New After Hours Event - a Must or a Bust

[elaine amj]

Great to hear the reports!

 

[OhMari]

Thanks for the info. Interesting. I was always a die-hard rope dropper. Get as much done as possible take a mid day break and come back around 5:00 p.m.
A few years ago, I was with my 2 sisters and it was April 10. It rained, thunder and lightening all day. The tv said, the storm was very comparable to a hurricane.
Finally at 4 in the afternoon things died down and we finally went to the MK. My nephew was with our local band and they marched in the 9:00 p.m. parade. I was
so down, that we were not at the park all day. But when we got there around supper, the park was empty, and I mean empty, except our poor local h.s. band, that had enough of the weather, but they could not leave.

Anyhow, we virtually walked on every single ride that evening. I told my sisters, this is never like this. We ended up leaving at 2:00 a.m. and we did almost everything you possible could do.

The point I am trying to say, yes the MK is overly crowded. If this would of happened the day we were there, our day at the MK would of only been from 6-11 p.m. Apparently we would not have been able to purchase the extra hour tickets, since they were sold out. How do you plan for something like that? I guess it is like everything else at WDW. They want you to schedule, reserve, make ADR's, absolutely no room for spontaiety.

 

[Mom2darlingboys]

Nice to see the parks that empty. It would definitely be something I would love to do. For free like OP. Or even $150. For my family of four. But $600 for the four of us is highway robbery.

And if they get the demand they are hoping for, it would certainly be interesting to see how long this event stays this 'exclusive'. We won't do the parties anymore because being in the mob they have become is just not fun for us. And it would kill me to know people were getting in for free for something I paid THAT much for. I have no problem paying when it makes sense - this does not to me, under any circumstances.

Last night's guests who got in for free were seriously lucky. Hey, Disney, my family would gladly be 'seat-fillers' at your cost if you are looking for extras to boost attendance... give us a shout!

 

[vicb]

Uh oh.... I'm a little late to this topic I guess (haven't been to WDW in two years and only on boards sporadically) so does this replace the old evening emh? No more free am and pm emh if staying on site??

 

[jvattes]

Uh oh.... I'm a little late to this topic I guess (haven't been to WDW in two years and only on boards sporadically) so does this replace the old evening emh? No more free am and pm emh if staying on site??

No, at least not yet

It is currently a limited time, limited run (only 7) hard ticketed event, much like MNSSHP or MVMCP, but more spenny and less extras

 

[Minnie222]

Thanks for the report.

I think it is good that it was such low crowd last night. I believe the number of paying customers are low, as people think it is over-priced. Disney's probably upset with the numbers. Even with low crowd, I don't think they want it "this" empty.

But since it is the first night of this event, they actually need it to be walk-ons and low crowds to attract people to subsequent nights. If last night had waits of 15 minutes+ for rides, people will think it is not worth it and subsequent nights will suffer with poor sale.

So, I think last night for Disney = Bust, for prospective guests = Must.

~~~~~~~~~~~

I don't mind the empty park. I don't need crowd to feel festive.
We planned our trips to leave the park after hours:
At Epcot, we book the latest Coral Reef dinner.
At AK, we book the latest Tusker House dinner.

It is way too crowded (particularly MK) these days that I feel sick of it, and consider not going again.

 

[revdon64]

But does anyone honestly think that it will be this exclusive if it becomes popular? Right now it's brand new and very few people even know about it. As soon as Disney starts pimping it like they do FP+ the demand will go up, Disney will sell lots more tickets for it, and it won't look like this at all.

 

[vicb]

No, at least not yet

It is currently a limited time, limited run (only 7) hard ticketed event, much like MNSSHP or MVMCP, but more spenny and less extras

Thanks for the explanation. I guess I wouldn't pay for the event... I don't really get it? If you can do emh why do this?

 

[jvattes]

Thanks for the explanation. I guess I wouldn't pay for the event... I don't really get it? If you can do emh why do this?

If you start from the beginning of this thread, you'll see that this would mainly appeal to a person who would consider a 1-day ticket vs multiday ticket and who is staying offsite and would not have EMH. For a very specific population, I am beginning to think this is a fairly reasonable idea. For me and mine, staying on property for 4-8 nights on average? Nope.

 

[BethR9]

Thanks for the explanation. I guess I wouldn't pay for the event... I don't really get it? If you can do emh why do this?

Because off site guests can't do EMH. I'm guessing they're trying to get their $$$.

 

[Mikie]

But does anyone honestly think that it will be this exclusive if it becomes popular? Right now it's brand new and very few people even know about it. As soon as Disney starts pimping it like they do FP+ the demand will go up, Disney will sell lots more tickets for it, and it won't look like this at all.

I would fully expect Disney to play with the numbers to see how many they sell, and how many they CAN sell before the quality degrades. I would be happy for those who choose to pay if they stay just exactly like this and the dates are expanded. If I were even considering it, I'd want to hop in on these early dates that I am fairly confident will remain as good, but I'd be increasingly wary of buying a (nonrefundable?) ticket if they extend dates beyond this initial batch.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Thanks for the report! I completely agree with your "must" and "bust" assessments. For an offsite visitor who is only visiting one day, this would be a no-brainer. Honestly, even for a two day onsite visit, I would consider this plus a one day ticket to another park. I guess I don't understand some of the outrage over this event. This is obviously not geared toward the multi-day, onsite visitor and they haven't taken away EMH.

 

[Sevey13]

Thanks for the explanation. I guess I wouldn't pay for the event... I don't really get it? If you can do emh why do this?

It's not really for people with EMH. It's meant for locals without APs, off-property guests who don't get EMH, a business traveler/convention goer in Orlando who has a free evening and would otherwise spend an hour or two at the park before closing, etc.

 

[luvgoing2disney]

They weren't kidding about reduced crowds, lol. But to me, I would want a FEW more folks. That reminds me of the hotel in The Shining---all alone in a great big place. Some of the magic would be missing, IMHO

 

[TwoMisfits]

Thanks for the report! I completely agree with your "must" and "bust" assessments. For an offsite visitor who is only visiting one day, this would be a no-brainer. Honestly, even for a two day onsite visit, I would consider this plus a one day ticket to another park. I guess I don't understand some of the outrage over this event. This is obviously not geared toward the multi-day, onsite visitor and they haven't taken away EMH.

I disagree for offsite - it's not a no-brainer unless it's fully refundable up to the event start time - the lack of refundability makes it a must pass for everyone. If I buy a 1 day ticket, I can pick the nice weather day when I get there and go early when there's almost no chance of T-storms. If I pick this event, I might get the evening rain that destroys the event and it's fun factor and apparently, I get nothing refunded if that happens (and since it seems they won't sell day of tickets, since it was "sold out" yesterday but it obviously wasn't, you really have to gamble and hope you get a good night which brings you nothing you wouldn't get in a morning tour except a $30-$50 ice cream bar and soda (and less character greets and attractions)...

 

[scrappinginontario]

Thanks for the report! I'll be interested to see if interest in this picks up, exactly how many people they allow into the park? I hear that they said last night was 'sold out' but I'd like to see reports from a few more evenings and then decide.

There is a lot to be said for 'walk on rides.' If I go on a busy day and pay $250 for my DD and I to stand in a lot of lines and not ride a lot of rides, it's not that much more to go later, get 7 hours in the park and probably accomplish more. Time will tell.....

 

[Sevey13]

I disagree for offsite - it's not a no-brainer unless it's fully refundable up to the event start time - the lack of refundability makes it a must pass for everyone. If I buy a 1 day ticket, I can pick the nice weather day when I get there and go early when there's almost no chance of T-storms. If I pick this event, I might get the evening rain that destroys the event and it's fun factor and apparently, I get nothing refunded if that happens (and since it seems they won't sell day of tickets, since it was "sold out" yesterday but it obviously wasn't, you really have to gamble and hope you get a good night which brings you nothing you wouldn't get in a morning tour except a $30-$50 ice cream bar and soda (and less character greets and attractions)...

On the flip side, though, unlike a regular park day where there is virtually guaranteed attendance in the tens of thousands and where you using your ticket or not will make virtually 0 difference on the bottom line (that non-refundable ticket, mind you), this event is budgeted for a specific amount of people. If 6000 people buy a ticket, and they have food and staff for 6000 people, and at the last minute 3000 of them go for a refund because they see bad weather, that devastates the company.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I disagree for offsite - it's not a no-brainer unless it's fully refundable up to the event start time - the lack of refundability makes it a must pass for everyone. If I buy a 1 day ticket, I can pick the nice weather day when I get there and go early when there's almost no chance of T-storms. If I pick this event, I might get the evening rain that destroys the event and it's fun factor and apparently, I get nothing refunded if that happens (and since it seems they won't sell day of tickets, since it was "sold out" yesterday but it obviously wasn't, you really have to gamble and hope you get a good night which brings you nothing you wouldn't get in a morning tour except a $30-$50 ice cream bar and soda (and less character greets and attractions)...

I agree, the non-refundable part is a drag. The daily storms usually clear up by that time though but no guarantees.

 

[SgtTibbs]

First night? Press event? Invited guests? Humm, I think I'll reserve judgement until we hear a bit more about what the crowds are like on subsequent nights.

 

[TwoMisfits]

On the flip side, though, unlike a regular park day where there is virtually guaranteed attendance in the tens of thousands and where you using your ticket or not will make virtually 0 difference on the bottom line (that non-refundable ticket, mind you), this event is budgeted for a specific amount of people. If 6000 people buy a ticket, and they have food and staff for 6000 people, and at the last minute 3000 of them go for a refund because they see bad weather, that devastates the company.

Thus the price has to be much cheaper, or the "special perks" for a guest to be able to take the risk Disney won't, need to be much greater. The parties give you special parades, special fireworks, special characters, trick or treating (aka free candy), in addition to "advertised" lower waits (which they aren't) and extra hours...this gives you pretty much ice cream and soda (and advertised low waits - again we'll see if these last since rain did clear the park pre-party last night) for $30-$50 MORE than a 1 day. It's a Must miss for pretty much everyone with that kind of risk without reward unless you're a true die hard or ride lover.