May Park Hours

[DVC92]

The May hours have MK closing nightly at 9:00 PM. Are they serious? Last year, MK closed nightly at 10 and 11 & 12 on the weekends. I know they change at the last minute, but it would be nice to know the true hours for planning ahead of time. However, these could be the new hours based upon how greedy they are becoming with all the paid extra hour events.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

The May hours have MK closing nightly at 9:00 PM. Are they serious? Last year, MK closed nightly at 10 and 11 & 12 on the weekends. I know they change at the last minute, but it would be nice to know the true hours for planning ahead of time. However, these could be the new hours based upon how greedy they are becoming with all the paid extra hour events.

They have generally been extending park hours around the second week of the month prior to the month in question. This update is often mostly made up of MK hours additions, DHS and DAK to a lesser extent. If past trends predict the future (not always the case at Disney, but let’s go with it), I suspect this Friday afternoon could see a May update.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

The May hours have MK closing nightly at 9:00 PM. Are they serious? Last year, MK closed nightly at 10 and 11 & 12 on the weekends. I know they change at the last minute, but it would be nice to know the true hours for planning ahead of time. However, these could be the new hours based upon how greedy they are becoming with all the paid extra hour events.

Almost sounds like maybe Disney is not the place for you.
Anyways... park hours are generally updated 3-6 weeks out.
Those may be the correct hours or they may get extended.
You also have to consider that prior to Memorial Day weekend May is not a terribly busy time so they don't need as long of hours.
Take note that starting May 26th MK seems to be open til 10pm daily which is when more people tend to start going for summer break.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

The May hours have MK closing nightly at 9:00 PM. Are they serious? Last year, MK closed nightly at 10 and 11 & 12 on the weekends. I know they change at the last minute, but it would be nice to know the true hours for planning ahead of time. However, these could be the new hours based upon how greedy they are becoming with all the paid extra hour events.

Not sure why you're so upset over something not written in stone....things change at Disney often. As already stated....check their hours this Friday coming.

I've been planning my trip since December and I had nothing solid to work with. I just looked at hours for last year and went off of that. Seems as though park closing right now for June is 10pm and I'm quite good with that. If they extend to 11 or12am then even better.

Greedy with the paid extra hours? I hardly think greedy is the appropriate word considering how many people pay for those events. Apparently Disney continues to do them because they continue to work. Greedy....no....smart business sense....yes.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Not sure why you're so upset over something not written in stone....things change at Disney often. As already stated....check their hours this Friday coming.

I've been planning my trip since December and I had nothing solid to work with. I just looked at hours for last year and went off of that. Seems as though park closing right now for June is 10pm and I'm quite good with that. If they extend to 11 or12am then even better.

Greedy with the paid extra hours? I hardly think greedy is the appropriate word considering how many people pay for those events. Apparently Disney continues to do then because they continue to work. Greedy....no....smart business sense....yes.

I know its like am I happy that they cut EMH and started adding more and more paid events?
No.
But Disney is a company that like profits and people are willing to pay for these extra events so Disney continues to put them on.
If people stopped going they would likely start phasing them out and bring back more EMH but I don't see that happening.
So what do I do? Work around them because I don't want to pay for the extra event. If its unavoidable then looks like I'm going to a park on a day that has an extra event.

 

[EdnaMarieMode]

Others have already covered the bulk of it.

If you want one shred of certainty as to which days will not have extended hours, look up the schedule for DAH. Hours for those nights for the parks at which they are scheduled won’t change.

Other than that, wait for updates. Disney can do as they please and just because the park was open later last year doesn’t mean they have to stay later this year. Plan on a 9 pm close and be pleasantly surprised if they stay open later.

 

[DVC92]

It wasn't long ago when there were multiple EMH nights. MK use to always be open to 11 and midnight with 3 hour EMH. The only reason people are willing to pay is because its the only way they can get to ride anything anymore. Disney's profits are huge enough for them not to continue to keep cutting back. Also, when it comes to planning, we now have to make dining ressies 6 months out if you want a decent time or get into popular restaurants, but they don't even have the park hours up at 6 months out so its just a guessing game.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

I know its like am I happy that they cut EMH and started adding more and more paid events?
No.
But Disney is a company that like profits and people are willing to pay for these extra events so Disney continues to put them on.
If people stopped going they would likely start phasing them out and bring back more EMH but I don't see that happening.
So what do I do? Work around them because I don't want to pay for the extra event. If its unavoidable then looks like I'm going to a park on a day that has an extra event.

This!

I would absolutely pay for a DAH event! But it would definitely have to fit into our Disney budget. I'd do an EMM before a DAH, it wouldn't hurt or budget as much.

It wasn't long ago when there were multiple EMH nights. MK use to always be open to 11 and midnight with 3 hour EMH. The only reason people are willing to pay is because its the only way they can get to ride anything anymore. Disney's profits are huge enough for them not to continue to keep cutting back. Also, when it comes to planning, we now have to make dining ressies 6 months out if you want a decent time or get into popular restaurants, but they don't even have the park hours up at 6 months out so its just a guessing game.

That is absolutely not true. I got a FP for every single ride my son and I wanted for our trip in June. Last time we went to Disney, the longest line we stood in was 40 minutes. And we did it to cool off from the heat.
if there's so much Disney is doing that bothers you, perhaps it's time to find another vacation destination.

Where exactly is Disney cutting back?

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

It wasn't long ago when there were multiple EMH nights. MK use to always be open to 11 and midnight with 3 hour EMH. The only reason people are willing to pay is because its the only way they can get to ride anything anymore. Disney's profits are huge enough for them not to continue to keep cutting back. Also, when it comes to planning, we now have to make dining ressies 6 months out if you want a decent time or get into popular restaurants, but they don't even have the park hours up at 6 months out so its just a guessing game.

Trust me I recall those 3 hour EMH but I think they did away with them back in 2012.
I remember MK closing at Midnight although that was generally during summer or peak season not necessarily May.
I recall being on JC at close to 3am when the skipper said I'm not sure if its really late or really early.
I remember that every day of the week there'd be one morning EMH and one evening EMH.
We all knew that when they started tossing in a special ticketed event here and there that eventually it meant EMH cut backs and paid events emerging more and more.
I remember when park calendars were put up for about 6.5 months at a time vs the 180 day rolling calendar.
I'm not bothered by making ADR's 6 months out and FP 60 days out and iI also know you don't HAVE to do it that far out and still get what you want.
I've gotten ADR's and Fp's in less than 30 days.
I've also gotten plenty of good 4th and beyond FP's.
I pretty much never stand in a line longer than 20 minutes.
I take short trips and get everything in that I want without having done EMM or DAH.

Thing is that times have changed and you have to adapt and be flexible and if you aren't willing to then maybe its not right for you.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

The only reason people are willing to pay is because its the only way they can get to ride anything anymore.

This is simply not true. Here’s just an example of what can be done in 4 hours at MK on a summer evening. No FPs and no upcharge required. Just a little planning:

Big Thunder 3x
Splash Mtn 2x
Space Mtn 2x
Mine Train
Pirates
Jungle Cruise
Haunted Mansion
Pooh
Peter Pan
Speedway
Barnstormer 2x

We also watched the fireworks and had a couple of Dole Whips.

 

[SinCityMMAFan]

It wasn't long ago when there were multiple EMH nights. MK use to always be open to 11 and midnight with 3 hour EMH. The only reason people are willing to pay is because its the only way they can get to ride anything anymore. Disney's profits are huge enough for them not to continue to keep cutting back. Also, when it comes to planning, we now have to make dining ressies 6 months out if you want a decent time or get into popular restaurants, but they don't even have the park hours up at 6 months out so its just a guessing game.

Far from the truth on only way people get to ride any of the major rides anymore. With fast passes, rope drop strategy, and getting in line for the popular rides right before closing time are your best bets to get on major rides with little wait times. Let's face it Disney a long, long time ago had off-seasons where people could come to take advantage of low wait times on rides those are long gone. Just have to make the best of what you have to work with that's what I always do.

No such thing as too much profit when running a business. I'm just looking at thing from Disney's standpoint. The goal is to make money and they are doing a great job at it and will continue to put out more of these special events in the future. And pretty soon the hot rumor is they will be charging for Fastpasses. I'm sure that will cause a lot of complaints but in the end everyone will suck it up and either pay for the extra Fastpasses or make the best with what they were given.

 

[Love Tink]

Almost sounds like maybe Disney is not the place for you.

if there's so much Disney is doing that bothers you, perhaps it's time to find another vacation destination.

Thing is that times have changed and you have to adapt and be flexible and if you aren't willing to then maybe its not right for you.

It's really condescending and unnecessary to make comments like this. People are allowed to have issues with, and discuss, Disney theme park policies on this theme park discussion board. If you have nothing helpful to add, maybe this thread is not the place for you.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

It's really condescending and unnecessary to make comments like this. People are allowed to have issues with, and discuss, Disney theme park policies on this theme park discussion board. If you have nothing helpful to add, maybe this thread is not the place for you.

We are all allowed to have our own opinions even if OP or you do not care for them.
You have your opinion and let us have ours. Thanks.
Besides you certainly didn't add anything helpful to this thread by posting this.

 

[cakebaker]

It wasn't long ago when there were multiple EMH nights. MK use to always be open to 11 and midnight with 3 hour EMH. The only reason people are willing to pay is because its the only way they can get to ride anything anymore. Disney's profits are huge enough for them not to continue to keep cutting back. Also, when it comes to planning, we now have to make dining ressies 6 months out if you want a decent time or get into popular restaurants, but they don't even have the park hours up at 6 months out so its just a guessing game.

That's not my reason for paying for the special events. They are nothing like the free emh's. Those are jammed packed. The after hours and mm events are limited ticket sales with low crowd level and very short wait times. I'll take those over free hours packed with people any day of the week.

Disney knows there is a demand for these events so they supply what their guests want. That's what a smart business does.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

The TPAS board (and the DIS in general) is not a place for anyone to be argumentative or attacking, so let’s keep DISBoard posting guidelines in mind please. Thank you.

 

[MermaidMommy]

This!

I would absolutely pay for a DAH event! But it would definitely have to fit into our Disney budget. I'd do an EMM before a DAH, it wouldn't hurt or budget as much.

That is absolutely not true. I got a FP for every single ride my son and I wanted for our trip in June. Last time we went to Disney, the longest line we stood in was 40 minutes. And we did it to cool off from the heat.
if there's so much Disney is doing that bothers you, perhaps it's time to find another vacation destination.

Where exactly is Disney cutting back?

Disney has cut back on a lot. It's just a fact. Park hours, particularly at MK, are much shorter than they used to be. EMH have been shortened and/or eliminated. Rides might not operate at full capacity -- increasing wait times even in the slowest seasons as Disney tries to keep crowd levels more even throughout the year. You now have to pay to get the same amount of hours in the park that you would have had for free a couple of years ago.

I can also see why OP is frustrated that Disney is so slow in rolling out their calendars, whether it's for regular park hours or special events like DAH, especially as they've gotten slower putting the calendar out, and s/he is far from the first person on the DIS to make that point, so I'm not sure why this wouldn't be the appropriate place for them to say so. There are a lot of people (like me) who love going to Disney World but don't care for the way the parks have been run of late, where Disney is lessening the customer experience, all while raising prices to ever new heights. It's up to each person what his or her individual tipping point is, but there's nothing wrong with being clear-eyed about the realities today.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Disney has cut back on a lot. It's just a fact. Park hours, particularly at MK, are much shorter than they used to be. EMH have been shortened and/or eliminated. Rides might not operate at full capacity -- increasing wait times even in the slowest seasons as Disney tries to keep crowd levels more even throughout the year. You now have to pay to get the same amount of hours in the park that you would have had for free a couple of years ago.

I can also see why OP is frustrated that Disney is so slow in rolling out their calendars, whether it's for regular park hours or special events like DAH, especially as they've gotten slower putting the calendar out, and s/he is far from the first person on the DIS to make that point, so I'm not sure why this wouldn't be the appropriate place for them to say so. There are a lot of people (like me) who love going to Disney World but don't care for the way the parks have been run of late, where Disney is lessening the customer experience, all while raising prices to ever new heights. It's up to each person what his or her individual tipping point is, but there's nothing wrong with being clear-eyed about the realities today.

You are absolutely correct. And I agree. I remember when I had multiple AM EMHs to choose from. It was hard for this trip coming up in June. I had to settle for the PM ones.
I never have a problem with anyone here being upset. I've never said Disney is perfect. They are far from it. Where my problem comes in is when, unlike you who posted your information clearly and accurately with what I felt was emotions in neutral, things are quoted that just aren't true. I know all too well about saying things in anger, I'm careful to try and not do it on forums such as this.

I do appreciate and respect your reply. Thanks!

 

[ArielSRL]

They have generally been extending park hours around the second week of the month prior to the month in question. This update is often mostly made up of MK hours additions, DHS and DAK to a lesser extent. If past trends predict the future (not always the case at Disney, but let’s go with it), I suspect this Friday afternoon could see a May update.

Agree with this based on many, many months of research.

 

[gharter]

Agree with the OP, it is frustrating that Disney extends hours so late.
As we are also going in May, it does make planning of some of the evenings difficult as we don't know when the parks will really close.
If we knew the parks would be open later, we would schedule for that in the original plan. Now we have other things planned and then have to try and move things around or decide what to skip.
No a terrible problem, but frustrating.
I really doubt that 2 weeks before the date, there is a sudden influx of expected guests that they didn't know about 2+ months before.

 

[dominiondad]

I think its dangerous to make sweeping comments either way. We all experience WDW differently and with different priorities. My family tours very differently than we did 15 years ago, sometimes by choice, sometimes because Disney has forced it. For me, the changes haven't necessarily been good. We liked Fastpass the old way. We are not Star Wars fans and miss the old section of HS that has been removed. I do feel somewhat annoyed that after paying thousands of dollars to stay in a Disney Resort, tickets, travel, and a lot of food, we are sometimes shepherded out of the park so guests who paid extra can enjoy the rides without us "regular" guests around. That said, I know that when I make my vacation decisions, and WDW still has a ton of "GREAT", and very little "meh".