After hours - $149 for EMH?

[Eoghann]

I think that you're right. I've seen just about every "exclusive" offer turn into a jampacked free for all over time. If they don't set a limit there likely is no limit or at least it's very high.

I found the Christmas Party in 2014 uncomfortably crowded (in the Main Street area and hub, elsewhere was fine). Disney thought otherwise, they were still selling tickets to people.

 

[Kimberly9701]

Truthfully none of know who this is really aimed at. I doubt that most offsite visitors will care about this but I could be offbase. I'm personally a little puzzled as to where they're going with this.

I can think of several off site visitors who this would attract. There's different types of Disney vacationers.. Some fly in to Orlando, use Magical Express to and from, and don't go anywhere else besides DW. Then you have the offsite guests who choose to do so for budget reasons. Then you have the offsite guests who choose to stay offsite because DW isn't their only area of interest in the Orlando area. You also have locals and Florida residents who may just be doing a night or 2. You have cruise people spending a few days onsite before or after a cruise. And you have beach vacationers who want to go to Orlando for a couple of days to fit in DW while they are in Florida, either on or offsite.

 

[Planogirl]

I found the Christmas Party in 2014 uncomfortably crowded (in the Main Street area and hub, elsewhere was fine). Disney thought otherwise, they were still selling tickets to people.

We thought the same last year even though we still enjoyed the party. People were pretty much jammed shoulder to shoulder in the same areas.

 

[Kimberly9701]

I found the Christmas Party in 2014 uncomfortably crowded (in the Main Street area and hub, elsewhere was fine). Disney thought otherwise, they were still selling tickets to people.

Uh oh. This post worries me. We will be there 12/3-12/7 and I am hoping for low crowds at the Christmas Party!! We will be doing it on a Tuesday night, I think, haven't made decision if Sunday or Tuesday, but will do so before 180 days as my dining options are based on our itinerary that day.

 

[Planogirl]

I can think of several off site visitors who this would attract. There's different types of Disney vacationers.. Some fly in to Orlando, use Magical Express to and from, and don't go anywhere else besides DW. Then you have the offsite guests who choose to do so for budget reasons. Then you have the offsite guests who choose to stay offsite because DW isn't their only area of interest in the Orlando area. You also have locals and Florida residents who may just be doing a night or 2. You have cruise people spending a few days onsite before or after a cruise. And you have beach vacationers who want to go to Orlando for a couple of days to fit in DW while they are in Florida, either on or offsite.

I just can't see many of those who like WDW being satisfied with just a few hours though. We sometimes don't go to the Disney parks much but if we do we spend a whole day. Even with lighter crowds you can't get much done in a large park like MK in just 6 hours with some of that likely being very crowded. As for other travelers, I can't see a lot of enthusiasm for something this expensive if they are in the area to see other things.

I do think that the nighttime offering is more appealing than the morning one though. The early one seems pretty pointless to me but that's another discussion.

 

[Eoghann]

Uh oh. This post worries me. We will be there 12/3-12/7 and I am hoping for low crowds at the Christmas Party!! We will be doing it on a Tuesday night, I think, haven't made decision if Sunday or Tuesday, but will do so before 180 days as my dining options are based on our itinerary that day.

It really depends what you want to do. If you want to watch the parade, or the show in front of the Castle... you'll be packed in like sardines. If you want to do rides in Fantasyland or Tomorrowland... loads of room.

People have different crowd tolerances, but I found it quite uncomfortable on Main Street and it was basically impossible to move on the hub (although that was before they finished expanding it).

 

[Kimberly9701]

I just can't see many of those who like WDW being satisfied with just a few hours though. We sometimes don't go to the Disney parks much but if we do we spend a whole day. Even with lighter crowds you can't get much done in a large park like MK in just 6 hours with some of that likely being very crowded. As for other travelers, I can't see a lot of enthusiasm for something this expensive if they are in the area to see other things.

I do think that the nighttime offering is more appealing than the morning one though. The early one seems pretty pointless to me but that's another discussion.

In all of my adult only trips I would have absolutely loved this option and chosen it every time.
For repeat travelers 6 hours at a less crowded park can let you concentrate on your favorite areas of the park.
For short stay on site guests this is a great alternative to 2 full MK days. Now you can do 1 full 1 night.
My son and I didn't do morning til night. We had 3 MK days, went in morning, took a long mid day swimming/lunch break, and then went back in the evening.

It really depends what you want to do. If you want to watch the parade, or the show in front of the Castle... you'll be packed in like sardines. If you want to do rides in Fantasyland or Tomorrowland... loads of room.

People have different crowd tolerances, but I found it quite uncomfortable on Main Street and it was basically impossible to move on the hub (although that was before they finished expanding it).

I have a low crowd tolerance..which is why I do not go to WDW in the summer...and why I could totally justify the $150 for night hours.
I had originally planned to go during Thanksgiving week pre cruise..but after looking at crowd calendars, switched to after the cruise in hopes of lower crowd levels.

 

[Planogirl]

In all of my adult only trips I would have absolutely loved this option and chosen it every time.
For repeat travelers 6 hours at a less crowded park can let you concentrate on your favorite areas of the park.
For short stay on site guests this is a great alternative to 2 full MK days. Now you can do 1 full 1 night.
My son and I didn't do morning til night. We had 3 MK days, went in morning, took a long mid day swimming/lunch break, and then went back in the evening.

If it was truly six hours in a park with lower crowds then I could understand it more. However I would think that at least half of that time will be during a time when the park is most crowded with likely some overlap as people finish up once the park closes. I'm only guessing though since we don't have any reports yet.

But to each their own! If people enjoy this then kudos.

 

[bnhonest]

My family's next trip is May '17. If they have this option or something similar, I will bite. I'll buy 5 days instead of 6, skip the park hopper, tour DHS by day, MK extra hours by night, leisure day at the resort the day after. Considering the amount I would usually pay for park hoppers, the extra cost is only around 250 for my family of 4.

 

[mel&me]

Not surprised by it at all but
With what I already spend at Disney and now spend another 300 or 600 depending on the trip for just 3 hrs, ah let me see --- NO
Corporation wants more dollars so --
From Disney point of view do they care what I think, ah let me see ---NO

 

[garanorymom]

So did anyone else notice that the Magic Kingdom closes every single night in June 2016 at 10pm? In 2015 there were 22 12am closings and 8 1am closings in June.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

So did anyone else notice that the Magic Kingdom closes every single night in June 2016 at 10pm? In 2015 there were 22 12am closings and 8 1am closings in June.

I think that's why some people are worried about end of EMH..now granted part of this could be directly related to budget cuts but it's not such a leap that the more paid events that Disney implements the less days there could be available for EMH. The hours for June likely will change closer to that month but something to keep an eye out for. Unfortunately Disney wants us all to plan plan plan but is known for changing things up last minute (at least in terms of vacation planning last minute).

 

[garanorymom]

Yes and those times weren't extra magic hours, they were regular closing times. Those evening cuts--in addition to earlier openings last June--means 78 less regular park hours this June when compared to last June. That seems huge to me. Especially since those are the hours we usually spend in the park.

 

[DisneyLovingPreacher]

Yes and those times weren't extra magic hours, they were regular closing times. Those evening cuts--in addition to earlier openings last June--means 78 less regular park hours this June when compared to last June. That seems huge to me. Especially since those are the hours we usually spend in the park.

This is really silly to me it seems like Disney is really making a lot of people mad with the cuts and extra added on costs they are making

 

[Eoghann]

Yes and those times weren't extra magic hours, they were regular closing times. Those evening cuts--in addition to earlier openings last June--means 78 less regular park hours this June when compared to last June. That seems huge to me. Especially since those are the hours we usually spend in the park.

And then we have the ever increasing number of Halloween Party nights where the park is closed to regular guests a 7pm.

The trend is clear. If this new idea is a success, it will expand.

 

[MamaJinji]

To be honest, loss of the EMH won't hurt me... I like them, but it's not worth that much extra to me. Even now, one of the best reason to stay on-site is EMH. Take that perk away, and I have a LOT less reason to stay on-site. I can't be the only one who feels that way.

 

[ChipnDale79]

To be honest, loss of the EMH won't hurt me... I like them, but it's not worth that much extra to me. Even now, one of the best reason to stay on-site is EMH. Take that perk away, and I have a LOT less reason to stay on-site. I can't be the only one who feels that way.

You arent.

Trust me, if perks like that are taken away, I'll gladly pay the same rate to stay at a much nicer hotel offsite and also receive points for my stay.

 

[TeresaWen]

You arent.

Trust me, if perks like that are taken away, I'll gladly pay the same rate to stay at a much nicer hotel offsite and also receive points for my stay.

Exactly - every other hotel chain rewards loyalty!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

And then we have the ever increasing number of Halloween Party nights where the park is closed to regular guests a 7pm.

The trend is clear. If this new idea is a success, it will expand.

Yup..that was my thought and now look at the dates listed for Early Morning Magic: April 26, 30, 2016 also held May 3, 7, 14, 17, 21, 24, 28, 31, June 4, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 25, 28, 2016-according to wdwinfo.com

After hours: April 14, 21, and 28, 2016 as well as May 5, 8, 12, 19, 2016

I don't know which came first but clearly they confidence in both to have that many dates already-Early Morning Magic (18): more so here than After Hours (7).

 

[RaginforDisneyRoy]

Anyone attending After Hours at MK tonight? I'd love to hear the reviews.