Disney adds a premium package to Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

[crostorfer]

I'm sure the same glowing reviews will show up when a similar hard ticket item is placed on the Christmas party, or when Extra Magic Hours become more 'magical' when a fifty dollar charge is added to them.

I wish they would charge for EMH. I wish they'd charge for FPs. Life at WDW would be a lot easier and more carefree if this was the case. I'm all for buying my way out of lines.

 

[wallrock]

Why do you say that?? If sucks why would anyone say it was great?

I think you’re still missing the point about the debate in general. It’s not about whether the event is great or not. It's Disney’s decision to basically go cheap with regards to ‘new’ items (although there’s really nothing new here) in the park and the folks out there that feed into that decision. The efforts behind the hard ticket items aren’t nearly as taxing financially as the efforts behind what most of us would call ‘attractions’, so Disney has taken the short cut to earn cheap money fast. Disney is mastering the idea of delivering very little or repackaging old items and putting a new price on them, oftentimes with little or no regard to the customer base (has everyone already forgotten the Villians debacle in Hollywood Studios?). Some people may think this particular item is ‘worth it’, but what it boils down to is that it is more expensive than a visit to the entire Magic Kingdom. You’re basically paying 165 bucks (got to count the admission cost for the Halloween party) for some dessert and a few meet and greets for a couple of hours whereas you pay a 100 to have access to the entire park all day long. To some of us that borders on absurdity. I don’t agree with repackaging of anything and charging for it, but I could forgive it somewhat if the cost was around 20 to 25 dollars.

As you have stated before no one is forcing folks to buy into this, however guests continue to line up. The more people do, the more Disney is going to go this route and have no incentive to build anything new or fix those attractions that are in need of fixing. Why fix something when the suits in Burbank are busy counting greenbacks? That’s what’s frustrating to me and perhaps a few others.

And to your question, yes, I think that there are people out there that will say any paid event is going to be great because it has Disney's stamp on it. For me, that's not good enough. For me, Disney's stamp used to mean wildly creative items and experiences that, while expensive, you felt you more or less got your money's worth. Unfortunately those days are gone. They can come back, but only when the customer decides it's time.

 

[Ero_FL]

I wish they would charge for EMH. I wish they'd charge for FPs. Life at WDW would be a lot easier and more carefree if this was the case. I'm all for buying my way out of lines.

A wo/man after my DH's heart!

 

[jtwibih]

I think you’re still missing the point about the debate in general. It’s not about whether the event is great or not. It's Disney’s decision to basically go cheap with regards to ‘new’ items (although there’s really nothing new here) in the park and the folks out there that feed into that decision. The efforts behind the hard ticket items aren’t nearly as taxing financially as the efforts behind what most of us would call ‘attractions’, so Disney has taken the short cut to earn cheap money fast. Disney is mastering the idea of delivering very little or repackaging old items and putting a new price on them, oftentimes with little or no regard to the customer base (has everyone already forgotten the Villians debacle in Hollywood Studios?). Some people may think this particular item is ‘worth it’, but what it boils down to is that it is more expensive than a visit to the entire Magic Kingdom. You’re basically paying 165 bucks (got to count the admission cost for the Halloween party) for some dessert and a few meet and greets for a couple of hours whereas you pay a 100 to have access to the entire park all day long. To some of us that borders on absurdity. I don’t agree with repackaging of anything and charging for it, but I could forgive it somewhat if the cost was around 20 to 25 dollars.

As you have stated before no one is forcing folks to buy into this, however guests continue to line up. The more people do, the more Disney is going to go this route and have no incentive to build anything new or fix those attractions that are in need of fixing. Why fix something when the suits in Burbank are busy counting greenbacks? That’s what’s frustrating to me and perhaps a few others.

And to your question, yes, I think that there are people out there that will say any paid event is going to be great because it has Disney's stamp on it. For me, that's not good enough. For me, Disney's stamp used to mean wildly creative items and experiences that, while expensive, you felt you more or less got your money's worth. Unfortunately those days are gone. They can come back, but only when the customer decides it's time.

This is what I was trying to say.

And I am voting with my wallet as well. It's not that these events are terrible necessarily. It's that this is a much cheaper way for Disney to provide entertainment vs how they did it in the old days.

I go to MVMCP every year. I love the atmosphere. But I will not do one of these hard ticket events within a hard ticket event because the price is not appealing for what it says you get.

You can continue to support this and I hope you enjoy it thoroughly. However you need to know the consequences are more hard ticket events replacing what used to be part of the base price to enter the park. This will also feed into Disney's reluctance to add more innovative attractions because now they don't have to invest nearly as much to entertain. That may be good business in this day and age and the stock price is certainly evidence of that but companies like Disney continue to trade quality for quantity.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I let you know when I'm there 21 days form now... If it sucks I will tell you ... But I gotta tell you from the videos and pictures I saw it looked pretty good to me...

I'd love to hear your take...

A few questions to ponder on my behalf...

1. Does if appear to be well thought out/ planned...or rushed together?
2. Does the food quality exceed standard Disney catering fare? (The price sure does)
3. Is the character time free flowing or planned/limited?
4. What is your first reaction to a $170 admission when the night is over? (It's wrong to consider the costs separate because they are concurrent... Disney often uses compartmentalized approaches to separate you from more money in the whole with strategic sales/ placement. That's a trap... It's divide and conquer your wallet)

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I'm sure the same glowing reviews will show up when a similar hard ticket item is placed on the Christmas party, or when Extra Magic Hours become more 'magical' when a fifty dollar charge is added to them.

No doubt

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Why do you say that?? If sucks why would anyone say it was great?

Misguided "cast members"...posters with a financial interest in promotion on sites such as this... Disneyfiles who feel its their job to promote and defend because they can't effectively separate their lives from the image that has been created...

You know... The usuals

 

[Planogirl]

There are certainly people who like everything Disney does (or claim to ) and a few that don't care for anything. It has always been that way. What bothers me are those who don't care what Disney charges and some would even prefer it if Disney priced some people out of the parks. I can't think like that because while I realize that Disney isn't a charity and deserves to make as much money as possible, the company should also offer a solid product based upon what the market will bear. At least that's what I believe. When will the average visitor be priced out of many of the activities if this goes on? Is Disney being reasonable if that should happen?

 

[patrickpiteo]

I'd love to hear your take... A few questions to ponder on my behalf... 1. Does if appear to be well thought out/ planned...or rushed together? 2. Does the food quality exceed standard Disney catering fare? (The price sure does) 3. Is the character time free flowing or planned/limited? 4. What is your first reaction to a $170 admission when the night is over? (It's wrong to consider the costs separate because they are concurrent... Disney often uses compartmentalized approaches to separate you from more money in the whole with strategic sales/ placement. That's a trap... It's divide and conquer your wallet)

A few questions to ponder on my behalf...

1. Does if appear to be well thought out/ planned...or rushed together?
From the pictures I seen and videos it looked well planned. Just cause it was just announced doesn't mean it was well planned. You don't need months of planning to make something good.


2. Does the food quality exceed standard Disney catering fare? (The price sure does)

Desserts?? I ain't expecting a full sit down meal.

3. Is the character time free flowing or planned/limited?

Looked free flowing to me and what character meal isn't orchestrated?

4. What is your first reaction to a $170 admission when the night is over?

I let you know when it's over..

To me it's a one time thing which we won't do again.. Not my first time at the party rodeo.. Did them with kids now empty nesters and seen just about everything from Disney over the years.

We could chose to go elsewhere but we don't.. Correction we added 2-3 days at the dark side the last 6 years..

 

[patrickpiteo]

Misguided "cast members"...posters with a financial interest in promotion on sites such as this... Disneyfiles who feel its their job to promote and defend because they can't effectively separate their lives from the image that has been created... You know... The usuals

You mean like honest to good real guests ?

 

[jtwibih]

A few questions to ponder on my behalf...

1. Does if appear to be well thought out/ planned...or rushed together?
From the pictures I seen and videos it looked well planned. Just cause it was just announced doesn't mean it was well planned. You don't need months of planning to make something good.

I don't know, the Villains thing at DHS looked like pretty poor planning when there were reports of long lines at guest relations getting refunds


2. Does the food quality exceed standard Disney catering fare? (The price sure does)

Desserts?? I ain't expecting a full sit down meal.

I've also heard the same about other dessert parties in WDW that have been below average for the cost. We were going to check ou the Tomorrowland Terrace Wishes dessert party or whatever it was called. I kept seeing blah ratings about what you were getting for the cost. And I don't think the cost was that high either.

3. Is the character time free flowing or planned/limited?

Looked free flowing to me and what character meal isn't orchestrated?

I don't do many character dinings but the ones I've done seemed free flowing. I didn't feel rushed in my interactions with characters

4. What is your first reaction to a $170 admission when the night is over?

I let you know when it's over..

I don't have much to say about this except that $170 per person for 5 hours just seems insane.

To me it's a one time thing which we won't do again.. Not my first time at the party rodeo.. Did them with kids now empty nesters and seen just about everything from Disney over the years.

We could chose to go elsewhere but we don't.. Correction we added 2-3 days at the dark side the last 6 years..

Overall I get what you are saying and I somewhat understand those who just want to see what it's about. It is fun to find new things to do at WDW, especially for those of us who go all often. I still think it's a lazy effort even if it is fun. My thoughts are that people are just desperate for anything new that WDW is offering and will applaud almost anything. Probably a harsh view but it's honest.

 

[patrickpiteo]

Overall I get what you are saying and I somewhat understand those who just want to see what it's about. It is fun to find new things to do at WDW, especially for those of us who go all often. I still think it's a lazy effort even if it is fun. My thoughts are that people are just desperate for anything new that WDW is offering and will applaud almost anything. Probably a harsh view but it's honest.

No I think you make a good valid point

 

[manning]

One day it will happen, but no one will know when. If management play it wrong Disney world could become one big River Country.

 

[robpa]

One day it will happen, but no one will know when. If management play it wrong Disney world could become one big River Country.

Nope to much money to be made yet with very little investment. Besides, by then all the current suits will have made more than enough money to really care anyway.

 

[Tim999ghosts]

Way too much $!

 

[crostorfer]

A wo/man after my DH's heart!

As Animal would say...."WO-MAN! WO-MAN! W-MOMAN!"

 

[ChipnDale79]

One day it will happen, but no one will know when. If management play it wrong Disney world could become one big River Country.

It's a slow process, but if the current Disney management style continues over the next 20, 30, or 40 years, then Disney will not be the most creative theme park in the world.

To the people that say raise prices so that so many people wont come and I won't have to wait longer in line, bite me. IMO Disney is best when the average family can afford a Disney vacation every couple of years.

 

[manning]

It's a slow process, but if the current Disney management style continues over the next 20, 30, or 40 years, then Disney will not be the most creative theme park in the world.

To the people that say raise prices so that so many people wont come and I won't have to wait longer in line, bite me. IMO Disney is best when the average family can afford a Disney vacation every couple of years.

It's trending that way. Disney is well on its way to becoming a rich man playground. That's ok. I'm old now and I realized something. I survived my youth without Disney. The joy of using my imagination to entertain myself.

 

[ChipnDale79]

It's trending that way. Disney is well on its way to becoming a rich man playground. That's ok. I'm old now and I realized something. I survived my youth without Disney. The joy of using my imagination to entertain myself.

Good for you.

But i don't think Walt envisioned a retirement community when he thought of Disneyland.

 

[Planogirl]

Good for you.

But i don't think Walt envisioned a retirement community when he thought of Disneyland.

No, he envisioned a place where all family members could find joy. Or so I've heard.