Is This a Sign Of Things To Come?

[Slapshot1188]

I said this before but I think it bears repeating.

At this point Disney is obviously trolling us. I envision a few folks sitting in a room throwing out ludicrous ideas and saying "Nobody would ever go for that!!", and then trying to out do each other.
"Nobody would ever pay an extra $400 for an AP", HAHAHA yes they will!
"Let's add the photo package to APs and jack up the price because we know a family of 5 would only need 1 package but will by 5 APs!. This is a GENIOUS idea"
"Hey let's double the packing charge for a few of the lots"..
"Lets try "surge" pricing!"
"How about $150 a person for 3 hours late in the parks. I mean, why not just replace those EMHs and make $150 smackaroos"?
"Let's charge resort fees!"
"Lets raise the price of food (and make portions smaller)"
"Let's cut back on service!!"


One last trip for us in August.. then our APs expire. Then that will be it for Disney for years. Maybe, just maybe when Star Wars land opens we might go back. Of course by that time they will probably go to some kind of pay per minute for time in the park.. (of course from 11AM to 5PM will cost an extra 25 cents a minute)

 

[DisneyWishes14]

The fairly new Chairman of Disney Parks and Resorts (only in position since Feb. 2015) previously served as president of Disney Consumer Products. He has zero park experience and is acclaimed for creating new business models and finding new revenue streams. I think this is what we are seeing here. It's unfortunate, IMHO, that many of these changes are coming in to play so quickly when Disney has, by their own accord, forced a fairly long-term planning strategy onto their guests. 180 days for dining, 60 and 30 days for FP+. We visit often and go at a slow pace, picking just a few new must-do's for each trip coupled with a few of traditional favorites. But I really feel for those who have trips coming up in the next 6 months, particularly those who are planning once in a lifetime trips who simply cannot get a handle on daily schedules, events, etc. because of all of these new things popping up. I mean, seriously, the first after hours event is less than a month away and most people have already purchased their tickets, made ADR's, planned their park days, etc. It's as if they have no real understanding of the long-term planning issues they themselves have imposed on their guests with these last-minute announcements or non-announcements in the case of RoL. I understand why people are frustrated.

 

[Anesthesia Fine]

Real foodies won't pay a premium price for the stuff Disney serves up for breakfast at the MK. Even a cheap brunch at home would be better than what BOG gets away with.

I'm a fan of a lot of Disney food and 100% agree with this. No interest in trying BOG breakfast. None.

 

[Iowamomof4]

here's some info I found
Disney Early Morning Magic- Fantasyland

Guests Check-In beginning at 7:30am at the Main Entrance of Magic Kingdom, by the Far Left Hand Side Turnstiles. Guests will receive a sticker for identification.

At 7:45am Guests are allowed to enter Magic Kingdom. They will make their way to Fantasyland where they will be free to enjoy Peter Pan’s Flight, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.


no mention on price or dates....this is not a replacement of EMH they will probably do this on days when there isn't morning EMH at MK

Is this on the website or did you gather it from your own sources? Thanks for sharing! It's always good to have more information so we can reduce (not eliminate, I'm sure) the wild speculations.

 

[HopperFan]

here's some info I found
Disney Early Morning Magic- Fantasyland

Guests Check-In beginning at 7:30am at the Main Entrance of Magic Kingdom, by the Far Left Hand Side Turnstiles. Guests will receive a sticker for identification.

At 7:45am Guests are allowed to enter Magic Kingdom. They will make their way to Fantasyland where they will be free to enjoy Peter Pan’s Flight, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.

no mention on price or dates....this is not a replacement of EMH they will probably do this on days when there isn't morning EMH at MK

Just like the Disney After Hours night event, it's not on EMH hours. I think if enough people pay for both then this will transition in to no more EMH.

There is simply not the CM manpower in MK (especially with the reduced regular hours that are causing some to leave) to have them work these kind of hours back to back. This kind of stuff is not fun for them.

Phase this in, get people paying for a meal and limited number of rides, then eliminate the EMH. From business point of view, I would do it at MK and then thinking forward, at DHS and AK when their big additions are done.

AND if they make this a pay thing with a meal and rides - should be a prepay so that way if you book CP, CRT or BOG you pay proportionate amount ... then there would be no traditional pre-park opening ADRs available.

Or since it says Table Service Dining .... could this mean BOG will switch to TS for breakfast (which I said it should be all along) OR it will stop offering breakfast all together (they may as well from a profit point of view).

You can't have folks pay to get in early to ride along with folks who are going to BOG for a single cupcake for their family. Can you imagine the 100's of folks lining up to 7DMT after their cupcake being told they don't have a sticker so they can't ride .............

 

[dsdeleon]

Any little "hacks" we can collectively figure out are on the chopping block. Renting points, shipping ahead to the resort, uber on property, 3rd party rentals (ex: trailers at Ft Wilderness), dining plan substitutions, memory maker shares. They are probably rechecking with the attorneys in liability on that free cup of ice water.

 

[tlmadden73]

My head is still spinning from the last announcement. It's about to spin right off. I agree with PP's - why do they keep hitting us rapid fire? It's getting to be too much at once. Also, in typical Disney fashion we are given minimum details and then it's a waiting game for the rest of the important info. Once this rolls out with they still allow normal pre-opening breakfasts? CP is absolutely our favorite and we always eat before opening. Honestly I don't know if my DH would want to waste morning park time to eat there. We get SO much done right after breakfast as we usually finish right after RD. I know none of us have to participate in any of these new money grabs - I mean special events - but still. Can we at least stop for a minute Disney and let the dust settle before you announce more?

We are seeing it through "our" glasses. Veterans who have been many times and go often (once a year or more).

But imagine a new guest seeing these things? Look at all these cool events! Disney knows people are willing to pay for "experiences" (look how popular the boutique is and how popular character meals are) .. These are just more "experiences" they can offer.

How many people were getting BOG breakfast not because of the food, but simply for the "perk" of getting in early? So the demand was there for this type of experience. Why not market it that way and sell it that way to let other (non-veterans) realize you can get a breakfast at BOG to get in early? They are just advertising something that "we" created.

 

[Lirael]

I wonder if they're allowed to simply cancel all prepark opening ADRs? Since guests dont have to pay for those, wdw might be allowed to not honor them.

 

[jbharr1]

Can you imagine the 100's of folks lining up to 7DMT after their cupcake being told they don't have a sticker so they can't ride .............

BOG would become the easiest prepark ADR to get is what would happen. i have to believe that 90% of the people with prepark ADR for BOG only have it to get a jump on rope drop. why else would you?

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I wouldn't pay a premium for any food in the MK. However, guests at BOG and CRT and Crystal Palace aren't paying solely for the food. some, like the ones that bring a party of 10 to BOG and order one cupcake, aren't there for the food at all. there have even been stories of guests skipping their early morning ADR (and eating the cancellation fee) just to hang out in the sections of the park that are open to them, and/or to be in a better position to get at their favored attractions when they do open.

 

[jbharr1]

They are just advertising something that "we" created.

 

[lugnut33]

What would be the value of staying in a monorail resort with intentions of only going to MK if they now make a couple mornings you are there cost more for entry?

And the monorail will not be operating that early.

 

[COscrapper]

Other parks do change things around at the last minute too. We bought Universal APs last May and have gone for 3 trips to the Dark Side.

Our first trip, the onsite resort hotel pool had the wrong closing time for one of the parks. I think it was because the hours changed at the last minute or something. The next night, one of the parks closed early for a private event, and this wasn't announced until shortly before my trip. I only knew because I checked. This past trip, they switched the park offering Early Admission. And this wasn't announced until just before my trip either. I had checked a couple of weeks before and planned on it being the other park. I didn't realize until I got there and was faced with 75 min waits. In all my 3 Universal trips, I have found that they announce things and change things at the very last minute, which can get frustrating.

That said, I agree with the consensus that this is not a desirable change.

So does Universal also require you to make ADRs 180 days in advance and plan your rides 30-60 days in advance?

 

[jbharr1]

So does Universal also require you to make ADRs 180 days in advance and plan your rides 30-60 days in advance?

does disney?

 

[WiscMomof2]

I guess my question was before new fantasyland and BOG. CRT and CP always had prepark ADR, yes? did that give you a big jump on rope drop? or because breakfast is more of an event was it not even possible? was it not so much of an issue before fp+? or 7D?

We've done pre opening breakfasts before 'new' Fantasyland. It's been awhile, but if my memory serves the two times we ate at CRT they held us at the castle exit into Fantasyland. I don't remember getting on any rides early, but being that much ahead of folks at the gate was still a nice advantage at opening.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

The fairly new Chairman of Disney Parks and Resorts (only in position since Feb. 2015) previously served as president of Disney Consumer Products. He has zero park experience and is acclaimed for creating new business models and finding new revenue streams. I think this is what we are seeing here. It's unfortunate, IMHO, that many of these changes are coming in to play so quickly when Disney has, by their own accord, forced a fairly long-term planning strategy onto their guests. 180 days for dining, 60 and 30 days for FP+. We visit often and go at a slow pace, picking just a few new must-do's for each trip coupled with a few of traditional favorites. But I really feel for those who have trips coming up in the next 6 months, particularly those who are planning once in a lifetime trips who simply cannot get a handle on daily schedules, events, etc. because of all of these new things popping up. I mean, seriously, the first after hours event is less than a month away and most people have already purchased their tickets, made ADR's, planned their park days, etc. It's as if they have no real understanding of the long-term planning issues they themselves have imposed on their guests with these last-minute announcements or non-announcements in the case of RoL. I understand why people are frustrated.

To put this in perspective the guy who helped eliminate the cool area and park specific merchandise will now be responsible for your complete theme park experience.

 

[COscrapper]

does disney?

Perhaps "require" is a strong word, but I have been told that making ADRs that far in advance is necessary if you want to ensure certain experiences like BOG meals - is that incorrect? Because I would love for that to NOT be the case!

 

[lugnut33]

So, it'll be interesting to see the first day this is possible:
Early morning entry approx. $50.00 (figure 1/3 cost of DAH)
Single day ticket @ $124.00
Disney After Hours event @ $150.00

Full day at Disney for $324.00. Family of 4 would cost $1296.00.

 

[hookedonears]

I am on Disney watch tonight and noticed there is a new entry in the MK Dinning.
Disney Early Morning Magic – Fantasyland
Experiences VaryPrices VaryMagic Kingdom Park
Table Service

You can not click on on it and the picture say place holder. So is this a sign of more expensive options and the death of free EMH?

Anything Disney can do to reduce the crowds is okay with me. I personally believe that during high season, the MK should be open a minimum of 16 hours per day, every day. However, the ability to ride rides should be limited to 12 hours per guest. On Property Guest could either ride rides from 8 to 8 or 12 to 12. Example, if an On Property Guest entered the park between 8am and 11:59am, their ability to ride rides would end at 8pm. If they entered the park at 12 Noon, their ability to ride rides would end at 12 Midnight. Conversely, Off property Guest tickets would run from either 9 to 9 or 11 to 11. All guest would be given an option to add additional hours to their 12 hour ticket by paying 1/12 the price of a one day ticket, for each hour added, with the exception that Off Property guest could not add between the hours of 8-9 am and 11-12 pm. The 8 to 8 and 9 to 9 guest could stick around and eat, watch parades and fireworks, etc., though they just couldn't ride rides, unless they purchased additional time.

 

[larissawbb]

Depending on the price and number of tickets sold, I would pay for that.

$150 and a free Mickey bar!