It’s Late, It’s Late,… - IMPORTANT TRAVEL ADVISORY!
Traveling from Europe to the US for, say, a short visit to Walt Disney World or Disneyland Anaheim?? Or maybe traveling from the US to Europe to pay visit to Disneyland Resort Paris?? Then you better pay extra attention to the time! For years travelers between these two continents have gotten used to both, the countries of the European Union and the United States of America (as well as the majority of Canada), observing Daylight Saving Time (aka summer time) for nearly the same part of the year. But thanks to the US Energy Policy Act of 2005 this has now changed.
As of this year the US (and most of Canada) observe Daylight Saving Time from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. In other words: since yesterday the clocks in both Disney resorts in the US have moved one additional hour ahead. At the same time the countries of the European Union (and thus Disney’s European Magic Kingdom) continue to observe Daylight Saving Time “only” from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October. In other words right now we are still on “standard” / “winter” time here in Europe for another two weeks!!
So if you are traveling from Europe to the US prior to March 25th, 2007 make sure to turn your watch back one our less than you are used to. E.g. if you are departing from the CET zone (which includes Disneyland Resort Paris) and fly to Walt Disney World turn back the watch only 5 instead of 6 hours, to Disneyland Anaheim it would be 8 instead of 9. The other way round, if you are flying from Walt Disney World to e.g. Disneyland Resort Paris turn your watch ahead only 5 instead of 6 hours.
Travelers must also pay attention if they travel between October 28th, 2007 and November 4th, 2007 - since Europe returns to “standard” / “winter” time already on the first date by turning the clock one hour back, while the US (and most of Canada) waits an extra week for this step.
These different periods of Daylight Saving Time, intended to help curb energy use (for more on the discussion regarding the use of DST and its origin head over to wikipedia), must especially be headed when scheduling connection flights or other modes of transportations. So you have been warned!