We won’t see the parks after dark for a while…Labor Day (September 8) was the first day of reduced hours at the Walt Disney World theme parks. I’ve seen a lot of people act like this is a bad thing, but it really doesn’t have to be.
The new hours are as follows: Magic Kingdom 9:00-6:00, Epcot 11:00-7:00, Disney’s Hollywood Studios 10:00-7:00, Disney’s Animal Kingdom 9:00-5:00. Previously all four theme parks were open for ten hours each day. The hours at Disney Springs remain the same; 10:00-10:00.
These hours may be short, but with capacity so low you will still be able to do everything that you want to do. The possible exception is if you want to have two full service meals in a day, because those can take longer. Even before the hours were reduced I was able to do everything that I wanted (often more than once) by the middle of the afternoon. The reduced hours will not bother me in the least.
There are two drawbacks to the shorter park hours. There will be one hour less for guests to ride Rise of the Resistance. That means that Boarding Groups could be even harder to get. The other drawback is that we won’t be able to see any parks after dark, at least not during Daylight Savings Time. I miss seeing the parks after dark.
If you’re visiting, take advantage of the shorter hours by doing something that you wouldn’t normally do. Make a late dinner reservation at a resort restaurant, enjoy an evening by the pool, or head to Disney Springs. Walt Disney World is more than just the theme parks, and shorter hours will give you a chance to discover more.