Why do the parks close so early?

[Polydweller]

Information about wages at WDW can be found on-line.

Most of the CMs are covered under the Teamsters contract an it's easily found online. Almost all jobs are above Florida's minimum and an employee's wages are increased every year for several years according to the listed contract rates. Agree with you, the minimum wage thing is an often repeated myth.

Florida's minimum wage is $8.05. Everything I found said that CP CMs make between 10.10 and 14.10 depending on position.

Yep, it's covered in the contract with the Teamsters and the are very few jobs at minimum and those go above minimum after 1 year.

 

[disneymom0104]

We have taken 3 DL trips in the last few years (Oct, Dec, May) and never saw a midnight closing. Our week in Oct. it closed at 6pm on 2 of our 6 nights. We have also seen many 10 and 11pm closings. I agree 9pm closings at WDW are earlier than we have seen in the past. Many of our DL days didn't open until 10am. We don't do peak summer time at either park, but I wouldn't say DL has longer hours at all. I also don't think they can be compared- they are 2 different parks on opposite coasts catering to different groups of people. Just because DL does one thing, doesn't mean WDW has to do anything similar.

 

[Jcon]

Labour is a variable cost. If you limit the hours, you can control the cost. The only reason to add increased hours is to spread the crowd a bit thinner during peak times getting more people through the door.

If it were packed right until closing during the late hours, they might add more days with them. They would hope that the incremental sales on food/drink and merchandise would cover the increased variable costs.

However, as has been mentioned, the parks thin out later. That makes it nice for those that stay but does not make much financial sense.

 

[Capwkidd]

Maybe they should open later so they can close later, would be easier!

 

[Amelia :)]

Theme parks in the UK close at 5 or 6pm, and most close completely from November-April. You guys are lucky!

 

[HopperFan]

Maybe they should open later so they can close later, would be easier!

Not for the labor base. Your opening crew and closing crew are two different animals.

Many guests are morning people that want to get going, maybe take a break in pm, maybe go to long dinners or head out for the evening.

And the old saying "daylight is a' burning" does affect overhead costs.

It would not be easier, it would cost more than the reverse ......... and truly no reason for it.

The hours aren't for everyone. I know I'd rather sleep in and party late, I'm a night owl, but I don't anticipate they'll change for me.

 

[KrazeeK120]

Seems to me, all the parks should be open until midnight or later... Disneyland, most of the year, is open until midnight, why not WDW parks? It is especially difficult when WDW is 3 hours ahead of Disneyland, meaning, that, even 12pm is only 9pm for us Californians !

Just wanted to note that 12 pm (noon) in Florida would be 9 am on the West Coast.

 

[MrsJamesPSullivan]

Maybe they should open later so they can close later, would be easier!

No thank you. I don't want to be starting.my day in the park when it's already getting really warm.

 

[kaleenoc]

Most of the CMs are covered under the Teamsters contract an it's easily found online. Almost all jobs are above Florida's minimum and an employee's wages are increased every year for several years according to the listed contract rates. Agree with you, the minimum wage thing is an often repeated myth.


Yep, it's covered in the contract with the Teamsters and the are very few jobs at minimum and those go above minimum after 1 year.

I assume the minimum wage myth persists because, while not true anymore, it was true just a few years ago. I was paid minimum wage as a CP 3 years ago.

Anyway, Disney is cutting hours and entertainment experiences all over the place to save money. Full time CMs are often getting the bare minimum hours required by their contract with a lot of part time CMs getting no hours. Disney isn't going to stay open later and pay the CMs for a half-empty park.

 

[StirlingSilver83]

I might be with the minority on this but I actually like that the park closes a little earlier lol. We usually vacation to Disney in April which has 10:00PM closings, but next year we are going in March and their hours say they are closing at 9:00PM. To me I like that better bc then my kids can stay in the park to watch the fireworks. I am pretty strict when it comes to schedules with my kids and I like to stay as close to their schedules from home as I can...10:00PM is WAY past their bed time and by the time fireworks and everything is over you don't get back to the hotel to close to 11. Then you have cranky kids in the morning, lol. I am really happy to see the 9:00PM closing time for most nights. Although there is 1 night that has EMH at MK from 9:00-11:00 and thats the day that I have us planned to do a Resort day and then head into MK for dinner at CRT at night. I am kind of glad that that is a late night bc then we have options. I know my hubby will end up taking my little guy home, but my older son will have the option to stay with me and my MIL for a bit or go home with my hubby. I have never been in the park after closing for EMH bc they are usually way too late so this will be a fun new experience and since we won't be in the park all day the kids shouldn't be worn out at all for it. Hoping it all works out, lol

 

[Blue32]

Disneyland does NOT close at midnight during the offseason during the week. Even this summer they did not have midnight closures every single night.

 

[HopperFan]

Disneyland does NOT close at midnight during the offseason during the week. Even this summer they did not have midnight closures every single night.

So Disneyland staying open until midnight most the year ...... is a myth?

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Theme parks in the UK close at 5 or 6pm, and most close completely from November-April. You guys are lucky!

Many theme/amusement parks around the U.S. operate on seasonal schedules. It was just announced that Cedar Fair..which owns a number of parks here in the U.S. including the one near me (Worlds of Fun/Oceans of Fun) will have extended operating seasons for a few of their parks including Worlds of Fun. Worlds of Fun will now be open in 2017 an extra 5 weeks (so closing around the first week of December instead of right at Halloween [depending on what day of the week Halloween will be falling]. The extended season though is less for riding roller coasters and moreso seeing holiday lights, some characters and other events (will end up competing with Silver Dollar City which is in Branson, MO).

 

[bryanb]

Anyone who is curious can check Disneyland's operating hours here:
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/calendars/month/

Disneyland is currently open until midnight only on Saturdays. During weekdays, typical operating hours are 10:00am to 9:00pm. The park is open about 10-11 hours per day. California Adventure is usually open around 10 hours a day. But you can get more done during these days than you can during the super crowded longer days.

I'd tend to choose shorter days with lower crowds.

 

[TeamEvansGo]

Maybe they should open later so they can close later, would be easier!

I'm guessing you don't have kids.