4/21 After Hours - Is it really worth it?

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

I know it's been a while, but I thought this was worth sharing, so I'm back. I haven't read any forum stuff (cuz I don't spend a lot of time reading now when I'm at the parks all week, to be honest) so there may already be opinions and experiences, etc. These just reflect my personal experience. That having been said, a lot of my friends thought the idea of this ticket was bonkers. It most definitely is not, depending on a few factors (mainly, if you are a night owl, love rides and the MK.) There are still some nights available, so perhaps a few out there might want to think about whether it's a good value for them.

Here are my basic comments and highlights...

Entering before Park Closing:
MK lines were already looking fairly good when I got to the park at 9pm. Just so that you know, you can enter in with this ticket even before 7pm if you like. (I had a regular work day, so I went back home to sleep, get ready and then run down to DSprings to get a new tiara since I planned to finally get to meet Anna and Elsa.) I jumped into Pixie Hollow to meet Tink since I was already all tiared and gussied up for photos (and because I was traveling solo, and that's not something my honey would be in to.) I decided to make it an all princess night and did Belle Storytime (sing Opera, and you are basically automatically selected to participate so you can get your photo with Belle) before Wishes. Wishes was great, I got a seat around Gaston's Tavern and relaxed. Big fireworks, but not recommended viewing if you have never seen with the castle. If you have lots of times, it was a great spot for big loud booms. Afterwards, Ariel's line dropped from 40 to 15, so I met her. She was stellar. These 3 gals would not be participating in the After Hours party so my plan was not to ride rides but to catch princesses that would close at 10:30.

Park Closing- No one but After Hours folks left:
Things died down QUICKLY and within minutes, it was just lanyard wearing folks. The amount of tickets sold are VERY, VERY limited, like shockingly so. (The Holiday parties have at least 4 x the amount of crowds if not much higher.) Even so, I wouldn't have liked it to empty out like weirdly. Instead, it was a fun loving happy group of people who I noticed basically headed straight for the free icecream. I decided to let the park quiet a tad and went had Philharmagic to myself and about 7 others. It is amazing how much better that show is without 18 million big heads and mickey ears in front of you. After that, I realize I'm already 40 mins in, I better get a move on. Its on to Cinderella and Rapunzel, Elsa and Anna. Despite the very late hours, all these ladies are just lovely. Elsa and Anna were about a 10 min wait, all the others were just as we could get around the queue. I didn't have as much time as they would have happily spent chatting with me, I had to get my photos and head out. Now to Peter Pan, walk right on, and happy happy people with me the whole time. CMs cheery, fellow guests just loving it. I really want some icecream, but it's already one hour down! So off to 7D where I unsuccessfully try to take a photo of the 10 min wait on the sign. That is really something I have never seen before. I got my back car so I was happy, no time to reride but you could have gone around and around all night if you wanted.

So much to do! Our lanyards have a list of all the offerings and attractions and I'm staring at it like "how am I going to get all this?!" I run on to Winnie the Pooh. I have to say, I haven't seen the cute games in that queue, I think it's SO fun! But again, no time to play, the line is less than 5 mins. Unfortunately, I have not been able to get the weird attraction song out from playing in my head all night long. A word of caution if you ride this late at night! LOL And then on to TeaCups which I never make time for and haven't been on since I was little! and a newly wed couple is a teacup over, they got married at Epcot Italy yesterday!

At this point, I'm sad to find out that I have missed all the HARD real scoop icecream that was available early on, as its getting closer to 1am. That's ok, I run for a Mickey bar. The only time I have is wolfing it down as I head to Space Mtn. It's time to really get cracking on these rides! lol. Space is great, walk right on (a long walk too btw) and so I ride it twice. The stars were really wild with galaxies and nebulas in there! Two is all I have time for (plus my tiara is bouncing around) so I head off to Astro Orbiter. This makes only the second time in my life I can remember riding it. But I ever only ride it at night. It was SUCH a great night with a huge full moon and no cloud cover or wind. Coming down, I decide to pop on to Buzz Spin. Fairly decent score. I like to steer myself. Grab my photos and go.

Time to get a move on! I haven't even hit Adventure or Frontier land yet and I'm less than an hour left! Again, as I'm moving through the park, everyone is super nice, including CMs. There are a LOT of upper staff (like management) plentiful around the park too. It's not a ghost town, I wouldn't have liked that, but there was plenty of room to run around with out hitting a stroller. I saw other more relaxed folks with ECVs as well. I'm sure they appreciated not being cut off constantly.

I leave Tomorrowland with a water bottle to toss in to my bag and head to Jungle Cruise. At 1:30 at night, I'm curious to see how funny my Skipper will be? Well, it was one of the best ones yet! (I'm now at Jungle Cruise obsessed person after falling in love with Trader Sams at the Poly, now I totally get it!) So kudos to our Skipper who almost was hoarse, he had been at it so long, but he was SOOO funny and enthusiastic! It was a perfect punny cruise. And on to Big Thunder, where our train is literally loading us as we walk on to it. I realize as I'm cruising around the mountain that this is the nicest night I have had. The moon is so pretty, and everyone is screaming and laughing so hard in the train having just the best time. I totally know I'm going back around again, but it's going to cut me close. I have another awesome ride and by the time I get off, its 1:57. Can I make it to Pirates? Lets run and find out!

At exactly 2:00, with NO one else in this part of the park, I run up to Pirates and I am literally the LAST guest to ride and I absolutely have no one in the boat and no one anywhere else besides CMs. None of them gave me the vibe of like "Really? It's 2 and you are STILL running to get a ride? Can we ever go home?" like NOT at ALL! They were all like "Come on in!" so cheerful and happy. I'm amazed with all the CMs. They are human after all, and there are SOOOO few tickets of this nature sold, and they are all happy as can be (at least projecting) to provide the same great service. I cannot give them enough kudos, there was not one cranky one in the bunch. And Photopass Cms EVERYWHERE.

At 2:15, I'm making my way back to the exit when I meet a bunch of people I know! And as if it's not late enough, everyone is taking photos in front of the castle Hub because NO ONE is practically left! They were laying all over Main St in front of the castle posing. Super fun! And the Photopass CMs just kept clicking away, they were all amazing.

As we head on to the Ferry, exhausted but still super pumped and excited happy, along with everyone else, I see people literally loading entire bags full of soda pops and waters. One kid had an entire BOX of Mickey Bars he took back with him, the whole box! LOL. It is REALLY unlimited! I only had time for one, but I got a Frozen Banana off of him at least. (He had plenty to share. ) So I left still eating icecream for the road. Again, as its almost 3 at this point, but all the CMs for transport are just as pleasant as can be.

To sum up:
From 11pm-2:15am, I ended up with:
-Philharmagic
-Cinderella, Rapunzel, Anna, Elsa
-Peter Pan
-7 Dwarfs
-Winnie Pooh
-TeaCups
-Mickey Bar
-Space Mtn x 2
-Astro Orbiter
-Buzz Lightyr
-Jungle Cruise
-Big Thunder x 2
-Pirates
-Frozen Banana and Water to Go

I should mention that if I had timed it better, or if I had wanted, other attractions I wasn't even close to getting to included: Mickey Theater Photos, Tiki Room, Stitch, Tomorrowland Speedway, Barnstormer, Dumbo, Country Bears (really?), Splash Mtn (still die hards riding at night?) and many other attractions.

It is not a skeleton park by any means. That is definitely the most attractions I can ever remember doing in strictly a 3 hr period. Remember though that you CAN get in earlier than 7pm, which means I would recommend having a totally relaxing resort day with plenty of rest, getting in around dinner time, enjoying the park at sunset (my fave time), catching Celebrate & Wishes and Elec Parade (got all those as I came in) and then at closing, ride and ride and ride. It IS worth $158 including tax when you consider a 1 Day Ticket was already $117, and then I knew some that calculated that they ate over $90 worth of snacks and drinks. Not to mention having unlimited fastpasses basically, because everything was just a walk on.

In all seriousness, this ticket should absolutely be selling out. I don't think a lot of people know how really tremendously awesome a deal it is. To basically rent out Magic Kingdom for a little under half the day during hours and a few hrs after. You can ride and see everything, as fast as your feet personally can carry you. (So I do NOT recommend making a long day of it. Just make it an evening ticket and love the fact that you can meet all your princesses and ride rides.

It was definitely one of my more magical times I have ever spent in the MK!

Hope that helps!

 

[HopperFan]

Yes, it should be selling out. It's not because Disney is doing virtually NOTHING to market it. You can't bring a last minute, who would have thought, event to the offering without marketing it, particularly to the demographics that will buy it.

 

[TeamSy]

See, this was us when we did the park when it was open until midnight and then emh until 2am. We were diehards and got it ALL done and then some, and the lines totally thinned out later to no wait. It's a bummer you have to pay for that experience now.

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

Glad you had an awesome time!!! I'm really hoping they are still offering it during our December trio, but with MVMCP 3 xoxo a week it seems doubtful!
Sparkle on!

 

[ArwenMarie]

Sounds fun!

Interesting how many times you mention how cheerful the CMs were, as well as the rest of the guests. An interesting contrast to how MK is crushed under the weight of the crowds most days now.

 

[serenitynow]

See, this was us when we did the park when it was open until midnight and then emh until 2am. We were diehards and got it ALL done and then some, and the lines totally thinned out later to no wait. It's a bummer you have to pay for that experience now.

That does sound nice. Times change. My dad talks about the day when you pulled into a gas station and someone pumped your gas, checked your oil, checked your tire pressure and cleaned your windshield for FREE! The gas was all you paid for, the service was free, can you believe it?

 

[Accident]

The photopass photographer spent the whole night laying down with people taking pictures like that.

I also was able to attend last night and loved it also.. I posted my "review" in the trip planning forum. link below in my signature.

 

[Nugent]

That does sound nice. Times change. My dad talks about the day when you pulled into a gas station and someone pumped your gas, checked your oil, checked your tire pressure and cleaned your windshield for FREE! The gas was all you paid for, the service was free, can you believe it?

It's still free in New Jersey! Self-service gas is illegal here. Although no one checks the oil anymore now that our cars tell us when we're low.

 

[WEDWDW]

Glad you enjoyed it!

I still don't feel it is "right" for Disney to be giving free tickets to many Guests.

 

[MariMama]

You got a free ticket as a CM?

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

That does sound nice. Times change. My dad talks about the day when you pulled into a gas station and someone pumped your gas, checked your oil, checked your tire pressure and cleaned your windshield for FREE! The gas was all you paid for, the service was free, can you believe it?

I believe it because I lived it, and gas was 27 CENTS PER GALLON!!!

 

[TeamSy]

That does sound nice. Times change. My dad talks about the day when you pulled into a gas station and someone pumped your gas, checked your oil, checked your tire pressure and cleaned your windshield for FREE! The gas was all you paid for, the service was free, can you believe it?

My parents still talk about how cheap Disney tickets used to be and how they NEVER expired.

 

[Day-Day]

Excellent report; thanks for posting.

...The amount of tickets sold are VERY, VERY limited, like shockingly so. (The Holiday parties have at least 4 x the amount of crowds if not much higher.)...

Do you know what the ticket limit is? Was the low crowd level due to WDW limiting the number of tickets available or was it low because few people decided to participate?

 

[erin1715]

I don't know, to me it kinda sounds like you were rushing around trying to get everything done because there wasn't enough time.

 

[Accident]

I still don't feel it is "right" for Disney to be giving free tickets to many Guests.

dvc isn't like someone just not paying for anything.. also how many did they really give out? I didn't overhear a single person say this is a great free perk but I did hear a lot of people say I would pay for this again and didn't feel ripped off..

I liked this party.. I liked how disney capped the tickets so low to give a vip style experience.. I get perks all over the place because I'm a good customer also.. sometimes I don't pay to get in the door, sometimes I do.. This was worth it for me and I'm going again probably on the last night. It it a little pricing to make it a regular thing and I'm a little MK'd out after it.

 

[biondagirl]

Sounds like a fabulous time. I have always loved late night EMH for this reason. I would totally do this, if it were just me. I can't justify the cost for the four of us, though.

 

[Accident]

Excellent report; thanks for posting.



Do you know what the ticket limit is? Was the low crowd level due to WDW limiting the number of tickets available or was it low because few people decided to participate?

The first night sold out and people were guessing 1000 guests attended.. After reading that about the first night I took the chance because i'm willing to pay a little extra for no crowd and I was not disappointed. I'm watching dates close because I think i'm going to do it again for one of the last nights it's offered.. I enjoyed it that much and this was magic kingdom like I've never seen it before... The only thing missing was characters running around the streets but they had the main street vehicles and lots of other little things.. The cast members, especially the guy with the ice cream near "little mississippi river".. That was a dead spot and he didn't let it be a dead spot.. nobody was walking past him without getting something...

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

See, this was us when we did the park when it was open until midnight and then emh until 2am. We were diehards and got it ALL done and then some, and the lines totally thinned out later to no wait. It's a bummer you have to pay for that experience now.

I have done EMH before, and frankly, I will never do a late night one again. Morning is good, you get Midway early etc. The night time one, you had all four parks of resort guests empty in to one. I avoid them all now.

It should be pointed out that there is no limit on resort guests. This ticket is VERY limited. Also, if you are a resort guest, your EMH has not changed at all. You can still enjoy. I'm glad you had a good experience with your EMH. As a local, its a lot less likely I will stay at a resort when my dogs are at home and I'd have to pay some one to watch them. The Villa vacation market is very very strong so many guests are not staying on site, and many don't have the option. (One guy said he called every Disney hotel in Oct, everything was booked solid.)

So bottom line, if you like EMH, great, go for it, it's still there for you. For others, this is so FUN. It's finally a party that isn't holiday related and has SOOO few people. (Not as few as 1000 but VERY few. It IS specifically capped that way.)

Glad a few of you others enjoyed the night as well!

 

[TeamSy]

I have done EMH before, and frankly, I will never do a late night one again. Morning is good, you get Midway early etc. The night time one, you had all four parks of resort guests empty in to one. I avoid them all now.

It should be pointed out that there is no limit on resort guests. This ticket is VERY limited. Also, if you are a resort guest, your EMH has not changed at all. You can still enjoy. I'm glad you had a good experience with your EMH. As a local, its a lot less likely I will stay at a resort when my dogs are at home and I'd have to pay some one to watch them. The Villa vacation market is very very strong so many guests are not staying on site, and many don't have the option. (One guy said he called every Disney hotel in Oct, everything was booked solid.)

So bottom line, if you like EMH, great, go for it, it's still there for you. For others, this is so FUN. It's finally a party that isn't holiday related and has SOOO few people. (Not as few as 1000 but VERY few. It IS specifically capped that way.)

Glad a few of you others enjoyed the night as well!

Are they still doing these very late emh @ MK for resort guests tho? I hope so! On the calendar for our trip this year I don't see ANY midnight with emh until 2am, but I hope that it's just not out yet, although it was this time last year. IF that's the case and they still are doing these late nights with resort guests and then offer this option for those who are staying offsite/in the area, then that's WONDERFUL! But, if it's instead of doing the midnight - 2am emh for resort guests than that stinks to now have to pay for something that was included before .

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I can't imagine paying so much for this. We've done a great many VERY late MK nights, but we have ALSO had many visits where we PLANNED to stay for E-ride night or EMH, but couldn't.

We long ago stopped prepaying for our WDW food because it offered the same kind of financial risk. Prepaying for food only makes sense when the guest gets a benefit for taking on the risk that they won't be able to use all the entitlements of the plan.

Lots of times we thought we were going to last until midnight, but couldn't happily stay out that late: foul weather, injuries, tired, long flight delays, car trouble, illness, crowd fatigue, and much more.

E-ride Nights used to be wonderful. There was no pre-planning beyond a few hours. If you wanted to stay, you just bought a bracelet in the afternoon for - get this- a mere 10$!!!!

Sigh, this is just a very sad sign of the times in my opinion. Disney used to offer all kinds of inexpensive insider perks. So sad.