Walt Disney World Has Extended Hours on Weekends through October 12

Walt Disney World had just extended it’s park hours for next weekend and the weekend after. This is interesting considering how Universal Orlando has just announced the modified Halloween Horror Night houses for weekends only and now Disney is upping their weekend hours as well.

For October 2-4 and the holiday weekend of October 9-12 the new park hours will be:

October 2-4

• Magic Kingdom- 9AM – 7PM
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios- 10AM – 8PM
• EPCOT- 11AM – 9PM
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom- 8AM- 6PM

October 9-12 

• Magic Kingdom- 9AM – 8PM
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 10AM – 7PM
• EPCOT: 11AM – 9PM
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom: 8AM – 6PM

Here’s the thing, we know that Universal Studios has it’s capacity set at 25% on weekdays and I believe about 50% on weekends. Disney is not disclosing their capacity limits, but I can tell you that it’s higher than 25-30%.  That went up as soon as the governor said it could go up to 50%. Weekdays are busy, as the day went on the crowds seemed to be about normal levels. I have to wonder what the weekends are like.

You have to remember too that a lot of restaurants and some attractions are still shut down. So that limits where people can go, so on a 50% day it can feel like a lot more. Now throw in extra hours and the weekend, with no disclosure on crowd levels. and this makes me go “hmmmm.”

Right now Disney only has Walt Disney World domestically, so of course they are probably trying to fill it up to the maximum that they can. Of course they aren’t going to tell people that because they know darn well a lot of people might cancel like last time.

So if you are going during those weekends know that 1. these are the new hours and 2. expect crowds and wait times that are about normal levels, except now you don’t get FastPass.

What do you think? Comment and let us know!