EXTRA MAGIC HOURS problems - Do something about it here!

[crazyj4488]

Okay, if the EMH restrictions are not being inforced, something needs to be done. Read this thread if you haven't already:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=789889

There are enough DISboards members to make a difference if we do contact them about this. Disney is very good about taking guest's opinions (in comparison to most companies) seriously when contacted...especially resort guests.

Here is a letter I drafted for the purpose of easily communicating the dissatisfaction in EMH and how it may, and should, be improved. You may copy and paste this into their online web email form or print and mail it to Guest services using the listed contact info below. Don't whine and cry about these problems people!! Be proactive and DO SOMETHING about the problem. Your opinion matters as a resort guest:


***snip***

I am a frequent guest at WDW resorts and wish to express my concerns about the lack of enforcement with the restrictions at Extra Magic Hour nights, especially at the Magic Kingdom. During these evenings MANY guests were observed walking around with no wristbands during the EMHs at the Magic Kingdom. Cast Members were repeatedly observed giving out wristbands without checking resort ids and letting people without wristbands into attractions without checking for proper qualification.

For this program to work, the rules need to be enforced by Cast Members. Too many bottlenecks were observed at the attractions during EMH nights versus the old E-Ride nights. Many people would rather pay for an enforced plan (such as E-Ride night) than see the rules not being enforced.

Disney resort guests, such as myself, pay a premium for services and features such as Extra Magic Hours. Rather than using this feature as a marketing ploy to lure guests into staying on-site, your organization should honor and uphold the advertised services and features offered to resort guests.

Sincerely,
A frequent WDW resort patron

***snip***

Here is the contact info:

Email GUEST RELATIONS using their web form:

http://studio.go.com/cgi-bin/gmail/generic_mail.cgi?template=disneyworld/form.tpl

Mailing address:

Walt Disney World Guest Communications
P.O. Box 10,400
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

***

-J

 

[kirbsam]

When I was there in January, I observed plenty of people walking around with no wrist bands. No harm there. I didnt notice people getting on rides. So, if you have personally observed this sort of thing, by all means write, call, fax, or whatever. I love emh and think it is a great thing.

 

[spiceycat]

when I was there in March - you had to have a resort key for each member if your party.

they only counted the keys - didn't ask for id to check the name or anything.

the MK will always have a ton of people.

WDW will not ask guest to leave - unless they are causing problems!

when it comes to the rides - the CM at each and every ride - do generally ask to see the wrist band. Sometimes the color is so wild that it stands out and they don't need to ask.

I have seem people turned away at MK and Epcot during Emh - so the system does work.

at the AK people without wrist bands were allowed to see the shows - but not to do the rides.

but to ask the MK to be uncrowded is not real.

at least he is not complaining about what I found unreal when they tried in May. the screaming kids!

parents (who I hope generally have more sense) - were there with little children (3 and under) - who should have been in bed.

so the kids were screaming and if I heard it once - I heard a million times.

'the kids are tired we need to go back to the resort'

' but it is FREE'

 

[Ducky4Disney]

I don't think the new evening EMH has been around long enough to completely nix it. The CM's need to be reminded and encouraged to enforce the EMH rules. For parties like MNSSHP, wristbanded guests are corraled into Tomorrowland while the park clears out, maybe something like that should be in place? Even during non-EMH evenings you can stroll around MK for about an hour after the park closes, so maybe there should be a time limit. Non-wrist banded guests need to be out of the park by 10pm.

It needs to be tweaked, but not thrown away - yet. I'll get first hand experience this May, I may change my mind after that!

D4D

 

[kellymouse]

I did it! Great idea!!! Hopefully they will do something by the time I go...18 more days! Thanks!

 

[Sandi]

When we were there in February, the CMs were very diligent about checking resort IDs before handing out wrist bands. They also turned away people at various rides (especially noticed this at the MK). At Epcot, we had to show picture ID with our resort IDs. There was quite a line to get the wrist bands, but people were very affable and didn't complain.

My experience was that the rules were enforced, so I couldn't write such a letter. If things have changed since February, I'm disappointed.

 

[26555]

EMHs are packed with resort guests. Offsite guests are not causing a problem even if a few of them try to beat the system with a less than diligent CM. Most offsite guests would be clueless about EMH. Those that are in the know probably avoid the park due to onsite guests crowding the place. No need to corral offsite guests out either. It works out for Disney if these people linger ...... can't ride rides but can shop and eat.

 

[carolfoy]

I did it too, the main point for staying on site especially for uk guests that can't make the trip 2-3 times a year is the EMH, staying off site is a heck of a lot cheaper so we need to feel that we are getting extra for our money. I hope they do enforce the rules a bit more

 

[minmate]

I actually ENJOYED EMH eve MORE than the E-ride nights I've experienced. PLUS, I didn't have to pay extra for it! I may be in the minority here, but I don't want WDW to switch back to E-ride nights. I didn't observe the same "awful bottlenecks" as others posted on that thread from last Wednesday. We got 11 rides, PLUS done in that three-hour period and it was probably one of the most fun, memorable touring segments of our trip. A lot of what is considered "crowded" I imagine is perceived, based on everyone's prior experiences and tolerance for crowds. Someone said that there is the possibility of 50,000 plus guests staying at WDW resort hotels at any given time. They all have the same opportunity -- and they should -- to utilize EMH.

With that said, I hadn't observed people getting on rides without wristbands or getting the wristbands without qualifying for them. For those issues, should they exist, I am in full support of WDW finding techniques to prevent this from happening. Perks for resort hotel guests should remain for just guests. Thank you.

 

[minmate]

at least he is not complaining about what I found unreal when they tried in May. the screaming kids!

parents (who I hope generally have more sense) - were there with little children (3 and under) - who should have been in bed.

so the kids were screaming and if I heard it once - I heard a million times.

'the kids are tired we need to go back to the resort'

' but it is FREE'

BTW, we took our four kids to EMH eve (ages 6, 5, 4 and 2) and they were great! Nobody screamed or was cranky. They all stayed awake through the bus line. The 2yo and 4yo dozed a bit on the bus but were wide awake by the time we got off and wanted to go swimming at the resort -- at 1 a.m. -- we convinced them otherwise though. The reason for this -- although, I shouldn't need to justify it to you or anyone else -- is that they took good long naps in the afternoon. There were plenty of kids in the bus line at midnight last Wed. None of them were screaming or crying. A bunch were asleep or looking very tired in mommy and daddy's arms and in strollers though.

 

[swilphil]

We had to show our room keys to get our wristbands in March, and CMs checked for wristbands at each ride. I DO NOT want to go back to paid E-nights. I also think the evening EMH makes the morning EMH even better. So many resort guests go to the late EMH that MK is virtually deserted during the morning EMH.

 

[beattyfamily]

I always thought they wouldn't kick out offsite guests but they wouldn't be able to ride rides. They could make a lot of money not kicking them out if any food or shops are open still.

I don't see a problem with it as long as they are being turned away from rides, which by all accounts, they are.

What I am bummed about is a post I read about 1 hour waits for rides at MGM on EMH nights. That's a major bummer.

 

[arizonacolbys]

Just wanted to add that we also experienced a few of the EMH nights in January & didn't have any problems with people getting onto rides without wristbands. We did the evening EMH at 3 of the 4 parks (didn't make it to MGM's.)

Epcot was the best one at the time, checking ID's & resort room keys for each person. MK & AK both required a room key for each member of your party. We also saw many people inquire about wristbands & they were turned away without the proper resort id's. Many people were also turned away to ride several rides we were on - this was mostly at the beginning of the night as some non-resort guests were still hanging around.

We still prefer the morning EMH to get things done, but enjoy the evening ones as well. We're glad we don't have to pay for it like the E-ride nights - more than one occassion for E-nights, we got rained on & called it an early night. We're hoping to enjoy the evening EMH's a little more in May - it just got too cold for us a few of those evenings in January.

 

[26555]

There may or may not be problems with EMHs but, IMHO, they are not caused by offsite guests.

 

[kilee]

Evening EMH wasn't around at the Christmas holiday. So, this was the first holiday period to have this. I do think that there were probably a few people who fell through the cracks that shouldn't have. I do believe it was probably due to the sheer number of people there. With the exception of the timeframe right around Easter, it seems to be a good system in place.

 

[WDSearcher]

I did it too, the main point for staying on site especially for uk guests that can't make the trip 2-3 times a year is the EMH, staying off site is a heck of a lot cheaper so we need to feel that we are getting extra for our money. I hope they do enforce the rules a bit more

True -- but did you send the letter to guest relations because you YOURSELF observed problems during EMH, or did you send it because you've read about problems others have observed?

If folks here are truly observing problems, then note the date and park and send a note. But if you're just going to bombard Guest Relations with e-mails of the same exact letter, without having attended an evening EMH yourself and actually seen that the problems are happening, then that's not right either. IMO

 

[WDSearcher]

Okay, if the EMH restrictions are not being inforced, something needs to be done. Read this thread if you haven't already:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=789889

There are enough DISboards members to make a difference if we do contact them about this. Disney is very good about taking guest's opinions (in comparison to most companies) seriously when contacted...especially resort guests.

Here is a letter I drafted for the purpose of easily communicating the dissatisfaction in EMH and how it may, and should, be improved.

crazyj -- have you, yourself, seen or experienced these problems, or are you writing on behalf of people who posted, who say they have experienced these problems? If you're hoping to rally people who actually saw and experienced problems to the EMH system, then that's great. If you just want to rally a bunch of people to swamp Guest Relations with e-mails based on second-hand information, then that's not fair. That's like me saying, "I heard that you were driving too fast and so I'm going to have all of my friends report you to the police so that they stop you next time," without ever knowing who you are or if you even have a car.

 

[n2mm]

We didn't have any problem in January when we were there. The rules were enforced in all 4 parks. Guess without bands were not allowed to ride, though not asked to leave. CMs were great and patient. I will be back in 2 weeks and will certainly notice any difference since this will be our second trip this year since this program began. I do not want e-ticket nights back. I like the system the way it is.