Updated August hours for MK

[Tomh]

30? I leave in 2 weeks and this effects me...but thankfully mostly for the better.

But yes...I've been beating this drum for a while now. Disney doesn't stick to the same schedule that they make their guests do.

the one that sticks in my ribs was the Star Wars Dessert party at studios. The parties are wildly popular across the parks and make Disney a ton of revenue, but they waited until just this week to open booking for August. And, month to month, they have not been consistent with when they would open the window. SMH...why?

Perhaps an organized campaign to complain to Disney via guest communications about how these last minute changes affect guests after we are forced into making all our plans 180, and 60 days out. I wrote to them last summer after they did exactly this same thing to me, and let them know that I thought it was unfair of them to force us into that situation, and then make changes at the last minute that ruined plans which at that point, it was too late for us to change. Perhaps if they hear a similar story from enough guests they will come up with a better way of doing things.

 

[kathyfog]

"]Perhaps an organized campaign to complain to Disney via guest communications about how these last minute changes affect guests after we are forced into making all our plans 180, and 60 days out. I wrote to them last summer after they did exactly this same thing to me, and let them know that I thought it was unfair of them to force us into that situation, and then make changes at the last minute that ruined plans which at that point, it was too late for us to change. Perhaps if they hear a similar story from enough guests they will come up with a better way of doing things.[/QUOTE]
I would love to send my thoughts about this. Where should I send it? I had a ppo at CP at 8. Now the park opens at 8. Could not move breakfast a little later(no openings). Just not sure what to do....keep breakfast at 8 and miss an hour of park fun or give up an hour of fun for breakfast. Hmmmm, just not sure what to do, really wanted some pictures of almost empty main street. Bummer

 

[BookGirl305]

q

 

[cornflkgrl]

That is all.

 

[kathyfog]

I will be cancelling 8:00 cp on Monday 8/22. Guess I need to look at this as saving a lot of money. Will grab some cereal in room instead. Kinda dumb move on their part(I think)

 

[cornflkgrl]

I will be cancelling 8:00 cp on Monday 8/22. Guess I need to look at this as saving a lot of money. Will grab some cereal in room instead. Kinda dumb move on their part(I think)

Why do you have to cancel? They are still offering breakfast, right?

 

[kathyfog]

Why do you have to cancel? They are still offering breakfast, right?

Yup, but not going to waste an hour of time(or more) on breakfast and not get to attractions early to beat crowd and I booked this as a pre park opening in order to get some pictures of main street almost empty. Won't happen now so not gonna pay the prices to get no perks.

 

[johnsonet]

Nice! Thank you so much.
August 3 MK open until 2am!(EMH)

 

[micksn]

Aahh I have PPO breakfasts at CP and BOG on Monday 15th and 22nd. So annoying! I'm on the dining plan so probably won't cancel as FP's are all sorted! I'm sur last year the park opening went back to 9am in the last half of August - grrr!

 

[Princess Michele]

I am happy for all of the August travelers that will have the late nights at MK. I was hoping for my July trip coming up that we would have some 12:00am and 1:00am closings but so far that is not looking likely.

 

[skywaywaver]

I am happy for all of the August travelers that will have the late nights at MK. I was hoping for my July trip coming up that we would have some 12:00am and 1:00am closings but so far that is not looking likely.

I just looked at July hours for 4th of July weekend in this same format (travel agent spreadsheet) and also on wdwinfo. I'm a little alarmed that a holiday weekend in high summer garners shorter hours than August, at the middle of the month after most of the country is in school. I feel bad for those that stayed over 4th of July, hoping for those long park hours. While I enjoy what we get, I'm now scared, even after all the talk about lower attendance, etc.

 

[Cookie Princess]

Happy about the later closing times, but I wish they wouldn't force us into 180 day ADR's with credit card guarantee, THEN . . . wait until 30 days out and change the park opening time. Really fouled up my 8:05 breakfast at Crystal Palace.

I am now pondering cancelling my 8:05 breakfast at CP as well. uugh!!

 

[SBWB48]

While it's great that hours are extended, but is that a sign that crowds are expected to be higher in August? I can see why Disney would make short notice changes in efforts to gauge crowd levels based on additional last minute bookings to accommodate any elevated capacity. Can't imagine how angry guests would be if the parks closed at 10pm and lines for rides were north of 30-45 minutes each day. Perhaps July yielded shorter hours given lower projected crowds, and based on recent "just back" reviews, it seems to confirm that? Nonetheless, happy for those in August who have the extended hours and hopefully not because of increased crowds!

We are going in September, so also hoping AK hours will be extended a little further beyond 7:30pm...

 

[mom2rtk]

Disney won't care unless enough people cancel ADRs to leave some tables open. So far, I don't think that is happening. My guess is the one people cancel get picked up by other unknowing guests. As long as there are butts in seats, they just don't care if they mess with your specific plans.

 

[kathyfog]

Disney won't care unless enough people cancel ADRs to leave some tables open. So far, I don't think that is happening. My guess is the one people cancel get picked up by other unknowing guests. As long as there are butts in seats, they just don't care if they mess with your specific plans.

Yup, my feeling too. They don't care that we had to decide what park we would be in day by day and what time we wanted to eat 180 days before vacation and then 60 days out decide what rides/shows we wanted. Which then gives an altered day, had we known 180 days out, we could have done different plans for that particular day. SMH

 

[BookGirl305]

q

 

[crazy_for_the_dis]

Yup, but not going to waste an hour of time(or more) on breakfast and not get to attractions early to beat crowd and I booked this as a pre park opening in order to get some pictures of main street almost empty. Won't happen now so not gonna pay the prices to get no perks.

But the only perk booked was breakfast. I can't see why people get upset over this. The ADR was for breakfast, not an empty street or the ability to be the first in line. I can't see how this is Disney's fault. And as far as empty tables hurting Disney, they will surely make more money opening the entire park to everyone who will start buying things rather than a handful of people, some of whom only plan on buying a cupcake. I think calling people "clueless" who will still book a breakfast is wrong....maybe they just expect a breakfast. If the expected crowd levels support it, they are making the trip more enjoyable for a large number of people, rather than a few who have an expectation on privileges not paid for. If you want an empty park or be the first on rides, book a EMM. That's what we did. Those are some of the perks with a EMM. Or at the very least, book a breakfast on a day with EMM, so that you know the hours will not change. That could help lead to less upsets in planning.

And I agree sometimes adjustments need to be made. With the park staying open to 2:00 am, well that is right up our alley! But we have FP+'s the next morning, early, and that won't be happening. So, I'm adjusting my FP+'s. Problem solved. Not everything goes as planned, but I've learned to roll with it!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Have a look at the link below for extended MK hours for August.

https://media.disneywebcontent.com/StaticFiles/ParkHours/WDWTravelAgent_August.pdf

Thanks! I was expecting/hoping this would be the case!! Wish this happened earlier, and that they didn't add 8am openings, though...

Disney won't care unless enough people cancel ADRs to leave some tables open. So far, I don't think that is happening. My guess is the one people cancel get picked up by other unknowing guests. As long as there are butts in seats, they just don't care if they mess with your specific plans.

I think you're right, sadly. This really bugs me about the 8am additions. None messed with my plans THIS TIME (or YET?!?!), but they have in the past.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Yup, but not going to waste an hour of time(or more) on breakfast and not get to attractions early to beat crowd and I booked this as a pre park opening in order to get some pictures of main street almost empty. Won't happen now so not gonna pay the prices to get no perks.

But the only perk booked was breakfast. I can't see why people get upset over this. The ADR was for breakfast, not an empty street or the ability to be the first in line. I can't see how this is Disney's fault. And as far as empty tables hurting Disney, they will surely make more money opening the entire park to everyone who will start buying things rather than a handful of people, some of whom only plan on buying a cupcake. I think calling people "clueless" who will still book a breakfast is wrong....maybe they just expect a breakfast. If the expected crowd levels support it, they are making the trip more enjoyable for a large number of people, rather than a few who have an expectation on privileges not paid for. If you want an empty park or be the first on rides, book a EMM. That's what we did. Those are some of the perks with a EMM. Or at the very least, book a breakfast on a day with EMM, so that you know the hours will not change. That could help lead to less upsets in planning.

And I agree sometimes adjustments need to be made. With the park staying open to 2:00 am, well that is right up our alley! But we have FP+'s the next morning, early, and that won't be happening. So, I'm adjusting my FP+'s. Problem solved. Not everything goes as planned, but I've learned to roll with it!

I think you are missing the point. People book PPP breakfasts so they can enjoy their breakfast before the parks open- not spending the first hour of the parks opening eating. That's why we do make ADRs at the 180 day Mark. It does throw a wrench in our plans when Disney suddenly changed park hours so close to our trips

 

[DG-12]

My plans were impacted. But it's hard to read through this thread (and I am saying this politely) because Disney can't win. People complain about shorter hours, Disney extends hours. People now complain about the extended hours impacting their breakfasts. I get it, I just can't work up too much steam. #firstworldproblems