MOSTLY USE THE EASTER ITINERARY, BUT CHECK THE PARK CALENDARS TO SEE WHEN THEY ACTUALLY OPEN
The Easter Itinerary assumes parks open at 9a.
However, Walt Disney World’s current April calendars show 8a openings the week leading up to Easter at both the Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
The week after Easter currently shows 8a openings the first part of the week at the Magic Kingdom, but not on days the Easter Itinerary has you in that park. The Animal Kingdom is back to 9a openings this week.
Moreover, Disney may change these openings, and/or add currently unscheduled Morning Extra Magic Hours to any of the theme parks—meaning that the parks will open another hour earlier.
Finally, the itinerary suggests you see the fireworks and evening parade at the Magic Kingdom on your last Saturday evening, but these are not showing on April 30.
WHAT TO DO
- If you are at Walt Disney World the week leading up to Easter, you will need to be up and moving at least an hour before the Easter Itinerary indicates for your Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom visits, and perhaps, if Morning Extra Magic Hours are added, 2 hours before.
- If you are there the week after Easter, right now it looks like you can use the Easter Itinerary as is except that you have to see the fireworks and evening parade at the Magic Kingdom on Sunday April 23 (when the itinerary shows you as off) rather than Saturday April 30–this will require you to add Park Hoppers to your tickets.
But the key is to keep up with the park calendars, as they may change, or have Extra Magic Hours added, even the week you are there!
You can do so from Disney’s calendar websites.
The calendars can be tricky to use–see this for hints on how to work with Walt Disney World’s online calendars
You can also check calendars from your resort—all Disney World resort hotels post the park operating hours somewhere in their lobby.