New MK Paid Disney After Hours Event Announced

[bemccar1]

I'll just agree to disagree. I believe it is a spot on comparison. You don't. You don't want to go. I do. No big deal. We are all very different in what we like to do.
I still don't see the sky is falling that so many others seem to see

I understand the desire to go. If crowds are very low, we would consider it. There's a reason I'm over stalking the ROL thread with you--I am willing to pay more for less waiting .

However, my problem and the issue of other posters above is that we already had our park days planned months ago. This is more likely to influence crowd levels than not, and would be a reduction in value for the day.

No, Disney is technically not taking anything we paid for away. But it seems unreasonable to completely dismiss the frustrations of those who cannot change their plans at this point, and feel like value has been lessened. There is obviously nothing we can do, so we are here venting and commiserating and speculating about how we might need to change our touring plan for the day.

I also think Disney could afford to add something extra to the event other than "ice cream novelties & select beverages," but I digress

 

[hauntedcity]

I assume someone has already pointed out they used to have this. It was called "E-Ticket Nights" and it cost $10.

If it hasn't already been pointed out... Disney already had this. It was called "E-Ticket Nights" and it cost $10.

Ah, I see that it has been brought up they Disney used to do this for $10 a night.

By the way, DISNEY ALREADY DID THIS. IT WAS CALLED E-RIDE NIGHTS AND IT COST $10.

We did it back around 2000. $10. Walk-on for most of the participating rides. $10. Walk-up for character photos in the hub. $10. Several food options open, but why would you ever waste time eating when everything was walk-on. $10.

Is this what being in shock feels like?

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

News site:
It looks like Disney has just announced a new paid after hours event called “Disney After Hours”, and it may very will be worth your time! With this new program, guests will be able to buy a ticket and that will grant them access to The Magic Kingdom for three hours after the park closes — this includes select attractions and meet & greets.

Tickets for this new opportunity will go on sale April 6th for select dates in April and May only. Dates of the events are April 14th, 21st, 28th, and May 5th, 8th, 12th, & 19th. This may be your chance to wander around the park with a limited group of people and get onto rides much faster. The only problem is, I would imagine ticket sales will be extremely limited, so you might want to jump on this.

Tickets are $149 plus tax each for children or adults.

------------

It's happening, whether we'd like to admit it or not... Extra Magic Hours are ending. The writing has been on the wall for some time now, with a noticeable decrease in Extra Magic Hours.

And now, news of a special "paid event" breaks. Obviously, Disney doesn't do anything by coincidence. Just like the upcoming "free quick service dining" could very well be a test to see if they can do away with Free Dining, this is a test to see how willing guests are to pay for Extra Magic Hours.

Extra Magic Hours is the number one perk to staying on-site. Especially during peak and overly crowded times, it gives on-site guests the opportunity to experience their favorite attractions at a reduced wait time. Not only this, but it's a pretty amazing experience. My sister and I have had some of our best talks and memories roaming Magic Kingdom at 2am. I've captured some of my favorite photos late at night when everyone else has gone home. Those experiences and memories were sorely missed this past trip. I remember checking every day leading up to our trip for those coveted late-night Extra Magic Hours. "They'll add them when we get there" I reassured my family. They never did.

I normally don't complain about Disney's cuts. I didn't mind the character cut, the tiered pricing is just business... but the Extra Magic Hours are one of the unique selling points to staying on-site at a Disney resort. For guests like my family that don't spend a ton of time at the hotel, the Extra Magic Hours is the main selling point. And, if Disney takes away the main selling point, what's to keep us from staying off-site and saving a couple hundred dollars a night?

It's easy to jump to conclusions. The truth is, this is all speculation. There's no doubting that the amount of Extra Magic Hours has significantly decreased and the news of a paid "event" is certainly bright red writing on the wall. I doubt Disney will ever confirm Extra Magic Hours ending, but it wouldn't surprise me to see a slow and steady phase out.

 

[mom2rtk]

http://www.disboards.com/threads/ne...event-announced.3494480/page-24#post-55400284

 

[GraceMonica]

I'm not sure if this has been posted, but now we know why they bumped the BTMRR to the fall...because charging $150 and having one of their headliners down would deter people from booking.

With minor and major refurbs, I don't see how they could possibly see this concept staying long term.

 

[Jennasis]

So I guess there wull be no Meandering out of the park at closing or taking your time to shop on Main Street on your way out when the park closes at 10pm to the 99 percenters on those days now?

 

[jacinda824]

It sounds like the event that was "free" to DVC members as part of their 25th anniversary celebration. (Which sounded like a lot of fun)

Now I'm more disappointed that I couldn't go to the DVC event as I'm sure my dues paid part of someone else's admission.

I went to the Dvc event and it almost exactly what it was. The event was fun but not worth that kind of money (that they are asking for this). 7 mines train wait was still over 45 minutes during the event and meet n greets were long too depending on the character. Tiana was an hour. Some other stuff was walking or under 15. We waited 40 for Peter Pan. Just giving you an idea of our experience during the DVC party so you are informed as to what you might be buying.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

http://www.disboards.com/threads/ne...event-announced.3494480/page-24#post-55400284

Whoops, sorry.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

I think this actually would be a good option for families with older children or adults only. Entry is at 7. I bet you will be able to make FPs for the time between 7 and official closing. The transition will be much easier since this is attraction focused. It will be easy to turn non paying guests towards the gate. No parades, fireworks, or shows to tempt party crashers.

Then three hours of promised low crowd levels and lack of stroller families ( no offense). My teenagers could eat their weight in ice cream bars. The attraction list is large. A family with a good plan could get plenty done in that amount of time.

A one day ticket is 124 at peak. A hard ticket for $149 with entry at 7 isn't much more, with ice cream and drinks. This will appeal to guests with shorter stays. More families are now affording only 2 or 3 nights and there really isn't much to be saved when a park ticket is three days or less.

 

[RedAngie]

Oooooh, ice cream novelties and select beverages included!!!!! What a deal!!!

 

[mom2rtk]

Club Villian is so not relevant. I compared it to the Parties but specifically meaning MNSSHP and MVMCP. That's the only time where we were able to come trample the MK day guests, fill up their potential 4th, 5th FP+, and sip crappy drinks for extra park time of a few choice rides. BUT it includes special characters and parades and is half the price! This is a scary indication of what's to come. (ETA: This is why those party prices haven't been announced yet!)

Just to be clear...... the Halloween and Christmas parties have been half the price...... so far...........

 

[Hannahinwonderland]

I hate this so much. It makes me feel sad and disappointed, and also unsure that when I have a family I'll be able to afford a Disney trip with them.

 

[winterwhite]

I assume someone has already pointed out they used to have this. It was called "E-Ticket Nights" and it cost $10.

If it hasn't already been pointed out... Disney already had this. It was called "E-Ticket Nights" and it cost $10.

Yeah...18 years ago.

 

[Jennasis]

I think this actually would be a good option for families with older children or adults only. Entry is at 7. I bet you will be able to make FPs for the time between 7 and official closing. The transition will be much easier since this is attraction focused. It will be easy to turn non paying guests towards the gate. No parades, fireworks, or shows to tempt party crashers.

Then three hours of promised low crowd levels and lack of stroller families ( no offense). My teenagers could eat their weight in ice cream bars. The attraction list is large. A family with a good plan could get plenty done in that amount of time.

You mean a family with a good bank account.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

This news + the fact that they have been steadily decreasing EMH's can only mean one thing...

 

[winterwhite]

I think this actually would be a good option for families with older children or adults only. Entry is at 7. I bet you will be able to make FPs for the time between 7 and official closing. The transition will be much easier since this is attraction focused. It will be easy to turn non paying guests towards the gate. No parades, fireworks, or shows to tempt party crashers.

Then three hours of promised low crowd levels and lack of stroller families ( no offense). My teenagers could eat their weight in ice cream bars. The attraction list is large. A family with a good plan could get plenty done in that amount of time.

I'm not waiting in a 2 hour line in the heat of the day for 7DMT, but I'd sure take a shot at it during one of these events in cooler hours. I'm still in, I just can't seem to book since nobody on the phone line even knows what it is.

 

[Ellwood970]

Word on the street is that there won't be one this year.

It was said there won't be one this year because of the chaos and mishandling of crowds at Disneyland last year.

 

[Hannahinwonderland]

You mean a family with a good bank account.

The terrible truth is that this is just another piece of evidence that Disney is no longer for a middle-class family, but for those in the top wealthy tier. They aren't even attempting to hide it.

 

[winterwhite]

And what's with the massive time overlap? What are they going to do? get all those 'security guards' to drag people who didn't pay the extra $$$ out of the park at 10 p.m.? Sounds..... fun. Not to mention the extra crowding between 7-11 on those nights..... so the park effectively closes to day guests at 7 p.m. on those nights,(if they want to avoid overcrowding) and they're calling it this to hide what the true motive is?

They do it with the parties with varying degrees of success. Yeah, the park closes at 10 (or 11). It's just going to mean "get out of the park promptly" not "dally around for another hour while we pay staff to smile at you" as it has come to mean in the past.

 

[Jennasis]

If This truly is the beginning of the end for extra magic hours and it is a genius move by Disney. This move not only monetizes extra magic hours, but now they can tout how they "solved" the crowded Park problem, and more importantly it will drive guests to the "free" Disney Springs where they will be free to spend all their money fun shopping and food.