Early Morning Magic?

[jade1]

And? MK hasn't added an e ticket since splash mountain really. Many including myself don't count mine train as an e ticket.

Epcot hasn't added an e ticket since Soarin in 2005 that's 11 years and counting.

Also during those years Disney opened TWO THEME PARKS.

The point is theme parks go through dry spells, its normal.

 

[jade1]

I'm not talking about myself. I wasn't alive for a lot of those things but you can't say that DHS wasn't in need of things 10 years ago.

OK, but adding TSM, Frozen, Jedi Training, Disney Jr, Star Wars Fireworks and the Launch Bay since then are far better than what has gone away. Just TSM or just Star Wars Fireworks are.

 

[rteetz]

Well here's a few reasons, a lot more than "I can and want to"-it takes a lot of work to afford to vacation so we are certain what is the best value for us. It's WDW even though we mix in many other trips around the "real" world.

They always deliver an amazing product that we enjoy, in a beautiful atmosphere with great Resorts and Resort locations with excellent service and staff. They constantly mix in the latest movies and characters. They deliver unbelievable amazing evenings and night shows as well and is located for beautiful weather.

But here's a quick 25 other reasons:

1) DVC-deluxe rooms for under $100-and they have "listened" and added even more deluxe resorts to DVC-CR, GF and POLY.

2) FP+ They "listened" that many of us arrive at the parks later and FP's were gone-not anymore.

3) The Hub. We can spend and do spend hours there because they "listened" and expanded it into a beautiful spacious environment.

4) Hub shows. They "listened" and added excellent entertainment in that area from Celebrate the Magic Castle Projection Show which is amazing, to Wishes, to Elsa Castle Lighting which is awesome.

5) They "listened" and provided bypasses around the Main Street exit nightmare busy evenings.

6) They "listened" and added Magical Express so we can check our bags curbside in MPLS and they show up in our room that night.

7) They "listened" and added ME ride to and from our room so we don not have to rent a car, but also get "driven" to our resort.

9) They "listened" and added airport check in at our resort so we can send our bags and they show up back in MPLS.

10) They "listened" and we can get our boarding pass at the resort and go directly to security at MCO.

11) They "listened" and have added much better and interesting dining and shopping at DS and are vastly improving the atmosphere and adding more.

12) They "listened" and added more dining at MK.

13) They "listened" and removed worthless attractions at DHS and have added far better ones.

14) They "listened" and released an awesome Star Wars movie and implemented that into the parks with the Launch Bay and the awesome fireworks.

15) They "listened" and added on to Soarin for more availability.

16) They "listened" and are adding on to TSM for more availability.

17) They "listened" and added a permanent M&G and home for A&E and a great Frozen Show at DHS.

18) They "listened" and added Frozen ride in EPCOT's Norway.

19) They "listened" and added a night show at AK-which I suspect may be the best show.

20) They "listened" and are adding a new land at AK which also may end up the most amazing land.

21) They "listened" and are reworking to have night safaris for folks that only want to visit AK in the evening.

22) They "listened" and are adding a Star Wars Land at DHS.

23) They listened and are further improving an already great Star Wars Fireworks show.

24) They "listened" and are adding a TSM land at DHS.

25) They "listened" and are making room for PH3 and possibly PH4 at DHS.

1. Where are you getting DVC deluxe rooms for under $100? I want to know that secret
2. I don't think people specifically asked for FP+ but I guess I'll give you that one.
3. Most didn't ask for a expanded hub actually I don't know if anyone did but they needed to for capacity reasons.
4. Wishes is 15 years old... The castle lighting with Elsa really isn't anything different than the one with Cinderella.
5. Another capacity issue, I don't think guests specifically asked for that.
6. Magical express has been around for a while and it was developed to keep guests onsite.
7-10 all part of keeping the guest onsite rather than off site. Disney wants your money.
11. I don't disagree there but a lot of it is third party and not actually Disney.
12. BoG and Skipper Canteen? More is still needed or they at least need to improve what they already have.
13. That's your opinion. We've been through this they've only added one in the last decade.
14. Why wouldn't they out that in the parks it made two billion like duh
15. Nobody said I wish they would add a third theater. Nobody...
16. Again wouldn't be needed if they just added more attractions. Nobody asked for a third track.
17. Norway should not be the permanent home for frozen...
18. Let's not debate that because that could get ugly
19. I agree here
20. I don't disagree but they should've added more sooner.
21. I don't think people asked for night safaris but it was an easy thing to do once they decided to extend park hours.
22. That's a duh moment
23. Okay
24. Most didn't want a Toy story land most wanted a Pixar land
25. Who knows if phase 3 or 4 will even happen.

 

[rteetz]

The point is theme parks go through dry spells, its normal.

But WDW never really has. While they might not have added to Epcot or AK during the 80s or 90s much that was because they were building water parks, two theme parks, expanding downtown Disney, adding resorts, and infrastructure. The 80s and 90s saw the greatest WDW expansion ever.

 

[rteetz]

OK, but adding TSM, Frozen, Jedi Training, Disney Jr, Star Wars Fireworks and the Launch Bay since then are far better than what has gone away. Just TSM or just Star Wars Fireworks are.

Look I like TSMM but it's not a major e ticket like say Tower of Terror which is honestly one of the best rides Disney has ever done. It's a nice family ride which is something DHS severely lacks. Frozen was supposed to be temporary, and launch bay is temporary until the land opens. Again that's your opinion. For me I loved the animation academy and getting to draw Disney characters.

 

[jade1]

Im not really sure why anybody would spend their money at a vacation destination they bash at every possible angle but i guess "i want to" will have to do.

Your responses are mostly to them "listening" and improving. The other factor, the main factor was "why do I go". Improving the hub is a factor in our trips, esp XMAS week-wether WDW listened or just could see the obvious is kind of the same thing IMO.

I will admit a lot of my "listening" is speculation, but there are constant surveys and face to face CM feedback that can be assumed-most obviously.

Also "listening" can be defined as witnessing the daily rope drop rush to TSM. It's not rocket science that adding on is being suggested by the crowds.

But to say they (WDW) have not listened at all to any guests at all, no surveys, no CM's at all is ridiculous with all that's going on.

1. Where are you getting DVC deluxe rooms for under $100? I want to know that secret

DVC dues are around $5, nights start at around 10 points and no tax, DVC investment is increasing so we stay on dues, and make money on principal.

2. I don't think people specifically asked for FP+ but I guess I'll give you that one.

Of course not specifically, but feedback showed most folks not able to get them for one reason or another.

I questioned the dispersion methods and the outright stupidity of having to go into a park and to a ride to get a FP, and instead obtaining them from outside the parks, right here on the dis over 10 years ago.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/wi...d-at-the-front-gate-or-at-other-parks.595792/

Even better would be posted times on your hotel TV-nice incentive for on site guests. Nicer yet would be obtaining them at your hotel


3. Most didn't ask for a expanded hub actually I don't know if anyone did but they needed to for capacity reasons.

Pretty sure the cattle herds gave out plenty of comments to the CM's. But OK "MOST" probably didn't-even that says "SOME" did.

4. Wishes is 15 years old... The castle lighting with Elsa really isn't anything different than the one with Cinderella.

Still a reason why we go. ANd the Castle lighting is extremely different-and a reason we go.

Two "weak/unnecessary" slams but nothing on Celebrate the Magic? Hmmm

5. Another capacity issue, I don't think guests specifically asked for that.

See #3

6. Magical express has been around for a while and it was developed to keep guests onsite.

So what-I wouldn't get rid of it-its awesome.

7-10 all part of keeping the guest onsite rather than off site. Disney wants your money.

They deserve my money-trips are awesome.

Giving them money because I don't like what they have done, are doing, or are planning to do would make me a complete fool.

11. I don't disagree there but a lot of it is third party and not actually Disney.

Pretty sure they are there because of Disney.

12. BoG and Skipper Canteen? More is still needed or they at least need to improve what they already have.

Maybe, but its still more.

13. That's your opinion. We've been through this they've only added one in the last decade.

As its your opinion. TSM is the most popular ride there-I many doubt folks would dump it (and esp Star Wars Fireworks as well) for what closed.

14. Why wouldn't they out that in the parks it made two billion like duh

Yes Disney did do that. I'm sure when they bought Star Wars, fans suggested a movie and park inclusions.

15. Nobody said I wish they would add a third theater. Nobody...

Who said 3rd theatre? I said "added on" and if you don't think anybody ever complained about Soarin lines your crazy.

16. Again wouldn't be needed if they just added more attractions. Nobody asked for a third track.

Who said 3rd track? I said "added on" and if you don't think anybody ever complained about TSM lines your beyond crazy.

17. Norway should not be the permanent home for frozen...

Opinion. Point is its a huge improvement (popularity will prove that) and folks screamed for Frozen-they are delivering.

18. Let's not debate that because that could get ugly

Opinion. Point is its a huge improvement (popularity will prove that) and folks screamed for Frozen-they are delivering.

19. I agree here

Yep

20. I don't disagree but they should've added more sooner.

Opinion, but worth the wait.

21. I don't think people asked for night safaris but it was an easy thing to do once they decided to extend park hours.

Still a reason to for me to visit.

22. That's a duh moment

They were never obliged to.

23. Okay

Showing they keep improving.

24. Most didn't want a Toy story land most wanted a Pixar land

Opinion, still a reason to visit.

25. Who knows if phase 3 or 4 will even happen.

I agree there.

 

[LSLS]

$5/point, minus the $25,000 (or whatever it is) up front cost.

 

[LSLS]

I think it's worth pointing out a lot of this debate started on having enough rides for the volume of people in the park. There is a lot of debate about the rides added vs. lost, but I think there needs to be a factor for average attendance as well put into this. It looks like a net increase of maybe 1 major ride over the last 10-15 years. What has attendance done?

 

[my2disneyboys]

Does anyone know any dates when this is happening? (I just don't want it to be on the day I am going!)

 

[PBB]

Maybe Disney should charge a general admission fee and have people buy ticket books,LOL.............This money grab that Disney is doing has just sucked the life out of vacationing there. We are going in 3 weeks for a week at OKW and I am not excited about going. Bob Iger has done a great job of turning Disney into a Cable Company........

 

[skier_pete]

It's pretty off topic, but the whole $100 a night for DVC Deluxe @jade1 states is out of whack.

In theory, I can get a 10-point per night room at BLT (standard view) or AKV (value), and if I own points at BLT - which are $5.37 / point dues - that's around $100 for that room, but that's completely ignoring that the person bought those points for around $130 or more a point - (it's awful hard to get a standard room without owning there.)

Realistically, when you factor the buy-in across the length of the contract - the annual cost for points runs around $8 - $10 (admitted if you've owned for 15 years or more this number would be a lower). And typically a deluxe studio room is going to be between 14 and 20 points per night on a week long trip - sometime more. So realistically, DVC runs you $150-200 a night, not $100 a night.

And as @rteetz pointed out, many of those changes you listed are to either (1) to make sure people stay on site and don't leave or (2) about improving the guest experience more so than for guest demand.

That said - I DO agree that Disney does look to do things to improve the guest experience. Folks on the boards sometimes uproar over every change, and really I DO feel like Disney tries to do things to improve that experience for everyone. For instance, they have yet to charge for FP+, even though they've surveyed doing so many times.

I said it earlier - I don't really have an issue with this whole concept of "charging for an expanded experience". If people have the money to do it, more power to them. You don't HAVE to do a MNSSHP, and a dessert party, and HDDR, and 6 character meals and all these extra things. I will never claim that a Disney trip is cheap, but it is still possible to do Disney in a reasonable manner and still have a good experience with it.

Look it - people have been able to hire VIP guides (Plaids) for decades. These guides take you around the park and get you to the front of the lines without FastPasses. They cost $500 an hour to hire. If they announced this service today - would people on-line be screaming "This is no fair! They are going to make all the lines longer! How dare they let someone pay to cut in front of me!" Of course they would. But in the end, it's so few people it doesn't really affect anyone in any siginifcant ways. We'd ran into a family with a plaid in FL. We rode with them on IaSW and then followed the onto Peter Pan (we had a FP, they had their VIP guide), and then again followed them onto Winnie the Pooh with no line. (I joked to DW that "look, we are getting the VIP experience at no cost!")

Think of these extra hours up-charges like that. VIP experiences for those that want to pay, but the effect on YOUR vacation will actually be minimal. In fact, we use the up-charge events to our advantage. We have found in the past that the Friday of the MNSSHP is a GREAT day to do MK early in the day. Because the park hours are shorter, and so many people are already planning to stay there late, we have been in the park for rope drop on those Fridays and found the park practically empty for the first 3 hours. Let other people spend more money, and while I use more brains.

These Early Morning Magic things suggest to me that I should just NOT try and Rope Drop fantasyland and the Mine Train. Instead, I would Rope drop either BTMRR/Splash or Space Mountain, and save the 7DMT and PP for my FP that day.

 

[rteetz]

I think it's worth pointing out a lot of this debate started on having enough rides for the volume of people in the park. There is a lot of debate about the rides added vs. lost, but I think there needs to be a factor for average attendance as well put into this. It looks like a net increase of maybe 1 major ride over the last 10-15 years. What has attendance done?

Attendance at DHS has been very stagnant.

 

[rteetz]

Does anyone know any dates when this is happening? (I just don't want it to be on the day I am going!)

No dates have been confirmed yet.

 

[jade1]

Keep in mind the question was why do "I" go to WDW?

Rooms currently indeed do cost me dues only, and I am far from alone.

All of my contracts have gone up in value, some more than others.

A BWV was $55 a point from a few years ago and is now worth close to $100.

BCV was $70 and we got an extra years points.

The gains aren't realized unless we sell, but we could at any time. Just no point in that since they are still trending up and have paid them off long ago.

Paid of the house so its just taxes and utilities. Do people count the principle any more as cost to live there, when its also now double in value?

 

[jade1]

So realistically, DVC runs you $150-200 a night, not $100 a night.

Well it doesn't me, but even so, $150 (even $200) for a deluxe resort at WDW is indeed a reason to visit IMO no? Or does $150 sound crazy expensive all of a sudden?

 

[jade1]

It's pretty off topic, but the whole $100 a night for DVC Deluxe @jade1 states is out of whack.

In theory, I can get a 10-point per night room at BLT (standard view) or AKV (value), and if I own points at BLT - which are $5.37 / point dues - that's around $100 for that room, but that's completely ignoring that the person bought those points for around $130 or more a point - (it's awful hard to get a standard room without owning there.)

Realistically, when you factor the buy-in across the length of the contract - the annual cost for points runs around $8 - $10 (admitted if you've owned for 15 years or more this number would be a lower). And typically a deluxe studio room is going to be between 14 and 20 points per night on a week long trip - sometime more. So realistically, DVC runs you $150-200 a night, not $100 a night.

And as @rteetz pointed out, many of those changes you listed are to either (1) to make sure people stay on site and don't leave or (2) about improving the guest experience more so than for guest demand.

That said - I DO agree that Disney does look to do things to improve the guest experience. Folks on the boards sometimes uproar over every change, and really I DO feel like Disney tries to do things to improve that experience for everyone. For instance, they have yet to charge for FP+, even though they've surveyed doing so many times.

I said it earlier - I don't really have an issue with this whole concept of "charging for an expanded experience". If people have the money to do it, more power to them. You don't HAVE to do a MNSSHP, and a dessert party, and HDDR, and 6 character meals and all these extra things. I will never claim that a Disney trip is cheap, but it is still possible to do Disney in a reasonable manner and still have a good experience with it.

Look it - people have been able to hire VIP guides (Plaids) for decades. These guides take you around the park and get you to the front of the lines without FastPasses. They cost $500 an hour to hire. If they announced this service today - would people on-line be screaming "This is no fair! They are going to make all the lines longer! How dare they let someone pay to cut in front of me!" Of course they would. But in the end, it's so few people it doesn't really affect anyone in any siginifcant ways. We'd ran into a family with a plaid in FL. We rode with them on IaSW and then followed the onto Peter Pan (we had a FP, they had their VIP guide), and then again followed them onto Winnie the Pooh with no line. (I joked to DW that "look, we are getting the VIP experience at no cost!")

Think of these extra hours up-charges like that. VIP experiences for those that want to pay, but the effect on YOUR vacation will actually be minimal. In fact, we use the up-charge events to our advantage. We have found in the past that the Friday of the MNSSHP is a GREAT day to do MK early in the day. Because the park hours are shorter, and so many people are already planning to stay there late, we have been in the park for rope drop on those Fridays and found the park practically empty for the first 3 hours. Let other people spend more money, and while I use more brains.

These Early Morning Magic things suggest to me that I should just NOT try and Rope Drop fantasyland and the Mine Train. Instead, I would Rope drop either BTMRR/Splash or Space Mountain, and save the 7DMT and PP for my FP that day.

 

[my2disneyboys]

No dates have been confirmed yet.

thank you!!

 

[dlavender]

Well it doesn't me, but even so, $150 (even $200) for a deluxe resort at WDW is indeed a reason to visit IMO no? Or does $150 sound crazy expensive all of a sudden?

Once you have dropped $40 g's....$150/night doesn't sound bad. Let's not forget that first part.....

 

[jade1]

And as @rteetz pointed out, many of those changes you listed are to either (1) to make sure people stay on site and don't leave or (2) about improving the guest experience more so than for guest demand.

That said - I DO agree that Disney does look to do things to improve the guest experience. Folks on the boards sometimes uproar over every change, and really I DO feel like Disney tries to do things to improve that experience for everyone. For instance, they have yet to charge for FP+, even though they've surveyed doing so many times.

I said it earlier - I don't really have an issue with this whole concept of "charging for an expanded experience". If people have the money to do it, more power to them. You don't HAVE to do a MNSSHP, and a dessert party, and HDDR, and 6 character meals and all these extra things. I will never claim that a Disney trip is cheap, but it is still possible to do Disney in a reasonable manner and still have a good experience with it.

Look it - people have been able to hire VIP guides (Plaids) for decades. These guides take you around the park and get you to the front of the lines without FastPasses. They cost $500 an hour to hire. If they announced this service today - would people on-line be screaming "This is no fair! They are going to make all the lines longer! How dare they let someone pay to cut in front of me!" Of course they would. But in the end, it's so few people it doesn't really affect anyone in any siginifcant ways. We'd ran into a family with a plaid in FL. We rode with them on IaSW and then followed the onto Peter Pan (we had a FP, they had their VIP guide), and then again followed them onto Winnie the Pooh with no line. (I joked to DW that "look, we are getting the VIP experience at no cost!")

Think of these extra hours up-charges like that. VIP experiences for those that want to pay, but the effect on YOUR vacation will actually be minimal. In fact, we use the up-charge events to our advantage. We have found in the past that the Friday of the MNSSHP is a GREAT day to do MK early in the day. Because the park hours are shorter, and so many people are already planning to stay there late, we have been in the park for rope drop on those Fridays and found the park practically empty for the first 3 hours. Let other people spend more money, and while I use more brains.

These Early Morning Magic things suggest to me that I should just NOT try and Rope Drop fantasyland and the Mine Train. Instead, I would Rope drop either BTMRR/Splash or Space Mountain, and save the 7DMT and PP for my FP that day.

Great post, spot on almost everything.

 

[rteetz]

Once you have dropped $40 g's....$150/night doesn't sound bad. Let's not forget that first part.....

Tell me about it.