New After Hours Event - a Must or a Bust

[Mikie]

Yes. They often add extra hours on evenings when a party is not scheduled. Especially on Saturday nights

Do you know if there's a usual time when the hours are updated? I know when I travel in fall, the first hours I see when I begin plans 6 months out have not been the final, but I also haven't experienced day-of changes. I have no idea when in that long window the "real" hours are posted.

 

[Dan Murphy]

In another thread, a poster without an event ticket posted that she was not shuffled out at all. Said they couldn't ride (not sure if she tried or simply assumed lack of lnanyard would prevent it) and she saw a non-ticketed group get turned away from purchasing food at Caseys.

Thanks, Mikie.

Daddio, I LOVE your pictures and also your insight.

To me it's not worth it and I won't be participating. I can't get over that what we once paid less than $20 for is almost $150 and the only difference is an ice cream bar and water. I guess that I just can't get past that.

I agree, Linda. I recall E-Nights starting at $10 and I think finishing up at $13 some years later before they ended.

Two of David's pictures here remind me of several I took with some folks from the boards on an E-Night

My pictures

David's pictures

 

[lugnut33]

Seems to me the concept is good, but the price point is too high. They might have finally found a price point too high for the average guest.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I did not see this article linked here.....

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/04/16/disney-worlds-149-experiment-is-a-flop-for-now.aspx

Says about 1,000, including the freebies.

 

[Nancyg56]

Do you know if there's a usual time when the hours are updated? I know when I travel in fall, the first hours I see when I begin plans 6 months out have not been the final, but I also haven't experienced day-of changes. I have no idea when in that long window the "real" hours are posted.

Not really, I honestly don't pay attention. Last December DHS was kept open later when we were there and that was announced that evening! I think on a previous trip the Saturday hours were updated pretty close to our date

 

[maryj11]

Oh I think if they have this in June during our stay we will buy tickets. We love MK at night.

 

[JJsmama]

Has anyone explained the procedure of this? Do they make everyone actually leave the park and then let some people back in? Or the non- ticket people dont have to leave, but they can't ride anything or what?
It would only appeal to me if everyone else had to leave the park altogether, and the $149 seems tempting but x 4 or 5, is not so tempting anymore.

 

[Mikie]

Has anyone explained the procedure of this? Do they make everyone actually leave the park and then let some people back in? Or the non- ticket people dont have to leave, but they can't ride anything or what?
It would only appeal to me if everyone else had to leave the park altogether, and the $149 seems tempting but x 4 or 5, is not so tempting anymore.

In another thread, a poster was there as a day guest without an evening event ticket. They did not usher non DAH guests out, but without the lanyard that event guests receive, you couldn't ride anything and the poster saw a non-event family turned away from buying food at Casey's, which was the only food venue open and was only for event guests. I don't know whether shopping was permitted.

The only other comparable things are the Halloween and Christmas parties, which are much larger. For those, any guests without a wristband is slowly shepherded toward the exits. Some people report not being ushered out, but most seem to say that there are many CMs around and they steer you out if you don't have the band.

I would guess the two different procedures are because 1) the size of the events is drastically different so far and 2) staying in the park but not riding during DAH really doesn't leave you anything to do, whereas during the parties you've got special parades and fireworks that non-guests are not entitled to stay for.

 

[TLSnell1981]

We go every year and I don't remember MK closing this early. We are tentatively extending our stay by a night... due to the short hours. Thankfully, we have DVC, so the extra night isn't an issue. Party nights..3 of 7 nights.. closing for MNSSHP with an 8:00pm closing and an additional 3 shutting down @ 9:00.

Not pleased AT ALL!!!

Last week of September MK schedule,,,

Saturday, September 24, 2016
Magic Kingdom: 9:00-9:00



Sunday, September 25, 2016
Magic Kingdom: 9:00-7:00
 


Monday, September 26, 2016
Magic Kingdom: 9:00-9:00 


Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Magic Kingdom: 9:00-8:00


Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Magic Kingdom:9:00-9:00
 


Thursday, September 29, 2016
Magic Kingdom: 9:00-7:00



Friday, September 30, 2016
Magic Kingdom: 9:00-7:00

 

[bellrae]

Love the Space Mtn. picture, Dave!

I can't wait till they do this to include TSM at Studios. Will be there in a heartbeat.

You and me both!

 

[mamasha]

We go every year and I don't remember MK closing this early. We are tentatively extending our stay by a night... due to the short hours. Thankfully, we have DVC, so the extra night isn't an issue. Party nights..3 of 7 nights.. closing for MNSSHP with an 8:00pm closing and an additional 3 shutting down @ 9:00.

Not pleased AT ALL!!!

Last week of September MK schedule,,,

Saturday, September 24, 2016
Magic Kingdom: 9:00-9:00



Sunday, September 25, 2016
Magic Kingdom: 9:00-7:00
 


Monday, September 26, 2016
Magic Kingdom: 9:00-9:00 


Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Magic Kingdom: 9:00-8:00


Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Magic Kingdom:9:00-9:00
 


Thursday, September 29, 2016
Magic Kingdom: 9:00-7:00



Friday, September 30, 2016
Magic Kingdom: 9:00-7:00

I feel your pain. We were required to buy hoppers for bounce back, but all the parks close so early that week.

 

[supamaki]

I attended as a regular $149 paying customer and thought the value was there for my wife and I. We rode every ride as many times as we wanted and like most of the others, had several rides all to ourselves. You don't realize how large a queue rides have when you just walk on them, it was actually tiring going on and off.
The park was eerily empty though and that for some reason took away from the event. It's like going to a party so exclusive you have no one to share it with, a bit lonely I guess. The weather was also a bit of a downer later on, but all in all. We only had one day for Magic Kingdom and instead of buying a one day ticket for $100 something we splurged the extra $50 and had the park to ourselves. I must admit that sometimes it's good to have time between rides because I was getting a little queasy towards the end and could have used a break.
Any questions, feel free....

 

[SureAsLiz]

Not sure if already posted, but how were the 'regular' people shuffled out at 11?

Great picture, Dave!!

In another thread, a poster without an event ticket posted that she was not shuffled out at all. Said they couldn't ride (not sure if she tried or simply assumed lack of lnanyard would prevent it) and she saw a non-ticketed group get turned away from purchasing food at Caseys.

Has anyone explained the procedure of this? Do they make everyone actually leave the park and then let some people back in? Or the non- ticket people dont have to leave, but they can't ride anything or what?
It would only appeal to me if everyone else had to leave the park altogether, and the $149 seems tempting but x 4 or 5, is not so tempting anymore.

In another thread, a poster was there as a day guest without an evening event ticket. They did not usher non DAH guests out, but without the lanyard that event guests receive, you couldn't ride anything and the poster saw a non-event family turned away from buying food at Casey's, which was the only food venue open and was only for event guests. I don't know whether shopping was permitted.

That was me!

I did not try to enter ride lines after 11. I left HM at 11:02, and there were multiple CMs stationed at the entrance and I think a sign

The Emporium was open and there didn't seem to be any restriction on who was allowed in.

The crowd level on Thursday was extremely low, especially after Wishes. IIRC, the longest wait time that night was 7DMT at about 60 minutes prior to Wishes, with PPF hovering about 35.
Those without lanyards did not add any significant crowds to the streets

Assuming nothing comes up, I am going to try to go again on Thursday to see if things are similar at all

 

[whiporee]

I'm betting the sweet spot is about 10K. That's enough to feel like there are people in the park with you, but the rides will still be full walk-ons.

I hope they continue this, because we're buying a house in Orlando (my hometown) so we can be by my aging mom if she gets sick, and my kids are wimpy about heat. $149 would be a pretty good price point for us if the crowds stay down.

 

[drp4video]

I too remember E-ride nights for about $12.00. Parks were pretty much empty and it was very cool but a little weird and close to the end of the night, like 3:00 a.m it was a little spooky. A few times we hardly saw anyone, and once, we were the only ones on Main Street (I think we closed the park), Riding Splash Mountain though 6 times in a row without even getting out of the log, just going round and round, was very cool. I don't think I would spend $149 to do this though.

 

[Epcotgal8]

Anyone remember E-Ride nights? Those were what this is, minus the snacks. Those were great and like this, the park was empty. I remember dancing with Mickey all by myself in front of the Castle, riding Big Thunder over and over without getting off, it was amazing. The big difference? Tickets then were $12.00 for resort staying guests. I remember actually giving away tickets to this because DH and my youngest son were too tired to go. These stopped with the introduction of Evening EMH, if they could do it for $12.00 in 2004, why are they charging so much now? Disney is making money, caring less about the customer IMO. See link below for the good ol' days....

http://www.kingdom-travel.com/Walt_Disney_World_Planning/Magic_Kingdom_E-Ride_Night.shtml

I do! We did E-ride nights a couple of times. In fact I think the first one we did was only $10 pp. That was doable for our family of 5. The crowds were so low they let us stay on Splash Mt. and we rode it 3 times in a row! I would pay more than $10-$12 now for the experience, but $149 pp? No way! I do see how someone who only wants 1 day in MK only (which I can't imagine not going to the other parks but...) may be willing to pay more than a 1 day ticket and just go at night to take advantage of low crowds. It's just not for us.

 

[HollywoodTowerHotel]

I do not like the idea of allowing guests with tickets to the after hours event into the park early at 7:00 pm.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

It will be interesting to see if they do this in July when we are there.

 

[Mikie]

It will be interesting to see if they do this in July when we are there.

I do wonder whether that's why park hours for all of summer are listed as 10 pm close (which is early for summer). To allow Disney to decide whether this was a good idea, pick the offering nights, then "extend" the park hours for other nights back to more usual summer hours.

 

[Nancyg56]

I do wonder whether that's why park hours for all of summer are listed as 10 pm close (which is early for summer). To allow Disney to decide whether this was a good idea, pick the offering nights, then "extend" the park hours for other nights back to more usual summer hours.

Have you noticed when Disney usually posts expanded hours for the MK? I never have noticed, but it does seem that Disney has been pretty late releasing party schedules etc this year.