Magic Kingdom After Hours coming back (DAH); Reviews: Page 18 >>

[hotveggy]

Will this affect park hours? We are scheduled to be at MK on 2/16 and were planning to watch Wishes that night since it is the earliest it is offered during our trip (8pm). It currently says that MK will be open from 9-8pm that day though I read on another site that this extra hours event will be from 7-10pm?

 

[CMNJ]

Do they have Photopass photographers around the park? Or at least by the castle?

There were several on Main st and the hub area when we were there last year and they even had a sign as a prop to give people to hold that said Disney After hours which matched the lanyard picture. I did not see photopass photographers anywhere else

 

[CMNJ]

Will this affect park hours? We are scheduled to be at MK on 2/16 and were planning to watch Wishes that night since it is the earliest it is offered during our trip (8pm). It currently says that MK will be open from 9-8pm that day though I read on another site that this extra hours event will be from 7-10pm?

No Disney website says it starts at 8 but they allow ticket holders to enter starting at 7.

 

[AngiTN]

Will this affect park hours? We are scheduled to be at MK on 2/16 and were planning to watch Wishes that night since it is the earliest it is offered during our trip (8pm). It currently says that MK will be open from 9-8pm that day though I read on another site that this extra hours event will be from 7-10pm?

Park closing won't change (unless they make it later for some reason)
Event attendees get in early, like with a Party ticket. They can actually get in at 4:00, like on a party night. The 4:00 to 7:00 are "unadvertised" extra hours that the event ticket works for admission. It remains to be seen if it works this way again but I'm going to guess it will. I think this is just their SOP for all event tickets. Event starts at 7:00 but you can enter the park with your ticket at 4:00.

 

[dlavender]

I'll admit it. I'm one of the "haters of (some) Add-Ons" and once I again I hope this fails. There, I said it.

Last year when they tried this, they reduced operating hours on many of the nights when compared to 2015 operating hours. Can I prove that's why they reduced hours? Of course not, but it's the most likely reason. If I wanted to increase revenue in a sneaky way, I would reduce operating hours a bit to increase lines/crowds during the day. This would then drive demand on an upsell "low capacity" event in the evening. Disney is effectively getting double ticket sales for the same day. Attending this sort of event just encourages them to dial back regular hours even more the next year. Pay more, get less operating hours each year.

I really only dislike "add on" events that take away from the regular guest experience. The folks who eat at Victoria and Alberts or who para sail, take nothing away from my Disney experience. I have no issues with those types of “add-ons”. However, others do take away from my Disney experience. For example:

• DAH tends to sometimes reduce regular park hours.
• Premium parking takes away good spaces that I used to be able to get if I arrived early enough.
• Desert parties reduce the number of available premium parade/show viewing spots that are available to regular folks.
• Tents in Tomorrowland rob me of a fully themed experience when I visit that land.
• The new Tianna meet and greet "add on" makes the riverboat unavailable to regular guests for 2.5 hours right in the middle of the day.
• The new Star Wars themed paid tour at HS will reduce the number of Jedi Training Academy slots available to regular patrons.

This is not a case of “class envy”. I just get annoyed when an add-on is partially funded by a reduced “regular guest experience”.

I'm with you....

If the park is busy the day there is an after hours event, will they extend hours for the common folk? Heck no. They've got a premium crowd to let in. Please exit quietly....

I don't know what else is available to sell to the highest bidder, but I'm sure they are looking......

 

[famy27]

We are looking at an early March trip. We're also DVC members and can do the DVC MK party on March 3rd. Do we know what the total attendance for the DVC party is? I'm guessing the DAH event will have fewer people, but since the DVC event is free, I don't think I can justify spending $400 for DAH. I didn't get a chance to do the MK DVC member party last year, so I have no idea about the crowds. We did the AK one in September and really enjoyed it.

 

[dsdeleon]

Years ago at the party, they mostly let you stay on the ride as many times as you wanted. This is a real benefit of DAH as it saves a lot of time. If there were many more unadvertised extra hours (like the 3 at the party) this would be compelling for my youngest and me. I balked at it last year but really miss the unlimited rides that I don't see anymore at the parties.

 

[lugnut33]

I cannot wait to see how the 2017 version compares to 2016.

 

[zoey9989]

We arrive at the poly on Jan 27th. We planned on not doing a park that day because they closed so early. This works out perfectly for us! Sooo excited.

 

[anomamatt]

My kids will be asleep, but I am totally going to do this solo on March 2. My wife graciously agreed to watch the kiddos sleep. =)

And wow is my AP "paying off". Went from one trip to three... and discounts on add-ons like this that I cannot pass up. Haha, saving money by spending a ton more!

 

[Boski]

Surprised that comment didn't get removed.

Ditto, but I'm glad it got posted. People should be able to express their opinions.

 

[yulilin3]

Ditto, but I'm glad it got posted. People should be able to express their opinions.

well it is in favor of Disney so I think that's why they "let it slide"

 

[Boski]

well it is in favor of Disney so I think that's why they "let it slide"

It was well crafted

 

[spinandmarty]

A little off topic but Mrs Spin, and I along with DD, DS, DDIL, and 1 Year old DGD, will be there Feb 16, sounds like it might be how the party's were when they first started and everything was just a walk on. I know that WDW has some sort of babysitting service, wonder if that would be available in a cabin at the Fort, has anyone ever used the Babysitting and how was it?

 

[crostorfer]

I was on the fence about this, but your pictures have swayed me. We're going February 16th.

 

[goofy4prez]

I'm glad there are some that are excited for this, I'm not. I didn't pay for it earlier in the year and I'm not going to pay for it next year either. To each their own. Some find it a great value, I find it a great rip off. Some hope it's a huge success, I hope once again it's colossal failure. Not flaming those who like this and want to see another paid event from Disney. But I'm sure I'll get flamed and be accused of committing Disney blasphemy for not being excited.

 

[AngiTN]

A little off topic but Mrs Spin, and I along with DD, DS, DDIL, and 1 Year old DGD, will be there Feb 16, sounds like it might be how the party's were when they first started and everything was just a walk on. I know that WDW has some sort of babysitting service, wonder if that would be available in a cabin at the Fort, has anyone ever used the Babysitting and how was it?

I know there is Kid's Night Out
I never used it but knew of someone who worked with them.
As I understood it they were available to go to all resorts but search for Kids Night Out and maybe there will be some recent info

 

[crostorfer]

I'm glad there are some that are excited for this, I'm not. I didn't pay for it earlier in the year and I'm not going to pay for it next year either. To each their own. Some find it a great value, I find it a great rip off. Some hope it's a huge success, I hope once again it's colossal failure. Not flaming those who like this and want to see another paid event from Disney. But I'm sure I'll get flamed and be accused of committing Disney blasphemy for not being excited.

I get it. if they were replacing EMH with this pay-only option for after hours access I would feel the same as you. I'm all for buying my way out of a crowd though, and that's really what this is.

 

[disneyseniors]

Well, I've read all 7 pages of this thread, and I can see how those who get to ride the rides they love over and over and over would love this. I get that.
But, for ME, my hands hurt after 2 trips through Buzz, and Space Mountain is a one and done for me. I love the Haunted Mansion, but once is enough to keep the magic alive for me, as it is for all the other rides/attractions that I love. So, I guess that riding over and over and over again is not a draw for me. It would get "old" pretty quick and some of the magic would be lost for ME, so no flames. I think this would work for those who stay off site or only have a limited amount of time and don't want to wander in the daytime and take in the ambience of the park. But personally I would risk losing some of the magic doing rides repeatedly just because I could. It will be interesting to see if this works for the second time around?

 

[Jenna319]

I would LOVE to do this, as our last night will be 2/16, but I'm just not sure it's practical for me at this time. My husband and I will be travelling with our 2 year old daughter and I'm not sure if it would be worth it....

Pros:
~ She would be free!
~ Low wait time for rides and characters (waiting in line with our 2 year old is NOT going to be fun)
~ Just less people in general (but how bad will the crowds really be in February before Presidents Day?)
~ We only bought a 2 day ticket (no park hopper) so this would give us another day at the parks
~ Did I mention she is still FREE!?


Cons:
~ Cost
~ Hours - my daughter is pretty flexible and goes with the flow but we do usually put her to bed around 730p
~ Our travel day at the airport would be the next day, most likely on a morning flight


I figure if I cancelled 2 character dinners, I could save a good $150 right there and buy tickets to this instead! LOL