New MK Paid Disney After Hours Event Announced

[horse11]

This late in the game there will be no way to switch things around. Called Disney for more info so I can be better prepared for our MK day. Just so everyone is aware this may answer some of your questions. People who purchase this will be let in the park At 7:00 pm. They will be allowed to book FP not sure how many or if it is for the full 7 hours. Guests will be given arm bands. Guests that have purchased the regular park ticket will be allowed to stay in the park to shop but ONLY guests with arm bands will be allowed to ride the rides after 11:00pm.

 

[Indybill]

I called as I was curious what else might be included and the cast member couldn't find anything. She had read through their material and kept coming back to "It looks like the same characters as when the regular hours are" so unless they get more information, the cast members only know what the website says. I could tell she was a little shocked at the price point too. She thought tickets would go on sale tomorrow since they just got their information about it, but hadn't heard anything official yet.

 

[Livvie]

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.

The attraction list is 4 rides and Princess Fairy Tale Hall. That isn't a "large" list.

 

[tlmadden73]

Not shocked. ... the way people pay for the holiday parties, it was only a matter of time before they monetized late night hours. I figured the demand was there for people willing to pay extra for access to rides without a crowd.

I am shocked at that price though. So for MORE than the price of a ticket I can stay for an extra 3 hours?

FP+/Magic Bands not only let us skip lines, it lets Disney be able to do things like this a LOT easier. Simply can't get on the ride after hours if the ticket isn't asssociated with your MDE account.

I figure they do away with EMHs all together. If they are cost-cutting so heavily that seems the easy place to do it.

They should figure out a better replacement for that perk though ... I suggest that guests would LOVE a 4th fast pass per day as an extra perk. I would gladly take that over EMH (that I don't necessarily use every day of my stay).

 

[Livvie]

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.

7DMT isn't on the list of attractions that will be open. It is 4 rides and Princess Fairy Tale Hall.

 

[focusondisney]

I think the 'non-refundable' speaks volumes. Since when has there been an event that you can't get your money back before hand?

Since they started any of the party/ hard ticket events. Those tickets have always been nonrefundable. The Wishes dessert party is a dining ADR, so you able to cancel that. But anytime you buy a ticket, you are committed.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

The Halloween and Christmas parties have parades, fireworks, and special shows. This will not. Much easier to not allow someone on a ride. I doubt Main Street will be the chaotic mess it usually is during the transition. Most After Hours guests will be in the lands enjoying rides. Party crashers will have the shops and Starbucks.

I think it will be a much easier process. It is hard to kick out the crashers when they are making a scene on the parade route, but it will be easy to not let them enter a queue without a wristband.

 

[winterwhite]

Yes. It does. You need park admission just to get TO Club Villain.

I meant during the hours of club villain. There's no extended park hours for club villain attendees. Separate admission is required for club villain, arguably making it more expensive than this.

 

[hauntedcity]

Yeah...18 years ago.

Good point. Let's look at that in 2016 dollars...

$13.77

Okay, well, $150 makes more sense now...

 

[winterwhite]

7DMT isn't on the list of attractions that will be open. It is 4 rides and Princess Fairy Tale Hall.

Yes, it is, including others not named:

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Disney Princess Greetings at Princess Fairytale Hall
• Peter Pan’s Flight
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• Space Mountain
• And much, much more!

 

[ashleyrm]

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

I agree.

 

[Jennasis]

Guests will be given arm bands. Guests that have purchased the regular park ticket will be allowed to stay in the park to shop but ONLY guests with arm bands will be allowed to ride the rides after 11:00pm.

So much for exclusive....lol!!

 

[winterwhite]

Good point. Let's look at that in 2016 dollars...

$13.77

Okay, well, $150 makes more sense now...

They used to offer a lot of things back then for cheap. I stayed in a room at the contemporary for $99 in late 2001.

So what? The economy, and revenues, were WAY DOWN. They're printing money right now. No comparison.

You used to be able to drive down and book a room at the grand floridian for a next day arrival for around $150/nt. Did it many times. Try doing that now.

 

[hauntedcity]

Good point. Let's look at that in 2016 dollars...

$13.77

Okay, well, $150 makes more sense now...

Oh, wait I was looking at 2000 dollars. If we go back to 1998 dollars, $10 will get you $14.55.

Granted, we know that Disney prices rise much faster than inflation, but still, that even outpaces their annual ticket price increases (which are crazy enough).

 

[ajfd]

There's no doubting that the amount of Extra Magic Hours has significantly decreased

    2013  2016
AM EMHs
 MK   1     1
 EP   1     1
 HS   1     1
 AK   2     2
PM EMHs
 MK   1     1
 EP   1     1
 HS   2     1
 AK   0     0

In 3 years there has been a loss of one PM EMH per week.

 

[mom2rtk]

Oh, wait I was looking at 2000 dollars. If we go back to 1998 dollars, $10 will get you $14.55.

Granted, we know that Disney prices rise much faster than inflation, but still, that even outpaces their annual ticket price increases (which are crazy enough).

Maybe they made a rounding error?

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

I agree.

And I hate it. I made a post before being directed here.

I work in advertising. We're taught to seek out the "USP" or unique selling point for our clients and use that to advertise it. Disney's USP used to be a laundry list. The transportation, the EMH, the meal plan, the resorts, the theming, etc. Over time, it's become the theming of the resorts and the EMH. Those are the main selling points to staying on-site. For guests like my family who don't spend a ton of time at the resort, why pay $300 or $400 or $800 a night when it doesn't earn us any perks? We can stay at a nearby hotel for a fraction of the cost.

If I sound bitter it's because I am. I love Disney and I've been okay with most of the changes. This is one that I'm not okay with (pure speculation.) My sister and I have had some of our best talks and memories roaming MK at 2am. We were deprived of that last trip and certainly won't be paying $150 to do it next trip (again, speculation.) For that cost, we'll buy a bunch of alcohol and have a true heart to heart.

 

[hauntedcity]

They used to offer a lot of things back then for cheap. I stayed in a room at the contemporary for $99 in late 2001.

So what? The economy, and revenues, were WAY DOWN. They're printing money right now. No comparison.

You used to be able to drive down and book a room at the grand floridian for a next day arrival for around $150/nt. Did it many times. Try doing that now.

Good point. It could be argued that the ticket prices increases are Disney's attempt to find equilibrium on supply and demand. As much as I hate those increases, I still pay for those tickets. This, however... I can't see any world where I would pay for this.

I suppose it's the same deal as the Poly bungalows. These just aren't aimed at my family.

 

[tlmadden73]

I figured it was only a matter of time. Demand for Disney World is so high they could probably do this every night.
I think we will be surprised at the amount of people that sign up for this.

Will it be your "average" family, no .. but it is the same people that can afford those 7+ day trips every year at a Deluxe Resort.
If you are paying $300-400/night for a Deluxe room, something tells me it is in their budget to throw down some extra cash for exclusive access to the park at night.

Nothing against them, more power to them .. but with the increased crowds and popularity of the holiday parties, I figured something like this would be coming and people WILL pay for it.

Though I think the $149 price tag seems a bit steep considering you don't seem to get admission to the park EARLIER in the day either.

 

[Jennasis]

Its cute watching folks justify the gouging.