When will July hours be updated?

[mouseclick1]

I see July 24,25 and 26th are closing at 11:00 why is that?

I was wondering the same thing. Of course, we are arriving on the 27th!

 

[robl45]

Yea I'm almost all set with Disney at this point. We been 3 years in a row and always the MK was open till midnight or maybe 11pm one day. Not to mention HS was open late one night as well. Now its all just AK every night and apparently only for the two pandora rides. 10pm means I have a dissappointed son who will get to ride maybe 2 rides after dinner. I'm debating at this point even booking for next August. Maybe we take a break and just do Universal with relaxing unlimited express passes minus that disaster volcano bay.

We just returned from 10 days in the world, and hours were not extended for parks on any of our days. In the past, we often got an extra hour when rain shut everything down earlier and crowds justified extended hours, but nothing this year. We shut down a park every night, and they were all still packed. MK closing at 10pm was crazy. We shopped our way out the last night and heard the 'kiss goodnight' at least three times. At 11pm (a full hour after the official close and 2 hrs after the fireworks) crowds were still pouring out. The monorail line was at least 4 trains deep and ferry and monorails were all running full. Crowds certainly would have justified the 11-midnight closings of years past.

 

[IsThatYouTigger]

That's weird to hear, because Sunday was relatively dead at MK. 20-30 minute waits on everything by SDMT most of the day.

We walked onto FEA Saturday morning at 10:05 after walking onto Soarin' at 9:25. Tusker House was practically empty at 5:30 for dinner. And Monday at Blizzard Beach was very short waits, too.

Crowds are hard to figure out.

We had a very similar experience like you. My husband and I were there the 9th-12th. We were able to ride all the rides we wanted at Epcot, HS, and AK. We booked last minute so didn't have a FP for FoP but got there 45 minutes before park open and were able to get right on. We did the trails and other rides by 11. We went back that night for the River Journey and RoL FP's. Right before park close at Epcot we walked onto Soarin and waits for Epcot EMH's were minimal. We were under the opinion that 'wow they really have shifted the park crowds to different seasons'...until we got to the Magic Kingdom on the extra magic hour day. I've been there in October when the crowds have been lower and yet they extended the park hours the day of. It legitimately seemed like a day between Christmas and New Years when the park stayed open until 3am with EMH's. My husband and I looked at MK's wait times when we got home yesterday and MK was back to being a ghost town. Wednesday the 12th was a prime example of when Disney should have extended park hours the day of, and yet they didn't.

 

[maryj11]

Yep, I was at MK yesterday and agree that it was nuts. That 40 minutes for Stitch is reflective of the truth that all those people have to be somewhere. When they can't be on Splash, BTMRR, SDMT, Dumbo, Aladdin. Jungle Cruise, SFTH, Liberty Belle, or Hall of Presidents they have to be somewhere. That's why Stitch was 40 minutes and Space was 3 hours. We have APs and we know how to deal with situations like that, but I felt sorry for all those people trying to make the best of what might be a trip of a lifetime. Paying well over $100 for half a park and stingy hours is no fun for anyone but the accountants.

I feel sorry for the ones waiting in long lines too with maybe only being their only trip to Disney. We go every year so it it no big deal to skip a ride. But 3 hours for Space is not worth the time. That is a big chunk of park time especially with the early closing.

 

[robl45]

Not staying open later is just stupid. MK is getting the shaft due to Pandora. AK is open every single night of our vacation until 12. For two rides. Blech.

I hope by the time we get there next month they have rethought this nonsense. 2 rides is not going to keep the crowds contained. Anyone with half a brain isn't going over there until 11:30 to jump in for FOP when the wait is down to relatively low.

 

[nicko]

That is crazy 40 minutes for Stitch. Hopefully Disney will see the problem and extend the hours. I'm mad about the MK closing at 10:00.

Many on this board with rosier colored glasses than I said that Disney is wisely reducing summer hours because of reduced attendance. Forty minutes for Stitch clearly contradicts that position. It is so disappointing and shortsighted that Disney won't even extend MK by one hour. Ten PM in July is absurd. Many people tour in the evenings just because the heat is more tolerable. I wonder how many first timers will never return because their most vivid memory will be "hot, crowded and long lines"? It's shortsighted because it saves a few bucks in Q3 but it reduces the number of guests returning next year. So sad. Yes, yes. I know. All 40K of us can go get in line for the two Pandora rides open in AK once MK closes.

 

[robl45]

Many on this board with rosier colored glasses than I said that Disney is wisely reducing summer hours because of reduced attendance. Forty minutes for Stitch clearly contradicts that position. It is so disappointing and shortsighted that Disney won't even extend MK by one hour. Ten PM in July is absurd. Many people tour in the evenings just because the heat is more tolerable. I wonder how many first timers will never return because their most vivid memory will be "hot, crowded and long lines"? It's shortsighted because it saves a few bucks in Q3 but it reduces the number of quests returning next year. So sad. Yes, yes. I know. All 40K of us can go get in line for the two Pandora rides open in AK once MK closes.

At least leave animal kingdom open so people can go on those rides.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Many on this board with rosier colored glasses than I said that Disney is wisely reducing summer hours because of reduced attendance. Forty minutes for Stitch clearly contradicts that position. It is so disappointing and shortsighted that Disney won't even extend MK by one hour. Ten PM in July is absurd. Many people tour in the evenings just because the heat is more tolerable. I wonder how many first timers will never return because their most vivid memory will be "hot, crowded and long lines"? It's shortsighted because it saves a few bucks in Q3 but it reduces the number of quests returning next year. So sad. Yes, yes. I know. All 40K of us can go get in line for the two Pandora rides open in AK once MK closes.

I don't think it's a case of "rosier colored glasses". My thought that Disney was reducing summer hours due to crowd forecasts and would adjust on the fly was born out of EXPERIENCE -- that's what has happened before on our trips over 12-ish years.

Keeping closing at 10pm in July when lines at Stitch are 40min suggests to me that Disney is really off the mark here.

I keep saying it over multiple threads, but I cannot fathom how they thought closing MK at 10pm and keeping ONLY 2 RIDES OPEN AT AK would be anything other than a mess -- UNLESS crowds were forecast to be lower. Doesn't seem like it based on most reports.

I'm selfishly hoping that they ADJUST before we leave on Aug 7th...

 

[maryj11]

Many on this board with rosier colored glasses than I said that Disney is wisely reducing summer hours because of reduced attendance. Forty minutes for Stitch clearly contradicts that position. It is so disappointing and shortsighted that Disney won't even extend MK by one hour. Ten PM in July is absurd. Many people tour in the evenings just because the heat is more tolerable. I wonder how many first timers will never return because their most vivid memory will be "hot, crowded and long lines"? It's shortsighted because it saves a few bucks in Q3 but it reduces the number of quests returning next year. So sad. Yes, yes. I know. All 40K of us can go get in line for the two Pandora rides open in AK once MK closes.

I agree the first timers will probably not come back. 40K of us going to Pandora will be so much fun

 

[TDSAXX]

Many on this board with rosier colored glasses than I said that Disney is wisely reducing summer hours because of reduced attendance. Forty minutes for Stitch clearly contradicts that position. It is so disappointing and shortsighted that Disney won't even extend MK by one hour. Ten PM in July is absurd. Many people tour in the evenings just because the heat is more tolerable. I wonder how many first timers will never return because their most vivid memory will be "hot, crowded and long lines"? It's shortsighted because it saves a few bucks in Q3 but it reduces the number of guests returning next year. So sad. Yes, yes. I know. All 40K of us can go get in line for the two Pandora rides open in AK once MK closes.

Great post. I've been thinking the same thing. Sometimes what's good for a company short-term, can cost them in the long-term.

I also believe the shorter hours impact spending.

We are headed down there next week and the shorter hours are definitely affecting how much we spend. Two examples:
1) We have AP's; but the people we are going with purchased 5 day base tickets. If the MK was open later, they would have added PH and we all would have hopped over there at night on the days we were at other parks.

2) Usually we schedule 2-3 TS meals; but because of the shorter hours we don't want to spend valuable park time sitting in a restaurant. So instead we will eat CS.

 

[robl45]

I don't think it's a case of "rosier colored glasses". My thought that Disney was reducing summer hours due to crowd forecasts and would adjust on the fly was born out of EXPERIENCE -- that's what has happened before on our trips over 12-ish years.

Keeping closing at 10pm in July when lines at Stitch are 40min suggests to me that Disney is really off the mark here.

I keep saying it over multiple threads, but I cannot fathom how they thought closing MK at 10pm and keeping ONLY 2 RIDES OPEN AT AK would be anything other than a mess -- UNLESS crowds were forecast to be lower. Doesn't seem like it based on most reports.

I'm selfishly hoping that they ADJUST before we leave on Aug 7th...

Yup I'm hoping they adjust before we get there on Aug 9th, but based on what I see so far, I doubt it. I'm just really aggravated that they aren't opening DHS at least one night late. AK extra magic hours were supposed to be in addition to other magic hours. I guess if you count an hour in the morning which is what most of the EMH are now as in addition then I guess they are living up to their wording. I don't understand why they can't keep the other rides open too at animal kingdom. That was my plan this trip to head over there at night and go on dinosaur and the rapids and such.

As another person said, this will cost Disney money as i'm sure I'm not the only one thinking of cancelling my annual passes. Its just gotten to the point with scheduling everything that its not really enjoyable especially when the only time we could actually ride the rides was at night when the lines died down. My son would cry if we only got on 5 rides in an evening instead of 7 or so. Now we might get 2 or 3 if we are lucky. I don't need to spend over 2000 a year in tickets never mind lodging and food to have disappointed children.

 

[maryj11]

Great post. I've been thinking the same thing. Sometimes what's good for a company short-term, can cost them in the long-term.

I also believe the shorter hours impact spending.

We are headed down there next week and the shorter hours are definitely affecting how much we spend. Two examples:
1) We have AP's; but the people we are going with purchased 5 day base tickets. If the MK was open later, they would have added PH and we all would have hopped over there at night on the days we were at other parks.

2) Usually we schedule 2-3 TS meals; but because of the shorter hours we don't want to spend valuable park time sitting in a restaurant. So instead we will eat CS.

Exactly! Disney is going to lose money because hoppers are not needed and eating 3 meals at the restaurants will take up to much touring time.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Exactly! Disney is going to lose money because hoppers are not needed and eating 3 meals at the restaurants will take up to much touring time.

This assumes a saviness among guests that I suspect most don't have, though. As we always talk about on here, DISers are certainly atypical...

 

[mouseclick1]

Exactly! Disney is going to lose money because hoppers are not needed and eating 3 meals at the restaurants will take up to much touring time.

I have canceled a few ADR's to maximize our park time.

 

[maryj11]

I have canceled a few ADR's to maximize our park time.

I have cancelled a couple myself for our trip in August. We only have 1 a day now and was planning 2 on a few days.

 

[Ksims616]

I have canceled a few ADR's to maximize our park time.

This exactly! We came down last year on an adults only trip, 5 nights. Parks open late and we spent so much on TS meals and lounges because we had the time. We came down alone again for two weeks this year and ended up canceling all but 2 dinner reservations and one breakfast.

While *our* wallet thanks us, it doesn't bode well for Disney. 10pm closings means we're already looking at planning our summer getaway elsewhere next year. We will still come down at Christmas and spring break with the kids, but our adult trip may be shifting.

 

[nicko]

Someone in another thread just reported that the wait time for FOP at 10:30 PM tonight is 210 minutes. Sigh... What a fair trade off. Close MK 1-2 hours early in exchange for two rides at AK. By my observation, the wait time of FOP during EMH is actually longer than the typical wait time for FOP in the middle of the afternoon.

 

[robl45]

Someone in another thread just reported that the wait time for FOP at 10:30 PM tonight is 210 minutes. Sigh... What a fair trade off. Close MK 1-2 hours early in exchange for two rides at AK. By my observation, the wait time of FOP during EMH is actually longer than the typical wait time for FOP in the middle of the afternoon.

that was me. I forgot to check again right before midnight, but I checked a few times and line was holding steady. I'm willing to bet they weren't abiding by the get inline at 1 second before midnight and you ride either.

As the person right above said, I'm planning vacation elsewhere next year, likely gong to be universal. We have been hitting Disney 3 times a year, but next year its once and that might not happen.

I applaud Disney for trying to keep the new ride open for people to get on, the problem is, since they are closing everything else, its not working that way, people are all just going there because they have nothing else to do.

 

[TJDisneymama]

This whole summer sounds like a giant mess. I dont understand what Disney is thinking. I *know* I've read a couple reports though that summer attendance has gone down the past couple years (and seems to be continuing this summer)? So maybe that's behind the decreased hours?

 

[DaisyJ]

Closing last night at MK was a cluster. People were POURING out of the park and transportation was awful. Buses for every resort were coming one about every 25 minutes. Two women on our bus got into a shouting match. Buses were PACKED, because of all the people still there. Shame on you, Disney.