EMH being axed????

[thebwit]

Ugh I hope not. We plan our days around the EMH. Well we avoid the park with the EMH when we are there because more people go to get an even more full day. If it does happen, my wife is going to freak when she starts planning our October trip.

 

[fairestoneofall]

while we don't plan our trip around evening EMH, there have been times we've gone into a park to enjoy them. i'd say that eliminating EMH would definitely eliminate my need for a park hopper. also, i'd re-consider staying onsite. there is a nice Hampton Inn nearby (with free breakfast) in which i'd be happy to spend the week.

 

[DAZY3BYZ]

So far they have not shared anything about FP+ that will encourage folks to stay onsite. I figure it will just be what it is. If they eliminate EMH, then bookings will fall and people will go offsite. They will have to do something to keep those rooms full. Sort of makes me doubt them denying that they will treat onsite guests differently with FP+ though.

Agreed! If they indeed get rid of EMH, they have to offer something to entice people to stay onsite or they will begin to lose a lot of guests to offsite hotels that are much cheaper.

 

[Mother Gothel]

If this is true, we will cancel our reservation at Grand Floridian for 10 nights in May and 10 nights in November and stay in 2 houses instead.

 

[luvgoing2disney]

So that would mean the only real advantages to staying onsite would be Disney transportation and the ability to have packages delivered to your room---as though THAT would be enough to draw guests to Disney hotels????

 

[Ds4angels]

As PP said, then they must be going to use the RFID band to entice guests to stay on site. We would have never been able to do all we did in MK w/o EMH hours and had we not did the EMH am hours at AK we wouldn't have had such a great 1st ride on the safari.
Great just when I get it all figured out and show dh how Disney is "worth it" they change it on us

 

[disfan4life1]

I've always been an on site person but recently spent a 4 night stay offsite. It actually wasn't so bad. The drive was always easy. Never had to wait on a bus and wonder if ill have to sit or stand. Parking was free with AP. yeah, there was no "Disney magic" at the hotel but I also realized that we were only there to sleep anyways. Spent day at parks from open to close or almost close. Will be willing to do it again if emh is taken away.

 

[RSWA2]

What "perks", like EMH, package delivery, etc. did on-site resort guests have in the past? Or was there no real advantage of staying on-site vs off-site before?

 

[cjnix29]

I really hope this isn't the case. We always take advantage of the morning hours. Now, aside from DH's Disney snobishness....the only thing really keeping us onsite is the Magical Express. Once that goes....We'll be using our timeshare off site, rather than trading into DVC.

 

[Lorien728]

I sure hope that is just a rumor.

 

[FigmentChick]

If this is true, I will be really disappointed. And I will be staying off-site again.

From the rumors of no FD (or any discounts) to this, I am very upset. I know this is a perk, but it's a perk I expected and relied on.

If WDW does decide that they are eliminating EMH, they can eliminate my reservation as well....I'll either rent a house like we did the first two years or stay at another resort.

 

[andyman8]

What "perks", like EMH, package delivery, etc. did on-site resort guests have in the past? Or was there no real advantage of staying on-site vs off-site before?

The only real ones were complimentary transportation (not DME) and Surprise Mornings (the predecessor to AMEMH). The difference was, back then, Disney didn't face nearly the amount of offsite competition they now do. Now, many Orlando area hotels offer free shuttles and most nearby hotels will also offer guests more "value" per say. You could get the Waldorf, which is IN WDW, for $199 per night, but Disney's equivalent (GF) would run you $414 and that's with a 20% discount.

 

[FortForever]

I really hope this doesn't happen. I love evening EMH.

Although I have never stayed off site in my life, recently I have considered doing so. Even so, I always end up back at Disney resorts because I am unwilling to give up the EMH.

You can't even call Disney transportation a perk because anyone can use it. AP holders can park free so that is not even an issue for me.

We will heading back to WDW in ten days and it may very well be the last time we stay on site. Unless they offer resort guests extra fastpass plus, then I won't be able to justify the extra cost.

 

[DebbieB]

That's odd. Hasn't DL just started more magic mornings for the Disney hotel guests?

It's only 1 hour in the morning, none at night. I could see WDW doing that.

 

[OldsDr]

With the new RFID band they may be going back to an "E-ride night" type of thing. Where they offered extended hours only to resort guests but you had to pay extra (and get a wrist band) to use those hours.

 

[heyitsmejosh]

its not going anywhere people are just thinking too much about stuff

 

[sachilles]

My last visit in the 80's, by staying at the poly, we had an extra hour of access in the morning and at night.
My guess. Is there will be restructured hours,that are more predictable that net out to the same amount of hours open.

 

[momto3gr8boys]

It's only 1 hour in the morning, none at night. I could see WDW doing that.

That's the way it was for years. You had EE at one of the four parks and E-ticket nights at MK. For me, that was the best. I was very disappointed when they did away with the e-ticket nights and replaced them with EMH, so for me, the EMH lost some of their charm right off the bat.

But as to why they may stop them and be adding more at DL (as a PP mentioned), could have to do with the sheer number of guests staying on property these days. DL has three hotels, US/IOA has three hotels - therefore their early morning hours are a real treat - the parks are empty compared to regular hours. But with the addition of AoA, all the new DVC properties (with GF coming fast), POP not too long ago...being a resort guest is not that special anymore - there are so many people on property that EMH become a nightmare in crowd control - from transportation to the crowds at the park itself. All the touring plans emphatically advise to stay away from an EMH park unless you have hoppers, and maybe at some point, someone at Disney said it's time to rethink what was once a great idea.

My only hope is that they don't just keep cutting back, but instead think in a new direction that enhances the experience.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

That's the way it was for years. You had EE at one of the four parks and E-ticket nights at MK. For me, that was the best. I was very disappointed when they did away with the e-ticket nights and replaced them with EMH, so for me, the EMH lost some of their charm right off the bat.

I totally agree. We used to stay onsite (even back when affording it was more of a stretch for us than it is now) just to be able to do E-Ticket Nights. EMH doesn't weigh into our decision to stay on or off, but if they brought back E-Ticket Nights and limited the number of tickets sold for that, that would factor into our decision.

 

[jhaig]

Money talks, and Disney guests walk - to their off-site hotel.