Early Morning Magic is good if you want to get a ton of Mine rides in

[Mikie]

As demonstrated in the post I made about reduced hours, for several years now, the total number of EMH(a.m.) per week at the MK is 1. I don't see that this event, as limited as it is, will in any way cause Disney to eliminate the one, single, lonely, solitary hour that it provides to on site guests each week. The backlash would not be worth the effort. Even if they did the Early Magic Waffle Hour six days a week, they could find it in their hearts and wallets to keep the one remaining EMH at the MK. So while there were initially fears that the wave of the future will be for paid events to supplant EMHs, the analytics don't really support that as a viable option just yet. Now, if the paid for event in the morning is expanded to be more of a full park experience, then perhaps. But a ticket that gets you on three rides is never going to be seen as an even-up trade for the single EMH that has survived.

I have long been part of a traveling group that's more likely to avoid EMH as a strategy rather than use them, so my memory is fuzzy. Wasn't there a time when every day had an early EMH at one park AND a late EMH at another park? Seems like now there are occasional days that have both, but mostly either/or. If there was such a magical time, any recollection when it was?

 

[JimmyBean42]

I could absolutely see them doing Early Morning Magic at Hollywood Studios once the expansions are complete. Epcot could have potential but the main rides they'd use (Soarin', Test Track and Frozen Ever After) are just way to spread out to really benefit the consumer. Animal Kingdom not sure until Pandora area open.

 

[lovethattink]

This is directly from Disney's website regarding the hours:



So now there is conflicting information.

At 9am I'd assume the FP+ line would include both wristband and FP+.

 

[JimmyV]

At 9am I'd assume the FP+ line would include both wristband and FP+.

I don't get that at all from: Around 9:00 AM, the theme park will open to Guests with regular Magic Kingdom admission tickets and event-only attraction access will end.

To me, the information on the website is saying that around 9:00, for purposes of attraction access, you turn back into a pumpkin and from that point forward, you are to be treated as a "regular" guest. Since FPs are available starting at 9:00, you either have one or you don't. And if you don't, then you stay out of the FP line. The FP system is designed to dole out a specific number of FPs in each time slot so as no to overload the boarding area at any one time. The people who went on line 60 (or 30) days in advance to get their FPs for the Mine Train did so with the expectation that there would be a certain number of people getting them at that time, and the computer that assigned those FPs did so with the calculation that it created the proper number of arriving guests for that time slot. All of that gets thrown out the window if hundreds more people without FPs clog up the FP line at 9:15. It would have been very easy for the information on the website to say that around 9:00, exclusive access to the FP line will end and guests with wristbands must share the FP line with guests with regular MK admission tickets. But it does not say that. The wording, coupled with the way FP is supposed to work, cut against the argument that FP access until 10:00 is being advertised. 58 days ago, somebody got shut out of a FP for the Mine Train between 9:00 and 10:00 because the system reached capacity. It isn't fair to the people who got shut out, (and it isn't fair to the people who succeeded) if hundreds more people can use the FP line after their hour and fifteen minutes of exclusive ride access ends. And besides, after riding the ride between 4 and 17 times between 7:45 and 9:00, does anyone really need to go through the FP line to do it again?

 

[MaryKatesMom]

This is the first I've heard that the wristband acted like a FP+. It would make sense since the event ends at 10AM. If so that is even a better deal.

 

[tlmadden73]

I see this event as several things:

1) Get early "empty" access to MK .. that means cool shots up Main Street without crowds, that means just experiencing parts of it "empty".
2) You are paying for three free Fast Passes .. by going to this you don't have to "waste" a FP on SDMT, PP or Pooh later in the day giving you more options. Bonus? If you like those rides you can ride them MULTIPLE times.
3) You get a hearty breakfast IN the park and ready to start your day.
4) You are ahead of the crowds at 9:00 AM to zip to whatever rides you want and have no lines as well. You can be first in line to Princess FairyTale Hall, Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion, BTMRR, etc. Like "super" rope drop.

It's not as good as EMH obviously, but it is better as it is more limited (people-wise) and available to non-resort guests.

Not for everyone as some people don't value any of the above things enough to pay that much money for, but a good offering for sure that I think tons of people will take advantage of over time.
Probably really good for families with young kids that are up early anyway and want to avoid the crowds and lines because they'll probably be "done" by 2 in the afternoon anyway.

If I was going to WDW soon, I'd try it once ...

I don't get that at all from: Around 9:00 AM, the theme park will open to Guests with regular Magic Kingdom admission tickets and event-only attraction access will end.

To me, the information on the website is saying that around 9:00, for purposes of attraction access, you turn back into a pumpkin and from that point forward, you are to be treated as a "regular" guest. Since FPs are available starting at 9:00, you either have one or you don't. And if you don't, then you stay out of the FP line.

Honestly this is probably just a " make guests happy" thing for the event goers who arrived late and just had long breakfast during the EMM and couldn't get on the ride by 9:00 AM.

 

[DebbieB]

I did it on Saturday morning. We were staying at AoA and wanted to be sure to get there on time, so we took a 6:30 bus. We were the first people standing outside of security! We got our wristbands and stickers around 7:30 and got in around 7:45. We did Peter Pan x 2 (stayed on), 7DMT 3 times (you had to get off), Pooh x2 (stayed on), Carousel x1. We then had breakfast, probably about 8:45. We then did Small World and Haunted Mansion, neither had lines. We then left and went to DHS for our planned fastpasses there.

 

[serenitynow]

It really doesn't matter how one interprets the language of the event on the website. It just depends on what happens during the event one attends. The wristband has been treated like a park Fastpass until 10 in the past. The wristband has also been treated like a Fastpass for the Fantasyland attractions until 10 am. The language is somewhat vague, the event is only a month old and different CMs work the events, so it's a very fluid situation at the moment.


Like the pre-park opening BOG breakfast people, in which some people get multiple rides prior to park opening, some people are forced to wait in the Fastpass line until official park opening, some people have gotten 1 ride before the park opened and some people have been held in the standby line until rope drop. Same BOG breakfast PPO ADR, different days, different treatment.
It will be what it will be on the day that it happens.

 

[Wanna be Ariel]

I did it on Saturday morning. We were staying at AoA and wanted to be sure to get there on time, so we took a 6:30 bus. We were the first people standing outside of security! We got our wristbands and stickers around 7:30 and got in around 7:45. We did Peter Pan x 2 (stayed on), 7DMT 3 times (you had to get off), Pooh x2 (stayed on), Carousel x1. We then had breakfast, probably about 8:45. We then did Small World and Haunted Mansion, neither had lines. We then left and went to DHS for our planned fastpasses there.

The Carousel was up and running? Well this is getting better and better now.

 

[Wanna be Ariel]

I really hope they have this in November. I also hope that maybe they would add a meet and great with Mickey and Minnie or something like that.

 

[DebbieB]

The Carousel was up and running? Well this is getting better and better now.

Yes, we were the only ones on it.

 

[JimmyV]

Honestly this is probably just a " make guests happy" thing for the event goers who arrived late and just had long breakfast during the EMM and couldn't get on the ride by 9:00 AM.

I think that is probably right. To try to read into the website's message that FP line access extends beyond 9:00 is a reach. The practice will likely continue until it is abused and messes with the actual FP guests.

 

[TJDisneymama]

I really hope they have this in November. I also hope that maybe they would add a meet and great with Mickey and Minnie or something like that.

ITA. I've been thinking if they would just add ONE more ride or at the very least have a couple characters available, it would be a great deal.

 

[Raya]

If, at 3:00 p.m., I walked past any of these rides and saw wait times of 75 minutes each for 7DMT and PP, and 45 minutes for Pooh, and a guy came up to me and said: "Hey Bub! If you slip me 50 bucks, I'll get you on any of these rides with no wait", I would say "no". So slipping Disney $50 bucks to get on the same ride at 8:00 a.m. makes just as little sense to me. But I absolutely can see how others might enjoy this, especially with the food thrown in. We just aren't that keen on Disney breakfast food to make that an enticement at all. Pretty much hated every character buffet breakfast I've ever done.

Whereas if someone said to me "Hey Bub! Slip me $50 and you can play around in a totally empty park - including a totally empty HM for photos, oh and I'll make you breakfast" I'd be opening my wallet.

Were Photopass photographers available?

 

[JimmyV]

Whereas if someone said to me "Hey Bub! Slip me $50 and you can play around in a totally empty park - including a totally empty HM for photos, oh and I'll make you breakfast" I'd be opening my wallet.

For a totally empty park? I might bite as well! Sure do wish DAH only cost $50!!

 

[redsbe]

I really do not see the appeal of riding 3 attractions over and over again (and in terms of WDW theming and design) those 3 are far from the best WDW has to offer. Sure I like all three, and PP is a classic favorite for us, and with multiple days in MK we would likely ride them more than once. But paying extra to ride them over and over again for a hour, has no appeal to us.

You're not forced to buy into any of these extra events.

I went to the mk Sunday. There were plenty of rides with 10 minute waits. Of course, the more popular rides had hour waits. But using a FP+ for those works. It's also much easier now that you can make a 4th FP+ on your phone. Rope drop til 10am is still the best times for low waits.

I won't be buying into any of these extras. And definitely not the parties in a party events. I've been priced out. But Disney is still very magical for me without them!

I understand that I am not "forced" to buy into extra event, my point was by adding (and perhaps in the future expanding) these events, removes park access via EMH opportunities, and creating more and improved access by requiring extra payment and not included in cost of regular park ticket.

 

[lovethattink]

I don't get that at all from: Around 9:00 AM, the theme park will open to Guests with regular Magic Kingdom admission tickets and event-only attraction access will end.

To me, the information on the website is saying that around 9:00, for purposes of attraction access, you turn back into a pumpkin and from that point forward, you are to be treated as a "regular" guest. Since FPs are available starting at 9:00, you either have one or you don't. And if you don't, then you stay out of the FP line. The FP system is designed to dole out a specific number of FPs in each time slot so as no to overload the boarding area at any one time. The people who went on line 60 (or 30) days in advance to get their FPs for the Mine Train did so with the expectation that there would be a certain number of people getting them at that time, and the computer that assigned those FPs did so with the calculation that it created the proper number of arriving guests for that time slot. All of that gets thrown out the window if hundreds more people without FPs clog up the FP line at 9:15. It would have been very easy for the information on the website to say that around 9:00, exclusive access to the FP line will end and guests with wristbands must share the FP line with guests with regular MK admission tickets. But it does not say that. The wording, coupled with the way FP is supposed to work, cut against the argument that FP access until 10:00 is being advertised. 58 days ago, somebody got shut out of a FP for the Mine Train between 9:00 and 10:00 because the system reached capacity. It isn't fair to the people who got shut out, (and it isn't fair to the people who succeeded) if hundreds more people can use the FP line after their hour and fifteen minutes of exclusive ride access ends. And besides, after riding the ride between 4 and 17 times between 7:45 and 9:00, does anyone really need to go through the FP line to do it again?

Based on guest experience, it sounds wishy washy. Some cm let them in FP+ line between 9 and 10 and some didn't.

ETA: I asked around. And what you highlighted is correct. The wristband stops working for attractions at 9am. Those who were let in the FP+ lines after can consider those rides magical moments. The CM did not have to allow them to ride.

It really doesn't matter how one interprets the language of the event on the website. It just depends on what happens during the event one attends. The wristband has been treated like a park Fastpass until 10 in the past. The wristband has also been treated like a Fastpass for the Fantasyland attractions until 10 am. The language is somewhat vague, the event is only a month old and different CMs work the events, so it's a very fluid situation at the moment.


Like the pre-park opening BOG breakfast people, in which some people get multiple rides prior to park opening, some people are forced to wait in the Fastpass line until official park opening, some people have gotten 1 ride before the park opened and some people have been held in the standby line until rope drop. Same BOG breakfast PPO ADR, different days, different treatment.
It will be what it will be on the day that it happens.

Sounds very fluid, based on first hand accounts.

I really do not see the appeal of riding 3 attractions over and over again (and in terms of WDW theming and design) those 3 are far from the best WDW has to offer. Sure I like all three, and PP is a classic favorite for us, and with multiple days in MK we would likely ride them more than once. But paying extra to ride them over and over again for a hour, has no appeal to us.


I understand that I am not "forced" to buy into extra event, my point was by adding (and perhaps in the future expanding) these events, removes park access via EMH opportunities, and creating more and improved access by requiring extra payment and not included in cost of regular park ticket.

EMH has been decreasing for years if you look at the stats.

Paid events have been increasing over the years.

It's not a new trend. Though there definitely are more paid events going on presently.

 

[tlmadden73]

I really do not see the appeal of riding 3 attractions over and over again (and in terms of WDW theming and design) those 3 are far from the best WDW has to offer. Sure I like all three, and PP is a classic favorite for us, and with multiple days in MK we would likely ride them more than once. But paying extra to ride them over and over again for a hour, has no appeal to us.

I really don't think you are "meant" to ride them over and over. They simply offer 3 rides because .. that's all most people will have time for AND have breakfast before 9:00 AM.

I understand that I am not "forced" to buy into extra event, my point was by adding (and perhaps in the future expanding) these events, removes park access via EMH opportunities, and creating more and improved access by requiring extra payment and not included in cost of regular park ticket.

I personally think that if these events take off .. you'll see a slow trickle away of the EMH until they do away with them altogether .. and offer some other perk (like a 4th Fast Pass) to resort guests instead.
It probably costs a lot of money to open the park an hour earlier or two hours later and with them trying to cut costs, this seems like a no-brainer. Frankly, I often wonder what % of guests take advantage of that "perk" .. for a lot of families .. getting up extra early or staying up extra late isn't appealing to them even though it is a perk of staying onsite.

I also wonder how much the EMH makes a difference when deciding on/off site for MOST families (I know . a LOT of people on the boards who want to be efficient with their Disney time specifically stay on-site because of EMH, but my point is I bet the majority of resort guests don't even care about EMH (especially first-time guests).. which means they probably wouldn't be MISSED by a majority of the resort guests).

 

[lugnut33]

Well, if we are going with the "Disney is a business" defense, then it would be totally justified for them to take away all emh and have separate ticket events in the morning and evening.

 

[redsbe]

The Early Morning event may not be intended for people to ride the 3 attractions over and over again, but if you read the reviews of those who have attended to date that is what they are mentioning they are doing. Besides why paid $69 for exclusive extra one hour knowing only 3 attractions are open if not to ride repeatedly, what else is there to do, besides eat an overpriced breakfast which you actually have 2 hrs to do so? Would be interesting to see the number of guests (or % of visitors in a given day) using morning EMHs, seems like many posters here do and it is a heavily promoted aspect for on site guests -hard to believe any first time guests on site would not at least know about them. But I agree for many visitors the idea of getting up at 6 or 7 am while on vacation to meet a EMH time is not appealing, thus some do not use or like us simply avoid morning EMHs all together and go to another park that day.