Beware: Should You Visit EPCOT On These Days?

A lot goes into planning a Disney vacation, but there is one thing you must check when finalizing plans. This may leave you skipping EPCOT on these dates.

Park Hours

Is Epcot's New World Celebration Area a Huge Disappointment? — Credit: KtP

You have done all the work to plan your Disney Vacation; room booked, tickets bought, and meals planned. However, you should do a last-minute check of park hours. Checking park hours can help you determine which park you want to visit on which day.

Park hours are a great way to plan which park you would like to plan for each day. Walt Disney World posts standard park hours in advance, often extending these park hours.

Typically park hours remain somewhat constant, especially at EPCOT. However, two dates have EPCOT opening later than normal.

Late Opening

rundisney finish line — Photo Credit: Disney PhotoPass

Typically, EPCOT opens at 9:00 am every day while offering early entry at 8:30 am for Walt Disney World Resort guests. On Sunday, February 23rd and Sunday, April 6th Early Entry will begin at 9:30 am with the general park entry beginning at 10 am. This is an hour later than normal!

EPCOT will open an hour later on Sunday, February 23rd, and Sunday, April 6th.

You may be wondering why the late opening of EPCOT. Our best guess is runDisney events. The Princess Half Marathon takes place on February 23rd and the Springtime Surprise 10-Miler takes place on Sunday, April 6th.

What Does This Mean for You?

If you are visiting any park at Disney World on either of these impacted days, it is important to be prepared! Traffic will be greatly impacted, so if you are planning to head to ANY PARK in the morning be sure to give yourself extra time.

Traffic will be greatly impacted on runDisney event mornings!

If you are heading to EPCOT, be prepared to follow all Cast Members’ directions as athletes participating in the runDisney events will be running through EPCOT park. Cast Members will direct Park Guests when they are safely able to cross the race course. Also, be sure to expect heavy crowds around EPCOT as you will have thousands of athletes, spectators, and volunteers on each race morning.

Will you still be visiting EPCOT on these dates? Are you participating in any of these runDisney events? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to share this post with your friends!