Boycott EMM or...

[JerseyJanice]

"Early Morning" anything is not my idea of vacation. YMMV

After 9/11, WDW swapped out EMH for a Character Caravan which was a bus full of characters that visited WDW resorts. I don't recall whether it went to only deluxe resorts. I do know it came to the Wilderness Lodge and the characters met guests in the lobby because we stayed there in June 2002.

Anyway, it was an experiment that failed. Resort bookings went down, so they brought back EMH. I personally think that EMH is a big selling point for a lot of people.

 

[HopperFan]

I am not Disney's target market. I have APs, I travel often. I stay onsite but not every trip. I eat offsite, especially when staying offsite. I no longer have Dining Plan, I have TIW. I pack sandwiches some days and rarely buy snacks. I shop the outlet store and sometimes on property. I buy the extra events when they work for me, but mostly do not. I am not the guest or wallet they are targeting - but I have no issues with the extra offerings that they put out there.

I'm not your typical DISer, but I probably am closer to demographic Disney actually seems to go for. We're once every few years visitors. EMH was not a deciding factor on our first trip (for either DH or I since we were 10 and there was no Epcot). We just wanted to be in the bubble, not have to drive, and we wanted the dining plan. The deciding factor for our first visit that made us finally book after putting it off for a few years, was FP+. EMH were a bonus. For our next trip (Sept. 2017), again, EMH aren't a deciding factor. We want the transportation, the dining plan, and a great pool. When I plan ADRs I will plan based on published hours, not history, not what I feel Disney owes me, not what I feel should be because that's what I think is best for operations. My FPs will be done the same. If hours get extended in either direction after all that is said and done, so be it. Changing from a 10pm close to an 11 doesn't change a single thing about my plans except that maybe we can spend another (bonus to us because it wasn't there when we planned to go) hour in the park if DD is up to it.

Sounds like you are very much Disney's target market on many points. If EMH go away, the target market will not have any less interest in staying on site.

Nope, just nope.

I'm travelling all the way from Australia and if I think it is worth my money and going to be an enjoyable experience for my family, then I'll pay for it, and if I don't, I won't pay for it. But I sure as hell won't boycott something because it might or might no change operations in the future. Who knows, even if these are unsuccessful and don't continue (and I'm guessing they're not since they are expanding!) they could still take away EMH or any other perk that isn't cost effective for Disney.

Live in the moment, enjoy each trip and stop worrying about what Disney might do to you.

You are also very much Disney's target market. The guests who want to make every minute count and willing to spend the money to do so.

The future is going to change whether guests are happy about it or not - and decisions will be made in what is the best interest of Disney, and their stockholders.

And we can all keep making assumptions about why things have been introduced or eliminated but as most things here it's just armchair guessing. Guessing into the future is pointless. I just plan to enjoy each trip as I plan them with the offerings that come with that trip. I book what works for me and don't book the rest. My choice.

 

[nilla]

To me, this is like saying boycott appetizers because Disney took them off the standard dining plan.

 

[fbb]

To me, this is like saying boycott appetizers because Disney took them off the standard dining plan.

I've been boycotting Boma since 2008. Prime rib ought to be back any day now.

 

[MariMama]

They are limited for now. The holiday parties were also more limited at one time and they have become more and more crowded. I don't see any reason to believe that the upsells won't track the same way.

I find it highly amusing people believe these "exclusive" events will remain with a low number of tickets sold.

 

[mom2rtk]

I find it highly amusing people believe these "exclusive" events will remain with a low number of tickets sold.

Nobody who has been to a Halloween or Christmas party should be able to say that with a straight face.

 

[nilla]

I've been boycotting Boma since 2008. Prime rib ought to be back any day now.

Same with me, Kona, and the Tuna Oscar

 

[Regan117]

I find it highly amusing people believe these "exclusive" events will remain with a low number of tickets sold.

But those parties aren't exclusive. They're parties. These EMM events won't continue to be successful if they are oversold. People will always go to the parties because they are holiday special events. They aren't promising any special access to rides or characters at those parties. But the EMM is SPECIFICALLY for extra access to certain rides. If that access ends because of too many tickets being sold, then the event isn't what they are advertising and it will end.

 

[HopperFan]

To me, this is like saying boycott appetizers because Disney took them off the standard dining plan.

And they started making us pay the gratuities! Double teaming us!

I've been boycotting Boma since 2008. Prime rib ought to be back any day now.

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 find it highly amusing people believe these "exclusive" events will remain with a low number of tickets sold.

WELL, if they continue to only offer a couple rides and a meal in a single restaurant they don't have the wiggle room to do so - so yes they would stay small.

Now a PP suggested and I see it as workable that there would be a choice of a couple EMM in the same park:

MK -
Fantasyland EMM as it is now
Tomorrowland EMM with SM, Buzz, add a couple characters and breakfast at Tomorrowland Terrace
Use two different wristbands and you can't go to the other EMM

It would be doable at other parks as well but honestly I think it would work best with big draw rides or the new lands coming in.

 

[Praying Colonel]

Same with me, Kona, and the Tuna Oscar

Aw, now I'm sad. Loved that entrée. And it's lunch.

 

[mom2rtk]

But those parties aren't exclusive. They're parties. These EMM events won't continue to be successful if they are oversold. People will always go to the parties because they are holiday special events. They aren't promising any special access to rides or characters at those parties. But the EMM is SPECIFICALLY for extra access to certain rides. If that access ends because of too many tickets being sold, then the event isn't what they are advertising and it will end.

Those parties have always been promoted as having "limited attendance".

 

[IrishNYC]

Those parties have always been promoted as having "limited attendance".

But they are limited attendance. They sell out. Maybe it's not as limited as people would like, but there is a finite number of people that can attend.

 

[mom2rtk]

But they are limited attendance. They sell out. Maybe it's not as limited as people would like, but there is a finite number of people that can attend.

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.

 

[KrazeeK120]

Those parties have always been promoted as having "limited attendance".

The attendance IS limited at the parties. It may not be limited to the level everyone wants, but it is still limited, and some (many? several?) of the dates do sell out, indicating that guests are still willing to pay, despite the crowd level.

EMM works because of how small it is. If Disney opened ONLY 3 rides in the park and then allowed thousands of people in, EMM WOULD NOT WORK. They really, truly are marketing this as an exclusive event (which it is).

The parties don't exist for the purpose of having low ride wait times. They exist for special entertainment. The EMM exists solely for the purpose of short wait times on popular rides. Parties and EMM really shouldn't be compared to one another as the goals of the two are not the same (or even similar).

 

[mom2rtk]

The attendance IS limited at the parties. It may not be limited to the level everyone wants, but it is still limited, and some (many? several?) of the dates do sell out, indicating that guests are still willing to pay, despite the crowd level.

EMM works because of how small it is. If Disney opened ONLY 3 rides in the park and then allowed thousands of people in, EMM WOULD NOT WORK. They really, truly are marketing this as an exclusive event (which it is).

The parties don't exist for the purpose of having low ride wait times. They exist for special entertainment. The EMM exists solely for the purpose of short wait times on popular rides. Parties and EMM really shouldn't be compared to one another as the goals of the two are not the same (or even similar).

Yeah, I know that. I'm just saying that it's a moving target over the years. And if you like EMM and want to enjoy EMM, do it now. Before that target moves as well.

If the EMM events sell out over time, I just think you're kidding yourself if you don't think Disney would start moving the total admission numbers up over time.

I understand many will not agree with that.

 

[JimmyV]

Now a PP suggested and I see it as workable that there would be a choice of a couple EMM in the same park:

MK -
Fantasyland EMM as it is now
Tomorrowland EMM with SM, Buzz, add a couple characters and breakfast at Tomorrowland Terrace
Use two different wristbands and you can't go to the other EMM

Visualizing that...Adventureland would be open. Frontierland/Liberty Square would be open. Fantasyland would be open. Tomorrowland would be open.
So why not just add $5 to everyone's week-long ticket and open the park at 7:45 twice a week and let the crowd disperse organically? People keep complaining about the loss of exclusivity, but the 7:45 crowd is always going to be walk-on. The rooster is a better controller of crowds than is Ben Franklin.

 

[JimmyV]

If the EMM events sell out over time, I just think you're kidding yourself if you don't think Disney would start moving the total admission numbers up over time.

I understand many will not agree with that.

"We are selling out every one of these EMMs at 500 tickets per day, and our metrics tell us that lots more people are clicking on the link to buy tickets. But let's leave well enough alone and hold steady at 500. We could sell more tickets, but I don't think we should."............said no Disney Executive, EVER!!.

 

[HopperFan]

Visualizing that...Adventureland would be open. Frontierland/Liberty Square would be open. Fantasyland would be open. Tomorrowland would be open.
So why not just add $5 to everyone's week-long ticket and open the park at 7:45 twice a week and let the crowd disperse organically? People keep complaining about the loss of exclusivity, but the 7:45 crowd is always going to be walk-on. The rooster is a better controller of crowds than is Ben Franklin.

I don't think there is a park wide draw for EMM unless there is a specific attraction (7DMT, FEA, TSMM..) that is in demand. I don't see a draw to Adventureland/Frontierland or Liberty Square. Honestly it would be a push for Tomorrowland but if I think those two rides at minimum could work.

It will def work in Avatarland, Toy Story Land and Star Wars Land when open but for sure with Frozen Ever After. I'm surprised it wasn't next but then it must be operating with consistency first.

I get it, you would rather a park wide, longer hours for all .... but $5 a ticket is not going to pay the bills for a wide opening. Right now they are paying CMs and operation costs in a small area. Park wide is a whole different can of budget worms.

As long as folks are willing to pay for the events, they will have them. People want to think they have something special, something others don't have and there are many reasons these work for individual guests. Disney has had them forever with parties, tours, dining packages, dessert parties ......... I don't see the big deal.

"We are selling out every one of these EMMs at 500 tickets per day, and our metrics tell us that lots more people are clicking on the link to buy tickets. But let's leave well enough alone and hold steady at 500. We could sell more tickets, but I don't think we should."............said no Disney Executive, EVER!!.

But the EMM are restricted by the capacity of the attractions and restaurant. They can not open it wider unless they open other areas and additional dining. If they are selling out and they truly see folks clicking on sold out dates ......... I see them adding more mornings rather than opening more parts of the park, at least until these new lands are finished.

 

[Praying Colonel]

The capacity of the 1 restaurant keeps getting mentioned. Where's it written it only has to be 1 restaurant? I could see them opening another one if necessary.

As for attraction capacity, there are lots of ways for them to massage that. "So the guest ends up waiting in line 20 minutes instead of our current 10? Still a great deal for them. If not, they'll quit buying tickets. Make it happen. And while you're up, pass me some more cash to fondle."

This is the Era of the Bottom Line. If they can find a way to do it, they will.

 

[JimmyV]

But the EMM are restricted by the capacity of the attractions and restaurant. They can not open it wider unless they open other areas and additional dining.

Of course they can open it wider. Right now we are reading reports of people riding 7DMT 5, 6 times, maybe more. I'm not sure that was ever the intent. They can keep expanding this until every person gets two trips on 7DMT and one on Pooh, each with a wait of 10 minutes or less. Is that as good as walking on 5 times? No. Is it good enough to get people to pay for "exclusivity"? Of course it is. The operational capacity of 7DMT is 1,500 people per hour. The exclusive time period runs for a little over an hour. They can bump ticket sales up to 750-1000 and still give people what they paid for.

but $5 a ticket is not going to pay the bills for a wide opening. Right now they are paying CMs and operation costs in a small area. Park wide is a whole different can of budget worms.

You are way off on this one. There are over 30,000 hotel rooms just within WDW's property. Using only those rooms at 85% occupancy, there are around 82,000 people on site in any given week with multi-day passes. Add in a similar number for off site guests and you are conservatively at 150,000. Add $5 per ticket for the entire week (less than a buck a day) and you raise three quarters of a million dollars just to open the MK early once or twice a week. compare that to ($65 x 500) x (2) which is $65,000. If FL can open for an hour on a budget of $65,000, then the MK can open for an hour on a budget of $750,000.