BREAKING: Walt Disney World Drastically Reducing Park Hours Starting September 8

Jessica Figueroa

Updated on:

BREAKING: Walt Disney World Drastically Reducing Park Hours Starting September 8

Jessica Figueroa

Updated on:

BREAKING: Walt Disney World Drastically Reducing Park Hours Starting September 8

Starting September 8, park hours will be cut at all four Walt Disney World parks.

The new reduced park hours are as follows, with park hours at EPCOT and Disney’s Animal Kingdom reduced by two hours:

  • Magic Kingdom: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (Previously 9:00 am to 7:00 pm)
  • EPCOT: 11:00 am to 7:00 pm (Previously 11:00 am to 9:00 pm)
  • Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 10:00 am to 7:00 pm (Previously 10:00 am to 8:00 pm)
  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (Previously 8:00 am to 6:00 pm)

Hours at Disney Springs remain unchanged, from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm daily.

New park hours have now been updated on the Walt Disney World website, and are in place through October. We’ll continue to update this post as more information arises.

125 thoughts on “BREAKING: Walt Disney World Drastically Reducing Park Hours Starting September 8”

  1. I immediately called Disney after seeing this posted. The cast member I spoke with put in a ticket for their system because this does NOT seem to be true. I have dinning reservations starting on the 11th of Sept that would fall after park close on different nights. Only the cast member system and the park pass hours seem to reflect the above times but no where else.

    Typically, Disney would contact guests in my situation to deal with reservation discrepancies. I haven’t been contacted yet and I’m hoping not to. Considering I’m still going and am already getting a partial park experience, I really don’t want it to be a now shortened experience on top of everything else.

      • This is some serious bs! When I handed over 1000’s of $$ for reduced experience, I wasn’t told they were reducing hours now too! Haven’t they cut enough out? Shouldn’t they be offering insentives to get people to come back, not taking more away? Are they going to lower their ticket costs to match what they’re offering now? I’m beyond pi**ed! This is Beyond greedy! 😡

    • WDW fans should accept that the pre-shut down WDW no longer exists. The reborn WDW is a sad and expensive disappointment. And this is not the last of the bad news. The central Florida economy is going to look like a train wreck for several years.

      I have no regrets about not renewing my AP.

    • Maybe if they wouldn’t have jacked the prices up so much, they would fill the park and hotel a little more. Just priced a package, it was around $400 more than what we were quoted before the Corona virus.

    • They haven’t cancelled your dinner reservations?
      We were planning a week long trip for the first week of November.
      In June we were notified that all of our dinner reservations were cancelled.

  2. they need to open up more AP slots, there is still plenty of day guest and resort, but alas, AP are still locked out, i do have to say Universel Does a better job with its AP’s then what Disney does, UOAP have lounges and dining areas, disney only cares about its DVC members

    • Believe me, they aren’t treating DVC members any better. They won’t let us bank our points if we cancel. So now we are staying at AK Jambo but there are no services, restaurants, or stores open there. We have to walk to an adjacent resort to eat, swim, shop, etc. I guessing most DVC guests feel like a captive audience this year with Disney’s uncaring use it or lose it attitude. And we get the privilege of paying full price for a very limited and unmagical experience. The whole experience has left me extremely sour and angry at the Disney.

    • AP holders need to stop booking and not showing up. Cancel your park pass so someone else can use it.

      • From what I understand Disney does not put a canceled reservation spot back in to the pool. That day is just gone, when I look at the RSVP system the day and resort guests have plenty of open spots, but AP is full, there a article that I read, and it may of been on this site, 50% of the people going to the parks right now are Florida residents. Open more AP slots

        • I ASSURE you, that as a top tiered AP holder, who just yesterday returned from a 9 day resort stay, you DO NOT WANT ANYMORE PEOPLE IN THE PARKS without fast pass availability. HS and MK were nuts, with the ques reaching up to 90 minutes for the popular rides. Standing outside in sweltering 100 degree humid weather, wearing a mask with the sun beating down on you is a NIGHTMARE! Disney needs to bring back FP’s or reduce capacity. These ques extend FAR OUTSIDE the normal ques, and there is no fans, tents, umbrellas, or other accommodations that would make it bearable. I saw so many people being assisted by the EMT’s. Lack of choices for food, entertainment, and other things that we paid for was trying, but reducing the hours even more is just the last straw.

  3. Is this due lower crowds than Chapek expected? How are they surprised when the cost stays high but so many things are cut and reduced. The prices should have been dropped some too. I noticed memory maker has gone from 170 to 200. Why when you cant get character pics and they wont let you take your mask off for other pics? Chapek needs to stop taking advantage of park goers and make incentives for them to encourage people to come to the parks (safely).

  4. So is this temporary, regarding Covid precautions? This can’t be the new normal schedule, as their light shows and fireworks are a huge part of what they do, and you can’t see that until after 8 PM.

  5. Next it should be reduced to 0 hours or DW will continue to contribute to the nation’s massive shut down sometime after Labor Day. You heard it here first

  6. It’s like Disney executives sit around discussing how they can make their parks even less inviting to their guests.

  7. So people who have EPCOT After 4 passes have 3 hours to be in the park before they close. Hardly seems fair

    • So does the thousands of people out of work and the thousands in the airline industry who will be furloughed come Oct 1st. But sure, let’s complain about WDW

        • No! He’s making a really pertinent point about the contrast between everyone on this page nit-picking the decisions of WDW, as though this is really important. Compared to the millions now out of work and stressed over how to pay the bills and keep food on the table, you all sound like a bunch of spoiled, petulant children.

          And just for clarity, my whole family is eagerly awaiting a chance to get back to the parks, but we understand the uncomfortable position places like Disney and Universal find themselves in — can’t fully open due to government restrictions, which affects the crowd size and the park then needs to curtail hours to prevent hemorrhaging money until the external restrictions are removed.

          Scan the financial press over the past 3 months and look at the number of businesses that have gone bankrupt. I cannot believe you people are so short-sighted that you really want Disney to make financial decisions putting the company at risk of being added to that list!

          • Disney could close every park for over a year and still be financially stable, and that is a fact that has already been addressed. Also, we Disney fans, Annual Pass holders, DVC owners have paid an extrodinary amount of money and are getting only 60% of the value. Would you buy 100% of the value of a car, but only have 60% of the parts???? THAT is what we are complaining about. We all get that COVID is a pandemic, but that doesn’t give Disney the right to take advantage of us that have PREVIOUSLY paid for things that we are no longer receiving. YOU have a choice to purchase or not….we already did

      • I’m sorry I don’t feel bad for the people getting laid off 10/1… I don’t no one felt badly for me, and I brushed myself off found another job in my old vocation, But I wasn’t asking for sympathy I wasn’t asking for handouts and I made sure that my family was OK do you know what a lot of these people know that this is coming October 1 they got plenty of time to prepare I didn’t let them start looking for jobs now give me a break supposed to feel bad for people October 1 is he losing their jobs it’s not in the middle of August yet do you have 45 days I start pounding the pavement and getting my resume out there it’s not my fault or the fourth of Walt Disney World the people losing their jobs in the airlines are plenty of other things people can do

      • Excellent point! Whiners bawling their eyes out over rational adjustments to the availability schedule for a given form of entertainment, as though that is anywhere near the importance of the millions that are out of work and wondering when/if they’re going to get to go back to their former jobs and stressing over how to pay their bills!

        • Stop taking your unemployment aggression out on us!!!! You were well compensated for it, receiving an extra 600$ a week on top of your benefits. Sorry, but that’s your issue which has ZERO to do with Disney and us griping about them cutting even more off of what we have ALREADY paid for. Get some rest, your are obviously very stressed out.

    • I mean… we’re in the middle of a pandemic that is impacting everyone in some way or another. Either upgrade your pass or cancel it until their hours are back to normal. Simple.

  8. They should reduce costs of traveling to match this. Why should we spend $1000+ on a vacation just to sit in the hotel room and watch Netflix on our phones all day? WE CAN DO THAT AT HOME FOR FREE!!!!! If Chapek is angry that people aren’t visiting, this is not going to get him more business.

    • Sorry to hear it, but that’s definitely the best choice. Go when you can get your money’s worth and have an unimpeded vacation!

      • Why would anyone go to Disney????. Their new spokesman is Kapernick. They won’t get another dime of my money

      • No lines, no crowds and one on one attention from cast and characters add a lot of value no one here seems to be appreciating.

  9. To we are also drastically reducing price to match right?

    This kind of thing is why we gave up our passes. It makes it easier to stay away and not risk it.

  10. What? I’m planning a trip in November, actually planned since February. I’m a huge Disney fan, grew up with Disney and passed to my kids and now to my granddaughter. But if they keep taking away and charging the same, I may be rethinking. I’m a stock holder also, but this is wrong. The prices being charged and lessening the experience by a lot, now this. Going backwards and along with all the bowing down to everything, not good.

  11. This sucks. I have a trip for late September and I also got reservation for dinner at Epcot that’s past the new park hours so I don’t know if theyll change it if things get better.

  12. Disney just trying to lose money? Weren’t the pointless masks bad enough? Attendence already down 85% due to company imposed and unnecessary “covid” precautions. Sea world and aquatica doing much better with attendance and customer happiness. Wtf Disney?

  13. WDW is attempting slow-motion suicide. And it might succeed, or at least end up in a chapter 11 bankruptcy.

  14. Have they said anything at all regarding firework shows? Are they planning on doing them with an empty park while broadcasting to the resort rooms and app? Yuck.
    I have a lot of questions about this change, but I’ll start with the fireworks.
    Surely not having the shows will save WDW a lot of money. Will guests automatically get a store/dining credit in exchange? “Free” Disney masks? “Free” movie download? They really need a plan to keep the experience…magical.

  15. I’m sorry, but in whose dictionary is a 10-15% reduction in ANYTHING considered “DRASTIC”?

    Nothing more than clickbait to pull in the whiners…

    It’s simple…if you don’t want to go with all the social distancing measures in place, don’t. But don’t be surprised when the parks curtail hours to deal with cashflow issues. This is a business and their job is to generate profits for the shareholders. If you think their purpose for existence is to make you happy, may I suggest you’re really going to be disappointed when you find out about Santa and the Easter Bunny…

  16. Seems that everyone is upset with Disney right now, and for good reason. Hopefully people continue to avoid the parks and send the message that things need to change, hours need to increase, and prices need to drop before we will return with our business. Not worth it at this point in time, from a financial and cost/benefit perspective.

    • With a reported $2+ BILLION revenue loss in Q1 and Q2 not looking any better, any chance of a price drop is pure fantasy and pixie dust dreaming…

  17. Completely agree. The hours have decreased significantly, no fireworks, less entertainment ect. yet the prices are exactly the same. Seems odd. We go in three weeks and I am hoping that with less crowds our volume of rides will equal that of our typical Disney experience.

    • Maybe you should think about the employees who have to suffer through a pandemic just so you can have a “Disney” experience

    • Hey Michael, we went to Epcot on 8-2 and it was a very nice experience. It was quite relaxing actually. There are many things that are shut down, but the rides were all walk on(no wait) and the food was just as good.

      There is A LOT of misinformation on these forums as 99% of these people are commenting using their emotions only.

      We didn’t experience anyone not following the mask rule. There were cast members everywhere spraying down high traffic areas. We ate at the Rose and Crown and it was amazing being in there with only a few other people. Usually its so crowded there isn’t room to even stand.

      It did suck not having fireworks, but it was a really surreal experience. We checked wait times on 8-3 and Pandora was a 10 MINUTE WAIT!

      I understand the shortened hours. There were maybe 20% of the people in Epcot than the last time I was there in March.

      I’ve had Universal APs in the past and their winter hours are shorter than these during normal times. I don’t see it as that big of a deal. Epcot was a ghost town around closing time.

      Just to be transparent, I do not work for WDW but my girlfriend does. I went with 2 other Cast Members as well to see what the parks are like. I got in free, and only spent money on food/drinks. I would not pay thousands of dollars right now if the old park experience is what you are after. Most of the people that were there appeared to be locals (Like us) and everyone was very conscience of personal space and following the rules. This is the reason I think they need to DRAMATICALLY open up slots for AP holders if they want any chance of getting people through the gates. Orlando is not a great place to travel to right now as many things are shut down. But it’s the best it’s ever been for driving to and around.

      YMMV if you go to Magic Kingdom or HS. If it is a relaxed atmosphere and low/no ride wait times, then now is probably the only opportunity you will have to experience the parks like this.

    • Our trip was in October this year. We had flight and hotel and tickets and special event tickets. As we watched alot of things disappear that were wanted from our experience. We all decided to cancel everything and go next year. We got full refunds on it all.. Here is 1 more added reason Im glad we made that choice.

  18. This is crazy. People need to get over this. This virus has a 99.6 survival rate. They don’t panic or over react to the flu. I can’t wait until this election is over and crap gets back to normal. They absolutely sucking the fun out of EVEYTHING over nothing and we the citizens r the ones having to pay the price and continuing rising costs!

    • Uh…this is at least 4 times deadlier than the flu and survivors are having many more lingering health issues (strokes, heart &nerve problems ).

    • Please stop with your narrow minded thoughts on this. Yes this is serious and has been proven to be worse than the flu. Its people like you who think everything is fine but don’t want to face reality.

    • Even if the death rate were that low you are talking about over 1.5 million dying in the US alone. Go ahead and try to say that to someone’s face who has had a friend or relative die.

    • I’m sure that the families of the thousands of people who have died from this new and virtually unknown VIRUS would be more than happy to dispute you that this is “nothing”. I was a Registered Nurse for 30+ years; 18 of those spent as a Public Health Nurse dealing with all types of communicable diseases (TB, HIV, Flu, etc.) and this is NOT a disease to be trifled with. Its people like you with the “its nothing but the flu” attitude that are the ones we need to be most careful of, because you are the ones who refuse to wear a mask, social distance, etc. I’m so sorry that you feel shortchanged and had all the fun sucked out of your life, but since this is the “new norm” ….get used to it, because its not going to change come November 5th…this is going to go on for a long time, princess.

    • Completely agree! We’ve always done DISNEY “at our own risk”, why the switch now for a flu with a 99.6% survival and even higher yet as the truth comes out.

    • Shannon, you are right. This is mostly politicized, and Disney is playing its part. Enhanced cleaning, sanitary stations and spaced out seating should always be the norm, pandemic or no pandemic. WDW is generally a petri dish. Masks in 100 degree heat and closing or cancelling experiences is NOT the right solution. I’m waiting for a return of more magical times before I give Disney another dime.

  19. Relax people. I danced at Disney for six years and have been going to the parks all my life as a native Floridian. The park hours change all the time. It’s not unusual to see shortened hours especially during hurricane season and even throughout the year without much notice. We have had season passes for the last five years and there have been times when we go to the Magic Kingdom and cannot gain entry because the park is at capacity. It happens. My advice is either be flexible and realize that in this environment nothing is operating the way it used to. If the one or two hours of lost park time is a deal breaker call guest services and change your hotel reservations if need be until this Coronavirus mess is over. I’m sure they will be more than happy to accommodate you. If you just have park tickets no worries admission tickets are not time and date specific. You can use them another time.

    Contrary to popular belief the parks are not busy at all. Weather the shortened hours are due to a lack of guests in a park that costs millions of dollars a day to operate OR its due to the stringent cleaning and disinfecting schedule throughout all the parks and across the Disney property just try to understand that these decisions are not arbitrary. Disney wants you to enjoy your stay and continue to come back over and over again. ( side note: if you are traveling with small children or haven’t been training for a marathon you will not miss that last hour or two) 😎

    • A lot of this is very incorrect. The Magic Kingdom “closes at capacity” on 1-3 days a year, if even. Secondly, you should go watch our live stream from the parks yesterday, because even The Country Bears and Carousel of Progress had lines, meaning you had to wait the length of two shows at times. The 5 minute waits people lauded the first week no longer exist at two of the parks.

      • As a former Photopass Photographer and CM at DAK, our normal business hours (before ROL/Nighttime Safari/Tree Awakening/Pandora) were what are called ”
        Bankers’ Hours”, meaning we were open 9a-5p. Even if you had to work until 6-6:30pm (certain shooting locations such as Tree Plaza or Park Entrance, or the View Center) it was a win situation if you wanted to go to another park, etc. Now they are returning to those same hours, so its not unusual for DAK.

      • Tom…MK closes to capacity every day between Christmas and New Year’s Day by 1000 at the latest. If you aren’t there for the open at 0800, you can probably figure on going to another park…if you can get in there. DAK was usually the last one to fill, but even we closed on days between the holidays. My way of knowing this…I experienced it as a PhotoPass Photographer MK/DAK 2010-18.

      • This is interesting to know- I am assuming MK and Hollywood are the busiest? I went late July and Epcot was a dream, MK a little busier. But clearly in no way, shape or form like what it is used to. We walked onto many rides at MK and only had to wait 15-20 minutes for the others.

    • Even before covid Disney world should have been open way more hours to spread the crowds out. They do that in California except there they don’t have the volume of onsite hotels to upsell emh or upcharge events. The execs try to sell people that they “have” to increase costs but they just want your money.

  20. I booked a September vacation at the Beach Club as working from home can become tiring. Having said that, I am not paying $500/night for a 1-bedroom villa and experience reduced park hours. I get it, it’s a pandemic, but it’s so not worth the money right now.

  21. Two months ago I scheduled a trip for late September, and my park choices were based on park hours and flights. I’ve had flights canceled by the airlines twice now. Everything is ever changing and just not worth the stress.

  22. If anyone wants to visit the parks, I suggest that they go ahead and do it now. I would not stay at the resort and never give them your CC info. Purchase your tickets on property and enjoy your last visit to Disney World!✌

  23. I find it funny, all the complaints here from people who are trying to “vacation” during a pandemic.Why not wait? Then you can get the full experience.And with all the extra cleaning and supplies and staff needed, of course the prices will not go down, they’ll go up.Maybe think of cast members too,think they want to be out there with tons people? No, they don’t but they do so to pay their bills.Think of the locals,they see case numbers here rising and rising.Then they go to the grocery stores and encounter the tourists who could care less about which direction to go down an aisle or staying 6 ft apart. All the complaining seems very shallow and selfish. Stay home til the pandemic is over,or stop complaining and be glad to go to Disney at all.

    • Some people feel like travel is right for them at this time. I know the travel industry welcomes them as about 1 in 10 jobs in the world is travel related and travel always is usually the first industry to go downhill during a crisis.

    • Right? Gasp! Blah blah blah is closed?! No fireworks!? No parades!? Of course at this time they aren’t getting the normal magical experience that they expect and remember. It’s simply being foolish with your money to know upfront that the experience will not be the same and the prices are not adjusted for the lesser experience. The on-property hotel prices are bananas during normal times, they certainly aren’t worth the same price point at this moment. I looked up what it is to stay at the Contemporary in september- for a garden wing room it is $460 per night, for a theme park view in the tower it is over $700 per night. LOL

    • Maybe there’s just a large percent of the population who decided not to participate with you in the national panic attack. One-way aisles in grocery stores? Seriously? You really think that accomplishes ANYTHING other than serving as feel-good security theater to make it look like the stores are doing something, and make people like you feel better even if it actually accomplishes nothing?

      News flash. Folks have to work. Places need to be open. And customers need to visit them. There is no Fantasyland of free and indefinite money to throw at things to solve problems despite what you probably believe and endorse.

      since you were complaining about tourist visiting, I’m assuming you probably live in the Orlando area. maybe you should read some of the articles coming out about the devastatingly low tax collections from the bed and other tourist taxes. Who do you think’s going to make up that difference? You my friend, with your local taxes that are going to have to dramatically increase to fill the budgeting gaps.

      So enjoy considering that as you walk one way down a grocery store aisle grumbling about tourists going the wrong way.

    • I wouldn’t dream of traveling during this time (except maybe camping), but I can understand some of the frustration here. Some people planned trips far in advance, or believe they can visit the parks safely. Obviously Disney feels the same about that or they wouldn’t have opened, right? But to charge people the same amount or more when they’re getting a significantly reduced experience just isn’t right. WDW is already psychotically expensive, and that’s with full fun, full pampering, full features. I agree with you, waiting is the best option, but it may not be doable for some people, and as you point out, some park employees are depending on the tourism trade. But if the services aren’t there for the visit, those guests shouldn’t have to pay as if they were. Like when they’re renovating a hotel, the prices are better there because of the inconvenience. I’m also not sure what WDW tourists are going to the grocery stores, but the thoughtlessness you describe is general rudeness, found in tourists and locals alike, with or without the pandemic. Disparaging looks and avoidance is all I would safely recommend in these crazy times. Your stores, with the help of local police or security, should be stringently enforcing capacity, social distancing, and masks policies. I have family down there, and I’m wishing you all the best that the viral tide changes soon. Stay safe!

    • Because my AP expires in October (for now, who knows if Disney might be sensible and keep extending it. It was already extended twice) and after that, I’d have to renew it when there are no perks to being a passholder anymore AND at an increased cost than it was when I first bought it. Even with the renewal discount, it’s $200 more. And you only get a month to renew it to take advantage of the discount, and unlike the first-time purchase, the clock starts ticking down from the first day you renew.

    • I agree. As an elementary school teacher here in Kissimmee AND a single mother, neither the cost of the annual pass OR the one day ticket is possible for me. We DO have the annual passes for Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon….when will these open? Mine expired in May..I was told I’ll get credit for the time I missed.

  24. I just got back. The lines are so short the reduced hours will NOT make a difference. Longest wait at any park was Splash Mountain at 40 minutes because they stop the ride to clean the logs(?). Pandora was 20 minutes and that is how long it takes to walk from the front. Resistance is still a queue.

  25. Dang – I have a trip booked for Sept 14th – I already purchased my plane tickets and I was really looking forward to spending time at night time in Epcot – It looks compromised now

  26. Told you so.
    Glad I was able to cancel.
    Too bad I had to put in a dispute for the monthly charge after my cancelling. At least I don’t pay and no interest charges paid by me. WDW will lose even more in payroll to issue a refund.
    Seems as if they would get smart about this and not greedy. They make policy with their bank account.

  27. Plenty of valid comments on this thread.

    I’m thinking WDW is reducing hours to save on payroll/operations costs. But, the already
    reduced amenities and experiences coupled with this news just leaves me to be patient
    and not go there until I can have a full experience at some time in the future.

    And yeah, the ticket pricing under these circumstances doesn’t track with what they’re
    offering.

  28. I have a 6:55pm Dinner Reservation at Epcot next month; it’s my mom’s birthday and her Bday dinner… Any chance they’ll keep the restaurants open past park close for situations like this?
    Disney’s doing the best they can and we’re flexible, just wondering what to expect.

  29. I guess it makes no difference on the times because you can’t get reservations anyway. Disney is becoming a waste of money.

  30. How upsetting that this pesky Pandemic is upsetting the vacation plans of the Disney fans! I mean, Floriduh only has record number of Coronavirus cases!

  31. I Don’t get why people are still going to Disney during this pandemic..Disney is charging you same price for services you are not receiving ..Thats Crazy ..Everyobe works hard for their money so their family can gave nice vacation ,but nit worth it when your not getting full Disney Exoerience.. Stop going & maybe they will be Smart and do the right thing

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