Conventional wisdom in the past has been that the best time to visit Walt Disney World is the “slow” season, which are typically the weeks in between the end of the holiday season (the first week of January) and the start of Spring Break (in early March). However, it looks like guest levels are staying high (perhaps due to Disney’s heavy discounting, or the popularity of the Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance attraction), and as a result Disney has made some interesting changes around Walt Disney World’s theme parks.
1. Hours extended at the Magic Kingdom in February
Beginning next month Walt Disney World’s flagship park will be open a little bit later in the evenings with closures on almost every night moving an hour (or more) later. Here’s the full schedule:
- February 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 26, 27: Park close is now at 9:00 PM from 8:00 PM closing
- February 14, 16, 22, 28, 29: Park close is now at 10:00 PM two hours from the original 8:00 PM closing
- February 15: Park close is now at 11:00 PM, three hours later from the original 8:00 PM closing
2. Extra showings of Rivers of Light: We are One added to Disney’s Animal Kingdom in February
Image: Disney
Also, beginning next month Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be performing two evening showings for Rivers of Light: We Are One. Beginning on February 2 and running through the 8th, these shows will be at 6:45 PM and 8:00 PM. And then on February 9th and running through the end of the month, these showings will be a little later at 7:00 PM and 8:15 PM.
3. Extra Magic Hours rescheduled at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in March
Image: Disney
In an effort to deal with the overwhelming popularity of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Disney’s Hollywood Studios has cancelled morning Extra Magic Hours on March 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29 and replaced them with evening Extra Magic Hours on these dates. As of right now, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance does not operate during Extra Magic Hours, but resort guests at this time will be able to check out the rest of this park after it closes to regular guests on these dates. Note: morning Extra Magic Hours for January and February have already been moved to the evening.
4. Early openings at Disney’s Hollywood Studios to officially continue into February
Image: Disney
In addition to the evening Extra Magic Hours, from now through Thursday, January 23, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will open at 7:00 AM daily (it was originally scheduled to open at 8:00 AM) as crowds continue to arrive early to experience Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. Though this change is only scheduled through next week, we’d imagine it will continue through February and March as this attraction is continuing to draw massive amounts of guests, necessitating the earlier opening time.
