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

[ArielSRL]

Did they give out free tickets to DVC guests last night? Or was that just the first night? Anyone know?

 

[SureAsLiz]

Did they give out free tickets to DVC guests last night? Or was that just the first night? Anyone know?

DVC was the first night, and I haven't seen any reports of that happening this week.

Free passes were reported to have been given out to various CMs, random guests checking in at AoA, and some random guests in the parks during the day

 

[ArielSRL]

DVC was the first night, and I haven't seen any reports of that happening this week.

Free passes were reported to have been given out to various CMs, random guests checking in at AoA, and some random guests in the parks during the day

Ok, thanks for the reply!

 

[ArwenMarie]

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.

That's the best

 

[bookgirl]

one of the vloggers I watch.

 

[whiporee]

-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.

But I'm pretty sure those were on top of a park ticket. So you'd pay your full day at the park, and then additional for a few hours of exclusive rides. So the deal really isn't as bad as $10 makes it seem -- it was $10 on top of the park ticket, which back then was maybe $50? So 20% on top of the regular ticket to stay later. That' not much off frtom this, except that you're planning to be later, so there's lass chance your 20 percent is wasted.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

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 .

As mentioned, there is no change to EMH. This is something different, the same way the Club villian parties or seasonal parties don't mean eliminating EMH. I'm sure you will still have a great time at your EMH. No indication has ever been stated in my posts that this is the end of EMH or changes the offerings. The limited number of guests couldn't support the resort guests if sold out, so it's not in direct competition either.
There are only about a half dozen nights for this party and many many more EMHs.

Regarding your specific vacation timing, I really couldn't say. Hope it works out for you though.

Have fun!

 

[Mom2darlingboys]

dvc isn't like someone just not paying for anything..

Not trying to be facetious here... truly just curious, but I don't understand this statement, and I have seen quite a few people make similar ones. When you purchase DVC, you are buying into a timeshare that covers accommodations only. Why should it be generally accepted that additional perks come with it - just because it is purchased through Disney, rather than another organization like RCI? Choosing my words carefully here because I don't want people freaking out, but your are a part owner in the participating resort hotels... not the parks, right? Or am I misunderstood?

But I'm pretty sure those were on top of a park ticket. So you'd pay your full day at the park, and then additional for a few hours of exclusive rides. So the deal really isn't as bad as $10 makes it seem -- it was $10 on top of the park ticket, which back then was maybe $50? So 20% on top of the regular ticket to stay later. That' not much off frtom this, except that you're planning to be later, so there's lass chance your 20 percent is wasted.

But the upcharge on a $110 MK park ticket at 20% should be $22 according to today's pricing... not $149. So, yes, the deal is pretty bad when you compare (not that I would presume to do that... Disney times are definitely WAY different than they used to be). Unless again I am misunderstanding what you meant?

 

[Liljo22]

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.

But how much are you really paying? This is targeted for mostly locals and short stay off-site guests because On-site or guests with Multi-Day tickets are not going to buy this. If I plan on going to MK and pay $110 for one day, I would easily pay an extra $39 to enter at 7, get to see Wishes, and ride the shortest rides you will ever see at MK.

 

[Skicks35]

The more I think about this (and read reviews like this), the more I'm starting to come around to this concept, especially staying offsite with no chance at EMH. Using some of the money saved staying offsite would easily offset the additional cost for this.

 

[WEDWDW]

Not trying to be facetious here... truly just curious, but I don't understand this statement, and I have seen quite a few people make similar ones. When you purchase DVC, you are buying into a timeshare that covers accommodations only.

I agree-we don't see MVMCP tickets given away free to DVC members,Cast Members and AoA Guests.

DAH is supposed to be a "hard ticket" event-just doesn't seem fair to the Guests who actually bough the DAH tickets.

 

[LisaCM614]

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.

Yes but social media reviews like this one IS the marketing campaign. I'm sorry to be snarky but that review seems just a bit too positive almost seems like the exact review they want. And it did get over 700 views today.

 

[Skicks35]

Yes but social media reviews like this one IS the marketing campaign. I'm sorry to be snarky but that review seems just a bit too positive almost seems like the exact review they want. And it did get over 700 views today.

To a point, I agree (I'm one of the most cynical people alive - I'm from the "show-me state" after all..). A written review can spew anything they want, but looking at the posted video a few posts above, it's clear that the park is pretty much empty. Can this change as more people find out? Maybe, but I guess that depends on how exclusive Disney wants to keep it, which we will never find out.

 

[Mikie]

Yes but social media reviews like this one IS the marketing campaign. I'm sorry to be snarky but that review seems just a bit too positive almost seems like the exact review they want. And it did get over 700 views today.

Maybe I'm naive, but this frustrates me. I would never likely buy these tickets, so m not defending the event, but I didn't like it in the past when people accused me of being a paid Disney shill just because I posted my honest positive opinion about it. It's very dismissive of the person and tries to say "this isn't real, just ignore her". OP has thousands of posts and has been a member here several years, can we not take her at her word?

 

[kittyab]

It is not worth it to my family to pay $149.00 for this event.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

So 20% on top of the regular ticket to stay later. That' not much off frtom this, except that you're planning to be later, so there's lass chance your 20 percent is wasted.

huh? E-ride nights had a much less chance of being wasted because we bought them the same day we used them, not in advance. The current option, IMO really only works out to be a good deal if you're one of the folks who gets it for free.

Most folks buy multiday tickets. (A 5-day hop+WP ticket runs $93/day, a 7-day base drops to $56/day.)

On the lowest end of reg public ticket prices, using an AP 365 days/year (@renewal rate) = less than $2/day. I doubt any of us does that, but it is entirely possible to spend 340 hours in the park per year. At 12 hours per visit, that would only be 28 visits, or just over 2 days per month.

On the high end, it IS now possible to pay $213 for a 1-day MK hopper plus water parks. (=$21.30/hour if you use it for 10 hours, which = 9am to 7pm.)

I had not looked at ticket prices in a bit. I stand (partly) corrected! Offsite newcomers buying 1-day hopper +WP tickets might see $150 for 4 regular +3 afterhours in MK as a good deal. If you are only using the after dark ticket, you'd be paying $21.40/hour of admission.

Yes, e-ride was on top of a park ticket, but we always bought it just a few hours in advance. So we knew the weather was nice and that we felt like going. Buying this ticket weeks before arrival carries a much bigger risk that I won't be able to use it.

Mind, I also greatly dislike that WDW no longer has non expiring tickets!

 

[Accident]

Not trying to be facetious here... truly just curious, but I don't understand this statement, and I have seen quite a few people make similar ones. When you purchase DVC, you are buying into a timeshare that covers accommodations only. Why should it be generally accepted that additional perks come with it - just because it is purchased through Disney, rather than another organization like RCI? Choosing my words carefully here because I don't want people freaking out, but your are a part owner in the participating resort hotels... not the parks, right? Or am I misunderstood?

I have no affiliation with the disney company so I don't know how the inner workings work. However I have worked for some companies where internally things would get purchased and used for perks and extras. All we know if dvc members had a pool of tickets at no cost, first come first serve. If I had to guess, i'd say the marketting team bought them to make dvc, which is hurting right now and advertising like crazy, to try to get more people to want to buy them.. RCI could purchase a block of tickets and give them out too. Maybe you need to ask RCI why they aren't adding any disney perks for their members...

Let's not forget that dreams unlimited that owns these forums does special them only versions of events, ADP trips etc.. Dreams makes some deals, packages them up and passes it on to their customers. It's no different and dreams isn't part of disney or disney parks.

There is also something you might be missing here. DVC wasn't the only "free" tickets. Random people in the park, random people at the resorts, people who could attend also were surprised with some free tickets. Press got some also so they could write about it so others would want to buy tickets. It's not uncommon for perks in a customer loyalty situation. I can't find any fault in this offering and who got free tickets. It's an addon that happened after hours, nothing in the parks changed, anyone there had a chance to get in free even if we didn't know it and disney found a way to not loose money and get lower crowds...

I'm more than happy with this option and how disney is handling it, changing things up and it's kind of working because if perks continue, I might join dvc. Not because of free tickets to this event but for everything that's being offered.

 

[bookgirl]

The vlogger I posted owns a travel company so I'm betting that she got hers free (especially since 1. It was the first night and 2. Her kids/husband weren't with her). Although I will say she is pretty good about saying when she is doing something through work for free (they have a separate youtube channel that they post short POV video's on for their company) and if it's a promo.

 

[AngiTN]

But how much are you really paying? This is targeted for mostly locals and short stay off-site guests because On-site or guests with Multi-Day tickets are not going to buy this. If I plan on going to MK and pay $110 for one day, I would easily pay an extra $39 to enter at 7, get to see Wishes, and ride the shortest rides you will ever see at MK.

Some of us will

We had no problem purchasing Club Villain not once but twice. It's sold out for our trip next month or we'd be doing it a 3rd time. So we decided today to do the after hours event at MK instead. Same money. More activities really. And DH is happy in that he won't have to get up early 1 morning of our trip. Heck, DH would pay more if it meant he got to sleep in

 

[Chirple]

Not trying to be facetious here... truly just curious, but I don't understand this statement, and I have seen quite a few people make similar ones. When you purchase DVC, you are buying into a timeshare that covers accommodations only. Why should it be generally accepted that additional perks come with it - just because it is purchased through Disney, rather than another organization like RCI? Choosing my words carefully here because I don't want people freaking out, but your are a part owner in the participating resort hotels... not the parks, right? Or am I misunderstood?

You are correct; DVC is a purchase of accommodations. That is how our guide presented and sold it to us in 2007.

There are DVC owners who might not purchase theme park tickets when staying at a DVC villa. I can see how this free night would be appealing to them if they happened to be in WDW the first night this event was offered. Then there are the rest of the DVC owners who would jump at the chance for a free night, myself included.

I have not commented on any of the other threads regarding DAH, but I wanted to agree with the PP's comment I quoted. There is no way I would know who paid and who was gifted entry because I don't ask that of others.

As for us, two adults with no children, the possibility of making use of one of these DAH events exists if we choose not to renew our annual passes and had a short trip planned.