Magical Beginnings

[patrizella]

patrizella - are you referring to the "entitlement" parents of preschoolers feel since this is marketed as Magical Beginnings to preschoolers or the "entitlement" people without kids feel that they should be allowed also??

The latter...

 

[ReadingMama]

I think it's a wonderful idea for preschoolers and their families (including older siblings) to have that extra hour. When my DS was small, we always hit Fantasyland first and it was so hard for him to wait in the long lines for his favorite rides (Dumbo and Peter Pan). If he were still small, we would definitely be there at MB, but since he's now 13 we will wait and let the little kids have a bit of fun first with hopefully shorter lines. My family would love to be in the park an hour early (we are early morning people), but waiting that extra hour to go in won't hurt us and just think of all the wonderful smiles on the little ones' faces when they get to ride their favorite rides maybe even more than once!

Thank You and Well Said. I will hope that the majority of people agree with you.

 

[RedsoxMickey]

LITTLE ONES magic hour. 'Nuff said.

I see you have a 7yr old - Is she not a "little one"

I also have a DD that just turned 7

How is she not a "little one" - Not even tall enough to ride Space Mountain yet.

Again Disney is trying to provide more for you and for your children to enjoy
They, at least for now, have not decided to open the park an hour early for Resort guests that have children of a specific age.

Disny recognizes that parents need more that is GEARED towards families of all ages. Are you trying to tell me that because they suggest Chef Mickey as as a dining choice for families with "little ones" that if I didn't have a little one, I would be preventing somebody with a little one from enjoying the magic.

 

[calgarygary]

LITTLE ONES magic hour. 'Nuff said.

Little Ones Magic Hour Benefit‡
As a special benefit for Disney Resort Guests, Fantasyland® in Magic Kingdom® Park will open one hour early on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays during the Little Ones Travel Time. Resort Guests can enjoy an extra hour of fun at select Fantasyland® attractions and fun magical experiences with beloved Disney Characters.

'Nuff said.

 

[disnut1149]

After reading all of this, I can't believe some people would be so upset over one hour for little children. There is still a regular EMH that everyone can go to on other days. Where's the pixie dust???

 

[gigi1313]

I don't think people can debate that when Disney promoted MB for "Little Ones" that was Disney's intent.

imo disney's "intent" was to get people who once thought "ooh, i'll take jr and missy to wdw when they're 5 & 7yo, that's the most magical ages, they'll really appreciate it then" (c'mon, we've all heard people say that) to bring them sooner, get them hooked and beggin' to come back... there are overwhelming statistics proving the spending power of the preschool and school-aged child... and disney wants a bigger piece of that spending power pie!

so rather than my friends' 12,10,8 yos who went to wdw for the first time this year and are now asking to go back, they'll have my 11,9 yos who have been going since they were 2 and 4 asking to go back every year or multiple times a year...

disney's marketing department is not stupid... they are promoting this when all the bigger kids head back to school, disney is notoriously slow, toss in MNotSoScaryHP, free dining (for kids that barely eat) and they've got a sure-fire homerun!! UP UP UP goes attendance... followed by repeat visitors! what's not to love?

 

[RedsoxMickey]

After reading all of this, I can't believe some people would be so upset over one hour for little children. There is still a regular EMH that everyone can go to on other days. Where's the pixie dust???

I have not seen one post from anybody that is upset over one hour for little children.
The fact is Disney doesn't have an EMH that is just for little children.
It seems like a lot of people wish they did and I think that is fine, BUT THEY DON'T.

The debate is - for some reason people believe that this EMH is only for families with "little ones". Also a debate over what a "little one" is.
Again for some reason - have no idea why - some people assume "little one" is under 5 years old.
Would love to hear the argument of what a "little one" is

 

[dawna_521]

Look at these people all bent out of shape over this! I can't believe some of the responses on this thread. First of all, there is a reason why I am going to go to the "Little Ones" EMH w/my only child who has never been to WDW before (and neither have I) and just happens to be 13 (I wish he was 5 again, it's getting harder for me to watch him grow up)...it just so happens that Friday is the ONLY day I can do MK the week I'm there. It just happened to fall on that day b/c of my touring plans, and my itinerary is already done, and no, I won't change it, I like it the way it is. Geez, all we really wanted to see was Mickey's Philharmagic, anyway. Neither one of us are interested in riding Dumbo or cavorting with characters. You parents and your "Little Ones" are more than welcome to that. It's only one hour in the morning where we could get in one attraction in Fantasyland before we hit Space Mountain. I certainly hope I will be able to enjoy one attraction during this EMH with my son without being accosted by angry parents declaring this is for the "little ones".

 

[sconnell]

Oh wow, somebody PM me if this thread actually returns to answer the OP's request for a report on how it is ACTUALLY going.

 

[keriannhoward]

i don't understand why people are getting so worked up. It's ONE HOUR, why can't the little ones enjoy their time?? ONE HOUR, not ONE WHOLE DAY, not TWO HOURS...i just don't get it.

Thank you. As the mother of a 3 year old who is too small to ride almost anything outside of Fantasyland, I was looking forward to an extra hour of having that particular part of the park available and to not have to compete with everyone for him to ride the things he can. Since it's a family trip his older cousins will be going as well and surprisingly none of them has been bent out of shape because Jason was going to go in an hour early.

Also, this was specifically marketed to ME as an AP holder with a small child as something special for the under 5 crowd, I didn't ask for it, I didn't seek it out-

Magical Beginnings is a new program devoted to families with little ones. Designed to make a Disney vacation with young children easy and fun

Little Ones Magic Hour Benefit

Take advantage of a special travel time for families just like yours. Between August 13th and September 30th

My son sleeps through the late night EMH's in his stroller, not screaming or crying or bothering any adults who feel that they're happiness and fun are impeded by small children at Disney World. If anything, I'd say the night time EMH's are geared for older children and adults since most of us have the small ones in bed at 2:30 in the morning.

Of course, nothing anyone says here is going to change someone's mind who feels that they are entitled to every single perk by utilizing every loophole they can find.

 

[calgarygary]

OK for all you folks that want to set the Disney Rules - are only Christians allowed during CP (please provide baptismal certificates at the gate); gardeners only during Epcot's flower & garden show; and of course if you plan to be at the parks Sept 1 - 4th your last name must be Joyner! Yes, we are taking our first adults only trip and we will be at MB as it is clearly available to all guests, but despite what you think, I probably won't shove any toddlers out of my way to see Mickey or get on Dumbo.

 

[dizplanner]

I think the parents of pre-schoolers are imaging much bigger crowds than there will be. Remember, we are talking about the end of Aug and Sept - the time with the lowest crowds because of kids going back to school and hurricane session. Also the Magical Beginnings are three days a week in addition to the morning EMH - that means it opens early more days than not. This will spread out the crowds because many families can get up early for a couple of times, but not every day, particularly if they are staying out late. I don't think the crowds will be as big as on EMH. In fact if they are, it will be because all the preschooler families that were told to go then ("it's their time"), not from the others who choose to attend too. If I was going with my family, I could tell you we would not be there - I'm doing good to get them to a park before the 9am opening. However I am doing a short solo trip in Sept - I'm probably going to do MB since I can get up early and I have limited time to do what I want and I don't get to see much of Fantasyland when I am there with my teens, so this is my chance to get Fantasyland done when nothing else is open. Don't worry though, I won't be riding Dumbo and I won't be visiting the characters (although I might stand to the side and watch your kids having fun and remember when mine were that small).

One other note - I don't see it listed on the Disney web site calendar - If people don't read these boards (or other Internet web site) or have received the promotional material either directly or from their travel agent (and these people will usually be people with pre-schoolers), they probably won't even know about it until they arrive. It is on the web page, but on a page aimed at pre-schooler parents - easy to overlook that it might apply to them if they even take the time to read it. They may get a brochure when they check in, but unless the desk CM makes a big deal of it, many will just toss it aside when they see it aimed at little kids, not realizing they could take advantage of it. You have to remember - the people who read DIS are actually a minority of the visitors to WDW, a vocal minority, but a minority. Don't not go based on the fact a few people here said they were going without pre-schoolers. I don't think the crowds will be bad and the one initial report we've had indicates that the crowds were low.

So go, have fun and don't worry about who else is having fun too.

 

[lizardqueen]

OK for all you folks that want to set the Disney Rules - are only Christians allowed during CP (please provide baptismal certificates at the gate); gardeners only during Epcot's flower & garden show; and of course if you plan to be at the parks Sept 1 - 4th your last name must be Joyner! Yes, we are taking our first adults only trip and we will be at MB as it is clearly available to all guests, but despite what you think, I probably won't shove any toddlers out of my way to see Mickey or get on Dumbo.

I don't see anybody trying to set the Disney Rules -- nobody said people without young children CAN'T go to the little ones magic hour, just wondering why everybody is so uppity about it being targeted for children. Hello, the promotional material for Magical Beginnings does say "little ones 5 and under". And yes, it does say for all Disney Resort guests. There is a whole website about it geared to the preschool crowd. How would all of the adults or families with "older" kids feel if there were extra hours that were being marketed for the adult crowds, but Disney said that all of their resort guests could attend (including families with small children)? I can almost guarantee that everyone would be in an uproar because... (just fill in the blank with whatever reason you don't think children should be there). I think most parents of young children on this thread are just a little shocked that people without young children have the attitude that if they aren't allowed to attend this special EMH that they are being left out of something. You are not being left out of something. The park will still open to everyone at 9am, there will still be regular EMH days, so why all the problems with something being marketed for the preschool crowd?

 

[Lisa0503]

I think the parents of pre-schoolers are imaging much bigger crowds than there will be. Remember, we are talking about the end of Aug and Sept - the time with the lowest crowds because of kids going back to school and hurricane session. Also the Magical Beginnings are three days a week in addition to the morning EMH - that means it opens early more days than not. This will spread out the crowds because many families can get up early for a couple of times, but not every day, particularly if they are staying out late. I don't think the crowds will be as big as on EMH.

One other note - I don't see it listed on the Disney web site calendar - If people don't read these boards (or other Internet web site) or have received the promotional material either directly or from their travel agent (and these people will usually be people with pre-schoolers), they probably won't even know about it until they arrive. It is on the web page, but on a page aimed at pre-schooler parents - easy to overlook that it might apply to them if they even take the time to read it. They may get a brochure when they check in, but unless the desk CM makes a big deal of it, many will just toss it aside when they see it aimed at little kids, not realizing they could take advantage of it. You have to remember - the people who read DIS are actually a minority of the visitors to WDW, a vocal minority, but a minority. Don't not go based on the fact a few people here said they were going without pre-schoolers. I don't think the crowds will be bad and the one initial report we've had indicates that the crowds were low.

So go, have fun and don't worry about who else is having fun too.

I whole heartedly hope you are right that parents are overestimating the crowds/lines. I am anxiously awaiting for more reports from Disers about their MB EMH experience. I have already changed my ADR's to avoid MK on these days but I do have one Friday AM with no plans. If the reports on this MB EMH are favorable, I may take my kids to experience the 'magical beginings' I do hope we get some first hand reports back soon!!!

 

[Pirate Dad]

It seems against the spirit of what I love about Disney World to debate the technicalities of the rules. The idea of MB is to allow youngsters (who have a much harder time than adults waiting in long lines) to experience their first bit of Disney magic. If that means some special time just for them then what's the harm?

If you as an adult think it's "not fair" or "agism", just think of how few rides and shows little ones can experience compared to you. Besides, they will be so tired after a few hours they will want to go back to their room and nap (making the lines shorter for everyone else).

Also, there are adult/big kid only times too... they're called EXTRA EVENING MAGIC HOURS! Think of having a whole park to your adult-selves from 10pm until 1am (not many pre-schoolers will be around then!).

No, maybe noone should be turned away from MB... but just because you "can" go, doesn't mean you "should". If you can't understand that, well then, enjoy your trip!

 

[ReadingMama]

I too would like the question the OP posted actually answered, had anyone gone yet and what was their experience?

 

[disneymama73]

I see you have a 7yr old - Is she not a "little one"

I also have a DD that just turned 7

How is she not a "little one" - Not even tall enough to ride Space Mountain yet.

Again Disney is trying to provide more for you and for your children to enjoy
They, at least for now, have not decided to open the park an hour early for Resort guests that have children of a specific age.

Disny recognizes that parents need more that is GEARED towards families of all ages. Are you trying to tell me that because they suggest Chef Mickey as as a dining choice for families with "little ones" that if I didn't have a little one, I would be preventing somebody with a little one from enjoying the magic.

No, I most certainly do not consider my 7-yo a "little one." She is a 2nd grader, an avid reader, has been riding Space Mountain for 2 years (and is very small for her age), does not nap and is capable of staying up late. My 2-yo, on the other hand, is still in diapers, gets fussy, takes naps and goes to bed early.

I certainly don't want to argue with you or anyone else. Let's just agree to disagree, ok?

 

[kaymak]

Oh wow, somebody PM me if this thread actually returns to answer the OP's request for a report on how it is ACTUALLY going.[/QUOTE

Thanks for this! I was kind of excited because my questions have never had this many replies, but I really did not mean to start a debate. There have been enough arguments about this already! I am still just wanting to know how it was. I have a 4 and 7 year old and I am still undecided on this one.

 

[disneymama73]

It seems against the spirit of what I love about Disney World to debate the technicalities of the rules. The idea of MB is to allow youngsters (who have a much harder time than adults waiting in long lines) to experience their first bit of Disney magic. If that means some special time just for them then what's the harm?

If you as an adult think it's "not fair" or "agism", just think of how few rides and shows little ones can experience compared to you. Besides, they will be so tired after a few hours they will want to go back to their room and nap (making the lines shorter for everyone else).

Also, there are adult/big kid only times too... they're called EXTRA EVENING MAGIC HOURS! Think of having a whole park to your adult-selves from 10pm until 1am (not many pre-schoolers will be around then!).

No, maybe noone should be turned away from MB... but just because you "can" go, doesn't mean you "should". If you can't understand that, well then, enjoy your trip!

Very well said.

 

[P-Dust]

WoW! I was contemplating not taking my 5 & 7 yr old DD's because I thought they were a little "old". I don't think I would have the guts to show up without a young child in tow.
But, that's just me.