Disney Early Morning Magic - Details & Prices

[IrishNYC]

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 completely agree. Disney created an expectation, and now they've flipped the expectation to their advantage.

 

[Gillyrose779]

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.

I think the only ones "getting screwed" are the people getting before park opening- morning reservations for the less crowded pics of the castle and early access to the rides. Really these were never guaranteed perks by Disney... People, of course, got used to it so, of course, they complain.

I really don't think EMH is going anywhere--- I just think this is a way for Disney to make money on non-EMH days.

 

[Sevey13]

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

I'm not sure what Annual Passholders have to do with my comment. Do you mind elaborating?

 

[cdnSpinalTap]

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.

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

Sorry - not sure you read the entire scenario. This was assuming that all other things were equal and not increasing year over year - no increase in salaries, no increase in the cost of fuel, no increase in the cost of electricity, etc. ONLY a decrease in one service (removing EMH). All of things things cost more every year, therefore they have to increase the price of rooms, tickets, etc. - again, inflation. Don't get me wrong, I am sure there is not a 1:1 relationship with inflation and the increase in costs - but again, Disney is in the business of making money and as a consumer you can choose not to use their services and therefore they would technically make less money. If this happened with enough people, Disney would then be inclined to change their business model.

The additional sad reality is that the old adage is correct - nothing in this world is free. Even the "free" water you get at disney by asking for it is not free. We all pay for that somewhere. One day if Disney were to remove this "free" water, but not reduce your ticket price - rest assured a cost has gone up somewhere else to offset this.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

The additional sad reality is that the old adage is correct - nothing in this world is free. Even the "free" water you get at disney by asking for it is not free. We all pay for that somewhere. One day if Disney were to remove this "free" water, but not reduce your ticket price - rest assured a cost has gone up somewhere else to offset this.

Never, ever drink tap water in Florida. Free or not free.

 

[maryj11]

This has probably been posted already but..............

Kenny's site says the exclusivity ends at 9am when the park opens to all.................

Doug

 

[Nancyg56]

That's true, although I think most people use those pre-park ADRs to get pictures of the empty main street and to get in line for the popular attractions.

I bet you a buck that if the BOG folks cannot get on an attraction pre RD, the number of those folks will drop back.

 

[cdnSpinalTap]

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.

Sorry HopperFan - resort fee was the wrong choice of words. The cost of the EMH would be factored into the cost you pay per night to stay at the resort - your room charge.

At the end of the day, Disney is looking at one thing - their stock price. We can talk about different profit centres, etc. - but they are really trying to get a target Net Profit Margin for their entire company in order to increase the value of the stock, as demanded by the Board of Directors who are guided by the shareholders of the company - some of us, I am sure. Supply and demand always wins out. If they make decisions that decrease demand, and thus decreases the stock price, maybe some of these "free" perks will come back, and in turn increase supply. Unfortunately they could not do this forever, as eventually they would start losing money again, the prices would have to increase, services would have to drop - and so the circle continues.

Don't get me wrong - I have a family of 5 AND I live in Canada (my vacations costs me 30% more right out of the gate due to exchange) - we are huge Disney fans. My daughter is 12 and has been there 12 times. My vacation cost me over $15,000 CDN this year - 9 days at BWV. I have no preconceptions that I will be able to afford Disney with 3 kids forever. I certainly would love to, but at some point it is going to become unaffordable for me - it's just simple economics. Disney does not "owe" that to me. I will certainly be disappointed, but we will also find something else to do with the people we love, and I am sure we will be just as happy.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

I completely agree. Disney created an expectation, and now they've flipped the expectation to their advantage.

But it always was to their advantage. They filled early morning ADRs that might otherwise have not been filled. I believe they don't leave any of these 'loopholes' open unless they feel they're benefitting in some way.

 

[JimmyV]

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.

Of course they have thought of this. Indeed, if they really do intend to keep EMH in place, then off site guests have to be the driving force behind the new events. Disney's thinking goes like this:

1. Half of our guest come from off site.
2. Our new FP+ system has reallocated ride space such that early morning hours and late night hours are critical for those who want multiple rides on headliners.
3. Those hours have become a valuable commodity.
4. We already give those hours to our on site guests included within the cost of their rooms.
5. Off site guests would love to have access to more hours.
6. Off site guests want extra hours so badly that they will pay for them.

Again, assuming that they intend to keep EMHs in place, the target audience has to be off site guests. The cost of each ride during the morning hour breaks down to about $10, ($70 admission--of which $30 is for breakfast and $40 is for four rides of your choice during the hour). It is hard to imagine why an onsite guest would pay $10 to ride Peter Pan or Pooh at 8:20 a.m. when they could do the same thing for free a couple of days later. But the off site guest has no other alternative.

 

[Jake&IzzyLand]

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.

I thought the same thing. I wonder if you can do both events and get what all you like done in one day? Would sweeten the deal for those who go to multiple destinations while in Orlando.

 

[luvgoing2disney]

As my signature implies, I love going to Disney. It has such wonderful memories for us and taking our now grown son to experience the magic.

However, of late the magic has been ruined by the constant price increases.

I get it that Disney is a business and they are in it to make money. I have no problem with it. But they way that they are going about this is just ridiculous. No, I do not have to go into the parks early or stay late. No, I do not have to use the shampoo, soap, water, etc in the rooms, and I can bring most of those from home. No, I do not need to pay more to park close to the gates. But with the new fees or increase to fees that are just happening almost daily, it is just too much in too short a period.

We do vacation at other places, although Disney has been our happy place. But some of the magic is rapidly fading, and I NEVER thought I would ever say that. They have created a place that "takes you away from the real world" and you can leave it behind. But with all this money grabbing, the real world is inside the gates and making its presence known.

 

[HopperFan]

Sorry HopperFan - resort fee was the wrong choice of words. The cost of the EMH would be factored into the cost you pay per night to stay at the resort - your room charge.

At the end of the day, Disney is looking at one thing - their stock price. We can talk about different profit centres, etc. - but they are really trying to get a target Net Profit Margin for their entire company in order to increase the value of the stock, as demanded by the Board of Directors who are guided by the shareholders of the company - some of us, I am sure. Supply and demand always wins out. If they make decisions that decrease demand, and thus decreases the stock price, maybe some of these "free" perks will come back, and in turn increase supply. Unfortunately they could not do this forever, as eventually they would start losing money again, the prices would have to increase, services would have to drop - and so the circle continues.

Don't get me wrong - I have a family of 5 AND I live in Canada (my vacations costs me 30% more right out of the gate due to exchange) - we are huge Disney fans. My daughter is 12 and has been there 12 times. My vacation cost me over $15,000 CDN this year - 9 days at BWV. I have no preconceptions that I will be able to afford Disney with 3 kids forever. I certainly would love to, but at some point it is going to become unaffordable for me - it's just simple economics. Disney does not "owe" that to me. I will certainly be disappointed, but we will also find something else to do with the people we love, and I am sure we will be just as happy.

Since I've been going since 1970 (yup before it opened), over 100 times - I've seen so many changes nothing surprises me.

Over 30 year stockholder here. I want my stock back up and since impoding Shanghai is not an option it means reduce non-income producing costs (EMH) and bring in products guests will pay for. We'll see how this goes ...... all just us armchair execs talking ......... but for many reasons I don't see EMH coexisting with the income events. A good reason they don't have the manpower to pull it off. CMs are burnt out and they won't work these hours back to back.

For me personally EMH is the main perk for me to stay on property so I get it. But I don't think the repeat guest is Disney's demographic. Yes, us APs and megafans are their backbone in good times and bad but we are not their target. They can pull EMH and I don't believe it will impact the new customer target they are after because that customer will be more than willing to book a pay EMH.

It's a new Disney ...

 

[_auroraborealis_]

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?

It used to be pixie dust. Now, people expect it and have meltdowns at Guest Services if they aren't on 7DMT before rope drop if they ate at BOG.

 

[cdnSpinalTap]

Since I've been going since 1970 (yup before it opened), over 100 times - I've seen so many changes nothing surprises me.

Over 30 year stockholder here. I want my stock back up and since impoding Shanghai is not an option it means reduce non-income producing costs (EMH) and bring in products guests will pay for. We'll see how this goes ...... all just us armchair execs talking ......... but for many reasons I don't see EMH coexisting with the income events. A good reason they don't have the manpower to pull it off. CMs are burnt out and they won't work these hours back to back.

For me personally EMH is the main perk for me to stay on property so I get it. But I don't think the repeat guest is Disney's demographic. Yes, us APs and megafans are their backbone in good times and bad but we are not their target. They can pull EMH and I don't believe it will impact the new customer target they are after because that customer will be more than willing to book a pay EMH.

It's a new Disney ...

All great points HopperFan - I certainly don't disagree with you. Although my points border on pure logic - black and white, 1's and 0's (I'm a business owner of an IT company - a bad combo - as you express, you cannot untangle the emotion from this whole discussion. The "magic" has not ended for us yet, but believe me, I always have an eye cocked to the horizon expecting it to end, or certainly diminish with all these changes.

 

[capegirl]

No - you've got it correct. With as much pre-planning us "insiders" do, way in advance, springing this on us at this late date (I really feel for you people that are there on these "test dates" for DAH in April without knowing exactly how this will affect crowds) really puts our hard-worked plans in a quandary.

I have a BOG PPO ADR in June. I, personally, will not pay $69/$49 pp ($285) for my family of five for this new "event". If this Early Morning one happens on the day of my BOG ADR, then, yes, it WILL affect my plans - and yes, I WILL be annoyed.

But I can't make any changes yet to my plans because I don't know what the dates are. Perhaps they'll start in April/May like the evenings ones to start. When will they decide to move into June? Sometime mid-May? After I've had to make my FP+ plans and then try to rearrange them once the 30-day window opens up to everyone? (bye bye on-resort-perk-of-60-days-FP+-window) Will they start at one or two days per week in April/May? But then decide it's working so well they make it 3-5 days per week???

I'm getting even more annoyed writing this. LOL

Same feelings here. I think this is precisely the issue for planners. We are clearly at a disadvantage if we have to start from square one. My concern is not at all about the paid special event guests arriving in FL early to enjoy 3 attractions and breakfast, this does not float my boat, so I have no interest. The bone I have to pick is all about planning, and will such events have an impact on plans already in place? We are just left to wonder. Disney is well aware of the time consuming art of planning each park day, so I question their judgement on the timeliness of announcements. I think they could do better.

 

[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.

I'm not sure what Annual Passholders have to do with my comment. Do you mind elaborating?

You were referencing photo pass and I just wanted to point out how, as a part of the latest AP price increases/price gouging, mostly unwanted access to photo pass pictures were now touted as a benefit to justify part of the large price increase in the AP price. Disney manufactured a mandatory sale of Photopass access to a market that was not primarily interested in them (for various reasons like frequent trips and the ability to use their own cameras) to subsidize the cost of the program.

To clarify, you mentioned photopass and I took the opportunity to raise a different point to illustrate what Disney is doing to guests.

~NM

 

[Gillyrose779]

Since I've been going since 1970 (yup before it opened), over 100 times - I've seen so many changes nothing surprises me.

Over 30 year stockholder here. I want my stock back up and since impoding Shanghai is not an option it means reduce non-income producing costs (EMH) and bring in products guests will pay for. We'll see how this goes ...... all just us armchair execs talking ......... but for many reasons I don't see EMH coexisting with the income events. A good reason they don't have the manpower to pull it off. CMs are burnt out and they won't work these hours back to back.

For me personally EMH is the main perk for me to stay on property so I get it. But I don't think the repeat guest is Disney's demographic. Yes, us APs and megafans are their backbone in good times and bad but we are not their target. They can pull EMH and I don't believe it will impact the new customer target they are after because that customer will be more than willing to book a pay EMH.

It's a new Disney ...

I just think the bold line is funny. Guests have grown used to the ability to have a more empty park for castle picture and ride 7DMT before the park opens... and CMs are used to not having to continually be to work so early... both are used to the current status quo and both will whine about it.

I think both will get used to it. Work hours change for companies all the time. New employess coming in after the change won't complain b/c it is an expectation of work. If I was an hourly employee I would love the added hours.

 

[tlmadden73]

This is basically marketing and monetizing something that people were doing with the pre-park ADRs. I would consider it. If you are staying more than 5+ days at WDW, your "per day" ticket cost isn't very big. Instead of paying $60 (per person) for hoppers for the trip, just use that money to pay for this early morning magic on your MK to get a head start on your MK day and get breakfast to boot.

An interesting concept .. and again .. something "special" that people WILL pay for.
WHY?
1) This gets them into the park early (and gets them a breakfast to boot)
2) This gets them that fun feel of an "empty" park (castle shots without gobs of people on Main Street?)
3) This lets them get on two hot FantasyLand rides (probably SEVERAL times) before the park even opens. Which allows you to use your Fast Passes on 3 other attractions!
4) This gets them smack dab in the middle of the park when the park opens . .. meaning you can get over to any other attraction faster than anyone coming in the gate.

It was only a matter of time before Disney monetized opening early and opening late to appease the guests who don't want to deal with the crowds that the "common people" have to deal with during the afternoon. When you look at it .. this is basically paying for breakfast and getting three free fast passes per person.

I easily seem them offering this at EVERY park. Imagine when Star Wars Land (or Toy Story Land) opens and you can buy an early morning pass that gets you into that land for an hour before the park opens (and have breakfast?) .. people will line up to do that.

 

[ruthies12]

I haven't read all the responses and don't really have much to say about the early morning hours but I have a very real concern about the price of party tickets now. My sister and I are going to universal with just 2 days at Disney in November and I talked her into doing a one day ticket from a school fundraiser because I thought the party tickets would be close to last years price of $75 per ticket which would be cheaper than adding a second day to the ticket.

Now that they are charging 70 bucks for one hour in the morning and 150 for just 3 hours at night, I'm really scared to see what the price of MVMCP turns out to be........ and the tickets from the fundraiser aren't upgradable! I guess at this point I just have to hope that the party tickets are still cheaper than the one day tickets, sigh.