Early Entry Gone?!?!

[JWimberley]

Am I the only person that is just hacked that Disney has done away with early entry?

That was a huge factor is making our decision to purchase our DVC points. Without the early entry for resort guests, we might as well be staying at Maingate and paying $29 a night. Don't get me wrong, the BW is a wonderful resort and the theming is great, but for us, it is still just a place to grab some sleep while the park is closed and after they throw us out of Pleasure Island.

I understand the financial aspect of making budget cuts. As a DVC owner and a DIS shareholder I even respect the fact that they are willing to make the hard choices when it comes to protecting my investment. The thing that really gets to me is the notice that they sent me in yesterday's mail. They made it sound like nobody was using early entry and what everyone wanted instead was character appearences at the resorts. On our last trip there was a line at least 100 people deep at Space Mountain during early entry and it was even longer at Tower of Terror later in the week. Nobody asked me if I wanted character appearences instead of extended hours...

Oh well, I guess I just want to hear from some others to see if it is just me or was this a big deal to you too? Thanks for giving me a forum to vent a little frustration...

Not looking forward to being in that sea of people on Main Street waiting for the park to open,
Joshua

 

[EROS]

We've never used EE in over 8 years of heading down to WDW. With the initiation of FASTPASS, it has been much easier to access the major attractions without a wait. I just never viewed EE as much of an asset to start with. Since we have a small child, we haven't been "geared up" for all-day visits to the parks anyway.

Part of the enjoyment of DVC for us has been to be MORE RELAXED about getting to each and every attraction each trip. What we miss one year, we hit the next.

I say, RELAX and SMELL THE COFFEE. Life is sooooooooooo short for all of us. Don't let the stress of missing 1 hr in the park get to you

 

[JWimberley]

I agree with not stressing over the lost hour. My concern was more about the way the issue was handled. I found out about EE going away because some friends of ours were there and it was cancelled in the middle of their stay...

I understand that those with children, especially small children may not have used EE as often and may even prefer having the characters at the resorts in the mornings but for those of us that don't have children yet EE was great way to get to the more popular attractions without waiting in long lines.

Hopefully this is just a short term answer to lower than normal attendence and EE will return before our next trip. Meanwhile, I'll just figure out how to avoid being crushed in the crowd waiting for the gates to open...

Joshua

 

[DVCMagic_OldKeyWest]

I have used EE on every trip to WDW. Everyone is always up by 6:30am and ready to go. Not intersted in spending an hour with Characters rather be riding ToT.

MG

 

[pluvc1993]

We want early entry back!!!!!!!!!

 

[CaptainMidnight]

Early entry was important to us as well, and we used it all the time. I would like it returned.

 

[TrudyZ]

J Wimberley,

We have a small child (3 yr. old), and found EE at MK critical to a having a good time for all. We religously attended each and every EE at MK during our trip in April and October this year.

EE allowed us to do all of those Fantasyland rides: Dumbo, Teacups, the carousel, Snow White, Small World, Pooh, Peter Pan, etc., as well as the Speedway, Asto Orbiter, etc., without a meltdown because of long lines---and believe me 20-30 minutes between each ride is an eternity to a 3 year old!

Granted, Pooh, Buzz, and Peter Pan have fast passes--but a 3 year old wants to ride these again, and again, and again!

And, of course, EE let mom and dad get a turn on Space Mountain too!

EE seemed to help keep us ahead of the crowds too. Just as the park opened, we then headed to Toon Town, and had it relatively to ourselves for a while--as the rest of the guests were riding the rides we just finished.

Many small kids are up at that time anyway--so we weren't dragging her out of bed (only us!). It worked out great--we got up and did EE, and then just as the park started to get crowded, we were heading back to the room for lunch and the required afternoon nap.

Plus, the weather is cooler in the morning and that helps keep the crankiness factor down too.

We are planning to go back in April, and my husband asked if we really wanted to go without EE. We are going to give it a try--but are very skeptical.

EE was also a factor for us in our decision to buy into DVC.

Character caravan of unanounced "second string" characters--not interested. We won't be sticking around for that.

Trudy

 

[Niagara2]

We used EE each trip for MK. We are just back and believe me if youj are use to EE you will NOT be happy. The whole day is thrown off. We didn't get to do as much or enjoy the day as much. EE made our trips so much moreworthwhile. We have Timeshare on and off Disney property, We have made it a point to stay on property whenever in Orlando - will rethink now. We can trade valuable DVC, use lower price Orlando timeshare and have another vacation in a 5 star area. EE will be missed and our DIsney dollars will be spent elsewhere.

 

[Eeyore2U]

Part of the enjoyment of DVC for us has been to be MORE RELAXED about getting to each and every attraction each trip. What we miss one year, we hit the next.

I totally agree with this. We went without DS in October for our anniversary and actually slept in.

 

[EROS]

I fully realize that many people approach visits to WDW with a commando mentality. They meticulously plan their visits to the parks in a manner similiar to the invasion of Normandy. They also know that they'll be able to ride 2.4 times the number of attractions during EE than at noon. THAT'S OK. Each to his/her own .

I guess that we're a "throwback" to a kinder, gentler form of vacationing. We arrive at the MK about an hour AFTER opening, grab a few fastpasses, catch a few characters, eat lunch, and then head back to the pool in the afternoon. My life is sooooooooo hectic in the real world that I try to relax and smell the coffee when we're away.

 

[Niagara2]

Exactly Ero - that is what EE allowed us to do. Do a few rides, walk around, enjoy the little things, leave, and spend time at resort. Now we get there and get crowded, wait in line and we are not as relaxed. We are no way commandos as we visit 4 to5 times a year. We always enjoyed knowing when to go to avoid the crowds. I guess we need to rethink and replan!

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

More fans of EE here. We were there last week, and I agree that things were thrown off. The park hours were so short that we didn't have time in the afternoon to leave the parks, go back to the resort for swim time, and then head back to the parks.

EROS, you and many others are under the mistaken impression that those of us who like EE do frantic commando style touring. Why? Why is enjoying getting to the parks early, to be able to enjoy our time there with more hours and less people, equated with a frantic need to do rides "2.4 times"???? As a matter of fact, we find EE rather relaxing...we're early risers anyway, only this past trip we spent that early morning time hanging around the room rather than doing what we would have preferred...go to the parks, do whatever we choose there, and then use hanging around time at the pool in the afternoon instead.

*We* choose to do more "activities" at DisneyWorld than our trips to a rented house in Vermont. NOT because we're just clueless about how to relax in life. There seems to be a certain amount of pride that some people on these boards exhibit over not having an "active" trip to Disney.

 

[one_cat]

I asked the CM at the BWV front desk about early entry. She said she doubted it would come back. She said something about security and stuff with early entry which made no sense to me but apparantly did to her.

 

[TrudyZ]

MaryAnnDVC, Exactly.

Perhaps Eros my post looked like we hit MK with a laminated schedule and a stopwatch (we don't, for the record). And yes, we lead stressful lives outside of the "World" too, and come to WDW for some good old-fashioned family time.

But, like MaryAnnDVC said, EE allowed us to do my child's area of interest without the stress of crowds, heat, and lines. Believe it or not, EE is actually pretty relaxing.

On our last trip, for example, if she wanted to do Snow White again, no problem--just ride through--3 or 4 times--she didn't even have to get off! Same for Pooh, Peter Pan, etc. If she or we wanted to ride something else--no problem--it didn't matter, as there were no lines. She would then get her fill of these rides; and then off to other things.

What about the thrill for a 3 year old of having her favorite character (the Pooh gang) ride the ride with her? I don't think that happens very often mid-day.

Unfortuately, a majority of the childern's rides in Fantasyland don't have FPs, are slow-loading, and low capacity. If your child wants to ride it, you are often stuck in an eternal queue.

With EE, there is no running across a crowded park trying to calculate fast pass return times, etc.

Believe me, we have tried it the other way. That is when our daughter had her first meltdown at MK. Unfortunately, our child just does not have the patience to wait 60-90 minutes in line in the heat of the day for a 2 minute ride on Dumbo---and then no one has fun. Since we switched to doing EEs--no more meltdowns and all of our stress levels have been racheted down several notches.

And yes, without our daughter, we probably wouldn't be so concerned about the loss of EE. (Hell, you only have to get up at noon to drink your way around the world ).

Trudy

 

[EROS]

MARYANN, my sentiments were NOT offered in a critical fashion. I was just detailing what works best for US. You should certainly vacation in a manner of your own choosing and make your feelings about EE known to DISNEY.

VIVA LA DIFFERENCE..............

THE SPICE OF LIFE IS VARIETY ..........n'est pas???

 

[Granny]

We "used" EE, but in a different way.

We used EE to determine which park to AVOID.....and we avoided at all costs the EE park of the day.

Do I wish EE were back? Sure. If not for my family, then for the excellent reasons others have already cited on this thread.

Do I understand that Disney is doing some cost cutting due to attendance being DOWN 25% this year? Sure.

Do I think EE is gone forever? No. It will be back when it makes economic sense. Does everyone think Disney started EE because they wanted to be extra nice to people? They started it to give people more reason to stay in a WDW resort. Now with the hotel vacancies and accommodation price wars going on in Orlando, Disney probably figures that they won't get enough extra people to stay at their resorts (when you can stay at off-site hotels for $29) to pay for opening the parks an extra hour early. When things settle down, EE will come back for the same reason it began....to get more people to stay at WDW resorts.

Do I blame Disney for trying to put a marketing spin on the elimination of EE? Well, yeah I think they are insulting our intelligence quite a bit on the "we're doing it because you want it" story. On the other hand, most people are not as locked in on WDW as we are, and would probably accept the explanation at face value.

We're here for 40 more years, folks. There will be ups and downs. I, for one, am willing to give them a chance to get through this tough period.

Sorry this is so long, and sorry about the soap box.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

Excellent post, TrudyZ. It was fabulous for us with our little children, that's what we would do as well. Then as lunch approached, we would switch parks because the EE park would turn out to be the most crowed park. Worked out wonderfully, and if you've ever been in the parks around the Christmas holiday and only gotten on a couple of rides in as many or more hours, the option of EE to provide the opportunity to get on many rides was wonderful. Get in the parks early, then back to the resort after lunch when crowds are high, switch to a later park after naps. I'll greatly miss is. It was a factor in my purchasing decision.

Regarding the need for Disney to make business decisions in light of the current situation, certainly, I've expressed that view often. Will I miss EE? Absolutely, without question. Do I want EE back?Absolutely, without question. Am I going to sell DVC because it's no longer offerred? Nope, just express my opinion here.

 

[Disnydad]

We rarely used EE. Maybe every other trip we would do an EE. Then we would think, "What's the big deal?" I'm on vacation and would rather sleep and get up without an alarm clock. As others have already said, with FP, you are going to get on the rides anyway.

 

[SueOKW]

My cousin had to talk us into EE on our last trip. My husband is chronically late - but when other people are involved he does his best. (And it IS his cousin actually, so he was on time!!)

ANYWAY - -WOW what a difference an hour makes. We just had a blast at MK during that time. We also left around 12:00 that day. I will miss it, at least for MK I will. I do hope it returns.

I will miss E-Ticket night much much more. (Not sure, has that been taken away too or not?) Our oldest child is in a wheelchair and it is so much easier to ride Splash Mountain on e-ticket night - they let us stay on and ride over and over - don't have to lift him in and out as much.

Bottom line, March can't get here soon enough for me - warm weather, sunshine, happy kids, Typhoon Lagoon! And, I imagine, lots of crowds. For the first time ever, we have to go the week after Easter - our teachers voted on that week to be off. Our costs skyrocketed because of it - but that's another tale of woe.

Sue

 

[Bennet]

We were big EE fans and would head out of the ee park as the crowds got there. But EE isn't the reason for going to WDW. It is much like Eros says, we have been ther done that and are going back so we don't even think about trying to do it all.

I agree w/ Eros, fast pass is a better tool to manage park time.

EE was a marketing tool for when the area hotels were packed and WDW wanted an advantage. The hotels aren't packed, they are competeing with price and the economics of staffing up early aren't there. I hope that when the volume returns and the hotels are packed they bring EE back.

I'm no less excited about our next DVC trip or the one after that 'cause of the change of EE.

For us WDW is about being together away from the normal day to day insanity - doing stuff we love as a family. I love the family walk from BWV to MGM in the morning. The air is clear, the low sun make everything look cool, we are all excited and chatting about the day as we stroll along.

The problem with Eros' plan is there is no good coffee to smell! Where can I get a good cup? Most of the WDW coffee just doesn't do it for me. A nice cup of joe would make that walk just a little nicer.