It's great to see you here today at the Disney Parks Moms Panel, Tunice! You sound just like me because it's never too early for me to start making plans for my Walt Disney World Resort vacation. By the time I'm able to
make dining reservations 180 days in advance, I already know where I want to go and have a general idea for what I plan to do that day, so let's chat about how to make those plans when the
calendar for the week of your trip hasn't been published yet.
It sounds like you've been doing your research because you're right. Theme Park hours, including
Extra Magic Hours, are usually released right around six months in advance, which is about the same time that you can make your advanced dining reservations. If the Theme Park hours aren't available quite yet when I'm ready to make reservations, I do a quick search for what the hours were on the same week last year so I can get a rough idea of how to make my plans. They usually end up being close to the same, but of course, those hours are subject to change all the way up to and including the day itself, which is why it's so great that the plans you make through
My Disney Experience are flexible!
I have a trip coming up this holiday season and the Theme Park hours weren't published yet when I made my dining reservations in the summer. When the calendar came out, I had to change a reservation I had made at
Tiffins Restaurant because
Disney's Animal Kingdom was closing a little earlier than I had expected. It all worked out for the better though, because it turns out
Magic Kingdom Park is having evening Extra Magic Hours that night! It's because of situations like those that my best piece of advice is to decide on your top priorities and plan around them. When the calendar is updated, you can then make the choice to keep your plans for the things that are important to you or adjust them if you want to do something else. The real magic happens when you build some flexibility into your schedule!
Have a magical day, Tunice!
Jessica