HEADS UP... Disney just changed the EMH schedule for July all the way thru Dec...

[cgattis]

If they're not going to notify people paying to stay in a monorail resort that the monorail will be down most of their stay, they certainly aren't going to notify people over EMH changes. I'm afraid it's every man for himself.

I can even trump that. My room rate changed one year when we had booked the Poly way out. When we arrived, we had two nights at double what we booked them at, and we didn't even get notified of THAT. Ouch.

 

[Angel Ariel]

As connected as people are, if they want information they can find it. I don't expect or need Disney to call or text me every time something changes at one of their parks or the resorts. I'd get sick of answering my phone.

Who said anything about calling or texting? Most with reservations have email accounts, and most major companies have email blast services. For as many emails as Disney sends me to come to the parks, about upcoming movies, or.Disney store sales etc, is it really unreasonable to say they could include major park hour changes in those emails? Or to the Disney Parks Blog or their FB page? I'm not talking about adding 1 or here or taking away 1 there, but changing EMH hours for 6 months is a pretty major change. Email (and social media) isn't that hard. Will it reach everyone? No...but it will reach those who have fp+ reservations - since you need email for MDE signup - and those are the ones it matters the most to since Disney is the one wanting everyone to.lock.in their trips early.

 

[ArwenMarie]

If they're not going to notify people paying to stay in a monorail resort that the monorail will be down most of their stay, they certainly aren't going to notify people over EMH changes.

I'm afraid it's every man for himself.

Yep. It's what I call Disney's "Take It or Leave It" theory of customer service. When stuff like this happens (the monorail is a good example, so is the pool closure at WL), there is no point in complaining IMO. Just take it or leave it.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Meant to add:

It isn't about needing Disney to spoonfeed the information. My trip is still more than 4 months away, so yeah I expect changes. That's why I'm here on the DIS.

That said, there are many people that this affects who are within their 60/30 day windows. Their rooms are booked, their ADRs are booked, and so are their FP+'s. Why? Because *Disney* wants everyone planning in advance. So people plan in advance, and they get past their final fp+ window and everything they can prebook is booked....why would they continue to look, continue to expect changes?

If Disney wants everyone to lock in their entire trip by 60/30 days prior to it, then it is simply good customer service on Disney's part to inform guests when there are changes to that "locked in" schedule. Prior to FP+, I would agree that Disney has no responsibility to.inform anyone. Disney changed the game, and the expectations change right along with it.

 

[katt789]

Thanks checked through our schedules and they actually don't effect our plans at all!

 

[jade1]

I think this is just a way for them to allow that 4th fastpass. "Look honey, there's a fastpass available for pirates at 1130 pm!" Otherwise, that would have been EMH and no fastpasses...and more complaints about how people weren't ever able to boom another fastpass.

That's actually a good point. If they added 25 hours to MK evenings in July-that would add 35,000 FP+ for Space Mountain in July-a busy month. Between 7DMT, Splash, BTMRR maybe an additional 75,000?

Well over 100,000 FP+ with everything I would assume.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Meant to add:

It isn't about needing Disney to spoonfeed the information. My trip is still more than 4 months away, so yeah I expect changes. That's why I'm here on the DIS.

That said, there are many people that this affects who are within their 60/30 day windows. Their rooms are booked, their ADRs are booked, and so are their FP+'s. Why? Because *Disney* wants everyone planning in advance. So people plan in advance, and they get past their final fp+ window and everything they can prebook is booked....why would they continue to look, continue to expect changes?

If Disney wants everyone to lock in their entire trip by 60/30 days prior to it, then it is simply good customer service on Disney's part to inform guests when there are changes to that "locked in" schedule. Prior to FP+, I would agree that Disney has no responsibility to.inform anyone. Disney changed the game, and the expectations change right along with it.

Good point. And before they added the $10 pp charge for reservations (not that I'm against that in theory)

 

[dawgsgirl]

Well, I just got my call from Disney about this. I am traveling Sept 3-12. No evening MK EMH during that time. The official explanation is that they are on an operating week of Sun-Sat. They are offering one evening EMH per week based on that schedule. They are just SO sorry it will not be within my travel dates. I was also told that because of the NOJ hard ticket event there was no EMH that weekend. It was a very frustrating phone call. I just kept getting the official line of "based on our operating week we are still offering one EMH per week and no perks have been cut." Before the call, I was just disappointed. Now I think I am mad!! LOL!! I guess I should not have expected anything better out of Disney.

 

[C-CMom]

Well, I just got my call from Disney about this...

But they actually did call you to notify you? That helps me feel a bit better about their approach at least.
I realize it's still a problem for many. Sorry it affected you adversely. Good luck.

 

[dawgsgirl]

But they actually did call you to notify you? That helps me feel a bit better about their approach at least.
I realize it's still a problem for many. Sorry it affected you adversely. Good luck.

I had emailed them earlier in the week when I heard about this. This was my response to requesting a phone call.

 

[Fantasmic303]

Thanks for the update - I wonder if that means I can expect a call at some point as well, and if I do get one, I appreciate the "official line" heads up. I hate when they put the customer relations people on the case and then they just repeat their "sorry" and the official line and don't even listen to why it's a true problem.

For the record, I was clear in my email to them that our family WILL still enjoy our trip and we'll definitely make the most of it, but it's just not fair to less experienced travelers to throw these wrenches into very carefully scheduled plans with so little time to make adjustments.

Also, as to the notification issue, I work in mobile marketing. Having something in place when there's a major change - be it a pool closing, reduced monorail hours, or EMH changes - would not be difficult, and would likely be appreciated by those who are planning without the benefit of forums like the DIS. I get plenty of emails from Disney about my upcoming trip, and not one of them said, "Hey pal - check our operating hours for the most up to date changes to our EMH schedule so you don't miss the fun!"

(I can, however, pay $149 for a Memory Maker Package in advance or book a VIP tour for $299, in case you wondered.)

 

[Angel Ariel]

As the pp noted, the call they got was a follow up to the pp contacting Disney. Disney has not contacted guests themselves to notify them of the change

 

[Fantasmic303]

Thank you, and as I noted in my post, I also emailed them, hence why I wondered if I would also be receiving a call.

I was just agreeing with other posters that a notification system could easily be put in place.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Thank you, and as I noted in my post, I also emailed them, hence why I wondered if I would also be receiving a call.

I was just agreeing with other posters that a notification system could easily be put in place.

I'm really sorry..I did actually miss that. I'm in a bit of a haze today, as my daughter was up all night and I got very little sleep. I wasn't trying to be snarky, though I totally get that it came across that way. Please accept my apologies.

 

[KimBean]

I hate to admit it, but even though we'll be there for 10 days in July with no EMH in the evening for Magic Kingdom, I guess I'm a bit confused as to why this is such an issue. Yes, it sucks that it's another cutback and I find it absurd that they would go more than a full week with no EMH at the most popular park. However, every day of our trip, the MK is open until at least 11:00PM, some nights 12:00 or 1:00. I guess I just don't see how those extra 2 hours we're losing is going to mess up any ADR's.

Some of the Dissers arrange their days based on EMH.

I personally avoid EMH to avoid crowds and don't do park hopping. So for my trip in Dec I've already planned my park days and booked my ADRs around it. If I have to change my park days I have to change my ADRs as well which I won't get the hard ones now. And being a free dining week going to be hard to change ADRs. Somehow though the changes did not affect anything for me. But I feel for others.

 

[dawgsgirl]

Thanks for the update - I wonder if that means I can expect a call at some point as well, and if I do get one, I appreciate the "official line" heads up. I hate when they put the customer relations people on the case and then they just repeat their "sorry" and the official line and don't even listen to why it's a true problem.

For the record, I was clear in my email to them that our family WILL still enjoy our trip and we'll definitely make the most of it, but it's just not fair to less experienced travelers to throw these wrenches into very carefully scheduled plans with so little time to make adjustments.

Also, as to the notification issue, I work in mobile marketing. Having something in place when there's a major change - be it a pool closing, reduced monorail hours, or EMH changes - would not be difficult, and would likely be appreciated by those who are planning without the benefit of forums like the DIS. I get plenty of emails from Disney about my upcoming trip, and not one of them said, "Hey pal - check our operating hours for the most up to date changes to our EMH schedule so you don't miss the fun!"

(I can, however, pay $149 for a Memory Maker Package in advance or book a VIP tour for $299, in case you wondered.)

Don't know if they will call you or not. I requested a phone call in my email.

 

[BuzzyBelle]

I think this is just a way for them to allow that 4th fastpass. "Look honey, there's a fastpass available for pirates at 1130 pm!" Otherwise, that would have been EMH and no fastpasses...and more complaints about how people weren't ever able to boom another fastpass. I'm frustrated because in the heat, we spend a few hours out of the parks and the return for evening and night. This just made it that much more crowded for us to do this.

Also frustrating is that MK is open until 12 am every night for the week we are there, except the night it has EMH. It's open until 11 that night, so I essence, we only get 1 hour of EMH. I already miss the 3 hours of lower crowds EMH, and now it's basically a 1 hour benefit.

I think the extra hours for a 4th FP is a good possibility or also allowing more hours for off site guests who don't get to book 60 days out. Maybe the FP system is completely booked too early out and they're scrambling to add more park hours to give the last minute guests a chance to get some FPs. Whatever their reason it stinks for on site guests

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm really leaning toward ditching the package concept and booking room only next time we head to WDW. That allows cancellation up to 5 days out, so would give me the greatest flexibility to cut back and move offsite at the last minute if they pull any of this nonsense.

 

[Rileygirl]

I am going during the very busy month of July. My timeline now is less then 30 days. Today, I can pick any headliner for anytime slot that I want, on any day that I want, the exception is a/e and fireworks/parades( which probably have not been released.) this is with switching park days around completely.
Mk has not even been tiered yet.
This system is barely being used right now, in my opinion. Reduction of emh's have NOTHING to do giving off site guests more options, in my opinion.

 

[glvsav37]

I sent off an email too. Overall, I have no issues with them changing their hours...my issue is with the timing. We will be there in less then 2 weeks and it is too late for us to realistically change any plans. One in particular was a wishes party that we booked so that we could avoid the Main Street exit rush and enjoy extra evening hours. But now they took that EMH away and we have $$ invested in what became an ordinary night.

My beef is that if WDW is requiring us to be making touring decisions at 180 days from even stepping foot on property, they need to be held to the same regard. Anything otherwise shows a true lack of either respect or understanding of their guests.