When can we consider the schedules "locked"?

[alvernon90]

I know that sometimes park hours can be changed at the last minutes when crowds are huge, but if you are going at an average time of year (like early October) when can you feel pretty confident that the announced hours are not going to change? Can we be confident in September that the hours we have are the hours we will get the following month?

 

[Robo]

1. I know that sometimes park hours can be changed at the last minutes when crowds are huge,
but if you are going at an average time of year (like early October) when can you feel pretty confident that the announced hours are not going to change?
2. Can we be confident in September that the hours we have are the hours we will get the following month?

1. Never can you be sure, at any time of year.
2. Nope.
However, for October, if there are any changes from hours and events posted in late September, expect the changes to be minor.

 

[BudgieMama]

Robo is right.

When I read your title, my answer was "on that day when they actually shut the park at the time they said they would!" But no, they might change things a month before, a week before, a day before or day of!

 

[vinotinto]

Disney just had a round of schedule changes for September on August 10th. Mostly adding parades and extending operating hours.

Are you going in October? Last year's schedule changes for October were announced on Sept 13. Here is a list of changes. Mostly parade and hour changes:
http://www.easywdw.com/news/14095/#more-14095

Here are the schedule changes for 2013. They were announced on September 18:
http://www.easywdw.com/news/october-2013-disney-world-operating-schedule-updates/

Here are the schedule changes for 2012. I went that year in October and they were announced on September 17:
http://www.easywdw.com/news/october-2012-disney-world-operating-schedule-changes/

 

[larryz]

When the front gate opens, that opening time is officially "locked."

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I know that sometimes park hours can be changed at the last minutes when crowds are huge, but if you are going at an average time of year (like early October) when can you feel pretty confident that the announced hours are not going to change? Can we be confident in September that the hours we have are the hours we will get the following month?

You can never be sure 100% that things won't change. In fact it was in early October that Disney tossed in a surprise EMH at the MK on us so that our before the park opened adr at Crystal Palace became an after the park opened adr at Crystal Palace. Unfortunately for us it was our last day of the trip and didn't get announced until the night before. It wasn't the ruination of our trip, I adapted and we still had a great time. However, most of the time changes after mid September will be minor changes such as staying open an hour later or tossing in a "surprise" emh.

 

[johde]

When the front gate opens, that opening time is officially "locked."

And by extension when the gates close in the evening the closing time is officially "locked". This seems to be especially true with the MK. I've been in the MK and in the afternoon heard that the hours would be extended that evening because of the crowds.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

When the front gate opens, that opening time is officially "locked."

I used to think that. Then I was unlucky enough to be in the very front of the line at a broken turnstyle. We had to go to the back of the line at another one. So opening time for everyone else was not opening time for us.

 

[bumbershoot]

When the front gate opens, that opening time is officially "locked."

Yep.

But they can change closing time on that same day. Had that happen!

 

[vinotinto]

You can never be sure 100% that things won't change. In fact it was in early October that Disney tossed in a surprise EMH at the MK on us so that our before the park opened adr at Crystal Palace became an after the park opened adr at Crystal Palace. Unfortunately for us it was our last day of the trip and didn't get announced until the night before. It wasn't the ruination of our trip, I adapted and we still had a great time. However, most of the time changes after mid September will be minor changes such as staying open an hour later or tossing in a "surprise" emh.

I had that happen too! It was Oct 2012 and I had 8:05 ADR at Crystal Palace. They announced that change Sept 18th - too late for me to switch days due to the rest of our ADRs. Although now with the $10 fee, it should be easier to switch things around.

And then another year, they added MSEP on some days that I had picked because they were supposed to be "slow" days, which brought extra crowds.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I had that happen too! It was Oct 2012 and I had 8:05 ADR at Crystal Palace. They announced that change Sept 18th - too late for me to switch days due to the rest of our ADRs. Although now with the $10 fee, it should be easier to switch things around.

And then another year, they added MSEP on some days that I had picked because they were supposed to be "slow" days, which brought extra crowds.

It is for that reason that I suggest that unless people otherwise want to go to the place they're reserving for said before the park opens breakfast that they don't go. Fortunately for us we wanted to go to Crystal Palace anyway.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

We've had both opening and closing times changed on us the day of during past October trips.

 

[phillymummer]

Disney just had a round of schedule changes for September on August 10th. Mostly adding parades and extending operating hours.

Are you going in October? Last year's schedule changes for October were announced on Sept 13. Here is a list of changes. Mostly parade and hour changes:
http://www.easywdw.com/news/14095/#more-14095

Here are the schedule changes for 2013. They were announced on September 18:
http://www.easywdw.com/news/october-2013-disney-world-operating-schedule-updates/

Here are the schedule changes for 2012. I went that year in October and they were announced on September 17:
http://www.easywdw.com/news/october-2012-disney-world-operating-schedule-changes/

So.... Any changes to the November schedule might be announced in mid October?

 

[Micca]

So.... Any changes to the November schedule might be announced in mid October?

Perhaps, but as others have stated, the schedule can change at any time (i.e. day of) and occasionally does. If the question relates to getting an ADR at a park restaurant before the park opens, you just have to keep your eyes on the schedule and your fingers crossed.

 

[LilyWDW]

I have been to Disney in October a few times now (favorite time to go). On my trip in 2010 there were actually changes the week of and the day of.

 

[Dug720]

In January during Marathon Weekend, MSEP was not slated to take place on I think Friday. Wishes! yes, MSEP no. BUT my friend and I were in the Emporium when I heard the music and sure enough, they added it in.

So yeah...things can change.

 

[mwmom]

While at the parks, what is the best way to find out about schedule changes. While at home, I can check the Disney calendar on the website, but is there another way to find out about the changes while there? Does the MDE app have park information? I haven't been since they started the MDE and we are going this November.

 

[cgattis]

1. Never can you be sure, at any time of year.
2. Nope.
However, for October, if there are any changes from hours and events posted in late September, expect the changes to be minor.

Yes, minor. Like taking Maleficent out of the party and putting her in a $100 hard ticket party within the party. That you'd already bought $60+ nonrefundable tickets too.