Though attendance may have been down in recent months, it looks like the blockbuster opening of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance has brought guest levels back up in a big way, and Disney is forecasting a blockbuster holiday season lasting through the beginning of the new year. In an effort to cope with the massive amounts of guests that are predicted to flood the resort, Walt Disney World has extended operating hours at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the Magic Kingdom, and even Disney’s Hollywood Studios (again). If you are heading out to the parks in the next few weeks, here are the newly-extended operating hours:
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Earlier this week Disney adjusted opening times for Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the first three weeks of December (the park now has a 7:00 AM opening time every day) and now they have once again changed opening and closing times for this park on the following dates during the busy holiday season:
- December 22-25: Park opening changed to 7:00 AM (Previously 8:00 AM)
- December 26-31: Park opening changed to 6:00 AM (Previously 8:00 AM)
- January 1-4: Park opening changed to 7:00 AM (Previously 9:00 AM)
In addition to the earlier opening times, it was announced that the the Disney Skyliner transportation system will now operate from 6:45 AM to 10:30 PM from December 13 through to December 21 2019 to accomodate guests traveling to Disney’s Hollywood Studios early. Guests looking to get to the park even earlier (which we would recommend if you are trying to experience Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance) can use Disney’s Minnie Van service which now begins operations at 5:00 AM.
Magic Kingdom
Though all eyes have been on Disney’s Hollywood Studios recently, Walt Disney World’s flagship park, the Magic Kingdom will also be extending hours this holiday season on the following dates:
- December 15 & 20: Park opening changed to 8:00 AM (Previously 9:00 AM)
- December 21: Park opening changed to 7:00 AM (Previously 8:00 AM)
- January 1: Park closing extended to 11:00 PM (Previously 10:00 PM)
- January 5, 17, 19-21: Park closing extended to 9:00 PM (Previously 8:00 PM)
- January 11, 25: Park closing extended to 10:00 PM (Previously 8 PM)
- January 18: Park opening changed to 8:00 AM (Previously 9:00 AM) and closing extended to 11:00 PM (Previously 8:00 PM)
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
It looks like Disney is not anticipating large crowds at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and have only extended hours on a few dates this holiday season
- December 25 – Park opening changed to 8:00 AM (Previously 9:00 AM)
- December 31 – Park opening changed to 7:00 AM (Previously 9:00 AM)
- January 18 – Park closing extended to 9:00 PM (Previously 8:00 PM)
As of right now there are no operating hours changes scheduled for Epcot, but that could change in the near future.
Though the current hour changes only last through the holiday season, it will be interesting to see if crowd levels grow the way Disney is expecting them to not only over the next few weeks, but into the traditional “slow” season, when guest levels are typically lower (but traffic from local passholders is higher). Either way, it looks like guests are going to have some extra time at Walt Disney World over the next few weeks, as long as they don’t mind rising early or staying up late!
