Spaceship Earth
From policy changes, to menu additions, to new merchandise, we’ve seen a TON of changes in the Disney World parks since they have reopened!
And it looks like the park hours will undergo a change in the near future as well! All four theme parks will observe shortened hours beginning September 8th.
Starting on September 8th, the park hours for Magic Kingdom will be 9AM-6PM, reduced from the previous hours of 9AM-7PM.
September 2020 Park Hours for Magic Kingdom from the Disney World Website
The park hours for EPCOT will be 11AM-7PM, reduced from the previous hours of 11AM-9PM.
September 2020 Park Hours for EPCOT from the Disney World Website
The park hours for Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be 10AM-7PM, reduced from the previous hours of 10AM-8PM.
September 2020 Park Hours for Hollywood Studios from the Disney World Website
The park hours for Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be 9AM-5PM, reduced from the previous hours of 8AM-6PM.
September 2020 Park Hours for Animal Kingdom from the Disney World Website
As with the other updates to Disney World procedures, this is subject to change based on how the situation in the parks evolves. We’ll keep an eye out for any additional updates, so be sure to stay tuned!
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What do you think of the updated park hours? Let us know in the comments!
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I can understand shortening the hours. The parks have not been that busy in the evenings. I just received a notice from Disney that these hours were taking effect today.
What does this mean if you have a reservation at 6:25 and the park closes at 6? I have a reservation to Be Our Guest does that mean I just lose it?
Jessica, I think you might want to call Disney ((407) 939-1936) to find out. Alternatively, you could try chatting with Disney online (or on the app).
The month of September is the slowest month in the travel industry. Add in the pandemic and kids going back to school (either in school or online) and it makes perfect sense to shorten the park hours even though some people won’t like it
Not cool Disney! Cutting Epcot to 7:00 is ridiculous. Do you want people back or not? People plan and pay for their trips based on expected value, which is now reduced even further.
Its too hot in FLORIDA right now to make this call. In the fall things cool off a bit and I would want to go in the AM hours then back to the resort for a bit, then out again at night once things cool off. As an AP and DVC member I think the new hours are too short and the value for the money we spend for a day at the parks has been cut drastically without a price decrease or a discount in any way. Disney is showing a side of the business that I never thought they would. I don’t like it and I don’t appreciate it. They need to do more surveys to see where guests are at mentally, if not they are going to continue to make decisions that could really hurt the loyal customer base. DISNEY needs to be really careful over the next several months/year to make things right again. I am not happy with most of their decisions, like having to use my DVC points after trying several times before they expired. I have a list of things, that is just one of many. My heart hurts for this whole situation, but Disney can and should do better.
So, no parades, no fireworks, no shows, no MNSSHP, no park hopping, all for the same ticket price???? Sounds like a real ripoff to me.
It looks as though perhaps an effort to? Sadly, it does make planning a bit complicated. AP’s short changed as well as regular ticket holders and with no discounts at the resorts not sure this was helpful to increase visits and perhaps incentivize folks to visit. Just wondering how virtual system will change and what that will look like for Hollywood Studios. Oh well and the beat goes on as they say.
What are the chances that they will reduce the price of park tickets now that they are reducing the time you can be in the park? Doubtful!
Does that mean prices will go down??😱
The parks after dark take on a whole new ambiance. This I love to see. My plans are for the 11th-21st September, with hopper plus tickets. Have been holding out for better news, but don’t look like it. Most likely have to cancel and reset for next September.
Wow, disney doesn’t want anyone to come to their parks. What a ripoff. They keep charging more for less. My kid loves disney and we hope to go back eventually, once all this nonsense ends, but as an adult, who pays for this, I’m really beginning to hate disney. They keep making it clear they’re only about the money and if they can take an extra dollar they will.
The parks are very popular so it’s supply and demand, but i hope they get taught a severe lesson where people won’t come back and they then need to stop cutting back while at the same time charging more.
They will eventually push people to their limit of their love for disney. They keep pushing and pushing. Eventually they’ll fall off a cliff.
At least universal seems to want people back. They seem more welcoming, we might skip disney till their terrible attitude changes.
FYI I just live-chatted w/ a CM & was told that dining reservations made under the “old” hours will be cancelled if they’re after these new earlier park closure times. I have now gotten up @ 4:50am three separate times this year to book/re-book ADRs, only to have this happen yet again. Our late Sept dinner reservations for BOG, Le Cellier, and Brown Derby–which BTW are all only 10-15 min past the new earlier closure times–will all be gone (and of course there’s no dinner availbility now left @ normal dinnertimes). If we weren’t using 2019 DVC points for this trip (which will expire by Dec 1) I’d just cancel. So annoyed.
It looks like there is 2 less hours at Epcot, closing at 7:00 instead of 9:00. Do you know if these hours are effective in Oct ? We are going to the Food wine festival then. Will Disney be adjusting ticket prices ?
Thanks for all the current info!
My husband and I just got back from WDW and both agree that the early closing times were the most difficult part of the covid19 changes. We really enjoy being there in the evenings, and having to leave the parks at our favorite part of the day was very disappointing. Our Epcot days were the best because they were at least open till 9, but going forward it seems they will also be closing at 7. After reading that this morning I’m questioning whether we even want to go back for our planned trip in December now. Unfortunately we only have 3 days to decide if we want to cancel our APs for a refund. I feel we’ve been very patient and compliant with everything up until now (and also kind and generous to every cast member we encountered because we understand how difficult things are for them), so it’s a shame that something as simple as park hours seems to be my breaking point.
Disney World 1 and 2 hours shorter people are not going to be so happy ! This will make reservations that people have will be canceled that is not a good policy ! It doesn’t give tickets worth that much any more ! Taking a lot from true visitors people might not want to go any more !
But still not reducing ticket prices?
I am convinced that Disney is trying to kill off the parks, possibly in favor of selling the land to someone else or building something more profitable. Why else would they place further new restrictions each week?
Why would anyone pay full price now for literally HALF the hours, on top of everything else that has been cancelled, reduced, or restricted.
I think Disney is making a big mistake with ‘this change. Who wants to pay $110 for a day ticket to the parks for 8-9 hours.
I just canceled my Coral Reef dinner ADR — EPCOT closing at 7 PM is NUTS!!!!!!!!! We’re be out of there by 5 pm at that rate. Luckily, we’re staying outside Disney property and there are wonderful Fine Dining restaurants on International Drive. We’ve booked 2 dinner reservations there so it’s Disney’s loss since we cannot eat dinner at the parks! Oh, and my trip is early October so any more cuts to the Park Hours would be the end of them!
Reply to Jessica —
Can you share your results to your BOG dinner reservation? I canceled dinner at EPCOT because they are closing at 7 pm and my dinner ADR was for 8:00 pm.
I don’t see any mention of an associated reduction in the price of the daily admission ticket. Come on Disney!
This was pretty much the number one reason I cancelled my trip this December, why pay full price for half of the experience? Already, they cancelled parades, shows, and fireworks, they already shortened hours. And now shortening again. Not good. The more people go right now and pay full admission price for half the park experiences, the more likely Disney will hike up the prices when they fully reopen and get back to normal.
Disney is gouging there most loyal customers with these rediculous full price offerings, while online bloggers continue to promote a rosy Reopening picture. Don’t be taken advantage of, less than half for full price? Forget It!
If they continue to shorten the hours due to the amount of daylight, it will make it easier to decide to cancel my trip in December!
Very surprised & disappointed. With the parades, meet & greets, & fireworks, dining plans, & FastPasses gone, we were expecting DISNEY to make up these beloved losses in other ways. Even shorter hours for such an expensive trip is giving us second thoughts about doing our upcoming trip, & any future trips.
So is Disney reducing the price of their tickets to match the loss in hours. Don’t you think Disney should address this issue
Dave, no word from Disney on any price reductions.
Steven, planning this trip has been one (wild and unfortunate) roller coaster for you!
Being an Annual Pass holder this does not bother me at all. They have given us more time on our passes to make up for it and living in the area the parades, fireworks and character meet and greets do not really mean anything to me. They have the characters out and about the parks quite a bit and its actually very nice. This is definitely not a deal breaker for us. We are happy to be there and yes we still find it magical. What is really magical is that you can do the whole park every single one of them without much wait time and lots less people. I don’t know how long they can do this but I will just keep going and enjoying it until it changes. The time doesn’t bother me either because we are normally in the parks during the day and out for dinner in the evenings and I haven’t yet seen a change in the Disney Springs dinner reservations. Currently they are opened until 10 so good for us.
Apparently none of my comments are being posted. Anytime I try to post, I get the “your comment is being moderated.” So I guess only certain people have this privilege.
Chris, no word on Disney adjusting prices. And we’ll have to wait and see what they do for hours in October.
There will be no refund or price reduction. AP hinders are getting shafted left & right.
Margaret, as you might imagine, we’ve had a lot of contentious comments in the past several months, so all comments are automatically held for moderating. Sorry for the delay!
Margaret welcome to club my comment tally is also large waiting on moderation hmmm???? Disney u guys have lost your minds why don’t u just recluse or is this political???
I can live without the parades, meet & greets, shows, and even firework shows, but when half of the restaurants aren’t open, and the ones that are only have half their menu available, not to mention no park hopping, no FP+, and no DDP, and now shorter hours, not worth paying full price. If they were to offer discounts and/or other incentives, I may reconsider, but until then, Disney is not getting a cent from me.
I’m so glad we r all on same page with Disney’s policies..shorten hours, no fast passes, no DDP, no park hopping, no entertainment, attractions closed & restaurants.. but what Disney is doing is just not right. Where are the discounts and the reduced prices for tickets.?
I am in agreement with most responders. If they want/need more visitors, why are they discouraging them from coming even more? We have a reservation in September. With the parks closing early, and even resort pools closing early, what is a resort guest supposed to do in the evening? May have to consider canceling. Why does Disney want people to do this? Totally illogical!
Hello wow I finally got moderated doesn’t take a rocket scientist get it Florida rockets a.k.a. Cape Canaveral to figure out what is going on I’m a big Disney fan so is my wife and trying to keep politics out of this but if you dig a little deeper look a little harder you can figure this out like I said Why don’t they just re-close the parks to hurt the economy a little more I have to wait almost an entire year to try to go again my wife and I go there every year for our anniversary in July now will be next July We are in no clubs no timeshare pay full price every time all the time sometimes go two times a year and it’s like this is the thanks we get Been going there since the early 80s looks like our Times about done
Reply to Steven
I was able to update my BOG reservations to earlier in the day at like 3:55. I got incredibly lucky that the spot was open. When we called Disney they basically told my husband we need to change our time and keep checking back. But that also was the day I made the comment so I don’t know if anything has changed policy wise since then
This is very sad. Bob Iger, Michael Eisner where are you..l everything you built up is crumbling. I am very confused and afraid to rein-list as a loyal annual pass holder. I signed up until 2055 with DVC and now am beginning t0 wonder if the best kept secret is becoming the best kept mistake. Help… us loyal fans and Florida residents are very concerned… does anyone at Disney read these comments or just DFB…?
Ken, since DFB is not affiliated with Disney, you just get us.
@Gary
This blog is not run by Disney. And FYI all posts, as DFB responded, get held for moderation. Getting mad at Disney Food Blog, who is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company is not going to help.
Complain to Disney on FB, on Twitter, email, etc. but doing it here won’t necessarily help.
Matter of fact DFB has provided the most accurate & up to date info.
This is the number 1 reason we cancelled our October trip. Not masks or fireworks but when you have teenagers. You want to stay up late. I can’t believe they are taking away so many things but the price is still the same. Not good for business. We know many families that had trips planned for October – dec and all have cancelled trips. Mainly due to the shortened hours!
What are people going to do after the parks close? Crowd into the lounges & bars? Go to DS and mindlessly shop? Fight for bowling lanes & movie theater seats? There are many people who do not come with small children. If you normally have dinner between 5:30 & 6, your day is done. Kicker is this will only affect people who cannot afford to stay at top priced Disney hotels. They get two hours every night at one park. And they pay enough to get that. An extra hour of kill time doesn’t thrill me. I’ll be considering shortening our trips