Disney Early Morning Magic - Details & Prices

[Tara1988]

I don't see what's so bad about it. People pay nearly as much for a pre opening adr, with the hopes of maybe getting to ride one of those attractions before the crowds. At least this guarantees a chance to ride a few times along with the breakfast which will probably be better than what BOG offers.

 

[sharonabe]

Another thought on this, and the after dark event, is that it gives people who are staying offsite a way to do a version of EMH. And who knows if Disney has thought of this.

But.... If, for roughly $210 per person, get an early entry and a late night at MK, then why should I stay on site? Especially when I can get better rooms offsite, with shuttle service or uber? Or my car?

It would absolutely change my approach to Disney vacations, and not in Disney's favor money wise.

Except it's not $210 pp, it's $210 PLUS the cost of a regular ticket.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Park hours are not specifically printed on mailed advertising for potential guests. The EMH benefit is.

Makes no difference. A guest could possibly demand compensation from Disney based on that, who knows if they'd get it. But suing them would not work.

 

[HopperFan]

Oh wow, I've seen so many people ticked off by the idea that they had to stand on a bus. I remember one saying that staying at the Grand Floridian should mean that one should never have to stand on a bus.

Not fun. I still have my Port Orleans Bus Cards to prove I was allowed to use the buses.

 

[Praying Colonel]

I really wish we knew the initial/test dates. I'm wondering what a week would look like with regular EMH (if any), After Dark days, and Early Magic (or whatever these are called). I'm all about saying "if I don't like it, I just won't buy it but others can do what they want". However, depending on how many ticket they sell, as a PP mentioned, this can negate a regular guests ability to benefit from rope drop, the After a Dark days can ruin the last few hours of park time where the days guests and event guests overlap, and if you're one to AVOID the parks on EMH days. . . . I wonder if any "normal" or recommended days are left. Severely limiting on park strategies.

Yes, as someone who stays offsite on many of our visits, I was thinking this, too. If I'm trying to just get a MK day with lower crowds, I'm trying to avoid Early Morning Magic (gag), morning EMH, evening EMH and Evening "Whatever They're Calling It" after dark. Talk about threading the needle.

 

[Ninja Mom]

Sorry - EMH is not free. You would be paying for it by an increase in the rate you get charged at a Disney Resort - it was monetized the minute they introduced it. Obviously this is not itemized on your bill, but the additional cost of running EMH is factored into that cost. The sad reality is that inflation exists - things get more expensive year over year.

So let's say that the cost of EMH is paid for by resort guests, which I believe. Now, they are charging MORE for a resort stay and they have TAKEN AWAY EMH without reducing the cost factored into the resort stay. Now they reintroduce that EMH time slot with the demand that you now pay for that access. See how they did that? They monetized that EMH time slot.

Sorry HopperFan, you are paying for it. I am sure it costs a tonne of money to open an entire park for an hour earlier in the morning. Disney is not going to give that away for free. You resort fees are higher because of this - in other words it's a cost to you. It's hidden, but it's still a cost.

Let's say that inflation did not exist and operating Disney World did not cost more year over year (i.e. no increase in salaries, etc). If this were a reality AND they removed EMH, you could see a reduction in your resort fee. Again, in this scenario - if they removed EMH and did not reduce your resort fee, you could make a valid argument that they are being greedy.

Ding ding, ding, we have a winner! Our increased resort costs are subsidizing the "limited guest with fee" EMH that is now being offered.

~NM

 

[HopperFan]

Sorry HopperFan, you are paying for it. I am sure it costs a tonne of money to open an entire park for an hour earlier in the morning. Disney is not going to give that away for free. You resort fees are higher because of this - in other words it's a cost to you. It's hidden, but it's still a cost.

Let's say that inflation did not exist and operating Disney World did not cost more year over year (i.e. no increase in salaries, etc). If this were a reality AND they removed EMH, you could see a reduction in your resort fee. Again, in this scenario - if they removed EMH and did not reduce your resort fee, you could make a valid argument that they are being greedy.

So far there has never been a resort fee, so it is not a perk you are directly paying for.

I agree you are indirectly helping the umbrella of WDW bottom line to operate the EMH with the profits of hotels. But they are all their own profit centers as well. Anything can come and go. Again, no one was given money back on items they PAID for in the DDP when Disney took them away. So when I PAID for my Appetizer and Tips in November for my January trip and then come January they took them away - I took a loss and they were able to do that. People were upset. You could demand to be released from your vacation or you took the blow. This would be the same IF it would occur.

So let's say that the cost of EMH is paid for by resort guests, which I believe. Now, they are charging MORE for a resort stay and they have TAKEN AWAY EMH without reducing the cost factored into the resort stay. Now they reintroduce that EMH time slot with the demand that you now pay for that access. See how they did that? They monetized that EMH time slot.

~NM

They do it all the time, as have other companies. Smaller tubs of ice cream and chips but bigger prices. It's everywhere, why is Disney different?

EMH is a loss. They can make the decision to either make money or get rid of it. We don't know that they are getting rid of it, makes sense operationally and financially. But then most of what they have done at BOG makes no sense in that respect so .... And really if you think they HAVE to offer it (which I don't) they could fulfill that requirement by having 1 one hour EMH at each park each week. So Monday you go to MK, Tues to AK, Wed to Epcot and Thursday to DHS. No weekend EMH. Promise fulfilled. Costs cut.

We have a choice to stay on property or not. If it's not a value, don't.

 

[jknc]

But suing them would not work.

This is USA, where anything is possible. Remember your McDonalds coffee is HOT!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

This is USA, where anything is possible. Remember your McDonalds coffee is HOT!

I know this is meant to be a joke, but um, you should watch the documentary on this.

 

[Ninja Mom]

That's fair, but Disney knows that the longer you are in the parks with money-draining opportunities available, the more you will spend. That's one reason they love the Magic Band and MM+, people are being more efficient with their time. If, for example, there are no Photopass photographers available to take your picture in front of the castle during the ticketed event (it seems more focused on the backside of the castle), then that opportunity isn't available. That's fewer photos for Disney to sell to you. Same with on-ride photos, food, etc. If you get there super early and have that croissant, are you still not going to buy that Mickey Ear Ice Cream Bar later on? In some cases, it will be a matter of whether. If people are smart and have a budget and stick to it, yes I agree it is a matter of when. But the ability to charge things has been made so easy (and people my age are less likely to budget, and we are the ones starting to fill the parks) that I sense it is less so.

What Disney did with photopass was that they MADE the Annual Pass holders pay for a "benefit" that most do not use. They took sales that primarily would not exist and FORCED the sale on you by including it as a "benefit" of your AP. This cost was no doubt factored into the price rise on the AP as a means to subsidize the lack of sales from day guests.

See what they did there? Expect more of the same with the New Disney Parks "Nickle and Dime Magic".

~NM

 

[IrishNYC]

What Disney did with photopass was that they MADE the Annual Pass holders pay for a "benefit" that most do not use. They took sales that primarily would not exist and FORCED the sale on you by including it as a "benefit" of your AP. This cost was no doubt factored into the price rise on the AP as a means to subsidize the lack of sales from day guests.

See what they did there? Expect more of the same with the New Disney Parks "Nickle and Dime Magic".

~NM

If one doesn't like the new and improved "Nickel and Dime Magic" one isn't required to purchase it. No one is forced to go to Disney.

 

[dachsie]

So, with the change and people being in Fantasy land at RD, would you be able to get on Buzz pretty easily at RD then?

 

[book_junkie]

Except it's not $210 pp, it's $210 PLUS the cost of a regular ticket.

Right. But here's my thinking.

• Tickets alone now for family of 4 plus hopper ( adults plus two under 11)=$1700 approx
• Onsite pricing for moderate plus said tickets for Sept =$2900

For $1200 difference, I can definitely find a hotel that will give me beds for my kids, breakfast, and add in a morning or evening experience.

 

[RaginforDisneyRoy]

I could see this really annoying people who have ADR at Be Our Guest breakfast. One of the perks is eating before the park opens, then hitting Fantasyland before RD. That could go up in smoke and people will be ticked off. I'll be honest, I told my wife if they keep this up, next time we will go to Universal. Universal and Sea World have a real opportunity to get market share back if they're smart.

 

[Gillyrose779]

So, with the change and people being in Fantasy land at RD, would you be able to get on Buzz pretty easily at RD then?

I always thought Tomorrowland was great at rope drop- no one goes there! We'd hit Astro Orbiter, Buzz mult. times, the "stinky cars" lol, and have no problems whatsoever. By the time we are done crowds have finally picked up and off to our FP rides we go!

 

[IrishNYC]

I could see this really annoying people who have ADR at Be Our Guest breakfast. One of the perks is eating before the park opens, then hitting Fantasyland before RD. That could go up in smoke and people will be ticked off. I'll be honest, I told my wife if they keep this up, next time we will go to Universal. Universal and Sea World have a real opportunity to get market share back if they're smart.

It's an unintended perk. Disney saw how rabid people get over that "perk" when it's been occasionally unavailable, so now they're making it available at a price, and the now-intentional perk is breakfast.

 

[Nole95]

This is only the beginning. If it is successful, they will expand it and add more rides to it. By expand, they will let more people in, and add more rides to handle them. It will probably start out as all FL rides, and then maybe FL + all other mountains.

The only saving grace ride now is that it will not be every day, so at least you can plan around it. The ones that are screwed in all this are those that already have plans set for whatever dates eventually get announced for this.

 

[Gillyrose779]

It's an unintended perk. Disney saw how rabid people get over that "perk" when it's been occasionally unavailable, so now they're making it available at a price, and the now-intentional perk is breakfast.

I really think it's a perk that never should have happened. Why even allow people to ride the rides before park opening? I could see 5-10 min. but it seemed like 7DMT was opening 30 min+ before official opening where people are getting 3-4 rides in. Why did they even allow that to happen?

 

[IrishNYC]

Who is getting screwed? How? No one is being kept out of the park or off rides after regular hours. The hours aren't changing.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I really think it's a perk that never should have happened. Why even allow people to ride the rides before park opening? I could see 5-10 min. but it seemed like 7DMT was opening 30 min+ before official opening where people are getting 3-4 rides in. Why did they even allow that to happen?

I haven't been since 7DMT opened, but we have always used early ADRs to have a peaceful breakfast and then take fun videos before rope drop with an empty park. Having attractions open is stupid and is Disney's own fault, not an unintended perk, but an actual perk.