This past week, Walmart announced that sensory-friendly shopping hours will launch at all Walmart locations nationwide starting on Friday, Nov. 10, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Coincidentally, that’s also the first day of Walmart’s early Black Friday deals arriving in stores (those launch at 6 a.m.).
Unlike the initial pilot test of sensory-friendly hours in July and August — which only took place at select Walmart stores on Saturday mornings — this rollout of will happen at every Walmart store in the U.S., with no set end date.
Here’s everything we know about Walmart’s quiet shopping hours and what it means for shoppers.
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Starting Nov. 10, Walmart sensory-friendly shopping hours will happen daily at all stores from 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.
According to their Nov. 7 press release, Walmart shoppers can expect sensory-friendly shopping hours at every Walmart store nationwide starting on Friday, Nov. 10, from 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Instead of just taking place one day a week, the special shopping hours will happen every day of the week.
During these hours, Walmart stores will turn off their music, dim the lights, and switch TV displays to static images.
Basically, you can expect a “quieter and less stimulating shopping trip” during Walmart sensory-friendly hours, according to a Walmart spokesperson.
For people with sensory disabilities, these changes can help create a less stimulating environment, even if just for a couple of hours on a Saturday morning.
They won’t limit how many customers can shop in-store during Walmart’s sensory-friendly shopping hours.
Besides the changes mentioned above for a quieter shopping experience, everything else will take place as usual for Walmart shoppers. For one, there is no limit to how many customers can shop in-store during these sensory-friendly hours. And no one will get turned away during these hours.
“All customers are able to shop during Walmart’s Sensory-Friendly Shopping Hours,” the spokesperson explained to The Krazy Coupon Lady back in July.
TIP: This new initiative at Walmart differs from “senior shopping hours” offered by many retailers during the COVID-19 pandemic (Walmart included). These designated sensory-friendly hours are open to all customers, regardless of age.
Walmart first tested the sensory-friendly store hours at select locations on Saturdays in July and August.
We first learned about the Walmart sensory-friendly hours in a July 6 press release. Back then, Walmart only tested the program at select stores on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. from July 8 – Aug. 26. (For areas that started school after Labor Day, sensory-friendly hours happened from July 22 – Sept. 9, 2023.)
Walmart is not the first business to offer sensory-friendly hours.
Back in December 2016, one Target store in Pennsylvania introduced a sensory-free environment for kids with autism. However, this initiative was limited to just one location for two hours before the store’s opening, and not at all Target stores nationwide.
Chuck E. Cheese also offers a Sensory Sensitive Sundays program, where participating locations open two hours early on the first Sunday of the month. During this time, kids and parents can find a quieter environment and dimmed lighting.
TIP: Wondering if your local Chuck E. Cheese participates? You can find the list of locations that offer the program on their website.
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