Disney World April 2011 Operating Schedule and Park Hours Update

If you have questions regarding April’s calendar update, please join us in this thread over at the easyWDW.com forums.

Disney has made its major update to April’s operating schedule.  As expected, we have a second Main Street Electrical Parade added at Magic Kingdom on days that previously had one Parade scheduled, a second Fantasmic at Hollywood Studios on days that previously had one scheduled, and extended operating hours at the major theme parks throughout the month.

I had been predicting that crowds in the second two weeks in April would be lower than expected, based on relatively low occupancy at both on-site and off-site hotels and the lack of spring breaks in the south, specifically no April vacation days at Orlando-area schools.  On-site occupancy was so low I said, that Disney would be offering targeted pin codes over the Easter holiday. Although that’s exactly what happened (Disney released pin codes for free dining for dates beginning on April 23rd, the Saturday before Easter), Disney has not lowered its crowd estimates for April 16th to 30th.

Historically, Easter is extremely busy, which is evident by the fact that on-site pricing is higher than any time of year other than Christmas week. However, Easter is much later than usual this year, which has caused schools to spread out their spring breaks. Most of the schools that have spring break around Easter are located in the northeast, some of which are using that break for weather related makeup days.  In addition, as previously mentioned, Easter is the second most expensive time of year to stay at a Disney-owned resort.  By the time April 20th rolls around, we’ll be just six to eight weeks away from summer break.  For a lot of people, a summer vacation will be significantly cheaper and more convenient than an Easter trip in late April.

While everything I’m looking at indicates that April 16th through the 30th will be less crowded than originally predicted, it would be somewhat foolish to disagree with Disney’s numbers.  I will keep you appraised if and when Disney revises their numbers down.  As it stands, they are still expecting the weeks around Easter to be more crowded than March, which has been extremely busy.

During the weeks before and after Easter, we are helped somewhat by additional Extra Magic Hours, more Fantasmic shows, and extended hours at Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, but that won’t do much to mitigate peak afternoon waits if crowds really are as large as they are predicting.  Regardless of crowd level, real or imagined, the touring advice remains the same.  Arrive prior to Park opening.   Visit the attractions that will have the longest afternoon waits immediately after the Park opens.  Use FASTPASS as often and as efficiently as possible throughout the day.   See high capacity stage shows and less popular attractions in the afternoon or return to your resort to rest.  Other than the early morning, the second best time to tour is late at night, especially at the Magic Kingdom.  Expect low crowds, particularly in Fantasyland, after 11:30pm.

I will be updating the April Crowd Calendar with the changes listed below and should have a new version ready this evening.  Here is a list of all the changes to the April operating schedule:

Friday April 1: Magic Kingdom hours extended to 8am – 12am from 9am – 11pm.  Second Main Street Electrical Parade added at 11pm, in addition to 9pm Parade.  Note that this change was already made to the calendar.

Saturday April 2: Magic Kingdom hours extended to 8am – 12am from 9am – 11pm.  Second Main Street Electrical Parade added at 11pm, in addition to 9pm Parade.  Note that this change was already made to the calendar.

Sunday April 3: Magic Kingdom hours extended to 8am – 12am from 9am – 11pm.  Second Main Street Electrical Parade added at 11pm, in addition to 9pm Parade.  Hollywood Studios hours extended to 9am – 10pm from 9am – 8:30pm.  Second Fantasmic added at 10pm, in addition to 8:30pm Fantasmic.

Monday April 4: Magic Kingdom hours extended to 8am – 12am from 9am – 11pm.  Second Main Street Electrical Parade added at 11pm, in addition to 9pm Parade.

Tuesday April 5: Magic Kingdom hours extended to 8am – 12am from 9am – 10pm.  Second Main Street Electrical Parade added at 11pm, in addition to 9pm Parade.  Hollywood Studios hours extended to 9am – 10pm from 9am – 8:30pm.  Second Fantasmic added at 10pm, in addition to 8:30pm Fantasmic.

Wednesday April 6: Magic Kingdom hours extended to 8am – 12am from 9am – 10pm.  Second Main Street Electrical Parade added at 11pm, in addition to 9pm Parade.

Thursday April 7: Magic Kingdom hours extended to 9am – 12am from 9am – 11pm.  Second Main Street Electrical Parade added at 11pm, in addition to 9pm Parade.  Hollywood Studios hours extended to 9am – 10pm from 9am – 8:30pm.  Second Fantasmic added at 10pm, in addition to 8:30pm Fantasmic.

Friday April 8: Magic Kingdom hours extended to 8am – 12am from 9am – 11pm.  Second Main Street Electrical Parade added at 11pm, in addition to 9pm Parade.

Saturday April 9: Magic Kingdom hours extended to 8am – 12am from 9am – 11pm.  Second Main Street Electrical Parade added at 11pm, in addition to 9pm Parade.  Hollywood Studios hours extended to 9am – 8pm from 9am – 7pm.

Sunday April 10:  Magic Kingdom hours extended to 8am – 12am from 9am – 11pm.  Second Main Street Electrical Parade added at 11pm, in addition to 9pm Parade.  Hollywood Studios hours extended to 9am – 10pm from 9am – 8:30pm.  Second Fantasmic added at 10pm, in addition to 8:30pm Fantasmic.

Monday April 11: Magic Kingdom hours extended to 8am – 12am from 9am – 10pm.  Second Main Street Electrical Parade added at 11pm, in addition to 9pm Parade.

Tuesday April 12: Magic Kingdom hours extended to 8am – 12am from 9am – 11pm.  Second Main Street Electrical Parade added at 11pm, in addition to 9pm Parade.  Hollywood Studios hours extended to 9am – 10pm from 9am – 8:30pm.  Second Fantasmic added at 10pm, in addition to 8:30pm Fantasmic.

Wednesday April 13: Magic Kingdom hours extended to 8am – 12am from 9am – 10pm.  Second Main Street Electrical Parade added at 11pm, in addition to 9pm Parade.

Thursday April 14: Magic Kingdom hours extended to 9am – 12am from 9am – 10pm.  Second Main Street Electrical Parade added at 11pm, in addition to 9pm Parade.  Hollywood Studios hours extended to 9am – 10pm from 9am – 8:30pm.  Second Fantasmic added at 10pm, in addition to 8:30pm Fantasmic.

Friday April 15: Magic Kingdom hours extended to 8am – 12am from 9am – 10pm.  Second Main Street Electrical Parade added at 11pm, in addition to 9pm Parade.  Animal Kingdom hours extended to 9am – 7pm from 9am – 6pm.

Saturday April 16: Magic Kingdom hours extended to 8am – 1am from 9am – 11pm.  Second Main Street Electrical Parade added at 11pm, in addition to 9pm Parade.  Hollywood Studios hours extended to 9am – 8pm from 9am – 7pm.  Animal Kingdom hours extended to 9am – 8pm from 9am – 7pm.

Sunday April 17: Magic Kingdom hours extended to 8am – 12am from 8am – 11pm.  Second Main Street Electrical Parade added at 11pm, in addition to 9pm Parade.  Hollywood Studios hours extended to 8am – 10pm from 9am – 10pm.

Monday April 18: Magic Kingdom hours extended to 8am – 1am from 8am – 11pm.  Second Main Street Electrical Parade added at 11pm, in addition to 9pm Parade.  Hollywood Studios hours extended to 8am – 10pm from 9am – 10pm.  Animal Kingdom hours extended to 8am to 9pm from 8am to 8pm.

Tuesday April 19:  Magic Kingdom hours extended to 8am – 1am from 8am – 11pm.  Second Main Street Electrical Parade added at 11pm, in addition to 9pm Parade.  Hollywood Studios hours extended to 8am – 10pm from 9am – 10pm.  Animal Kingdom hours extended to 8am to 9pm from 8am to 8pm.

Wednesday April 20: Magic Kingdom hours extended to 8am – 1am from 8am – 11pm.  Second Main Street Electrical Parade added at 11pm, in addition to 9pm Parade.  Hollywood Studios hours extended to 8am – 10pm from 9am – 10pm.  Animal Kingdom hours extended to 8am to 9pm from 8am to 8pm.

Thursday April 21: Magic Kingdom hours extended to 8am – 1am from 8am – 11pm.  Second Main Street Electrical Parade added at 11pm, in addition to 9pm Parade.  Hollywood Studios hours extended to 8am – 10pm from 9am – 10pm.  Animal Kingdom hours extended to 8am to 9pm from 8am to 8pm.

Friday April 22: Magic Kingdom hours extended to 8am – 12am from 8am – 11pm.  Second Main Street Electrical Parade added at 11pm, in addition to 9pm Parade.  Hollywood Studios hours extended to 8am – 10pm from 9am – 10pm.

Saturday April 23: Magic Kingdom hours extended to 8am – 1am from 8am – 11pm.  Second Main Street Electrical Parade added at 11pm, in addition to 9pm Parade.  Hollywood Studios hours extended to 8am – 10pm from 9am – 10pm.

Sunday April 24: Magic Kingdom hours extended to 8am – 12am from 8am – 11pm.  Second Main Street Electrical Parade added at 11pm, in addition to 9pm Parade.  Hollywood Studios hours extended to 9am – 10pm from 9am – 8:30pm.  Second Fantasmic added at 10pm, in addition to 8:30pm Fantasmic.  Animal Kingdom hours extended to 8am – 8pm from 9am – 7pm.

Monday April 25: Magic Kingdom hours extended to 8am – 12am from 8am – 11pm.  Second Main Street Electrical Parade added at 11pm, in addition to 9pm Parade.  Animal Kingdom hours extended to 8am – 8pm from 9am – 7pm.

Tuesday April 26: Magic Kingdom hours extended to 8am – 12am from 8am – 11pm.  Second Main Street Electrical Parade added at 11pm, in addition to 9pm Parade.  Hollywood Studios hours extended to 9am – 10pm from 9am – 8:30pm.  Second Fantasmic added at 10pm, in addition to 8:30pm Fantasmic.  Animal Kingdom hours extended to 8am – 7pm from 9am – 7pm.

Wednesday April 27: Magic Kingdom hours extended to 8am – 12am from 8am – 11pm.  Second Main Street Electrical Parade added at 11pm, in addition to 9pm Parade.  Animal Kingdom hours extended to 8am – 7pm from 9am – 7pm.

Thursday April 28: Magic Kingdom hours extended to 8am – 12am from 8am – 11pm.  Second Main Street Electrical Parade added at 11pm, in addition to 9pm Parade.  Hollywood Studios hours extended to 9am – 10pm from 9am – 8:30pm.  Second Fantasmic added at 10pm, in addition to 8:30pm Fantasmic.

Friday April 29: Magic Kingdom hours extended to 8am – 7pm from 9am – 7pm.   Hollywood Studios hours extended to 9am – 10pm from 9am – 8:30pm.  Second Fantasmic added at 10pm, in addition to 8:30pm Fantasmic.

Saturday April 30: Magic Kingdom hours extended to 8am – 7pm from 9am – 7pm.   Hollywood Studios hours extended to 9am – 10pm from 9am – 8:30pm.  Second Fantasmic added at 10pm, in addition to 8:30pm Fantasmic.

I checked these park hours against the calendar on DisneyWorld.com and they are different?  Who’s right?

The Disney World website is notoriously slow at updating theme park hours.  These changes were just released this morning.  The park hours above are taken from the Disney World Travel Agent Hours available at http://www.disneytravelagents.com/StaticFiles/DTA-Domestic/pdf/ParkHours/WDW_Operating_Calendar_apr.pdf.  The Travel Agent Hours are almost always updated before the Disney World website and are almost always correct before Disney makes their own update.  Expect Disney to update their website within the next few days.  For more information about how Disney generally updates the operating schedule, see this post: https://www.easywdw.com/uncategorized/figuring-out-disney-world-theme-park-hours/

Do these changes have an effect on Extra Magic Hours?

Yes, in the sense that morning Extra Magic Hour will begin earlier and evening Extra Magic Hours will begin later than originally listed if the opening or closing time changes.  For example, if the Magic Kingdom was originally open from 9am to 11pm with evening Extra Magic Hours from 11pm to 2am and the regular hours changed to 9am to 12am, then evening Extra Magic Hours would be pushed back to 12am to 3am instead.  Likewise, if Animal Kingdom is opening at 8am instead of 9am and has a morning Extra Magic Hour scheduled, then the morning Extra Magic Hour will run from 7am to 8am instead of the original 8am to 9am.