As expected, Disney has made changes to its February operating schedule. Hollywood Studios has added a second Fantasmic on nights that previously had one Fantasmic scheduled on every date except February 27th, which still has just one Fantasmic scheduled. Saturday February 19th is a “new Fantasmic night,” with two shows added when Fantasmic was not previously scheduled. Hollywood Studios has extended hours throughout the month to accommodate the second Fantasmic. Magic Kingdom hours have been extended for several dates around President’s Day Weekend, including a few 8am openings. A second Main Street Electrical Parade was added at 9pm on days surrounding President’s Day and Main Street Electrical Parade was added on February 23rd and 25th. Toward the end of the month, Animal Kingdom’s hours were extended to 9am to 8pm, which is rare for this time of year, especially with evening Extra Magic Hours running from 8pm to 11pm on February 23rd. February 23rd is currently the last time evening Extra Magic Hours are scheduled at Animal Kingdom in 2011.
I will be updating the February Crowd Calendar with these changes shortly. The updated calendar should be ready late tonight. There shouldn’t be any drastic changes to the recommended Parks, but I will be noting the changes and how you can make the most of your time if you are visiting during the last ten days of February and already have your plans set and dining reservations made. Those traveling before February 18th shouldn’t need to make any changes to their itinerary.
Tuesday February 1: No changes
Wednesday February 2: No Changes
Thursday February 3: Second Fantasmic added at 9:00pm, in addition to 7:30pm Fantasmic. Hollywood Studios hours extended to 9am – 9pm from 9am – 8pm.
Friday February 4: No changes
Saturday February 5: No changes
Sunday February 6: Second Fantasmic added at 8:30pm, in addition to 7:00pm Fantasmic. Hollywood Studios hours extended to 9am – 8:30pm from 9am – 7pm.
Monday February 7: No changes
Tuesday February 8: No changes
Wednesday February 9: Second Fantasmic added at 9:00pm, in addition to 7:30pm Fantasmic. Hollywood Studios hours extended to 9am – 9pm from 9am – 8pm.
Thursday February 10: No changes
Friday February 11: No changes
Saturday February 12: Second Main Street Electrical Parade added at 9pm, in addition to 7pm Parade. Hollywood Studios hours extended to 9am – 8pm from 9am – 7pm.
Sunday February 13: Second Fantasmic added at 8:30pm, in addition to 7:00pm Fantasmic. Hollywood Studios hours extended to 9am – 8:30pm from 9am – 7pm.
Monday February 14: No changes
Tuesday February 15: No changes
Wednesday February 16: No changes
Thursday February 17: Second Fantasmic added at 9:00pm, in addition to 7:30pm Fantasmic. Hollywood Studios hours extended to 9am – 9pm from 9am – 8pm.
Friday February 18: Magic Kingdom hours extended to 8am – 8pm from 9am – 8pm.
Saturday February 19: Magic Kingdom hours extended to 8am – 12am from 9am – 11pm. Second Main Street Electrical Parade added at 9pm, in addition to 7pm Parade. Fantasmic added at Hollywood Studios at 7:30pm and 9pm. No Fantasmic shows previously scheduled. Hollywood Studios hours extended to 9am – 9pm from 9am – 7pm. Animal Kingdom Hours extended to 9am – 7pm from 9am – 6pm.
Sunday February 20: Magic Kingdom hours extended to 8am – 12am from 9am – 11pm. Second Main Street Electrical Parade added at 9pm, in addition to 7pm Parade. Second Fantasmic added at 9:00pm, in addition to 7:30pm Fantasmic. Hollywood Studios hours extended to 9am – 9pm from 9am – 8pm. Animal Kingdom hours extended to 9am – 8pm from 9am – 8pm.
Monday February 21: Magic Kingdom hours extended to 9am – 12am from 9am – 11pm. Second Main Street Electrical Parade added at 9pm, in addition to 7pm Parade. Hollywood Studios hours extended to 9am – 8pm from 9am – 7pm. Animal Kingdom hours extended to 9am – 8pm from 9am to 7pm.
Tuesday February 22: Magic Kingdom hours extended to 9am – 12am from 9am – 11pm. Second Main Street Electrical Parade added at 9pm, in addition to 7pm Parade. Second Fantasmic added at 9pm, in addition to 7:30pm Fantasmic. Hollywood Studios hours extended to 9am – 9pm from 9am – 8pm. Animal Kingdom hours extended to 9am – 8pm from 9am – 7pm.
Wednesday February 23: Main Street Electrical Parade added at 7pm and 9pm. No Main Street Electrical Parades previously scheduled. Animal Kingdom hours extended to 9am – 8pm from 9am – 7pm.
Thursday February 24: Magic Kingdom hours extended to 9am – 11pm from 9am – 10pm. Second Main Street Electrical Parade added at 9pm, in addition to 7pm Parade. Second Fantasmic added at 9pm, in addition to 7:30pm Fantasmic. Hollywood Studios hours extended to 9am – 9pm from 9am – 8pm.
Friday February 25: Magic Kingdom hours extended to 8am – 10pm from 9am – 9pm. Main Street Electrical Parade added at 7pm and 9pm. No Main Street Electrical Parades previously scheduled.
Saturday February 26: Magic Kingdom hours extended to 8am – 11pm from 9am – 10pm. Second Main Street Electrical Parade added at 9pm, in addition to 7pm Parade.
Sunday February 27: No changes
Monday February 28: No changes
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_feb.pdf. The Travel Agent Hours are 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. I agree that a company that makes more than 10 billion per year on theme parks should be able to keep a calendar of hours up to date better than a website that makes 42 cents per day in advertising revenue.
Will These Changes Greatly Affect the Crowd Level Estimations or Best Parks to Visit?
Not really. The Crowd Calendar predictions already take into account what the final theme park operation schedule will ultimately look like. President’s Day Weekend and the days surrounding it were already expected to be very busy. The extended hours confirm that Disney is expecting those days to be busier. The first two and a half weeks remain significantly less crowded than the last ten days.
I had planned on doing DHS on the 19th, with fairly mild crowds predicted. We do not plan on doing Fantasmic. Assuming I can move around ADRs, is Saturday now going to be packed at DHS?
The Disney calendar site is now showing a second Fantasmic on 1/30. (It was not before.)
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/par…y_day=20110130
But no one else, including the travel agent calendars, is showing this. Can we trust it?
Adam, Saturday is looking to be crowded at Hollywood Studios. I will have the updated February Calendar available soon, hopefully by the end of the night.
Terri, I added that Fantasmic to the January calendar a little bit earlier today. I think it’s a legitimate addition, considering all other dates in January have a second show added. February at Hollywood Studios is also updated on the Disney site with today’s addition, whereas other Parks haven’t yet been updated with the new information that came out today. I think we can bank on a second Fantasmic January 30th as listed on Disney’s site.