Amazed and Disappointed

[maxiesmom]

We visited in the mid-80's, stayed offsite, and MK was open until midnight every night.

Most of my trips have been in October. Midnight was not offered.

 

[Shanti]

Most of my trips have been in October. Midnight was not offered.

This thread isn't about October.

 

[maxiesmom]

This thread isn't about October.

I think it has morphed to be about Disney in general.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Cutting the hours at night also hurts the rope droppers...more people will move to rope drop

The weather in Central Florida is just horrie during the hot months. Maybe they should close the park for a siesta midday

There are a lot of folks on this board who are into rope drop. That's their prerogative.

I never have been or will be an early morning park person. I am not somebody who spends her days in the parks trying to do as many attractions as possible. I just want to have fun.

In many discussions here, I have expressed my horror over the price of things like dessert parties and EMM, which I refer to as "Even More Money." I mean, $79 for breakfast and the chance to go on 3 rides? How can that be for real? Well, it is, and people pay it.

So some of these folks will say it's nice to have options. But when Disney strips away late night hours, that cuts into my options.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

As a PP mentioned, there is a self fulfilling prophecy here. They cut hours despite increased attendance in the last few years. Guess what? It made the crowding feel worse and the number of threads like these started to pop up quite a bit and attendance went down.

Instead of cutting hours, start expanding hours! Make it feel like the guests are getting more for their money then less park time for more money.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Right at this moment 10:25 PM instead of wandering around MK or any place else my DD are waiting in line a 120 min for FoP because that is all there is for them to do.

I am having an adult beverage in the Belle Bue lounge. Nothing is worth a 2 hour line.

 

[FastPasser.]

It made the crowding feel worse and the number of threads like these started to pop up quite a bit

I doubt that Disney makes decisions based on what's posted here.

and attendance went down.

Technically, yes, attendance was down, however according to the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) 2016 attendance report, MK's annual attendance was down by one half of one percent in 2016. An insignificant and indiscernible amount. In other words, attendance was nearly the same as 2015 which was up 6% from 2014.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I doubt that Disney makes decisions based on what's posted here.
Technically, yes, attendance was down, however according to the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) 2016 attendance report, MK's annual attendance was down by one half of one percent in 2016. An insignificant and indiscernible amount. In other words, attendance was nearly the same as 2015 which was up 6% from 2014.

I never said they did.

Didn't they drop market share below 70% for the time in years, technically yes or technically no?

 

[zebrastreyepz]

Oh, you can bet Disney reads here.

 

[mom2rtk]

Oh, you can bet Disney reads here.

Mr. Iger.... is that you??????

 

[JayHowell]

I feel any theme park's normal hours are about 12 hours. 9 - 9 or 10 - 10. Anything else is just an extra bonus. So when I go to a theme park .. that is my expectation - 12 hours. Why should someone who goes in the summer get extra hours for free as opposed to someone who goes in the winter?

In the past they probably had it open later to help disperse the crowds, but if attendance is waning (a good thing for guests) and if AK nights help disperse crowds, they don't need MK to open up later.

The problem with "bonuses" that happen frequently and "bank" on them and expect them as the norm (which they were never intended to be).

I guarantee that things like EMH and Free Dining will eventually go away. Disney no longer needs to "draw" people to its parks with promotions like that .. all the new attractions themselves over the next decade will draw people to the parks.

But that is the point. Magic Kingdom was open longer hours in June (Usually 11PM) than it will be in July or August (10PM). And it's open much longer in December than either of those months (Often 11 or midnight). So I'll reverse your statement on you! "Why should someone who goes in the winter get extra hours for free as opposed to someone who goes in the summer?" Because they ARE! And that is without EMHs. That is why it's a contentious issue.

And they DO need to draw. The figures last year indicated that (for the first time EVER) the total market share of attendance for the Florida parks was under 70% for Disney (69 point something). Their market share has been shrinking vs. Universal. So they do need to draw people. And Magic Kingdom is their flagship.

 

[mom2rtk]

But that is the point. Magic Kingdom was open longer hours in June (Usually 11PM) than it will be in July or August (10PM). And it's open much longer in December than either of those months (Often 11 or midnight). So I'll reverse your statement on you! "Why should someone who goes in the winter get extra hours for free as opposed to someone who goes in the summer?" Because they ARE! And that is without EMHs. That is why it's a contentious issue.

And they DO need to draw. The figures last year indicated that (for the first time EVER) the total market share of attendance for the Florida parks was under 70% for Disney (69 point something). Their market share has been shrinking vs. Universal. So they do need to draw people. And Magic Kingdom is their flagship.

Well, in all fairness, we haven't seen the final December calendar yet.

 

[DoTheDisFam]

It seems to me that cutting hours makes for extremely uncomfortable crowd levels. I see the over crowding as a huge liability. (See the 4th of July photos in the hub - trash thread). A guy was so immersed in the crowd, he had to hold his stroller over his head to depart...and the expression on his face looked like he was on the verge of panic, in a sense. IMHO.

Also, the cost of visiting is astronomical as far as I'm concerned. More money for fewer park hours? Logic dictates that this will lower sales, as well as cause a shift in mindset of park goers, ie, is it worth it?

Speaking for myself, our trip that is planned for the last week in September, 2017, will be our last one. We will love Disney from afar and in our memories.

 

[ucfknight]

It seems to me that cutting hours makes for extremely uncomfortable crowd levels. I see the over crowding as a huge liability. (See the 4th of July photos in the hub - trash thread). A guy was so immersed in the crowd, he had to hold his stroller over his head to depart...and the expression on his face looked like he was on the verge of panic, in a sense. IMHO.

Magic Kingdom was open 8am to midnight on July 4. That overcrowding had nothing to do with shortened hours. It had to do with the fact that it was July 4, historically one of the very busiest days of the year at MK.

 

[DoTheDisFam]

Magic Kingdom was open 8am to midnight on July 4. That overcrowding had nothing to do with shortened hours. It had to do with the fact that it was July 4, historically one of the very busiest days of the year at MK.

Yes, you are correct
With that being said...there is still extreme over crowding, at a much higher price.

 

[ucfknight]

Yes, you are correct
With that being said...there is still extreme over crowding, at a much higher price.

Saturday, July 8. 4:00 pm.
Just checked MDE.

Magic Kingdom (open 9 am to 10 pm):
There are 16 attractions at MK listed with wait times of 20 minutes or less (including a "headliner" Big Thunder Mountain).
There are only 5 attractions at MK with a wait time of 60 minutes or longer, with the longest being 80 minutes.

Epcot (open 9 am to 9 pm as it usually is):
All but 2 attractions are 25 minutes or less (including "headliner" Soarin' at 25 minutes)
Only 2 attractions are longer than 25 minutes with the longest being 85.

I don't know how many times it must be said, summer crowds at WDW are not what they once were. It has been this way for a few years. Disney has adjusted their hours accordingly. There is no overcrowding going on.

 

[maxiesmom]

Disney doesn't need to draw more people. Are there not posts all of the time with people wishing the parks were less crowded? Charge more, have fewer people, and make the same or more as now. Win win.

 

[maxiesmom]

Saturday, July 8. 4:00 pm.
Just checked MDE.

Magic Kingdom:
There are 16 attractions at MK listed with wait times of 20 minutes or less (including a "headliner" Big Thunder Mountain).
There are only 5 attractions at MK with a wait time of 60 minutes or longer, with the longest being 80 minutes.

Epcot:
All but 2 attractions are 25 minutes or less (including "headliner" Soarin' at 25 minutes)
Only 2 attractions are longer than 25 minutes with the longest being 85.

I don't know how many times it must be said, summer crowds at WDW are not what they once were. It has been this way for a few years. Disney has adjusted their hours accordingly. There is no overcrowding going on.

Those wait times are crazy good!

 

[DoTheDisFam]

I don't know how many times it must be said, summer crowds at WDW are not what they once were. It has been this way for a few years. Disney has adjusted their hours accordingly. There is no overcrowding going on.

Hey, I get what you're saying...I'm coming from the standpoint of escalated prices. Park hours should not be lowered, given the ticket prices.
Disney is making their money.

Perhaps they should try to learn what is causing the decrease in attendance?

 

[Praying Colonel]

<----Anxiously awaiting ticket prices to be reduced from peak to correspond with these reduced summer crowds.




OK, not really. (Where that sarcasm font?)