Evening Extra Magic Hour! (VERY LONG POST)

[MaryKatesMom]

Ugh. I had my iternary set by 85 days out. I tour based on the EMH and I had to redo many of my days, including a dinner planned at V&A on our anniversary on the 12th.

I imagine I won't be the only one changing their plans.

 

[The House of Mouse]

Wow! Lots of opinions on this one. Yes, I am somewhat of an obsessive planner, but I also build flexibility into our itinerary. I enjoy planning for Disney, and initially this announcement threw me for a loop. After looking over things today, it doesn't seem all that bad. I am looking forward to seeing the final details so I can adjust my plans for the last time. I do like the idea of sleeping in every now and again. I would be very surprised if they ran the old EMH schedule alongside the new one. I guess now it's just a wait and see game.

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by clairesmom
Does anyone know if they usually adjust the public closing time in this event? the magic kingdom is currently scheduled to close at 8:30 pm; would the extra magic night time be after that, or would they close the park early (say at 6 or 7) and then have the extra magic time? many thanks for any insight.

Well of course with anything new, we don't know for sure. Not sure even Disney knows for sure, but when they did have E-Ride Nights the extra hours was after regular park hours.

I did think of something interesting about this new program. If indeed you do need a Disney resort ID for each person to participate, I guess that leaves out the people who put too many people in a room over occupancy and do not have ID's for every one in their group.

 

[Webbie]

This reminds me of all the fun we use to have back in the 80's when the parks were open at night. I loved going to the park in the morning and then returning around 4:30 to a wonderful evening without the hot sun beating down on us. Back then the park was open until midnight. Tinkerbell would make her appearance at the 11 o'clock fireworks. And this was normal operating hours, no special entry was needed.

 

[lenshanem]

My trips aren't until June and July. I start making PSs for July tomorrow morn. I had based our PSs on the EE park days. (We try to avoid those parks on those days cause we never can make it there that early.) I'm still keeping what I'd had planned to book.
Course, the June trip I just literally a couple days ago finished completely with my planning. If this sticks thru June it will mess up two of the eight days I have planned, but when I went back to look at switching things around it just didn't seem worth it. If the kids are up to it we might even stick around for a late MK night. Actually, I had planned on that being a sleep in day so it might work for us.
Regardless, I think it is a fab idea! We when go for our anniversary less kids those late nights would be great. Hope they keep this and it works.

 

[jaysue]

Yikes, just when I thought I was DONE planning the May trip

Back into the breach once again!

Time to get some sleep and figure this thing out tomorrow morning

I cannot complain about this test since our market feedback to WDW centered around parks closing too early and no E-Ride nights - I did not expect to lose EMH morning time though - prime touring time for us earlybirds

Well, will give it the old college try and see how it works out for us!

Thanks all
jaysue

 

[Sarahsmom85]

I guess we will have Disney Quest and PI all to ourselfs on these nights. This was our plan anyway, and with us not being able to late we will leave. Us Poor offsiter.
Yes what is with the parks closing at 9 anyway. They use to be open until 11 p/m. Closing at 9 seems so early. oh well you do what you do you see what you see.

 

[CPM]

Originally posted by 232271
I do not like the idea of an extra magic hour or two at night,
I am a morning person and feel I get the most out of the
early am entry I really hope they do not change to this ,
but this only my opinion.

I am curious what other's think.

Not everyone is a morning person. I think it's great to give us night owls a little extra magic for once!

 

[MaryKatesMom]

When I called to change my PS's the CM did say the morning EMH were altered. She listed the EMH days and parks and they are identical to the ones posted above. They are NOT in addition to the old schedule.

 

[z28wiz]

It is a great idea since my self and my fiance do net get up to early to go to the parks.

 

[WDWguru]

Originally posted by Sarahsmom85
Yes what is with the parks closing at 9 anyway. They use to be open until 11 p/m. Closing at 9 seems so early. oh well you do what you do you see what you see.

I think this is part selective memory and part growth. I grew up going to WDW and for a time lived just an hour and a half away. They have always adjusted hours to the season.

There is a formula used for rides per hour and that is how park hours are determined. The crowds are estimated, then they figure out how many rides per hour the average guest can fit in based on how many people are in the park. They adjust the hours to fit. So, in September, when it is far less crowded, you can get in the same number of rides during park operating hours as someone who goes in December and fights the crowds. It gives the guest the same comparable experience and allows the parks to control costs.

Yes, "way back when" in the 70s and early 80s, the parks were open later. You also have to remember that for a good chunk of that time there was only one theme park. Until 1989 there were only two parks. That's much less area in which to disperse crowds. As things have expanded, the crowds are spread out more and people don't always all end up at the same place at the same time, so hours are futher adjusted to suit.

While I don't disagree that it is disappointing when we go in May and October that we can't go to the park until midnight, I will take the less crowded conditions as a nice trade-off. If I want to stay at the park until midnight, I'll go in July or for NYE (as we did this past year).

 

[Blueeyes101817]

ok im confused...ill be there may 13-19..so looks like well be guinea pigs too so the ones that are in the evening, we stay till what time?..thanks

 

[Barb]

ok im confused...ill be there may 13-19..so looks like well be guinea pigs too so the ones that are in the evening, we stay till what time?..thanks

From what we're hearing, it's going to depend on the particular park. They are saying 1-3 hours after closing. Someone has already said they were told, by a CM, 1 hour extra at the AK.

 

[helenk]

I hope they have this schedule in June when we go. I have my plans made but they can be re-done. I like to go the the early openings just to get a head start on the crowds, but by the middle of the week my group gets cranky getting up early so we go to the non ee parks.
In the summer I would love being able to go to the parks later at night. It will give us more time to relax in the afternoon.

 

[bethbuchall]

Originally posted by MaryKatesMom
When I called to change my PS's the CM did say the morning EMH were altered. She listed the EMH days and parks and they are identical to the ones posted above. They are NOT in addition to the old schedule.

I would think that to truly test this they would have to alter the schedule. They couldn't really get a good feel for what would happen if they had both schedules in place.

Also, several people have been told that PS's scheduled during the extra AM hour would still be honored. That sounds to me like the park won't be open.

I am hopeful that we will get the official details soon.

Beth

 

[Maleficent2]

I think this is a Fantastic Idea!!!!!! We love Enights and we did Extra Magic Hours when there Easter Week, it was great I am all for Resort Perks!!!!


IT's about Time WDW

 

[arizonacolbys]

I agree that this is a neat idea to combine EMH morning hours & evening hours. This way you can enjoy early entry some mornings, and sleep in a little on the others. My hubby & I have always stayed on-site at Disney & were really looking forward to staying at the SOG this year since he is now a member of the Army National Guard. I am very unhappy that as of right now SOG isn't being offered the EMH in the evenings. Why are they offered the EMH in the A.M., but not the P.M. Seems really bizarre to me.

In the past SOG was treated the same as any other on-site Disney resort. It seems this may be changing into the future. I think the U.S. armed forces and their families should get the same benefits as other on-site guests when staying at the SOG - this is the least Disney could do for our hard-working armed forces. JMHO.

 

[Kaycee]

Originally posted by arizonacolbys
I agree that this is a neat idea to combine EMH morning hours & evening hours. This way you can enjoy early entry some mornings, and sleep in a little on the others. My hubby & I have always stayed on-site at Disney & were really looking forward to staying at the SOG this year since he is now a member of the Army National Guard. I am very unhappy that as of right now SOG isn't being offered the EMH in the evenings. Why are they offered the EMH in the A.M., but not the P.M. Seems really bizarre to me.

In the past SOG was treated the same as any other on-site Disney resort. It seems this may be changing into the future. I think the U.S. armed forces and their families should get the same benefits as other on-site guests when staying at the SOG - this is the least Disney could do for our hard-working armed forces. JMHO.

Someone else posted earlier that WDW probably offered the new plan to all the resorts that participate in EMH, and SOG opted not to participate in the evening plan due to the extra cost of running transportation for the extra hours. This makes sense to me, because I know that SOG runs on an allotted budget, and it probably can't be changed on such short notice. Plus, I really just don't think that WDW would not offer this plan to SOG without a reason. When EE was first reinstated after WDW had done away with it for a while, none of the DTD resorts except the Hilton chose to participate, although they had in the past. I really think this is probably the same type of situation. Please don't see this as a slight to military personnel, because I truly don't believe that it is.

 

[luv2nascar]

sounds good all visitors
good combination for early & late folks
hopefully it will be successful and stay around

 

[arizonacolbys]

Thanks Kaycee for the info. I don't really consider it a slight to the military - just wish they would offer more for military families, but that's another story. If transporatation is the only issue - couldn't SOG guests be "allowed" a wristband to stay, but not offer transportation after a certain time? Many guests have their own vehicles, or could maybe just walk back to SOG from TTC or the Polynesian.

It just seemed odd to me at first that SOG was being left out of the loop when certain DTD hotels were being included. If I have read this info correctly - EMH in the a.m. will only happen on M, W, F & S - the other days SOG won't have to provide early a.m. transportation - wouldn't this even out if the park is open later instead of earlier?

I agree that some of this could be due to SOG's budget, but I'm still not completely convinced, I guess. We are considering cancelling our ressies for SOG to stay on-site if we're going to miss out on all of these perks. It really is a shame that the SOG is having so many problems this year.

Thanks again!