Disney released what they have for the December 2016 operating schedule here: https://media.disneywebcontent.com/StaticFiles/ParkHours/WDWTravelAgent_December.pdf. Click “refresh” on your browser to load the newest version.
The firs thing you might notice is the lack of Extra Magic Hours at Animal Kingdom. While it’s far too early to sign off on AK EMH glowing away, it would make logistical sense. Morning Extra Magic Hours at Animal Kingdom have never been very popular and assuming the Park stays open later, there is little payoff for Disney to offer them. Of course, this would not be the first time that EMH is not originally scheduled and then added sometime in the future. But while we are in rumor la la land, I would also mention that I don’t expect the transition from Jungle Book to Rivers of Light to be seamless. Rather, it looks like Jungle Book will end in early September and then the show will go dark until late November when hopefully Rivers of Light will debut. We are decidedly in “things could change” territory on that front as the situation at Animal Kingdom remains fluid. Otherwise, Disney has Animal Kingdom closing at 5pm every day in December with no indication of how late the Park will actually stay open or how often nighttime entertainment will be offered.
Epcot looks to be what you would expect other than the IllumiNations time is “TBD” from December 17th to 24th.
There is no indication as to how late Hollywood Studios will stay open or how often the Star Wars fireworks or Fantasmic will be scheduled.
Who knows what’s going on at Magic Kingdom with no Electrical Parade or Wishes scheduled after December 18th. I could not tell you why Disney refuses to just schedule the obvious.
I will have some additional thoughts tomorrow along with a preliminary crowd calendar.
“Rather, it looks like Jungle Book will end in early September and then the show will go dark until late November when hopefully Rivers of Light will debut.”
This is not good news for my early October trip.
Yeah, I’m there for two weeks in September and while, for me, I’d be OK with not seeing a night time show, I’d be pretty bummed if they arent opening AK late at all!
I am also going late September / early October for two weeks and if this is true I will be very annoyed with Disney, given Rivers of Light is one of the very few new experiances we are looking forward to. Our last trip was six years ago and it still feels like RoL will be the only new attraction compared to that visit!
We’re going in October as well… thinking that SURELY Rivers of Light would be open by then since it was originally on track for April. I guess I thought they just needed to tweak some things and that it wouldn’t take so many months. I’m hoping Josh is making a conservative guess and that it won’t actually take so long for the switch. It would be such a letdown to have no AK night show at all, since it was one of the main reasons for our trip!
Thanks!
So it looks like they have Animal Kingdom closing at 5 in December. Does that mean no nighttime safari or tree projection show?
No, Disney has been releasing extremely conservative hours for years.
Thank you, Josh! This is so frustrating!! My trip is 12/2 – 12/9 and and the lack of info from Disney is making it very difficult to plan.
“While it’s far too early to sign off on AK EMH glowing away”
This is either a typo or a REALLY clever play on words. Snaps for that. 🙂
So when will you put up your November 2016 calendar? I follow your stuff all the time and keep looking. We are going 2nd week of November and it would be helpful.
November has been available for 6+ weeks. http://www.easywdw.com/easy/blog/november-2016-preliminary-crowd-calendar/
I love people sometimes.
Hi – Thank you! On the main page of this site, when you click “Crowd Calendars”, it only shows through October 2016. November is not showing at that location at all. Now that you’ve posted this link we can access it but I’m wondering if November and subsequent months can be put under “Crowd Calendars” also. Thank you so much.
I’ll run my site the way I want to run it thanks so much.
Wow, she’s right. :-/
Yeah, she’s right.
Amen to that! I need January 2017 and nothing has been posted for crowd calendars since early April…2 months ago. Luckily Undercover Tourist has theirs up but we used easywdw last time (also for January/Feb) and it seemed to work. I’d like yours to be up for those months soon so I can compare them with UT’s.
November has been up for 6+ weeks: http://www.easywdw.com/easy/blog/november-2016-preliminary-crowd-calendar/ Undercover Tourist hasn’t had an original thought in the entire history of the site’s existence.
indeed sir
At MK, on dates with no MVMCParty, like Dec 19-21, what do they do in place of FOFParade? Last year we were there after the Party was finished & they just had the Christmas parade in the afternoon. Any insight is helpful! Thanks!
I would expect them to run Festival of Fantasy at least through the last Christmas Party date. They would likely switch over to the Christmas parade and other Christmas shows during regular park hours as early as December 23rd but it remains to be seen. Otherwise it seems like the Christmas Party would be a harder sell at those prices if they are running Christmas stuff during regular park hours. There would be much less incentive to pay big bucks for the Party.
Thanks!
Any insight on the water parks calendar? The operating hours calendar lists Blizzard Beach as open during December and Typhoon Lagoon as closed for refurbishment. On the Disney park hours webpage (https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/calendars/2016-12-02), Blizzard Beach is listed as remaining closed for refurbishment through Dec. 24 and Typhoon Lagoon is open. Do you have any idea which of these conflicting pieces of information is correct?
I know very little about the water parks, but I believe they switch which water park is open and which one is closed each year. That means Typhoon Lagoon would close from late October through late January and then Blizzard Beach would close from early January through late March. Last year Disney confirmed that during the fourth week in June.
Looking at mk hours for christmas week . Do you think they will extend hours? 9am- 10 pm during the busiest week of the yesr doesnt seem right. Last year it was 8 -1 with 7am emh every day that week
Absolutely yes.
Wondering when you may be releasing the December 2016 prelim crowd calendar. Also I always loved when you broke down each day of the month as to why which park was better than others. Any reason why you are not doing that anymore or maybe I am just not looking in right place. You are my go to for every Disney vacation and I loved that about your site.
read the last sentence
GOSH JUST TELL ME WHEN YOU ARE POSTING YOUR CROWD CALENDAR ALREADY! THE SCHEDULE HAS BEEN OUT FOR ALL OF 14 HOURS.
#VACATIONRUINED
Hi Josh, in terms of crowds, would you pick a “red” MK day (Wednesday 11/30/16) with p.m. EMH or a “red” MK day (Saturday 12/3/16) with a.m. EHM? Thanks!
…the lesser of two evils, I guess I should say…
Hi, I just came here to make an entitled comment about a website for which I pay absolutely nothing.
Also, X website is doing it better.
?