What are park hours typically like in early December?

[MaC410]

My wife and I are planning our next trip and plan to go 11/30-12/9 of this year. We've always heard that the first weeks of December are a pretty nice time to go and we've never been to Disney for the Christmas festivities and decorations.

Our trip is (sadly) a long time away but we are trying to do as much planning as we can. We are curious about what park hours are like during this time of year when crowds are usually reported to be on the lower side. We really enjoy being at the parks at night and love doing PM extra magic hours. We plan to do MVMCP twice during our trip so we can satisfy our late night at the parks cravings and also because we love everything Christmas!

What about the other parks though? I'm getting the feeling that Disney is offering less and less PM extra magic hours. Does Hollywood Studios even have PM extra magic hours anymore? We aren't early morning people so the later the parks are open the happier we are. What are park hours usually like during this time of year?

 

[SaintsManiac]

I would suggest looking at the 2016 calendar on Kenny the Pirate's site. I've been using it as a guide to planning for our trip this year.

 

[MaC410]

I would suggest looking at the 2016 calendar on Kenny the Pirate's site. I've been using it as a guide to planning for our trip this year.

I have taken a look at some calendars for December 2016 and unless I'm reading something wrong it seems like the only park that has PM extra magic hours during the first weeks of December is Epcot for one night each week. I just didn't know if this was typical but I guess it makes sense that it would be since Magic Kingdom would be having sort of late hours many nights of the week for MVMCP

 

[SaintsManiac]

We were there 12/7-12/14 in 2015 and I honestly don't remember a lot of PM EMH.

 

[MaC410]

We were there 12/7-12/14 in 2015 and I honestly don't remember a lot of PM EMH.

The calendar I'm looking at shows Hollywood Studios closing at 7pm almost every night in the first two weeks of December 2016. That seems rather early. Do you remember if it closed that early when you went?

 

[wrlippert]

That is my target date range each year, with some added trips in addition. I find that Epcot is always open from 9-9. The rest of the parks generally open to the public at 9 also, with Morning Extra magic hours on a rotating basis. Magic kingdom is generally open until 7pm, with some evening booked for the Christmas Party, and extended weekend hours on non-party nights. Animal Kingdom tends to close around 5 as I recall, but now with the Rivers of Light, there may be some evenings, along with Evening Extra Magic Hours. I have avoided Hollywood Studios lately, but I believe that they generally open around 9 and close at 7 or 9 depending on the day of the week, running an additional Fantasmic! some days. The weather is pretty nice, especially if you are escaping the frigid north, with highs in the 70s or low 80s, and lows in the high 50s with little precipitation. You definitely need to dress in layers. One year there was a frost, with temps around 32, but that was an exception. All things considered, it the best time to visit, in my opinion.

 

[MaC410]

That is my target date range each year, with some added trips in addition. I find that Epcot is always open from 9-9. The rest of the parks generally open to the public at 9 also, with Morning Extra magic hours on a rotating basis. Magic kingdom is generally open until 7pm, with some evening booked for the Christmas Party, and extended weekend hours on non-party nights. Animal Kingdom tends to close around 5 as I recall, but now with the Rivers of Light, there may be some evenings, along with Evening Extra Magic Hours. I have avoided Hollywood Studios lately, but I believe that they generally open around 9 and close at 7 or 9 depending on the day of the week, running an additional Fantasmic! some days. The weather is pretty nice, especially if you are escaping the frigid north, with highs in the 70s or low 80s, and lows in the high 50s with little precipitation. You definitely need to dress in layers. One year there was a frost, with temps around 32, but that was an exception. All things considered, it the best time to visit, in my opinion.

Thanks for the info! Does Magic Kingdom close at 7pm even when MVMCP isn't that night? Or does it only close at 7pm on nights the party is happening?

 

[sharonabe]

Thanks for the info! Does Magic Kingdom close at 7pm even when MVMCP isn't that night? Or does it only close at 7pm on nights the party is happening?

It will only close at 7 on party nights, but other nights may be as early as 9.

Remember, it gets dark around 5:30-5:45, and that does make a difference. HS has closed around 7 in the past with F! happening either at 6:30 or 7. I can't imagine there would be two F! in one night. BUT there should be the new last year Christmas show at HS as well. (http://www.wdwinfo.com/holidays/christmas_world.htm#studios) EP will be open until 9:30 every night with Illuminations at 9:30. They have to push it back due to Candlelight Processional. AK is anyone's guess with the new night-time entertainment and Pandora coming online.

 

[SaintsManiac]

The calendar I'm looking at shows Hollywood Studios closing at 7pm almost every night in the first two weeks of December 2016. That seems rather early. Do you remember if it closed that early when you went?

It definitely didn't, but they still had the Osborne Lights up then.

 

[sharonabe]

It definitely didn't, but they still had the Osborne Lights up then.

Not in 2016. The last year for Osborne was 2015.

 

[MaC410]

Not in 2016. The last year for Osborne was 2015.

I believe SaintsManiac was talking about 2015. That's when they said they went.

 

[sharonabe]

I believe SaintsManiac was talking about 2015. That's when they said they went.

You're probably right. I was zeroing in on the OP's look at the 2016 calendar and missed the end of the question "when you went."