Disney updates park hours frequently which can work out well or really mess up your existing plans.

Today, I've got advice on dealing with these changes.

I also have a quick tip about maximizing Disney Dining Plan credits at resort Quick Service restaurants.

These are notes from this episode. There's much more info included in the audio so be sure to listen to the episode for a better explanation.

Dealing with park hours changes

Park hours are published about 6.5 months beforehand. You can get them (plus park hours updates that are made after the initial set is published) by signing up for email alerts on the monthly dashboards.

During your trip, I recommend using the My Disney Experience app to double-check hours as Disney sometimes updates hours at the last minute.

After the initial park hours are published, updates can be made. Here are some ways park hours can change:

Earlier opening times

This is happening much more frequently than it used to and can be a blessing or curse, depending on your situation.

* People with early morning breakfast reservations in the parks may find themselves eating during the first hour the park is open. I'd suggest keeping your reservation and trying to check in just before the park opens, or you could try to get a later dining reservation so you're not eating during the first hour the park is open.

* People who are willing to get up early will find this to be a fantastic time to tour since most people won't be willing to be at the parks at that time.

Later closing times

Disney has often extended the closing time of parks if they think the crowds will be heavier than originally anticipated. This can affect you in a couple of ways.

* The later the closing time, the better those late hours will be for touring since most people won't want to stay up that late.

* After Disney extends the park hours, they will open up more FastPass+ reservations. You can use theDIBB to help you keep track of current FP+ availability. Unfortunately, this service is no longer available.

More nighttime shows are offered

Disney often adds additional nighttime shows (especially Main Street Electrical Parade and Fantasmic) during busier times. The later the show, the lighter the crowds will be.

Extra Magic Hour changes

Occasionally Disney will change the Extra Magic Hours which changes which parks I recommend for each day. However, if you have good dining and FastPass+ reservations, I would keep your plans the same. Good touring plans will always be more important than choosing the best park each day.

Quick tip of the day

Michele called in with a quick tip about maximizing your Disney Dining Plan credits. She suggests that when you're eating at a Quick Service restaurant at a resort, you can take your refillable mug to get your drink there. Since you're entitled to a drink with your Quick Service meal, you can pick up a bottle of water that you can use at another time during your trip.

Have a quick tip of your own? Call it in at https://www.speakpipe.com/WDWPrepToGo

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