Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[DGsAtBLT]

So is this the official end of any night magic hours?

Assume so, since I'm guessing there will be paid night events that will kick day guests out at 6PM and we'll see the likes of Valentines Day Party, St. Patrick's Day Party, 1st Day of Spring Party, 4th of July Party, Labor Day Party, June Party, Mickey's Not So Inexpensive Thursday Night Party, etc.

I nearly spit out my coffee at that last proposed party

 

[Moliphino]

I know the original post poo-pooed the idea of PM hours, but what impact would an extra 30 min at night have at all four parks in a similar vein? If I could scan my MB/DME app and get in one more SDMT or FEA run before heading "home," like the prior EMH protocol of scanning to verify before entering an attraction line, that would be an appealing perk.

I don't think 30 minutes after park close would get you much unless they stop letting people get in line right up until closing time.

 

[skeeter31]

Before Magical Express, the rental car lines at MCO were extra insane. Magical Express did pull a lot of people away from the rental car lines. We waited more than 3 hours for an Alamo pickup Easter week in 2002. No DME will impact the ease of getting a rental car again, IMO.

But that was also before the online checkin aspect of rental cars. Since about 2007 I have never waited in line for a rental car. I rent either Alamo, Enterprise, or National and do all check in online and walk straight to the aisle and pick out my car. Before DME that wasn’t a thing so I don’t think rental agencies will have that much of an issue handling this new demand

 

[Devil13]

I think the Evening Magic Hours are WAY more beneficial in terms of getting things done in the parks.

Probably due to the simple fact that younger kids wake up and go to bed earlier and families plan around that.

I've got teens and the nights are prime time for getting everything in, especially at the times when parks would stay open until midnight or later.

 

[butterscotchcollins]

Re: DME I would be OK with a paid option replacement, provided it's more personalized and on-demand (like a nicer version of Uber/Lyft, but Disneyfied) - having to wait around for DME and also leaving my resort so early to get to the airport 2 hours in advance is not something I would pay for but was a really nice perk for staying onsite.

On the flip side I worry that this is one more thing that will make it that much harder for families who do Disney on a tighter budget. It's enough that value resort rates and food prices are ridiculous (and yes I know there are ways around that) without adding the costs of transportation. There is more than enough opportunity for Disney to fill their coffers with more "value" offerings and not just jacking up the prices and targeting upper-middle class. If they keep going this way they are definitely going to lose out to their competitors who provide a more diverse high-quality experience at a fraction of the price.

ETA: Would definitely be willing to take a $80 Goofy's Enchanted Rickshaw to Mickey's Not So Inexpensive Thursday Night Party just to be in the ~*MaGiC*~ but that's just me

 

[DGsAtBLT]

so we know this is the official end of EMHs - obviously the early ones were replaced by this Early Entry so theoretically the evening ones could get replaced by something else included with your stay ....

... BUT I think much more likely is what you are guessing, in that there will be after hours hard ticket paid events all year round

I hate that you’re right.

The huge shift to pay to play evening hours (not just late hours, but 6 PM on) is one of my biggest complaints of the last decade or so of WDW. No doubt this opens the door for more.

 

[butterscotchcollins]

I hate that you’re right.

The huge shift to pay to play evening hours (not just late hours, but 6 PM on) is one of my biggest complaints of the last decade or so of WDW. No doubt this opens the door for more.

How much you hate it is in direct parallel to how likely it is that it'll happen

 

[brockash]

Yes but it's spread across all 4 parks. And it's everyday. That will spread out a lot of people. People won't all feel the need to get to the one park that has early hours scheduled that day.

I mean...it's 30 mins. I really don't think it's going to do much of anything. You'll have non resort ppl. there standing around waiting for the parks to open and resort guests trying to get through to their line to enter 30 mins. before official park open...which is really just happening every day now anyways. 30 mins. is a slap in the face.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

ETA: Would definitely be willing to take a $80 Goofy's Enchanted Rickshaw to Mickey's Not So Inexpensive Thursday Night Party just to be in the ~*MaGiC*~ but that's just me

For any Disney spies that are lurking in here, I too, am very interested in taking Goofy's Enchanted Rickshaw to Mickey's Not So Inexpensive Thursday Night Party.

 

[Farro]

I hate that you’re right.

The huge shift to pay to play evening hours (not just late hours, but 6 PM on) is one of my biggest complaints of the last decade or so of WDW. No doubt this opens the door for more.

I think it depends on what parks have it what night and how late will the other parks stay open?

So if it's AK's night, then depending on time of year, AK will close at 6 or 8 (when it gets dark, but earlier than normal) and have 3 hour party, but then MK is open until at least 10, DHS and Epcot open until 9, it can work?

 

[Farro]

I mean...it's 30 mins. I really don't think it's going to do much of anything. You'll have non resort ppl. there standing around waiting for the parks to open and resort guests trying to get through to their line to enter 30 mins. before official park open...which is really just happening every day now anyways. 30 mins. is a slap in the face.

What works for one might not work for another. I get that.

 

[SaintsManiac]

What works for one might not work for another. I get that.

Exactly. Take HS for example. While everyone is running to GE or Slinky Dog we would head toward ToT and my husband and daughter could get a couple of rides in back to back while I sip an iced coffee and people watch.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

But that was also before the online checkin aspect of rental cars. Since about 2007 I have never waited in line for a rental car. I rent either Alamo, Enterprise, or National and do all check in online and walk straight to the aisle and pick out my car. Before DME that wasn’t a thing so I don’t think rental agencies will have that much of an issue handling this new demand

Idk, we've waited in plenty of rental car lines since 2007

We've also rented cars online and not had what we needed available when we went to pick it up. (Like the time we needed an SUV and the *only* car Enterprise had was a Sebring convertible.)

 

[sullivan.kscott]

I mean...it's 30 mins. I really don't think it's going to do much of anything. You'll have non resort ppl. there standing around waiting for the parks to open and resort guests trying to get through to their line to enter 30 mins. before official park open...which is really just happening every day now anyways. 30 mins. is a slap in the face.

That’s my biggest concern. In a vacuum, all 4 parks is great because it spreads people out. But non-resort guests are going to be flooding the gates at all 4 parks, too, knowing that people are already in there clogging lines for the headliners. It will cause a crush at the gates that will realistically only be resolved by CM letting in everyone. I guess that could be resolved by CM verifying at the queue individual’s “eligibility”

 

[DGsAtBLT]

I think it depends on what parks have it what night and how late will the other parks stay open?

So if it's AK's night, then depending on time of year, AK will close at 6 or 8 (when it gets dark, but earlier than normal) and have 3 hour party, but then MK is open until at least 10, DHS and Epcot open until 9, it can work?

I am too cynical to see it that way. My negativity spiced version: this opens the door to a year round August-December like party season, where at least half of the week sees early MK closures making it a royal pain to ever see MK nighttime entertainment (when it returns) unless you’re willing to pay to play.

We went adult only in the fall but would opt for other times of the year with our kids solely because of the huge cut in MK time.

 

[butterscotchcollins]

Re: RAT I just got a DVC newsletter with it as the content headliner - I work in CRM (not for Disney), this links to a promo video showing almost the entire ride, they're ready.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

Re: RAT I just got a DVC newsletter with it as the content headliner - I work in CRM, this links to a promo video showing almost the entire ride, they're ready.

View attachment 549566

I got this too. Fingers crossed for an opening (at least soft?) next month!

Realistically, I think it will happen around spring break, but I can hope.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

That’s my biggest concern. In a vacuum, all 4 parks is great because it spreads people out. But non-resort guests are going to be flooding the gates at all 4 parks, too, knowing that people are already in there clogging lines for the headliners. It will cause a crush at the gates that will realistically only be resolved by CM letting in everyone. I guess that could be resolved by CM verifying at the queue individual’s “eligibility”

Not to mention that really sucks for offsite guests who can’t take advantage of rope drop at all anymore (and can’t strategically use FP anymore), or am I understanding wrong and it’s not every park every day?

I mean we’re talking about taking away FP+ not making it worthwhile to stay onsite, but if you’re a rope drop family this might be a bigger motivator?

 

[Farro]

Not to mention that really sucks for offsite guests who can’t take advantage of rope drop at all anymore (and can’t strategically use FP anymore), or am I understanding wrong and it’s not every park every day?

I mean we’re talking about taking away FP+ not making it worthwhile to stay onsite, but if you’re a rope drop family this might be a bigger motivator?

That's probably part of the point of it.

 

[hereforthechurros]

Re: RAT I just got a DVC newsletter with it as the content headliner - I work in CRM (not for Disney), this links to a promo video showing almost the entire ride, they're ready.

View attachment 549566

I just received this as well and thought it was curious. I know it says 2021 but sending this out if you're not opening for another 10 months would be strange. Or, just the Disney way.