Disney Early Morning Magic - Details & Prices

[pens4821]

I know the article said EMH will still happen during this. But does anyone else feel like this is the start of the demise of EMH? First the extra ticket for extra night time hours and now the ticket for extra morning hours. Seems fishy.....I guess they know they can make money off it.

I doubt it, but who knows. It seems like a common thing these days (either with a resort stay or season pass) at any theme park.

 

[HopperFan]

For the record, I was there in February, 2014 on the day when they first retired the legacy FP machines and were running FP+ all by itself. It was a nightmare. And now, I will be there in April when they start rolling out their ice cream/waffle parties. Not happy. I am beginning to think that Disney is stalking my visits and using me as a

But if you could get ice cream on those waffles .............


Odds are we have all been there when something is new and happening. I'm still getting over my disappointment of not completing my 4 park Metal Detector Scan Card. I got to go through enough times to glow but AK folks just were not feeling it for me.

 

[JimmyV]

Consider a guest arriving for EMH. They walk down main street and get pulled in for a Starbucks coffee and a croissant ($11). Its their first day in the parks...time to buy those Mickey Ears ($15). Person buys those anyway. They just do it after their EMM time period ends. Son sees a new pin he's gotta have ($11.95). Person buys that anyway. They just do it after their EMM time period ends. A Photopass Photog takes a great family photo in front of the castle in the early morning light ($15). Person buys that anyway. They just do as they walk down Main Street on their way to Fantasyland. Besides, the Photo Pass is a one-time sunk cost that you buy before you arrive. There is no fee for having your photo taken, so whether they do or do not pose in front of the castle does not impact their overall spending. Time to ride Splash Mountain before the lines. Look at that on-ride photo! So adorable. Gotta pick that one up! ($15). Person buys that anyway. They just do it after their EMM time period ends. Or, as above, they already paid for Photo Pass, so the cost is already sunk. See what I mean? In 30 minutes of EMH, Disney has already made almost as much income off a person ($67.95) as they will in a whole two-hour time frame, with the potential for more.

I'll give you the $11 at Starbucks. That money won't be spent during an EMM because the guest has already paid for a waffle. But other than that, all you are doing is changing the timing and order of when those other purchases get made. You are not altering whether they get made.

 

[pens4821]

Wholeheartedly disagree.

By staying at any monorail resort, particularly those of us vets who have done so multiple times, absolutely know and understand the value and convenience in making front of the line for RD. That value has been completely negated by this event.

I doubt it's going to have a major impact for RD people though. Most head to 7D and PP, and most these people would've rode already, probably multiple times. No need for them to be in those lines. I guess if you go in and don't care about those two it may impact you, but I think the majority of people go there (and A&E) just from reading these boards/looking at wait times early. You could also plan around these events (unless they become more often than maybe once/twice a week).

 

[cdnSpinalTap]

But you are not paying for it. It came as an indirect perk of staying onsite. Disney can add or subtract any perks they want. I don't think they would yank it out overnight ... but if events like this prove popular then they may phase them out over time. Guests have to decide if their resort meets their value criteria.

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.

 

[jknc]

If it were to happen ...... suing them because they basically adjusted hotel guests park hours something they technically didn't pay for? Every single piece of every thing at Disney says subject to change. I remember when tips were included in DDP = gone. Price still went up. Appetizers used to be included in DDP = gone. Price still went up. Photos used to be included in some Character Meals = gone. Price still went up.

Disney can change their product any time they want and they have all the legalize in place to protect them.

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

 

[book_junkie]

Two hours for the bus? Ridiculous assumption.

Sorry, didn't mean to imply that these were estimates. We actually were in line for the bus more than 2 hours before opening. We were not the only ones.[/QUOTE]

Yep. We've been down at Pop and one of the All-Stars (I've blocked it I think for my sanity) during a very high booking season *sports events*. Lines out the wazoo, and they didn't call extra buses. We convinced relatives to let us drive them. Much easier. That was for EMH, and the lines got worse when actual rope drop approached for the parks. We saw more than one fight about who got into line first and who jumped.

My parents (while my dad was still with us) had to rent scooters to go around and after one night they moved from values- my mom said they waited about 3 hours for a bus, but were all full and could never take them. They moved to POR, and never had that bad of an issue.

 

[flea1267]

Sorry at work, any idea when it goes on sale, I may doe this one....

 

[Sevey13]

I'll give you the $11 at Starbucks. That money won't be spent during an EMM because the guest has already paid for a waffle. But other than that, all you are doing is changing the timing and order of when those other purchases get made. You are not altering whether they get made.

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.

 

[hakepb]

I know the article said EMH will still happen during this. But does anyone else feel like this is the start of the demise of EMH? First the extra ticket for extra night time hours and now the ticket for extra morning hours. Seems fishy.....I guess they know they can make money off it.

I think it's very likely that now Disney will be promoting resort "free" EMH as being a $220/person/day savings.

 

[tlovesdis]

Maybe they will stop taking PPO ADR's for BOG on those extra magic hour days? I mean, they could just have the first time be 10 minutes after the park officially opens right?

 

[FeralCatRogue]

For the record, I was there in February, 2014 on the day when they first retired the legacy FP machines and were running FP+ all by itself. It was a nightmare. And now, I will be there in April when they start rolling out their ice cream/waffle parties. Not happy. I am beginning to think that Disney is stalking my visits and using me as a...

You do not know how much it took to not change that into a clockwork orange guinea pig wearing mouse ears

 

[Gillyrose779]

I think the EMH will stay. This will just be an option on non-EMS days- pretty much non-resort visitors can pay a fee the get what resort visitors get- kinda anyways- since it's only 3 rides.

They get to go in and get pictures with less people, ride the 3 ridges from 7:45-9 before opening and then have a nice breakfast. Too much money for me but I see the appeal.

Here is the thing--- people have been abusing morning reservations for a while in order to ride the rides early. Why not? You get a $50 no show fee but get to ride the popular rides and get pics in a less crowded park. Disney knows this so why wouldn't they start doing this?

 

[Mom2Kids2003]

These are ticketed events just like the late hours and the parties. They are still offering EMH during other mornings and evenings, so the impact should be minimal. I wouldn't pay for an extra hour, but obviously, Disney has done some marketing research and people are willing to pay for it. Sounds like smart planning on Disney's part!

 

[dachsie]

I hope one of the bloggers will try these extra hours events and report on them. Will either confirm or dispel all the rumors and conjectures that people are making. If they report the lines are long because too many people were sold access, then that will deter others. If they report that there was little to no wait, more people will be clamoring to buy the access.

 

[HopperFan]

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

All of which is subject to change.

 

[HopperFan]

I hope one of the bloggers will try these extra hours events and report on them. Will either confirm or dispel all the rumors and conjectures that people are making. If they report the lines are long because too many people were sold access, then that will deter others. If they report that there was little to no wait, more people will be clamoring to buy the access.

They will, many have booked the night one already.

 

[jknc]

All of which is subject to change.

If someone who has recently received a marketing piece that has that written in fine print, then I will agree.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

No one got comped by DDP when they took out two main perks when folks had already booked and/or paid for it based on the old perks. No one comped Guests when they started letting anyone ride those resort buses and might be standing because of it. Hotel guests were not comped when they reduced EMH days then night EMH hours. No one gets comped when rides are in rehab or break down for the day even though they paid for a ticket. Dessert party folks don't get comped even when the fireworks don't go off and their experience is less than magical.

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.

 

[pens4821]

I think the EMH will stay. This will just be an option on non-EMS days- pretty much non-resort visitors can pay a fee the get what resort visitors get- kinda anyways- since it's only 3 rides.

They get to go in and get pictures with less people, ride the 3 ridges from 7:45-9 before opening and then have a nice breakfast. Too much money for me but I see the appeal.

Here is the thing--- people have been abusing morning reservations for a while in order to ride the rides early. Why not? You get a $50 no show fee but get to ride the popular rides and get pics in a less crowded park. Disney knows this so why wouldn't they start doing this?

I agree with this. I don't stay off site, but if I did it may honestly be worth it once while we were there. I think it's a good idea to get the off-site people to spend a little extra money (not that they don't already spend enough). You figure you could ride PP and 7D a few times (and Pooh if you wish), eat a quick breakfast, then head to other popular attractions (whether BTMRR or Space for the most time savings) while the RD people are coming in doing the rides you already did. The more I think about it, I do feel it's a good idea for off site visitors.