UGH! MK Hours and MNSSHP - SO confused!!

[TeamSy]

Our 180 days window is in 4 days and I'm SO CONFUSED!!! The Disney website has MNSSHP not starting until the 15th (which sucks for us because we'll now miss it, but whatever). However, the days we were planning to go to MK has it closing at 7pm. Does anyone know why?!?

It will SUCK to go to MK on a day it closes @ 7! I guess I could try and re-do our entire trip but I had it all planned out, especially with our ADR date approaching so quickly!

 

[sharonabe]

If you're talking about Sept 11 or 12, Night of Joy is on those two nights and the park will close at 7 pm for those not attending.

 

[TeamSy]

I'm looking at the hours on Friday September 4?

 

[mom2rtk]

If you're talking about Sept 11 or 12, Night of Joy is on those two nights and the park will close at 7 pm for those not attending.

I'm assuming the OP is talking about the dates the first week of September that a lot of folks assumed would be party dates, but turns out they aren't.

It looks very much like Disney thought about starting parties that week but changed their minds. I suppose we'll eventually see those hours adjusted. Or more party dates added. Stay tuned.

 

[kcpinwdw]

I'm in the same boat. Here's my plan. I have two schedules for my "party" day. One assumes on, and I will make ADRs accordingly. THen I will book "back up" ADRs with my husband's MDE account. If party, I'll shoot for a BOG around 5pm. If no party, we will do dinner at 1900 Park Fare. Fingers crossed we get to party, but if not, I'll still have something if we do a nonpark day instead.

 

[TeamSy]

I'm in the same boat. Here's my plan. I have two schedules for my "party" day. One assumes on, and I will make ADRs accordingly. THen I will book "back up" ADRs with my husband's MDE account. If party, I'll shoot for a BOG around 5pm. If no party, we will do dinner at 1900 Park Fare. Fingers crossed we get to party, but if not, I'll still have something if we do a nonpark day instead.

That sounds like a good plan for you!!! Unfortunately, we don't have any non-park days, so I'll need to re-plan our days then, which is SO FRUSTRATING!

It sucks for no party, but it is what it is. I'm more concerned about the time, because I definitely don't want to go if the park will close at 7.

 

[siskaren]

That sounds like a good plan for you!!! Unfortunately, we don't have any non-park days, so I'll need to re-plan our days then, which is SO FRUSTRATING!

It sucks for no party, but it is what it is. I'm more concerned about the time, because I definitely don't want to go if the park will close at 7.

I seriously doubt MK will close at 7:00 if there isn't a party.

 

[kcpinwdw]

YEah, i'm not really sure about a non park day either. One good thing about an early close is that the crowds are much lighter, so if it truly is 7pm close a lot of people will be thinking the same thing... changing their plans. My kids are little so an early evening isnt a bad thing if we do stick with MK and they do close at 7pm. GOod luck planning!

 

[Fratthouse]

The days MK closes at 7 are AWESOME! The crowds are so much lighter than other days - you can get as much or more done in fewer hours than a day with regular park hours. Plus, the days that have longer hours will be much more crowded because most people will be thinking the same way as you are - that they want to be there on a day with longer hours, so those days end up being slammed. You do miss out on the nighttime entertainment, but if you have a second day in MK you could save it for then, or you could park hop another night. If you can make one of those options work for you, I can't emphasize enough that these are the BEST days to be in MK.

 

[TeamSy]

The days MK closes at 7 are AWESOME! The crowds are so much lighter than other days - you can get as much or more done in fewer hours than a day with regular park hours. Plus, the days that have longer hours will be much more crowded because most people will be thinking the same way as you are - that they want to be there on a day with longer hours, so those days end up being slammed. You do miss out on the nighttime entertainment, but if you have a second day in MK you could save it for then, or you could park hop another night. If you can make one of those options work for you, I can't emphasize enough that these are the BEST days to be in MK.

That's interesting, I hadn't really thought about that. We typically don't do park hoppers as we like to do one park per day and go on EVERYTHING. My thought with the limited hours is we wouldn't get to do that, but if the crowds are really so low than we certainly would... I'll have to think about that!

 

[Mrs Grumpy]

I am in the same boat but with Labor Day. It is also listed as closing at 7:00. I have a plan B that I might go with if the hours are not updated by our ADR date on 3/9. Don't know if I should stay with plan A and assume the hours will be extended or not.

 

[GillianP1301]

My trip is at the same time and it is a bit nerve wracking to try and figure out ADRs with the calendar still showing 7pm closures, but no party. My money is on those 7pm closings getting changed to later. It's not really affecting me much, it's a 1/2 day AK day for me so if no party, we will spend some time at the resort that afternoon/evening. If a party does get added, I'll be able to easily add it without messing up my ADR plans.

 

[tiriggs1]

I had my vacation Sept. 4-11. I am still so frustrated about the party dates. We love MNSSHP so I moved our vacation to Sept.13-18. Due to work and my son school schedule we can only stay 5 nights now. I am disappointed. WDW had better not release earlier dates after putting so many people in a predicament. I will go through the roof. I prefer my original dates. Oh well.

 

[Dislover1991]

I had my vacation Sept. 4-11. I am still so frustrated about the party dates. We love MNSSHP so I moved our vacation to Sept.13-18. Due to work and my son school schedule we can only stay 5 nights now. I am disappointed. WDW had better not release earlier dates after putting so many people in a predicament. I will go through the roof. I prefer my original dates. Oh well.

That sounds just like us! We were booked for 9/4-9/12 and changed to 9/8-9/16. Luckily me and my parents all work- none of us are in school- so we're pretty flexible. But we are having to use more vacation days since we won't be there Labor Day weekend.

 

[Karin1984]

Does anyone have an idea what the crowd levels will be when the opening hours are extended for MK in the first week of September? Due to the 7pm closure it is now predicted to be quiet in MK according to easywdw.com and touringplans.com. If the hours are extended how would that impact the crowds?

I'm travelling with a first-timer and MK will be our first park no matter what, but I like to be prepared.

 

[Jennasis]

I'd be willing to bet that any days currently listed as a 7pm closing and with NO party or NoJ will wind up with the hours extended in due course.

 

[LaurenT]

The crowd levels will still be relatively low. Early Sept is historically low ... Labor Day is probably the lowest of holiday weekends year round because so much of the country has just gone back to school over the past couple of weeks. Even people who pull their kids out won't typically do it during those first few weeks when everything is getting figured out...
Unlike one of the previous posters ... I do hope they decide to add some earlier dates! I can't change my dates and am going home on the 5th. The 4th is my birthday.

 

[DisneyFive]

One thing to remember with 7pm close, is no Wishes and no MSEP.

If that's not a concern, then they can be great days with lighter crowds. You can still get it all in. Considering on a 9pm close day, you're normally finding a spot for MSEP or Wishes by 8pm or so, it really isn't much of a difference on your ride time.

Dan

 

[mousefan73]

I am certain they will either 1. adjust the times 2. or add more parties... I have yet to see MK at 7pm close with no party during that time.. and we go each year first 2 weeks in September and each year it seems more crowds, so I cant see the arguement 7pm close due to lower crowds than last year.

the only thing that definately sucks is the sofar limited late nights with wishes and EP.... we prefer late nights, but now we almost need to avoid those nights, skip wishes etc... due the HUGE crowds those nights as there are limited options for those shows..

I am also on the bench with ADRS... what to do.....

 

[Missyrose]

One thing to remember with 7pm close, is no Wishes and no MSEP.

If that's not a concern, then they can be great days with lighter crowds. You can still get it all in. Considering on a 9pm close day, you're normally finding a spot for MSEP or Wishes by 8pm or so, it really isn't much of a difference on your ride time.

Dan

But there's little to no chance that Disney will leave those early September dates with a 7 p.m. close. That will likely be extended to at least 9 p.m. and MSEP/Wishes will be added.