Disney offers new premium package for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party

[leholcomb]

Bring your own cup cakes. Wonder how many you can buy/bake for $69.00. I'll take my $69.00 to Shula.

Agreed. Heck, they give out free Halloween candy. Why need a $69 dessert party? Fill your bag, stake out a spot and munch on sweet sugary goodness.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Agreed. Heck, they give out free Halloween candy. Why need a $69 dessert party? Fill your bag, stake out a spot and munch on sweet sugary goodness.

Why?

Well the legitimate (or somewhat legitimate) reason as pointed out prior is convenience...you're paying not to be hassled in what Disney has turned into a full park mob.

But the not so legitimate reason is that this is just one of a billion examples of a culture of excess. Why? Cause I want it!!!

Disney has been known to embrace the culture...no doubts.

Check out the "ultimate thrill seekers tour"...perhaps the greatest thing since sliced bread

 

[Theaberdeenkid]

I heard that next year Disney will let you into the public bathrooms for free....but use of urinals or toilets will be part of a "Magical Thrones Premium Package".

 

[karen4546]

from reading through this thread I see that I will be in the minority....I loved the Villain Soiree last year and i though the $99 i paid was worth it and I gladly would have done so again this year. The parade view alone was FANTASTIC !

As far as this year...I did purchase the Hallowishes dessert Party for Sept. 15. We are bringing our adult daughter to celebrate her college graduation and we wanted to reserve a Wishes dessert party but they were booked-so when they announced the Hallowishes add on - I called and booked that day. I have been to a dessert part (I think it cost $39 at the time) and I enjoyed being able to sit and enjoy the fireworks (our table was in the very front and no one stood in front of us). The desserts were "meh" and I like soda and there was none available but it was still okay.

I look forward to the Party and I will try and report how it goes.

 

[loveshak22]

Caveat emptor and everything, but essentially Disney is splitting the park day in half and selling each half to a different set of people for the full (or nearly full) price.

I don't think that the blame goes on the guests for this one. Particularly galling is the dilution of the product by overselling the limited-edition party passes, then tossing an upsell onto the upsell. Would you say that the guests certainly should know that Disney will do this?

They can charge whatever the market will bear ... but there's the question of whether they'll eventually make a bad name for themselves. The American and World Master of deceptive upselling to tourists eventually became a joke and a byword ... you know how the song goes:

"It's a Barnum and Bailey world, just as phony as it can be."​

But if Disney is looking for more ideas ...

View attachment 118560

I totally agree with everything Josh Hendy said. We started attending the parties in 2009 when we joined DVC. While I've always noticed cast members herding non-party goers out of the park, I've seen a huge increase in crowds. Every year it's gotten worse. I personally think it has nothing to do with the cast members not making the non-party goers leave....and everything to do with Disney overselling the event. I think they've begun to maybe get a little greedy and are packing people in there. It's really starting to affect the quality of the product they're selling.

I was actually really excited about attending a party (MVMCP) this November, and I was willing to pay the $75 for a "limited" ticket event where I wouldn't have to fight crowds for parades, shows, fireworks, and rides. But from everything I read on here, there are still tons of crowds and they are getting worse every year. So...at that point I decided it isn't worth it. If they are still selling tickets at the gate and my DH and I decide we're in the mood, maybe we'll go, but I doubt it.

 

[pilferk]

Bring your own cup cakes. Wonder how many you can buy/bake for $69.00. I'll take my $69.00 to Shula.

Agreed. Heck, they give out free Halloween candy. Why need a $69 dessert party? Fill your bag, stake out a spot and munch on sweet sugary goodness.

Question for both of you: If Disney offered "something" for an additional charge....a convenience offering that eliminated the part of a Disney vacation that you hate most, whatever that is...would you not see value in that? Would you not consider adding it on, so long as it was within your means?

I think trying to distill the purchase down to "dessert" isn't a very apt depiction of what's being offered, here. I think if you asked MOST people who purchased, they would tell you the desserts were simply window dressing.

We can debate whether that convenience is worth the charge being levied....but I don't think it's accurate to levy the entire price of the package to "cupcakes". That's a glib way to dismiss it. If you don't find value in it...that's fine. I'm sure many, many people won't and, thankfully, it's not something anyone is being forced to participate in.

I'm under no illusion that this is anything but Disney monetizing convenience. That's exactly what they are doing. And it goes part and parcel with some of their other offerings, of late.

 

[Princessjenny1225]

We did a dessert party and the value was in having peaceful spot for Mom to sit, be a little pampered, enjoy fireworks without being jostled by crowd. My sis and I did VSS 2nd event - LOVED talking and pics with Malificent and Evil Queen......when we left the park was closed and all lit up.....walking down Main Street was actually Magical. Won't do this years dessert party, but glad we have done the special events we sprang for (2different trips)

 

[loveshak22]

Question for both of you: If Disney offered "something" for an additional charge....a convenience offering that eliminated the part of a Disney vacation that you hate most, whatever that is...would you not see value in that? Would you not consider adding it on, so long as it was within your means?

I think trying to distill the purchase down to "dessert" isn't a very apt depiction of what's being offered, here. I think if you asked MOST people who purchased, they would tell you the desserts were simply window dressing.

We can debate whether that convenience is worth the charge being levied....but I don't think it's accurate to levy the entire price of the package to "cupcakes". That's a glib way to dismiss it. If you don't find value in it...that's fine. I'm sure many, many people won't and, thankfully, it's not something anyone is being forced to participate in.

I'm under no illusion that this is anything but Disney monetizing convenience. That's exactly what they are doing. And it goes part and parcel with some of their other offerings, of late.

I agree with you 100% that you are paying for convenience. The dessert is just extra. Same thing with all the "Ultimate Day" tours. And on a regular park night during peak seasons (which feels like all the time now), I think $69 is worth it to get away from the rush of the park crowds, get a good view of the parade/fireworks, and have some dessert.

However, in my mind, I feel like paying $75 for a special event is paying for convenience. From what I read, on most party nights (not close to Halloween or Christmas), they used to really be limited ticket events with low to moderate crowds and less of the need to fight for parade spots, especially the later parades. Now though, at least from what I read, it seems like Disney is doing very little to limit anything. So in the end you pay $75 for a "limited" ticket event for the convenience of no lines and lower crowds while getting to see some specially themed parades/shows. But to pay $75 for a party event and then another $69 to avoid crowds on a party night, that's where to me it seems that you're paying double for convenience. Although, I still agree with you that if you can afford it and value that ability to avoid the crowds it's worth it and obviously Disney has found how to maximize the ways to pay for convenience while maximizing crowd attendance.

 

[freediverdude]

I agree with you 100% that you are paying for convenience. The dessert is just extra. Same thing with all the "Ultimate Day" tours. And on a regular park night during peak seasons (which feels like all the time now), I think $69 is worth it to get away from the rush of the park crowds, get a good view of the parade/fireworks, and have some dessert.

However, in my mind, I feel like paying $75 for a special event is paying for convenience. From what I read, on most party nights (not close to Halloween or Christmas), they used to really be limited ticket events with low to moderate crowds and less of the need to fight for parade spots, especially the later parades. Now though, at least from what I read, it seems like Disney is doing very little to limit anything. So in the end you pay $75 for a "limited" ticket event for the convenience of no lines and lower crowds while getting to see some specially themed parades/shows. But to pay $75 for a party event and then another $69 to avoid crowds on a party night, that's where to me it seems that you're paying double for convenience. Although, I still agree with you that if you can afford it and value that ability to avoid the crowds it's worth it and obviously Disney has found how to maximize the ways to pay for convenience while maximizing crowd attendance.

Yes this is what I was going to say too, that the hard ticket event is supposed to be a convenience ticket by itself, supposedly to see the holiday things with lower crowds and more special feeling. So it seems like they're now charging another fee on top of that to get the convenience that you really should be getting with the regular Halloween party ticket. It's never been so crowded at the Magic Kingdom that I felt like I needed a special roped off area though, with the possible exception of the very highest attendance days of the year, 4th of July and Christmas.

 

[pilferk]

I agree with you 100% that you are paying for convenience. The dessert is just extra. Same thing with all the "Ultimate Day" tours. And on a regular park night during peak seasons (which feels like all the time now), I think $69 is worth it to get away from the rush of the park crowds, get a good view of the parade/fireworks, and have some dessert.

However, in my mind, I feel like paying $75 for a special event is paying for convenience. From what I read, on most party nights (not close to Halloween or Christmas), they used to really be limited ticket events with low to moderate crowds and less of the need to fight for parade spots, especially the later parades. Now though, at least from what I read, it seems like Disney is doing very little to limit anything. So in the end you pay $75 for a "limited" ticket event for the convenience of no lines and lower crowds while getting to see some specially themed parades/shows. But to pay $75 for a party event and then another $69 to avoid crowds on a party night, that's where to me it seems that you're paying double for convenience. Although, I still agree with you that if you can afford it and value that ability to avoid the crowds it's worth it and obviously Disney has found how to maximize the ways to pay for convenience while maximizing crowd attendance.

I think you got it exactly right.

In our past few parties....it just doesn't feel all that "limited". And that's going in mid-October-ish. We find we need to stake out a spot around 7:45 PM for an 8:30 ish parade spot..that we tend to keep until the fireworks are over. And then we have to go through holy hell to try to keep that spot for the 5 of us. Lots of pushing, shoving, jostling..people trying to slip their kids in front, or next to (in a pretty noteable invastion of personal space kinda way), my kids, etc. And god help us if anyone needs to pee.

So, in essence, I agree that Disney overselling (IMHO) parties is a big reason they can then turn around and offer a 70 upcharge to avoid the monster they've created. Which I will gripe about seven ways from Sunday.

But...when considering our actual vacation...I'll hand them the $70 because, at the end of the day, they're offering a "solution" (and yes, it's a solution to a problem they basically caused) to something I hate with a burning passion: The process of staking out and holding a parade/fireworks spot. And they're offering some comfort to go along with it.

And, as a bonus, we'll get to stuff ourselves on sugar, get a cheap ceramic mug with 10 pieces of candy.

 

[pilferk]

Yes this is what I was going to say too, that the hard ticket event is supposed to be a convenience ticket by itself, supposedly to see the holiday things with lower crowds and more special feeling. So it seems like they're now charging another fee on top of that to get the convenience that you really should be getting with the regular Halloween party ticket. It's never been so crowded at the Magic Kingdom that I felt like I needed a special roped off area though, with the possible exception of the very highest attendance days of the year, 4th of July and Christmas.

It probably should be. It sure used to be. It doesn't seem like it, anymore. They are selling the atmosphere, the trick or treating, the M&Gs and the decorations/theming for the party. The "limited" nature (even though they say it's limited) doesn't seem to be so limited anymore.

If they went back to that....I'd agree. There's probably no market for this extra upcharge. But...I doubt they will and, looking at the sell through so far (all dates pretty much sold out, I think), it sure looks like there's a market for the offering, largely because people are seeing the same thing we're talking about. Now, reviews might change that...and you might see mass cancellations. We'll see.

 

[crazy4wdw]

I heard that next year Disney will let you into the public bathrooms for free....but use of urinals or toilets will be part of a "Magical Thrones Premium Package".

.......and you'll need to make FP+ reservations for their use 60 days in advance!

 

[peg110]

I think they've begun to maybe get a little greedy and are packing people in there. It's really starting to affect the quality of the product they're selling.

"BEGUN" to "MAYBE" get a little greedy? I think that might maybe be a little understated!

Regardless if it's overselling of tickets or CM's not moving non-ticketed folks out, the issue is there, and I for one will re-think going to these "Special" events in the future. It's not to say that I won't, it's just that there will have to be a real special or good reason to go. The magic for me at these events has been lost, sad to say!

 

[saskdw]

This would be a good deal if they threw in unlimited FP with it.

 

[pilferk]

This would be a good deal if they threw in unlimited FP with it.

No fps at the parties.....though they are basically giving you two with the package.

 

[saskdw]

No fps at the parties.....though they are basically giving you two with the package.

I realise that.

They could very easily make that happen if they wanted to. They won't, but I would consider the VIP pkg if they did.

 

[manning]

I've watched the fireworks from all locations and noticed one thing. The presentation is always the same. How much obstruction do you get looking up. No matter where you are don't drop your jaw in awe. Never knew when a startled sea gull will fly by.

 

[pilferk]

I realise that.

They could very easily make that happen if they wanted to. They won't, but I would consider the VIP pkg if they did.

Maybe for the rides. I think implementing for the m&gs would be hard. But maybe thats the next step (sorta like they do with the star wars weekend tiered packages).

Honestly, i'm not sure which is the bigger draw (rides vs m&gs) for the majority. We don't really ride anything except hm, and maybe potc. We are there to trick or treat with our kids, meet some characters, and see the halloween shows/parade/fireworks/decorations.

 

[Planogirl]

I have no problem with upsells until they became upsells of upsells and those things you could expect in the original upsell suddenly come only with an extra charge. Hopefully Disney won't get carried away with that.

 

[pilferk]

I have no problem with upsells until they became upsells of upsells and those things you could expect in the original upsell suddenly come only with an extra charge. Hopefully Disney won't get carried away with that.

Last years vss is a prime examples. The villians were locked behind a paywall where, in previous years, they hadn't been.