Boycott EMM or...

[DiannaVM]

I sympathise with the OP because I too hate the drive money has had on Disney as of late (not that it was ever a real "cheap" vacation by any means. At least not in my lifetime).

However, to be totally honest, this comes in line with staying at a Deluxe Resort for me. If money was not an issue, you better bet your sweet butt I would be buying into EMM or even when the After Hours thing was in place. However, my income is limited so I can only afford Value Resorts and maybe a party, but nothing else. I can't hate on something just because I can't afford it, because it would be hypocritical.

 

[tinkerbella16]

We'll have a toddler with us in September, and we bought tickets for EMM - I will admit, when they first started I said no way, we'll never spend the money. But I really took the time to read reviews, great reviews btw and saw the benefits of it FOR US. This is my nieces first trip, so getting those early morning pictures on Main Street, taking her on Peter Pan and WTP multiple times with no waits, and being able to get right on 7DMT with no wait and concluding with a big breakfast when the park opens, just seems completely worth it for us. I am really excited for it and especially excited to share the experience with my niece.

 

[anneboleyn]

Do you think we could get the chicken fingers back that disappeared all over property ......... and now the cheese pretzels. If we all boycotted chicken nuggets and plain pretzels maybe we can make them change their minds.

I am willing to chain myself to the castle until they bring back the cream cheese filled pretzels. I am still mourning that loss.

 

[mshanson3121]

Yep. But ask anyone who went many years ago to one of these "limited attendance" parties to compare it with the "limited attendance" at the same parties in recent years.

There's a reason Disney never publishes a number for any of these events.

If EMM catches on and becomes permanent, I have no doubt the same thing would happen with that.

But do you know for a fact that the increase in attendance is because they sold more tickets, or that economy has improved and more people are buying the tickets (same amount available)?

 

[mom2rtk]

But do you know for a fact that the increase in attendance is because they sold more tickets, or that economy has improved and more people are buying the tickets (same amount available)?

More tickets. Anyone who has gone over time will confirm that.

 

[JimmyV]

But do you know for a fact that the increase in attendance is because they sold more tickets, or that economy has improved and more people are buying the tickets (same amount available)?

For your suspicion to be true, there cannot have been any "sell outs" in the past, and we know that there were. A "sell out" in 2010 looked very different than a "sell out" in 2015.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

Like others, I will not pay for the EMM unless they offer one for Epcot, and not even then if they don't have either Soarin or FEA open. I quit doing the parties after they became so crowded.

More tickets. Anyone who has gone over time will confirm that.

yep. Having gone to the original Christmas, Halloween and Princess/Pirate Parties I no longer buy tickets because of the crowd levels and cut backs on special events such as the plays and free pictures.

 

[HopperFan]

Everyone can crunch their numbers anyway they want to make their point. Guaranteed you'll come up with something that supports your POV. If you open it wide you are talking After Dark scenario but with breakfast ... guarantee the price would be even more unpalatable as the After Dark prices.

In the end, it doesn't matter what any of us think. People can waste all kinds of energy crying over what they perceive as being ripped off. Based on many of your feelings posted towards Disney I'm surprised you still have any interest in going. VOTE WITH YOUR DOLLARS and stop going. I choose to go and only pay for what I am interested in .......... MK EMM, nope - DHS EMM, yup - they bring it for Avatarland, Star Wars Land and Toy Story Land, yup. Wishes Dessert Party, nope - Star Wars Dessert Party, yup. Disney will offer what they want, when they want and if it is successful it will continue, if not it won't.

And as much as I love night EMH - I would be perfectly happy if they went away. As a stockholder I feel the money lost would be better spent elsewhere.

 

[Regan117]

Yep. But ask anyone who went many years ago to one of these "limited attendance" parties to compare it with the "limited attendance" at the same parties in recent years.

There's a reason Disney never publishes a number for any of these events.

If EMM catches on and becomes permanent, I have no doubt the same thing would happen with that.

But the difference is that the POINT of the parties isn't limited attendance. That was just a "bonus"...the point was a holiday celebration. Regardless of attendance, people will go because of special fireworks and parades and decorations. However, the POINT of EMM is limited attendance and exclusive access. If they take that away, the event loses the ONLY selling point it has.

 

[Regan117]

For your suspicion to be true, there cannot have been any "sell outs" in the past, and we know that there were. A "sell out" in 2010 looked very different than a "sell out" in 2015.

But the number of attractions in MK in 2010 was very different from the number of attractions in 2015. So if there's "room" to expand, there's nothing wrong with that. This company exists to make money. It's like you're holding a grudge against a company for finding more way to make money... I'm a stockholder, and I am all for them finding more ways to bring in revenue.

 

[AnnaKat]

But the number of attractions in MK in 2010 was very different from the number of attractions in 2015. So if there's "room" to expand, there's nothing wrong with that. This company exists to make money. It's like you're holding a grudge against a company for finding more way to make money... I'm a stockholder, and I am all for them finding more ways to bring in revenue.

Speaking of more ways to make $$$, what's to keep the bean counters from making the evening entertainment & attractions @ AK a separate hard ticketed event, offered a few nights per week?!
AK park closings have only been increased from 5 to 7:30 pm for Sept. The DVC Safari Spectacular evening event starts @ 9:30 for the 4 nights it's offered in Sept.
Everyone is anxious to see ROL;
AK never had any special nighttime shows or entertainment before. In fact, it was rare for it to be open until 8.
EE @ night, & dinner @ TH were like the only differences outside of the typical 5 pm close.

IF Disney offered NO WAY to see ROL
& enjoy the newly added nighttime Safari & Tree of Life, etc.
OTHER THAN guests booking an $89 AKL @ Night Event,

guests will be willing to pay!!

PLUS, unlike the EMM events, they don't have to limit it to 300 guests,
NOR throw in a breakfast!

NOpe, they could EVEN offer the ROL dining packages,
for breakfast & lunch @ TH, etc.
ANOTHER $69 per guest.
With BONUS gate receipts for having to use a Park ticket to attend the ROL ADR!

Would guests boycott ROL because it is @ minimum $89
as a separate hard ticket nighttime event ?!

How about paying almost $300 per guest to see ROL in a reserved seating section--
needing to pay for a day ticket, & the ROL Dining Pkg?!--
would guests boycott THAT?!

 

[Jennasis]

You know what I did just book that seems completely worth it? The DVC exclusive safari spectacular event at DAK. It is FREE. mostly I'm looking forward to seeing the park after dark. If there was a cost associated with the event, we'd have passed on it. But for Free...I'm in.

 

[AnnaKat]

You know what I did just book that seems completely worth it? The DVC exclusive safari spectacular event at DAK. It is FREE. mostly I'm looking forward to seeing the park after dark. If there was a cost associated with the event, we'd have passed on it. But for Free...I'm in.

Glad you were able to get the free tickets! It sounds like an awesome event for free!
AND IF ROL opens in Sept., you could also enjoy that, with plenty of seats available!

 

[Regan117]

Speaking of more ways to make $$$, what's to keep the bean counters from making the evening entertainment & attractions @ AK a separate hard ticketed event, offered a few nights per week?!
AK park closings have only been increased from 5 to 7:30 pm for Sept. The DVC Safari Spectacular evening event starts @ 9:30 for the 4 nights it's offered in Sept.
Everyone is anxious to see ROL;
AK never had any special nighttime shows or entertainment before. In fact, it was rare for it to be open until 8.
EE @ night, & dinner @ TH were like the only differences outside of the typical 5 pm close.

IF Disney offered NO WAY to see ROL
& enjoy the newly added nighttime Safari & Tree of Life, etc.
OTHER THAN guests booking an $89 AKL @ Night Event,

guests will be willing to pay!!

PLUS, unlike the EMM events, they don't have to limit it to 300 guests,
NOR throw in a breakfast!

NOpe, they could EVEN offer the ROL dining packages,
for breakfast & lunch @ TH, etc.
ANOTHER $69 per guest.
With BONUS gate receipts for having to use a Park ticket to attend the ROL ADR!

Would guests boycott ROL because it is @ minimum $89
as a separate hard ticket nighttime event ?!

How about paying almost $300 per guest to see ROL in a reserved seating section--
needing to pay for a day ticket, & the ROL Dining Pkg?!--
would guests boycott THAT?!

I wouldn't boycott anything. They're free to offer what they want and I'm free to decide whether or not I'm willing to pay for it.

 

[mom2rtk]

But the difference is that the POINT of the parties isn't limited attendance. That was just a "bonus"...the point was a holiday celebration. Regardless of attendance, people will go because of special fireworks and parades and decorations. However, the POINT of EMM is limited attendance and exclusive access. If they take that away, the event loses the ONLY selling point it has.

What is a bonus for one person is the entire reason for attending to another.

But I get it. EMM offers nothing in addition to the attraction access and breakfast. You want with all your heart to believe they won't ruin it by diluting the experience with more bodies. I believe with all my heart they won't be able to resist the temptation of inching those numbers up (assuming it remains popular).

Only time will tell.

 

[mom2rtk]

I wouldn't boycott anything. They're free to offer what they want and I'm free to decide whether or not I'm willing to pay for it.

And we're all free to sit on the sidelines and express our opinions about those offerings.

 

[YawningDodo]

Deleted because I hit a point where I was being uncivil and I'd rather not go down that road.

 

[JimmyV]

But the number of attractions in MK in 2010 was very different from the number of attractions in 2015.

Two is very different?

Added:
7DMT
Enchanted Tales With Belle
Under The Sea

Retired:
Snow White's Scary Adventure

Net gain=2. So that justifies increasing the party size? Do you honestly think that anyone at Disney said: "You know what? We just added two attractions to the roster, so I think we should sell 30% more tickets." Really? You truly believe that?

 

[JimmyV]

what benefit is your plan to Disney?

[Quoting a question that is both civil and relevant. ]
More people in the morning = more breakfast revenue. More coffee sold. More souvenirs sold. More of everything.
Flip it around. What benefit is it to Disney to limit the attendance to 500? I doubt Disney is making any money off of MMH. So the shareholders should be behind me.

 

[YawningDodo]

[Quoting a question that is both civil and relevant. ]
More people in the morning = more breakfast revenue. More coffee sold. More souvenirs sold. More of everything.
Flip it around. What benefit is it to Disney to limit the attendance to 500? I doubt Disney is making any money off of MMH. So the shareholders should be behind me.

I don't think either of us can prove that that's true or untrue. My gut feeling is that merchandise revenue early in the morning is going to be pretty low, given that it tends to be quite low during EMH. Anyone who shows up at 7:45 in the morning has rides on the brain, not shops. Breakfast, maybe, but again I doubt the take would be higher than what they're already getting from people buying breakfast and coffee and so on at the resorts or at the park when they arrive at 9:00.

The benefit to limiting it to 500 is that they can offer equivalently limited services and still attract visitors willing to pay the extra entrance cost. Three rides and one buffet is barely any staff at all compared to an entire park's attractions, restaurants, shops, and so on. There's also the consideration of the earlier opening potentially pushing back nighttime/early morning behind the scenes work. When I was a cast member at DHS, one of my regular shifts was 6:00 AM - 2:00 PM in-house laundry. Even arriving at 6:00 for a 9:00 opening, I'd always have to be really on top of things to get my morning tasks done in time to deliver certain items to certain attractions before all the gates between the backstage areas and various parts of the parks were closed in preparation for guests' arrival. When we had EMH at 8:00 I'd seriously have to book it. Now, 7:45 is not too different to an 8:00 EMH opening, but EMH doesn't happen every day -- and neither does EMM. I honestly don't know how much impact the earlier opening has on staffing arrangements, but keep in mind that it's not just a matter of opening up the gates earlier, and it's not just a matter of having an army of cast members in place when guests arrive -- it's having the army of cast members who work there overnight finish their tasks in less time. If that happens a couple times per week they can absorb it without assigning more people or assigning people to come in earlier and earlier, but if it's every day? That could be an issue. Again, from my experience working backstage at Fantasmic, the peak weeks when we had shows every single night without an opportunity for a dark day to get through all the repairs and other tasks that were left to the side during show nights were always really rough, but we could do it because there was an end in sight. Run things at top capacity every day of every month of every year and you're incurring bigger expenses than you might suppose.

Edit: Thank you, by the way, for not biting back. I disagree with you, but there's plenty of room to disagree without being a jerk about it.