest of the year. I'm crossing my fingers since we'll be there December 8-11.

I definitely don’t see Table service dining opening at 6 or anything. I’m sure Starbucks or kiosks will open up though.

 

[rteetz]

Reservations for Disneyland sold out in a matter of hours. It will be busy at WDW.

TP is wildly inaccurate. They sent out updates today saying HS would be “crowd level 1.”

I know those of you with trips in September are unhappy with the early opening of GE. You have to do what’s best for you. No trip to Disney is perfect. Let that idea go.

I wouldn’t say “wildly inaccurate” this was a change in the system that they are updating. I expect new levels to be sent out by @lentesta and his team.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I wouldn’t say “wildly inaccurate” this was a change in the system that they are updating. I expect new levels to be sent out by @lentesta and his team.

They made some pretty bad guesses the last few months. People are depending on them entirely too much, IMO.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

I'm curious if this will change breakfast starting times at restaurants. It might make getting those harder to get breakfasts easier to get, or just less crowded. I know if I'm up and going by 5am, there better be someone for me to eat.

But I really hope this is extended through the rest of the year. I'm crossing my fingers since we'll be there December 8-11.

SOMEONE for you to eat...... *runs to hide*

 

[rteetz]

They made some pretty bad guesses the last few months. People are depending on them entirely too much, IMO.

People definitely should expect their numbers to be 100% accurate. There is no way to know for sure with any estimation by anyone. Not even Disney knows all the time what’s going to happen. That said they didn’t purposely decrease their crowd calendars because they think crowds will be less. I’m guessing when hours expand in their system their algorithm changes the numbers. They likely now have to go in and update it themselves or something along those lines.

 

[SaintsManiac]

People definitely should expect their numbers to be 100% accurate. There is no way to know for sure with any estimation by anyone. Not even Disney knows all the time what’s going to happen. That said they didn’t purposely decrease their crowd calendars because they think crowds will be less. I’m guessing when hours expand in their system their algorithm changes the numbers. They likely now have to go in and update it themselves or something along those lines.

I think they need a better system. Look, I love TP for everything but those crowd level numbers. They are a huge part of my trips. I just don’t think it’s fair to put a number on crowds. It makes people stress out too much.

 

[rteetz]

I think they need a better system. Look, I love TP for everything but those crowd level numbers. They are a huge part of my trips. I just don’t think it’s fair to put a number on crowds. It makes people stress out too much.

In today’s disney yes crowd calendars are basically useless. 5-10 years ago they worked fine. People need to understand they are just estimates and not what may actually happen.

 

[Flagge]

This totally makes sense for them to do EMH at multiple parks to line up with whatever they do for SWGE. If they were to open just DHS early even if just for a couple hours every day everyone would flock there before going to their scheduled park of choice for that day. This would overload transportation coming and going at DHS. Plus this has the added benefit of spreading out the crowds as early morning people might leave after 4-8 hours to get some rest and come back, switch parks, or chill poolside. I'll be there in mid-October and welcome these awesome EMHs, just wish they were at Epcot as well.

 

[Upatnoon]

what do you think the odds are of having paid evening after hours events during this time period?

Initially, I would expect they won't do paid events until they get all the bugs out of the new area, but they will come eventually.

 

[DisneyQueen1320]

We are going Thanksgiving week, do you think they will keep these hours?

 

[DisneyandBeerLover]

SOMEONE for you to eat...... *runs to hide*

OMG THAT'S HILARIOUS haha whoops. I meant someTHING to eat.

 

[Upatnoon]

We arrive Nov. 2. I find this news stressful as Nov. 3 hours and forward are not available on the Disney site. Will people decide to wait until our week for EEMH at 7 instead of 6? Or will there be paid extra hours which is so not cool when tickets cost sooooooo much. Prices has increased teice since I made the reservation and switching weeks raises the prices.

Wish they would've announced the entire month. ADR day is Monday for Nov.2.

People won't be waiting to go on "your" week, they have already planned to be there.

Any increase in park hours would only be a benefit to you.

I would not expect any paid events right away, but that is just speculation. With a massive new area, there are a lot of unknowns and kinks that likely will need to be worked out before they start doing extra paid events.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

This totally makes sense for them to do EMM at multiple parks to line up with whatever they do for SWGE.

They're not doing EMM at multiple parks...they are doing EMH. Have to be sure we get that right as someone new to the DIS looking for EMM would misinterpret and then not understand why it can't be found on their trip dates.

 

[Flagge]

They're not doing EMM at multiple parks...they are doing EMH. Have to be sure we get that right as someone new to the DIS looking for EMM would misinterpret and then not understand why it can't be found on their trip dates.

Fixed it, thanks for the heads up on that. Still getting used to the short hand on the forums.

 

[Upatnoon]

This both worries and frustrates me. We have 8am breakfast reservations at Animal Kingdom , Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studious first week of September and was looking forward to getting inside ahead of the crowds, now the crowds will have been there an hour (or more) before our breakfast time. For my wife who is a photographer there goes the empty park shots, and as Disney is doing this what do they know that we don't?

Just get there earlier, take your photos, then go to breakfast.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Fixed it, thanks for the heads up on that. Still getting used to the short hand on the forums.

You are quite welcome!

 

[Kc0912]

WDW was never going to do the DL style on-site reservations. Too many hotels for such.

I never said they were going to; just that they needed to do SOMETHING in order to incentivise people to stay onsite. And without guaranteeing reservations like they are in Cali + no FPs (therefore no 60 day vs 30 day window) there wasn’t going to be many other options.

 

[DisneyandBeerLover]

I never said they were going to; just that they needed to do SOMETHING in order to incentivise people to stay onsite. And without guaranteeing reservations like they are in Cali + no FPs (therefore no 60 day vs 30 day window) there wasn’t going to be many other options.

I disagree. I think it's a lot harder to book rooms than it was 5-10+ years ago, DVC rooms that used to be easy to get are harder to get even before the 7 month window opens, room categories that we like have been a lot harder to find (and we're not too picky). So the less incentive for those who would otherwise stay offsite to stay onsite the better lol, I don't need rooms to be even harder to get.

 

[Heffalump12]

Reservations for Disneyland sold out in a matter of hours. It will be busy at WDW.

TP is wildly inaccurate. They sent out updates today saying HS would be “crowd level 1.”

I know those of you with trips in September are unhappy with the early opening of GE. You have to do what’s best for you. No trip to Disney is perfect. Let that idea go.

I checked the crowd level calendar and the weekends have been increased to a level “9”. Not sure where you saw “1”.

Yeah but a girl can always try! As much money as we are spending, my efforts are all in!