EMH being axed????

[mom2rtk]

Well...perhaps

But while some revenue might be lost...the money spent on hotels tend to be closer to profit neutral...meaning most of it goes to overhead.

The giftshops on the other hand...are profit heavy...which is the goal.

So if EMH are lightly attended and there is not a sustained source of profits from them...they will be eliminated.

I still think that would be very short sighted logic on their part. They need to find a way to account for that. Because lack of income to support fixed cost overhead still means less profit.

I mean..... wasn't that the sole purpose of EMH to begin with? Putting bodies in hotel rooms that have fixed overhead costs regardless of occupancy in an already saturated hotel market?

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

The cost of additional overhead during them...lack of additional revenue (merchandise) during them...lack of crowds during regular hours at the parks where they're being held.

In reality - all of the above

~I haven't read all of the posts but I totally agree with this! I've been in MK a few times past 1AM and the place was empty, the only thing missing were the tumbleweeds! I've never made it to 3AM.

Well...perhaps

But while some revenue might be lost...the money spent on hotels tend to be closer to profit neutral...meaning most of it goes to overhead.

The giftshops on the other hand...are profit heavy...which is the goal.

So if EMH are lightly attended and there is not a sustained source of profits from them...they will be eliminated.

~You don't have to say "well perhaps" because I totally agree with you. Now, if you can just get on board with Avatarland -- you would be perfect.

LOL.

 

[circhead]

I'll pay for my wristband - loved e-ticket nights]

EMH mornings - not my thing I don't like getting up till after the sun

EMH evenings - love them but prefer E-Ticket nights. I like being in the parks as they empty out - I love wandering around World Showcase with a glass of wine. Favorite park - favorite time of day.

I'll wait and see what happens.

 

[Q-man]

Well...perhaps

But while some revenue might be lost...the money spent on hotels tend to be closer to profit neutral...meaning most of it goes to overhead.

That is some poor management if Disney isn't making money on rooms that cost at least double what other comparable hotels charge and make money at. No other place could charge over $400 a night and get away with only one bartender at the pool bar. I'm talking about my last experience(and it will definitely be my last)at the Poly.

 

[jennyerin]

All of those saying that this will affect your decision to stay on-site or off-site and frequency of trips etc. - tell Disney. That's what they need to hear!

 

[WMorganS]

All of those saying that this will affect your decision to stay on-site or off-site and frequency of trips etc. - tell Disney. That's what they need to hear!

MK EMH is the main reason I recommend that friends stay on site. What's the best way to tell "Disney"?

 

[denisea51]

I'm sure they follow on these boards.

 

[Tekneek]

Hmmm. This seems like a material change to the expectations of someone that made on-property reservations. Have to say the loss of EMH would likely guarantee that I never stay on property again (unless they were to offer something else that seemed like a viable alternative).

Hell, to be honest, it might be the straw that breaks the camel's back. We're close to making our next trip to WDW the last ever anyway. This might just seal it completely, if it comes to pass.

 

[zulemara]

I sound like a broken record, but I think this has to do with the rising international tourism in Orlando. International tourists typically stay off property, rent a car, and leave right after fireworks. Thus EMH is being utilized less and less. I don't think most people realize just how much international tourism is holding up Orlando. That shift is what leads us to so many reductions in benefits, things like Disney Springs targeting the shopping habits of the internationals, etc.

 

[Brian Noble]

But while some revenue might be lost...the money spent on hotels tend to be closer to profit neutral...meaning most of it goes to overhead.

I'm not sure this is true. I remember looking into this a few years ago, and concluding that the margins on the lodging side of the business were probably higher than they were in the parks---and that includes in-park spending. This article gives a nice summary:

http://www.ehow.com/info_10009736_profit-margins-tourismrelated-businesses.html

 

[WMorganS]

Fri night at MK was our favorite EMH. It was really special and a good reason to stay near MK.

I can't imagine a comparable replacement for it. Argh!

Sorry... nothing to be done about this, but vent :-(

 

[eandesmom]

I have always assumed that EMH's were a loss leader for Disney. That said, it is an important perk to us and has justified staying on site and to a degree, even buying into DVC. It always troubles me when a benefit touted as core and for so long, goes away. Disney has spent a lot of money over the years touting EMH as a primary reason to stay onsite. Extra FP's, or an E ticket night (which was a purchase option for resort guests I believe, NOT "free") do not remotely come close to replacing the value my family places on EMH. We use both, pretty religiously actually. With teens the PM has been huge as they don't want to get up early in the AM, with the morning ones, getting those top rides in early before the crush with lower crowds has been some of the most magical (and productive) mornings we have ever had. In the slower seasons it has been the only thing going on with sometimes regular park hours closing quite early. I've been frustrated more than once on a gorgeous night during non peak times, or even during F&W or F&G to find not a single park open past 8pm. I don't go to Disney to swim at that hour or hang out at my room and EMH has allowed us to enjoy parks much past that. For a family that wants to eat around 6 (which luckily isn't mine) this makes the park day end that much more early. For my family, who is on the 7:30-8:30 dinner schedule, this can limit our dining options. If the park closes at 8, dining closes earlier than that, often limiting our dining options as a result.

Cutting them back to 2 hours, removing it from Fridays at MK, they certainly seem to be migrating this way. Whether or not enough outcry will happen to make them rethink their position remains to be seen. I believe Disney may underestimate the loss they may see of onsite stays. While they may well only see xx% of resort guests actually using EMH, it is very likely that a higher % of those guests intend to use EMH, or think they well and that intention drove an onsite resort stay. To a degree, whether they used the benefit or not is immaterial, if it factored into the decision to stay onite and that option is gone, a different offsite decision is likely.

We have a large trip planned for next New Years. I have been very vocal trying to convince the rest of our party to stay onsite. At Holiday Rack rates, little discounts offered and the possible loss of EMH, probably restrictions to how many FP's you get whether onsite or not...it does make sitting in traffic trying to get in and out of the parks seem much more palatable as right now, that might be the only thing they "save" by staying onsite. The Disney resort experience only goes so far by itself and the more they take away, the less attractive it becomes.

 

[twebber55]

this is slowly happening.. with MM+ you will see the end of EMH within 12 to 18 months

 

[WDW1979]

In March 2012, just past 1am, my son and I left our room at Port Orleans Riverside (I had to wake wife to tell her in case she woke and we weren't there), and we waited in the dark quiet at covered bus depot. After our bus ride, we spent about an hour & a half that night at a majestic and serene Magic Kingdom until it closed at 3am. It was some of the most fun time I've had since I was a kid. The rides seemed more fun and the atmosphere as we walked around the park seemed secret and other-worldly; it was like a paradise.

Thank you Disney for that memory. The late, late EMH are the kind of Disney sparks of happiness that bring me to Disney World every year and make me love it with all my heart.

Please Disney, do not let that piece of the magic disappear. Please bring back the late night Extra Magic Hours at that extend three hours after regular closing time.

 

[zulemara]

In March 2012, just past 1am, my son and I left our room at Port Orleans Riverside (I had to wake wife to tell her in case she woke and we weren't there), and we waited in the dark quiet at covered bus depot. After our bus ride, we spent about an hour & a half that night at a majestic and serene Magic Kingdom until it closed at 3am. It was some of the most fun time I've had since I was a kid. The rides seemed more fun and the atmosphere as we walked around the park seemed secret and other-worldly; it was like a paradise.

Thank you Disney for that memory. The late, late EMH are the kind of Disney sparks of happiness that bring me to Disney World every year and make me love it with all my heart.

Please Disney, do not let that piece of the magic disappear. Please bring back the late night Extra Magic Hours at that extend three hours after regular closing time.

I LOVE that environment, in fact towards the end of living in Orlando, it was the only time I would visit.

How? No, I wans't staying on property, but often times the park is open until 2 or 3 hours past fireworks. The FULL park, not EMH based. There are times of the year when fireworks are at 8 and MK closes at midnight. The park is empty by 10pm yet everything is open. My best memory was going to dinner at CA Grill during fireworks, eating, and hopping the monorail over to MK after a bottle of wine It was SO much fun. The park is beautiful when it's not filled with people.

 

[eandesmom]

this is slowly happening.. with MM+ you will see the end of EMH within 12 to 18 months

And that to me is nothing magical or "plus" about the changes. I've yet to see a thing related to MM+ that I see as a benefit, only negatives.

 

[mcd2745]

And that to me is nothing magical or "plus" about the changes. I've yet to see a thing related to MM+ that I see as a benefit, only negatives.

That's the thing right now. Maybe they have some things planned to replace EMH (I'm naturally skeptical about that), and some other perks for on-site guests to roll out. However, they have been very tight-lipped about MM+ ever since their "announcement" back in January. If they gave some indication of what could be coming down the pike that would pique guests' interests, it could ease the sting of something like this.

 

[mom2rtk]

That's the thing right now. Maybe they have some things planned to replace EMH (I'm naturally skeptical about that), and some other perks for on-site guests to roll out. However, they have been very tight-lipped about MM+ ever since their "announcement" back in January. If they gave some indication of what could be coming down the pike that would pique guests' interests, it could ease the sting of something like this.

That's because we're in the weaning off period. They have to make us WANT change before they can sell it to us.

 

[twebber55]

And that to me is nothing magical or "plus" about the changes. I've yet to see a thing related to MM+ that I see as a benefit, only negatives.

benefit to us =zero
benefit to the mouse=$

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

That's the thing right now. Maybe they have some things planned to replace EMH (I'm naturally skeptical about that), and some other perks for on-site guests to roll out. However, they have been very tight-lipped about MM+ ever since their "announcement" back in January. If they gave some indication of what could be coming down the pike that would pique guests' interests, it could ease the sting of something like this.

~I totally agree! I don't see any reason for the negativity.

benefit to us =zero
benefit to the mouse=$

~Ugh.... twebber55, you don't know this, just like Avatarland. You are way too smart to get caught up in those stupid fp+ arguments. Those people know absolutely nothing. Gosh, I love Rumors, I hope this thread doesn't degrade into another dumb rant thread against fp+ -- like we don't have enough of those already!!!