What is going on with June hours?!

[RedAngie]

Not saying it's necessarily the case here, but it would not surprise me if Disney has 'dedicated' posters on these boards to defend the company in controversial positions. It would help explain some of the bizarre 'Disney can do no wrong' opinions that are expressed here.

I have always assumed this to be true.

 

[whiporee]

Not saying it's necessarily the case here, but it would not surprise me if Disney has 'dedicated' posters on these boards to defend the company in controversial positions. It would help explain some of the bizarre 'Disney can do no wrong' opinions that are expressed here.

Disney could give two craps about what's posted here.

And frankly, the idea that people who disagree with you are paid posters is insulting. My opinions are my own, and suggesting the reason they've been offered is because I've been paid to do so is to distrust the fundamental nature of human experience.

 

[Delirium]

Disney could give two craps about what's posted here.

And frankly, the idea that people who disagree with you are paid posters is insulting. My opinions are my own, and suggesting the reason they've been offered is because I've been paid to do so is to distrust the fundamental nature of human experience.

If Disney doesn't give 'two craps' about what's posted here, then that's an extremely poor business decision. This forum is a great way for Disney to receive feedback from their customer base. Most major corporations have to run very expensive customer service call centers and still don't receive anything remotely as valuable as what Disney can get from this site at a much, much. reduced cost.

 

[jknc]

it makes me laugh how some people in this thread feel as though they have the right -- no the obligation -- to assign malicious intent to a business who is trying to maximize its profit. I think that's funny, because at the same time people chastise Disney, the reason they chastise Disney is because Disney is making it impossible for them to get what they consider the most for their money. They are allowed to demand (or condemn) a company for making financial decisions, and their reasons for criticizing are often cited as their own financial circumstances. People demand from Disney above and beyond what they get ANYWHERE else, and them condemn them for not doing enough. You're very right -- the whole thing is laughable.

But to address your specific points:
No one uses the word grateful. What people say is if you don't like it, don't go. If you don't see value, don't go. It's easy. Don't go to Disney. And if you've decided not to go to Disney, there's no real reason to be posting here about how much Disney sucks.

People want flexibility in their resort planning. But flexibility isn't enough-- you want WDW to increase its labor costs by 15-20 percent so you can go back and have a dip in the pool without missing anything. I think it's a fine plan, but you know what? Beaches get closed after dark. Ski slopes close at 5. And most amusement parks close at sundown or shortly thereafter. The Promised Land of Universal closes at 7 during the week. Resort kitchens and food courts have operating hours. So does WDW. And they are being upfront about them. Like I said, they don't reduce the hours, all they do is expand them, so if you're planning, plan around the posted hours. It's easy. 9-10. There you go. Plan according to that -- they spell it out. But that doesn't seem to be enough.

A Disney ticket is expensive -- except, when you're trying to defend DAH, in which case the DAH ticket is too expensive because a 5-day hopper breaks down to $42 or so a day. There is no level of satisfaction for those who want to condemn the place -- every decision Disney makes is mean spirited and motivated only by how much money they can take from you. Early reviews on the new desert party are good; but it's insulted because it's not enough, or because people don't want to pay. The folks who do the EMM seem to find it very worthwhile, but the rest say it's silly to spend that on three rides and breakfast. Meanwhile they're mad because their plan to spend $10 on a BOG breakfast and get a head start on those same rides (or those coveted pictures of empty Main Street) have now been thwarted. And it's painted as Disney being the ones who are doing wrong.

People want MORE. That's all this is about. Not fairness, not economics, not betrayal, not money grubbing. This is simply people complaining because they can't have MORE. And those perpetual tantrums get a little tiring.

We all have the right to our own opinions.

 

[thornton0511]

Correct me if I am wrong but I was under the assumption that the reason that hours are typically extended during the summer (and other busier times) is just for that reason...because they are more crowded and the average park goer cannot get as much accomplished on a summer day as they could on a fall day in a less crowded time frame, so Disney extends their park hours to go hand in hand with the crowds and demands of the park for that time frame. I don't think its a matter of 13 hours not being enough, but at the same time I don't think it's fair to compare a 9-10 park day in June to a 9-10 park day in Sept. I think most people are just frustrated because they know that most likely the parks are going to be more crowded than they would be, say in Sept, and typically due to the demand of the crowds Disney has longer park hours so that those guests going in more crowded times can accomplish as much as a guest that goes in slower times when it's not needed to have later park hours. I don't think it has anything to do with people needing to feel entitled to take a midday break or a dip at a resort pool. But it is a fact that higher crowds equals longer wait time and less accomplished. Disney does not owe anyone anything, but I do believe that they try to make everyone happy. It is all going to be okay in the end I promise!

 

[maryj11]

Wow, I genuinely didn't think my thread would bring out of the woodwork those nasty people who like to merely to complain about those of us who are concerned about the summer operating hours.

My view is this - if Disney wants me to book my ADRs at 180 days out and FP+ at 60 days out then they should darn well have the park hours firmed up by then.

It makes me laugh that some people in this thread:

• seem to think Disney extending the hours is Disney doing us a "favor" - they won't extend the hours if it isn't profitable; they don't keep MK open later than 10pm as a gesture of goodwill, they do it because guests spend $$$ in the park that justifies keeping it open;
• are arguing we should "be grateful" to have 13 hours as that "is enough" - LOL - we don't literally spend 13 hours in the park; it's about having flexibility to have some pool/outside park time during the day and to visit the park in the cooler evening hours;
• argue that "no other theme park" stays open until 10 or has "fireworks everynight" - erm, hello? Disney advertise the night entertainment and it's fully priced into the admission ticket pricing. Again, it's nothing "to be grateful for" - Disney isn't "doing us a favor" here.
• have said that people should be "arrested" for taking their time in leaving the park. Geez, take a chill pill - first, to me it came across as a JOKE and second you really need to get a grip; there are more important things for you to be worrying about in the world.

I agree oceanscape, it seems this is like that in a few threads I have read. Someone starts being rude and then an argument breaks out for several pages. It's not necessary to argue. If you don't like what is being said then move on.
I like to have our plans figured out at least a month ahead of time, but I feel stuck not knowing for sure what we are doing because of hours not being updated and other things that we are waiting on to be released.

 

[whiporee]

We all have the right to our own opinions.

Except no one ever accuses the anti-Disney crowd's opinions of being for sale.

Someone starts being rude and then an argument breaks out for several pages. It's not necessary to argue. If you don't like what is being said then move on.

But Maryj, look at what he wrote: That other people's opinions are laughable. No one defending WDW has insulted anyone on this thread -- I can't find an example of it. I don't know what oceanside's intention was, but my guess it was to complain that Disney hasn't announced extended hours into June yet. And what some of us have tried to say is that if that is a determining factor in your trip, either don't go or plan around the announced hours.

We (I guess just me) take umbrage at the idea that Disney is wrong not to do so. That they are bad and money grubbing and are falling part because they don't give everyone what they want all the time. That's making argument, but its not being argumentative.

And the other thing is you have to combat the narrative sometimes. If you let opinions you think are wrong go unchallenged, they become accepted as fact. That's the case with a lot of things on this board, and when I run into someone making what I consider to be wrong assumptions, I tend to challenge them.

 

[Delirium]

No on on here is 'Anti-Disney'. They would not be planning Disney trips if they were. That said, there are years of history to support the fact that Disney does not wait this long to extend hours. And, when people are trying to schedule ADRs and FPs, which are an almost requirement any more when going to WDW, it is perfectly understandable that people are anxious and frustrated.

 

[Fuhnuh]

Exactly.

Disney doesn't tell anyone to make their ADR's as early as possible. Or that they have to book their FastPass+ at exactly 60 days.

Other visitors make that call for everyone else.

Disney simply stops those people from making those reservations any earlier than that.

No, but by opening ADRs and FP+ when they do, it is encouraging its guests to make reservations far enough in advance that they lock in their vacations. This has many advantages to both Disney and its guests, but to deny that there are negatives seems very singleminded. Some people like planning their vacations down to the hour 180 and 60 days in advance and some don't. I don't know how you accommodate both groups, but I am guessing that most are at least a little put out having to monitor their trips like a free-to-play phone game. The argument that the hours are what Disney has listed is all you should expect only works if Disney did not have a history of extending them as your dates approach, especially when attendance is up. Personally, I know that past performance does not imply future hours, but it is frustrating to plan around the changes. I also understand that WDW is also trying to plan hours according to the number of people AK will pull from MK and HS at night. The problem for us, and others I imagine, is that we like to plan at least one late night at MK and with no evening EMH and the park schedule to close at 10, there is not a single day to plan this. I am afraid that the FP+ reservations I do tonight will have to be reworked at a later date to accommodate the changes. I'd even be happy if they made the park hours changes around 30 days, but I fear that I will have to check each day until perhaps two weeks away. This makes the set it and forget it plus of having advance reservations a little more of a hassle. Although I would not be happy if they don't increase hours, it is that I know that they will probably change and I'll be scrambling for FP+ times if the hours are updated.

BTW, in case people are misdirected, the Universal parks are scheduled to close at 8 at the beginning of June, working to 9 and 10 later, and 10 in July. I don't really understand why there is a need to advocate for positions at the sacrifice of information. Most of us want to just do our best in planning our trips. Yes, some of us remember that Disney is at base a corporation that must pay attention to its financial statements and others remember that one thing that sets Disney apart is the appearance that it tries harder to offer exemplary customer service and satisfaction, but it seems hard to for us to remember both.

With the amount of time I spend planning for our Disney trips, I have to wonder if the planning and my success at doing so is part of my enjoyment in going to WDW, DLR, and Aulani. With each year of changes recently, I have had concerns about returning in the future and have subsequently enjoyed my trip enough to plan another. So, I am sure this trip will be the same, but for each of us, there will be changes that make a WDW trip less attractive.

 

[Hikergirl]

No on on here is 'Anti-Disney'. They would not be planning Disney trips if they were. That said, there are years of history to support the fact that Disney does not wait this long to extend hours. And, when people are trying to schedule ADRs and FPs, which are an almost requirement any more when going to WDW, it is perfectly understandable that people are anxious and frustrated.

The only person requiring you to make an ADR or FP+ decisions is you. It is possible to visit WDW without doing either, and its also possible to plan those things between the hours that Disney posts for WDW. If those hours change, how much does that really effect your plans? If you made a dinner ADR for 7, does MK staying open until 12 instead of 10 mean you have to change that? If you already have your FP's planned does extending hours mean you have to change them? Can't you get more after you use your first group? If they are only open until 10, do you decide to go to another park instead?

I'm not one of those crazy spread sheet down to the minute planners and I can understand wanting to know the hours the parks will be open but I'm really trying to understand how being open a couple more hours will mean catastrophe to your already made plans.

And FTR before anyone accuses me of being in the Disney can't do any wrong camp, I'll say right now that I think they do plenty wrong.

 

[Delirium]

The only person requiring you to make an ADR or FP+ decisions is you. It is possible to visit WDW without doing either, and its also possible to plan those things between the hours that Disney posts for WDW. If those hours change, how much does that really effect your plans? If you made a dinner ADR for 7, does MK staying open until 12 instead of 10 mean you have to change that? If you already have your FP's planned does extending hours mean you have to change them? Can't you get more after you use your first group? If they are only open until 10, do you decide to go to another park instead?

I'm not one of those crazy spread sheet down to the minute planners and I can understand wanting to know the hours the parks will be open but I'm really trying to understand how being open a couple more hours will mean catastrophe to your already made plans.

And FTR before anyone accuses me of being in the Disney can't do any wrong camp, I'll say right now that I think they do plenty wrong.

If my 7 P.M. ADR is at Epcot and I want to hop over to MK afterwards, it is a significant difference. No, it's not a catastrophe, but late night park hours are probably the favorite part of my Disney vacation.

My issue is this. History indicates the hours will be extended. If they are not, then it will be disappointing. If they are, then why not just announce them well in advance, which has been the historical approach.

I am one of those that is in the crowd that believes Disney is waiting to see how the hard ticket 'Extra Hours' event is received. If that is reasonably successful, we will see more early closings at MK.

 

[Hikergirl]

If my 7 P.M. ADR is at Epcot and I want to hop over to MK afterwards, it is a significant difference. No, it's not a catastrophe, but late night park hours are probably the favorite part of my Disney vacation.

My issue is this. History indicates the hours will be extended. If they are not, then it will be disappointing. If they are, then why not just announce them well in advance, which has been the historical approach.

I am one of those that is in the crowd that believes Disney is waiting to see how the hard ticket 'Extra Hours' event is received. If that is reasonably successful, we will see more early closings at MK.

Ok, but can't you just make that decision that night, or the week you are there? Do you need to know the hours months in advance to decide that?


I agree that they might be seeing how the DAH event goes, but I thought I read somewhere that there was no plan to extend this event into peak times. Of course that is just speculation, I read it here or on someone's blog it wasn't an official announcement.

 

[Minnesota!]

Some people here need to find a sense of humor!

Fwiw, We are going in June. Loosely keeping an eye on ADRs...son for his birthday had some requests. However, it is possible to have a fantastic vacation without FP reservations and adrs, too. We have had plenty of success with day of, on both. I think the "need" to have them has been so forced down people's throats that they TRULY think they HAVE to have them in order to get "the best" of everything. Untrue.

But, I do think it's downright crappy to offer the options to paying guests and then switch things up so close to the trip.

 

[maryj11]

To us it is important to know the hours before we go. This year we had planned on enjoying the resort during the day and going to the parks in the evening except for two days.
I'm not saying Disney is corrupt and greedy and only cares about making money and nothing else.
No one is saying that as far as what I have read.
All we want to know is why they haven't updated the hours, which they do every year but are late doing so this year.
It would be nice if Disney would communicate on what the plans are concerning the hours. Since we are the ones paying thousands of dollars to go.

 

[jknc]

I'd just like to add that I am going in June. This topic is dear to my heart.

I was personally attacked on here for my opinion about June by people that were not going in June.

I've yet to recover from that ordeal. I sadly blocked a lot of very angry souls.

 

[maryj11]

I'd just like to add that I am going in June. This topic is dear to my heart.

I was personally attacked on here for my opinion about June by people that were not going in June.

I've yet to recover from that ordeal. I sadly blocked a lot of very angry souls.

Sorry to hear that. Don't let people on here get to you . I think some come on here just to take their frustrations out on others because they are angry about other things in their life.

 

[Mikie]

And frankly, the idea that people who disagree with you are paid posters is insulting. My opinions are my own, and suggesting the reason they've been offered is because I've been paid to do so is to distrust the fundamental nature of human experience.

Well, I think you and I may disagree on a lot, but I think THIS we agree on!
Something that I find very amusing to me personally, is that I was involved in many discussions when FP+ was first fully rolled out. I was in favor of it, or at least didn't see the cause for as much angst as I saw posted. At the time the boards looked very much like these discussions except then it was FP+ love/hate and now it's add-on events love/hate. I was often accused of being a "Disney shill" or on the WDW PR team because I didn't bash Disney's decisions.

I found it rude and dismissive then, and I find it so now, though now I am on the "other side", the side that is supposed to "shut up and stop posting negative things about Disney". I suppose the theory is that I was previously a paid plant but didn't get my check so now I hate Disney? In actuality I'm just a regular Disney fan with opinions, interested in sharing them and hearing from others. Accusing people of making up their opinions for pay (or any other name-calling) is a last resort of someone who can't convincingly make their point in any other way, so must turn instead to discrediting anyone who disagrees with them.

 

[Delirium]

Okay, this is, and has been my point. If you don't think Disney is a value, then you should not go to Disney. If you don't think Disney is of value when it's hours are 9-10 during the summer, then you shouldn't go.

Disney attracts visitors from all over the U.S. and abroad. Many people book these trips months, or even a year, in advance. It's not always easy to cancel those reservations without losing money already committed to the trip. Part of the factors they consider when booking the trip is park hours. Disney has not closed MK at 10 P.M. in June and July for years. Nothing is ever for certain, but for many people, late closures at MK in the summer were something they could count on.

 

[revdon64]

Well, I think you and I may disagree on a lot, but I think THIS we agree on!
Something that I find very amusing to me personally, is that I was involved in many discussions when FP+ was first fully rolled out. I was in favor of it, or at least didn't see the cause for as much angst as I saw posted. At the time the boards looked very much like these discussions except then it was FP+ love/hate and now it's add-on events love/hate. I was often accused of being a "Disney shill" or on the WDW PR team because I didn't bash Disney's decisions.

I found it rude and dismissive then, and I find it so now, though now I am on the "other side", the side that is supposed to "shut up and stop posting negative things about Disney". I suppose the theory is that I was previously a paid plant but didn't get my check so now I hate Disney? In actuality I'm just a regular Disney fan with opinions, interested in sharing them and hearing from others. Accusing people of making up their opinions for pay (or any other name-calling) is a last resort of someone who can't convincingly make their point in any other way, so must turn instead to discrediting anyone who disagrees with them.

Actually, no one was accused of anything. It was an overly general statement thrown out in jest. I'm pretty sure I said something like "All you Disfenders should cash your checks." If that's some kind of accusation that could be taken personally, then maybe I'm the one with an issue here? Next time I'll remember to put the smiley face in there.

 

[whiporee]

Actually, no one was accused of anything. It was an overly general statement thrown out in jest. I'm pretty sure I said something like "All you Disfenders should cash your checks." If that's some kind of accusation that could be taken personally, then maybe I'm the one with an issue here? Next time I'll remember to put the smiley face in there.

While I'm sure you were joking, I'm sure the other two who made similar comments before you were not.

I'm sorry i lumped you in with them if you weren't serious. My apologies. And best wishes for your trip.