Here’s what we’re looking at for December 2013:
Click the image to enlarge or click here for a cleaner looking PDF file. If you have no idea what the letters and numbers mean, read the top of this post.
The crowd calendar should look similar to December 2012 because the operating schedule is nearly identical. Despite Disney charging peak season pricing a week earlier than in the past, I’m not expecting peak level crowds until December 21st. Pricing during that week is curious and it will probably coincide with a “Free Dining” promotion or something similar. As I mentioned in the previous post, don’t discount how much busier the non-recommended Parks will be on a given date. We see much more variation in crowd levels when operating hours fluctuate and evening entertainment is less common. In a month like July, where the operating hours are long every day and nighttime entertainment is scheduled every night, there aren’t great fluctuations in crowds from one day to the next. The recommended Parks will still be less busy, but it generally isn’t the night and day difference you see for most of September – December. This phenomenon is due mostly to the Mickey’s Party schedule. In other words, if the overall crowd level quoted is a “4,” that doesn’t mean the least recommended Park is going to be a “4″ on that date. It means that when you add the number of people in the four major theme parks together, the total number is below average. If you think this website’s recommendations are hocus pocus, I would invite you to visit Magic Kingdom on a Monday or Saturday in December and then compare those crowds to a most-recommended Tuesday or Friday.
Beginning December 21st, Disney World sees the heaviest crowds of the year. Magic Kingdom will close to capacity around 11am on several dates and all Parks will be slammed in the afternoon and evening every day. It’s still doable, but touring very early or very late is essential. Check last year’s final schedule to get an idea about what the Park hours will look like when they’re updated around August 16th.
The September Crowd Calendar was updated with the few changes that were released yesterday. There were no changes to the recommendations and only minor changes to the crowd levels on a couple dates.
Disney made several changes to the September 2013 operating schedule today. You can view the full schedule here. As always, these changes are “official” and will show up at DisneyWorld.com in the coming weeks. Overall, September is the least crowded month of the year – by far. It also sees the shortest hours of operation and the fewest number of changes to the operating schedule. An FAQ follows the list of changes below.
Tuesday June 4:
- Magic Kingdom hours extended to 9am – 12am from 9am – 11pm.
Sunday September 1:
- Hollywood Studios hours extended to 9am – 10pm from 9am – 8:30pm. Second Fantasmic added at 10pm, in addition to 8:30pm Fantasmic.
- Magic Kingdom hours extended to 9am – 12am from 9am – 10pm. Second Main Street Electrical Parade added at 11pm, in addition to 9pm Parade.
Monday September 2:
- Hollywood Studios hours extended to 9am – 10pm from 9am – 8:30pm. Second Fantasmic added at 10pm, in addition to 8:30pm Fantasmic.
Tuesday September 3:
Wednesday September 4:
Thursday September 5:
Friday September 6:
Saturday September 7:
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Disney released the December 2013 operating schedule in the usual location here: http://media.disneywebcontent.com/StaticFiles/DTA-Domestic/pdf/ParkHours/WDW_Operating_Calendar_dec.pdf. As always, this is the “official” schedule that will appear on DisneyWorld.com at some point in the next few weeks. Disney tends to update their disneywebcontent.com address earlier because it’s easier to update a text file than it is to update the hunk of junk that is DisneyWorld.com. Also per usual, the current operating hours are conservative and will be lengthened as we get closer to December. Review December 2012′s schedule here to get an idea about what the final schedule will look like.
The first two weeks in December remain very good with relatively low crowds and the Parks/resorts fully decked out for the holiday season. Interestingly, Peak Season on Disney property begins December 13th, which is a full week earlier than usual. Prices jump around 35% between December 12th and 13th, so keep that in mind when planning your trip. My estimation is that pricing is elevated in conjunction with what will most likely be the “Free Dining Plan” promotion, where guests pay full rack rate in order to receive the Disney Dining Plan at no additional cost, rather than because crowds are expected to be elevated.
While crowds during the first two weeks in December are heavier than past years, they’re still below average to average for the most part. The problem most people run into is the Mickey’s Party schedule. When Magic Kingdom is open longer and offers nighttime entertainment during regular hours, it gets completely slammed due to the number of people that avoid the 9am – 7pm Party days. On Party dates, the other Parks are busier because fewer people are headed to Magic Kingdom. Knowing this, you can certainly work that phenomenon to your advantage by visiting Magic Kingdom on a Party day and then going to the other Parks when Magic Kingdom is open from 8am – 1am.
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by josh on April 26, 2013
24-Hour Day at Magic Kingdom announcement.
Star Wars announcement.
New Parade announcement.
As you’ve undoubtedly heard from 74,000 other places, Disney is hosting another 24-hour day on Friday May 24th. Magic Kingdom will open at 6am on May 24th and continue operating for 24 straight hours, through May 25th at 6am. Disney did the same last year under the “One More Disney Day” banner. That 24-hour day was significantly busier than anyone had predicted. You may remember that this website had a question mark next to Magic Kingdom on the crowd calendar. While it was a lot of fun, Disney was not staffed to handle the crowds, which stayed heavy throughout the night and into the early morning. This year, the date kicks off the “Monstrous Summer” campaign and falls on the Friday of Memorial Day Weekend. I’m expecting crowds to be similarly heavy this year, but Disney should be better equipped to handle the crowds. On the crowd calendar, Magic Kingdom moves from being “Recommended” on Friday to “Not Recommended.” Magic Kingdom is now recommended on Saturday the 25th instead. Crowds should be lean during the day on Friday. We can expect a lot of people to spend the morning/afternoon at work or at Hollywood Studios for Star Wars Weekends before moving over to Magic Kingdom in the evening. The novelty is really being at the Park at 4am rather than 3pm. You can still make Magic Kingdom work on Friday if you’ve already planned it – just be aware that crowds will be thicker in the evening.
In addition, Hollywood Studios will be hosting a Limited Time Magic event on May 4th. You may have noticed Disney changed the operating hours to 9am – 12am a few weeks ago. Now we officially know why. The Studios was already not recommended and will remain not recommended on the 4th, but you may want to take a look at the event and see if it’s worth battling the crowds in order to take advantage of the festivities. The Studios typically only offers fireworks on two or three nights a year.
Finally, after years of rumors, Disney announced a new daytime parade will be arriving in 2014. Dubbed “Festival of Fantasy,” the art looks impressive.
by josh on April 15, 2013
Edit: Second Electrical Parade added on August 25th and 26th in addition to the change from a 10pm to 11pm close.
Disney made a single change to April, four changes to May, no changes to June, no changes to July, and a bunch of changes to August. Click the months to bring up the full schedule. An FAQ follows the list of changes.
Tuesday April 30:
- Magic Kingdom hours extended to 9am – 10pm from 9am – 9pm.
Wednesday May 1:
- Magic Kingdom hours extended to 9am – 10pm from 9am – 9pm.
Tuesday May 7:
- Magic Kingdom hours extended to 9am – 10pm from 9am – 9pm.
Wednesday May 8:
- Magic Kingdom hours extended to 9am – 10pm from 9am – 9pm.
Friday May 24:
- Magic Kingdom’s 11pm Main Street Electrical Parade canceled. 9pm Parade still scheduled.
No June Changes.
No July changes.
Thursday August 1:
- Hollywood Studios hours extended to 9am – 10pm from 9am – 9pm. Second Fantasmic added at 10:30pm, in addition to 9pm show.
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by josh on April 15, 2013
Disney released the November 2013 operating schedule at the usual location today: http://media.disneywebcontent.com/StaticFiles/DTA-Domestic/pdf/ParkHours/WDW_Operating_Calendar_nov.pdf. If it doesn’t say “November 2013″ in the top right hand corner, hit the refresh button on your browser.
November is a good time to visit with two major exceptions. The first is obvious – Thanksgiving. Saturday November 23rd – Saturday November 30th will be busy with crowds comparable to much of July. It isn’t Easter or Christmas busy, but it’s going to be comparable to the very busy spring break and summer seasons. In addition, room prices are higher on and off property. I don’t think anyone chooses to visit over Thanksgiving holiday if given other options, but be aware that it is quite busy during the week. It’s still doable with a good plan and the weather is cooler, which is a big plus in my book.
The second busy time may be less obvious, but it occurs when Jersey Week collides with Veteran’s Day and the Wine and Dine Half Marathon. New Jersey pubic schools have November 7th and 8th off in 2013. Normally, a two day break wouldn’t make that big of a deal, but Jersey is one of Disney’s largest domestic markets and the brief break brings a ton of people of Disney World. Friday November 8th – Monday November 11th is very busy, particularly at Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Last year, the Saturday and Sunday of the Half Marathon Weekend were two of the top ten busiest days of the year at Epcot as far as attendance is concerned. It does make for a fun atmosphere, but also leads to long lines at the Festival booths and a lot of drunk old people. November 5th – 7th sees average level crowds as Jersey Week gets off to an early start, but the heavy crowds don’t materialize until the weekend.
With those two exceptions, November sees below average to average crowds for the most part. November 1st will be the last Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. Any day where Magic Kingdom closes at 7pm after that is a Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party date. The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights begins November 8th.
Otherwise, the operating schedule looks to have conservative hours and entertainment. You can take a look at November 2012′s final operating schedule here to get an idea of what to expect when Disney makes their big update, which should come on July 15th. Note that Thanksgiving was a week earlier in 2012 and those long hours would transfer to the 23rd – 30th in 2013.
by josh on March 18, 2013
Disney eliminated evening Extra Magic Hours at Magic Kingdom on Fridays over the summer as explained in this post. See additional changes for May here and for June here. A longer list of changes to July is available below.
The full July operating schedule is available here. Click refresh if the date in the lower left hand corner of each page isn’t 3/15/13 or sooner. An FAQ is at the end of this post.
Friday May 31: Magic Kingdom’s evening Extra Magic Hours cancelled.
Friday June 7: Magic Kingdom’s evening Extra Magic Hours cancelled.
Friday June 14: Magic Kingdom’s evening Extra Magic Hours cancelled.
Friday June 21: Magic Kingdom’s evening Extra Magic Hours cancelled.
Friday June 28: Magic Kingdom’s evening Extra Magic Hours cancelled.
Monday July 1:
- Animal Kingdom hours extended to 9am – 8pm from 9am – 7pm.
- Hollywood Studios hours extended to 9am – 10pm from 9am – 9pm. Second Fantasmic added at 10:30pm, in addition to 9pm show.
- Magic Kingdom hours extended to 9am – 11pm from 9am – 10pm. Second Main Street Electrical Parade added at 11pm, in addition to 9pm Parade.
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by josh on March 18, 2013
Disney’s October 2013 operating schedule went live on their internal website on Friday and is now available to the public here: http://media.disneywebcontent.com/StaticFiles/DTA-Domestic/pdf/ParkHours/WDW_Operating_Calendar_oct.pdf. Click the refresh button on your browser if it doesn’t say “October 2013″ in the top right corner. As always, this is the official schedule that will appear on DisneyWorld.com at some point in the future. On dates where Animal Kingdom isn’t showing any operating hours, the operating hours are currently 9am – 5pm. Animal Kingdom’s hours should be extended to 9am – 7pm or 9am – 8pm as we get closer to October.
The schedule is just about identical to what we would expect. The big problems in October are the Food & Wine Festival and Mickey’s Party schedule. Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Parties are scheduled on three to four nights each week in October. These Parties close Magic Kingdom at 7pm and no nighttime entertainment is offered during regular theme park hours. While these days are excellent opportunities to visit Magic Kingdom in lighter crowds, it means that Main Street Electrical Parade will only be scheduled on three nights each. Wishes is scheduled three nights a week, except for Columbus Day Week, where it’s scheduled four times. This makes seeing the nighttime entertainment more difficult because dates that offer it are so much busier. In addition, I’m expecting Disney to open Magic Kingdom at 8am on most Party dates, which eliminates the benefit of scheduling an early breakfast at Crystal Palace or Cinderella’s Royal Table.
The Food and Wine Festival causes Epcot to be busier every day, with the heaviest crowds on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Unless you want to take part in the chaos, World Showcase should be avoided on weekend nights. Future World is impacted less and World Showcase will see relatively light crowds on weekdays, particularly before 4pm.
October crowd levels are mostly average to slightly above average. It is decidedly busier than September, but significantly less busy than the summer and most holidays. For the most part, crowds in October are similar to those found in May.
The October crowd calendar should be available in the next couple of days – I need to see if there are any more pressing changes to prior months.
by josh on March 18, 2013
Disney has elected to eliminate evening Extra Magic Hours at Magic Kingdom on Fridays over the summer. They were originally scheduled this year, but Disney has apparently canceled them. As recently as three years ago, Magic Kingdom offered morning Extra Magic Hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays in addition to evening Extra Magic Hours on Sundays and Fridays. Two years ago, they eliminated the Tuesday morning Extra Magic Hours. This year, they’ve eliminated evening Extra Magic Hours on Fridays, leaving only evening Extra Magic Hours on Sundays and a morning Extra Magic Hour on Thursdays from the last week in May through August. That means people visiting over July, in the oppressive heat and crowds, will see the exact same number of Extra Magic Hours as those who elect to visit in January or September. That’s on top of this year’s reduction of the length of evening Extra Magic Hours from three hours to two. As of today, regular hours have not been extended.
While Disney’s Next Generation and MyMagic+ initiatives have been characterized as exercises in data mining, the overarching goals are cost reduction and increasing guest satisfaction among those that will spend the most money on property now and in the future. Obviously, labor is Disney’s largest expense, and “trimming the fat” will save the company money, resulting in higher profits. I’m expecting Disney to continue phasing out Extra Magic Hours. Expect “new perks” from MyMagic+ to entice visitors to the Disney-owned properties. While these perks will undoubtedly benefit guests, they won’t cost the company anywhere close to as much money as keeping the theme parks open for an extra 15+ hours a week.
For those visiting over the summer, the cancellation means a few things. While Fridays generally weren’t recommended, the early mornings and late evenings were excellent times to tour, particularly with the afternoon heat and humidity. Resort guests tended to amass around 11am and leave no later than immediately after Wishes. With evening Extra Magic Hours pulling away resort guests on Fridays and Sundays, Saturdays opened up as being less crowded for locals and those that follow this sort of website. Without evening Extra Magic Hours on Fridays, most Fridays should change to being recommended, while Saturdays are not expressly recommended.
by josh on February 22, 2013
Disney released the September 2013 operating schedule with Extra Magic Hours intact this afternoon. You can view the full schedule here: http://media.disneywebcontent.com/StaticFiles/DTA-Domestic/pdf/ParkHours/WDW_Operating_Calendar_sept.pdf. As always, this is the official schedule – it’s simply updated as a PDF document at Disney’s Web Content site before the updates are made to the mess that is the code for DisneyWorld.com. Click “refresh” on your browser if September 2013 doesn’t show up in the top right hand corner. If you look at the lower left hand corner, you’ll see that the update came down to the wire – with the last one being made this afternoon at 2:58pm.
September is the least crowded month of the year at Disney World. Labor Day, from the end of August through September 2nd, would be the busiest few days until the end of the month,when the Food and Wine Festival ramps up unofficially on the 26th and officially on the 27th. I’m expecting September 8th – 14th and September 15th – 21st to be the two least crowded weeks of the year. That doesn’t mean there isn’t going to be anyone there. With the Free Dining promotion, less expensive airfare, and other incentives, you’re still going to be dealing with 80,000+ people on property along with off-site visitors.
In September and during the Mickey’s Party Season through December, Magic Kingdom’s operating schedule drives crowds more than anything else. With Magic Kingdom closing three or four nights a week at 7pm with no evening entertainment during regular Park hours, you’ve got far fewer people electing to visit on those Party dates. And with on-site occupancy being just as high as July, you’ve got the same number of people eying the Parks with Extra Magic Hours. So if 110,000 people are headed to a theme park on September 14th and only 32,000 are headed to Magic Kingdom because of the 7pm close, you can guess what that’s going to do to the other Parks. On September 15th, when 65,000 people are headed to Magic Kingdom with the long hours and nighttime entertainment, you can probably also guess what the other Parks look like. This is the time of year when you see the largest fluctuations in attendance from day to day. This post shows a nice comparison between crowds on a Most Recommended day in October versus the Worst Park on the very next day.
On September 6th and 7th, Magic Kingdom closes at 7pm for the Night of Joy event. Other 7pm closes indicate a Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. Mickey’s Party dates may change, but most likely won’t.
The crowd calendar should be available sometime tomorrow. It’s pretty straightforward.
