Disney Announces Eliminating Magic Hours. Will Replace with 30 Minute Early Entrance to Parks

[mshanson3121]

But just comparing this to morning EMHs what are your thoughts? Obviously just eliminating the evening ones are a negative but I am just thinking the 30 mins every park vs an hour at one park in the morning

Well, I mean, I definitely think an hour was better than 30 minutes. I really don't feel like 30 minutes is that much of a perk. But, I do like that it's available for all parks - definitely makes planning easier.

If I had to pick one over the other though, honestly, I'd probably still choose the old way just because it was more time, so to me, more value, even if it did mean having to be a bit more strategic about planning.

Also, the old way was a lot better for off site guests, since everyone had a fair shot at rope drop at the parks not offering EMH. Off site guests will definitely be at a disadvantage now for rope-drop strategy (which we utilize).

So in that sense, it's well played by Disney because it definitely will encourage people on site, especially in a time when it really doesn't feel there's any benefit to being on site.

 

[WillJenDisney]

My girlfriend (now wife) and I hanging out in MK after midnight when the place was empty was one of my favorite experiences I had at Disney. There's only so many of these things we come to love that they can take away before we decide to visit other places.

 

[Disney Bobby]

You could still get that experience with the Disney After Hours parties, if they bring them back. Haven't heard yet if they are returning once everything get back to "normal". I hope so, because they were awesome.

 

[TravelandLeisure]

You could still get that experience with the Disney After Hours parties, if they bring them back. Haven't heard yet if they are returning once everything get back to "normal". I hope so, because they were awesome.

Paying $100+ on top of an already expensive day ticket just doesn’t fly with a lot of people. The price for a family would be astronomical.

 

[angelmav]

This doesn’t move the needle for us. While I would use it, my family doesn’t want to get up that early on vacation anyway. Forcing people to do WDW your way winds up not being fun for anyone.

However we would occasionally use the night EMH, so that IS a loss.

The tricky thing now will be predicting what park will be busy. Going to be a lot more random.

 

[maverik85]

I think this is better.

As far as mornings go I agree. We're only losing 30 minutes of early admission but now you have options and with spreading the guests out across all 4 parks instead of all descending on one it will probably make the extra time more beneficial. It does suck to lose the evening hours though so I hope they eventually reinstate something for that.

 

[mshanson3121]

As far as mornings go I agree. We're only losing 30 minutes of early admission but now you have options and with spreading the guests out across all 4 parks instead of all descending on one it will probably make the extra time more beneficial. It does suck to lose the evening hours though so I hope they eventually reinstate something for that.

Oh they will, and at the bargain price of $129 per person!

 

[ford91exploder]

My girlfriend (now wife) and I hanging out in MK after midnight when the place was empty was one of my favorite experiences I had at Disney. There's only so many of these things we come to love that they can take away before we decide to visit other places.

Being in the MK late at night was indeed a magical experience for DW and I and it's one of the things I miss most, The park is at its most beautiful at night. And with a 3 hour EMH you could be there at 2-3 in the morning and really appreciate the genius of the imagineers who designed and built the MK

 

[Raemama]

My girlfriend (now wife) and I hanging out in MK after midnight when the place was empty was one of my favorite experiences I had at Disney. There's only so many of these things we come to love that they can take away before we decide to visit other places.

It’s still possible to hang out after park close, it’s just earlier now. The problem for me is that after park close, what’s left to do? Everything closes at 10pm right now. Glad I’m a “go to bed early” kind of person.

 

[Krystal659]

It’s still possible to hang out after park close, it’s just earlier now. The problem for me is that after park close, what’s left to do? Everything closes at 10pm right now. Glad I’m a “go to bed early” kind of person.

I agree, we went to Universal for the first time over the summer. The parks closed around 6:00-7:00 and it left us sitting in our hotel room after dinner. We decided then and there we would not pay for that experience again. It’s just not how we “vacation”. However, I understand that some people love restful vacations

 

[MickeyWaffles]

Being in the MK late at night was indeed a magical experience for DW and I and it's one of the things I miss most, The park is at its most beautiful at night. And with a 3 hour EMH you could be there at 2-3 in the morning and really appreciate the genius of the imagineers who designed and built the MK

I agree with you. It was very magical. My sister and I went to many of the 3:00am EMH and by 1:30 there was a huge dropoff of fading guests and by 2:00 MK was virtually empty. With still an hour to go.

We have pictures of us standing in the middle of completely empty lands, not a soul around us. It seemed silly to keep the park open so late for so few people. Very few actually stayed that late. While I have magical memories of doing things riding Splash over and over without getting back in line, and walking through an empty Adventureland with the Pirates score blaring, people really didn’t take advantage of those late late hours (which made it so empty and fun!)

But it was also pretty wasteful to schedule and pay all those CMs for so few guests. While I myself enjoyed the super late EMH countless times, I understand why it’s not really the best operational decision.

I do think later hours would be nice for the night owls and to spread out crowds more. But very few people actually took advantage of the super duper late ones.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I agree with you. It was very magical. My sister and I went to many of the 3:00am EMH and by 1:30 there was a huge dropoff of fading guests and by 2:00 MK was virtually empty. With still an hour to go.

We have pictures of us standing in the middle of completely empty lands, not a soul around us. It seemed silly to keep the park open so late for so few people. Very few actually stayed that late. While I have magical memories of doing things riding Splash over and over without getting back in line, and walking through an empty Adventureland with the Pirates score blaring, people really didn’t take advantage of those late late hours (which made it so empty and fun!)

But it was also pretty wasteful to schedule and pay all those CMs for so few guests. While I myself enjoyed the super late EMH countless times, I understand why it’s not really the best operational decision.

I do think later hours would be nice for the night owls and to spread out crowds more. But very few people actually took advantage of the super duper late ones.

yeah, when the take is "this is awesome, there is no one here!" - it's not super realistic for that to continue

and there will be ways to stay late - it will be a hard ticket event that in the past was a separate ticket, not an add on to a day ticket

would be nice if a bit of a compromise - eventually - keeping the parks open a bit later (11 or 12) and then the after hours events are what take you to 2am or 3am

 

[ford91exploder]

yeah, when the take is "this is awesome, there is no one here!" - it's not super realistic for that to continue

and there will be ways to stay late - it will be a hard ticket event that in the past was a separate ticket, not an add on to a day ticket

would be nice if a bit of a compromise - eventually - keeping the parks open a bit later (11 or 12) and then the after hours events are what take you to 2am or 3am

remember though that WDW never really closes so also remember by that time only 2-3 rides open and the Emporium so it was only a small delta above the normal cost for operating the park. And it was part of the Disney difference between staying at the Marriott vs Disney at 2-3x the price. Those magic experiences were part of the extra expense of staying at a Disney resort.

so what does not make sense anymore is staying in a Disney hotel at 2-3 x the price of the Marriot without any of those perks that made the magic

 

[MickeyWaffles]

so what does not make sense anymore is staying in a Disney hotel at 2-3 x the price of the Marriot without any of those perks that made the magic

Disney resorts were 2-3x the price of the Marriott and others long before the bonus “perks” like EMH, Magical Express, etc. that people now associate with on-site stays existed. Disney resorts were never the most inexpensive option. Lots of people stay at them for reasons that are not just a line item on a spreadsheet.

Prices for the Marriott have also increased significantly over time.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

remember though that WDW never really closes so also remember by that time only 2-3 rides open and the Emporium so it was only a small delta above the normal cost for operating the park. And it was part of the Disney difference between staying at the Marriott vs Disney at 2-3x the price. Those magic experiences were part of the extra expense of staying at a Disney resort.

so what does not make sense anymore is staying in a Disney hotel at 2-3 x the price of the Marriot without any of those perks that made the magic

oh for sure ... and that has been a big discussion topic of late, as to what are you paying for when you choose to stay on property. For some, the perks aren't really a factor - it is being in the Bubble, proximity to the parks, etc. ... but for others those perks (DME, EMH, FP+ at 60 days, etc.) were a big part of being willing to pay 2-3x other comparable options

I think for now, with reduced capacity, Disney is happy to focus on the people willing to pay the higher rate without needing those extra perks (so lower expenses, maximize the retained profits per person) ... but long term, will that be sufficient? When they have all the resorts open will they be able to fill them without adding back some perks?

 

[Darkhaund]

I find less and less reasons to go back... especially to property

 

[ford91exploder]

oh for sure ... and that has been a big discussion topic of late, as to what are you paying for when you choose to stay on property. For some, the perks aren't really a factor - it is being in the Bubble, proximity to the parks, etc. ... but for others those perks (DME, EMH, FP+ at 60 days, etc.) were a big part of being willing to pay 2-3x other comparable options

I think for now, with reduced capacity, Disney is happy to focus on the people willing to pay the higher rate without needing those extra perks (so lower expenses, maximize the retained profits per person) ... but long term, will that be sufficient? When they have all the resorts open will they be able to fill them without adding back some perks?

The profit over guest experience took hold about 2015. Because before then the MK during peak seasons was routinely open till midnight 1 am. No emh needed

 

[ford91exploder]

Disney resorts were 2-3x the price of the Marriott and others long before the bonus “perks” like EMH, Magical Express, etc. that people now associate with on-site stays existed. Disney resorts were never the most inexpensive option. Lots of people stay at them for reasons that are not just a line item on a spreadsheet.

Prices for the Marriott have also increased significantly over time.

But i can stay at Marriott on the points I earn, or earn points while i stay...

 

[Darkhaund]

As fo now (I know thigns can change) but

1. No more magical express
2. Limited entertainment
3. no more EMH
4. reduced hours
5. wearing a mask all day (I personally could not stand this)

So it looks like we wont go for quite a while

 

[smallworldnh]

They just keep on taking the things away that make the trip, especially staying on site, extra special. I'm so bummed about this. We loved evening EMH, especially at Epcot! :::sigh:::