No more summer EMH at MK on Fridays

[2Tiggies]

Some of you may have seen this as there have been a couple of threads on the Theme Parks Board yesterday and today, but just a heads up for anyone planning around EMH. They were on the park hours schedule and have subsequently been cancelled. Just in case it requires re-jigging of plans

http://www.easywdw.com/news/disney-eliminates-friday-magic-kingdom-evening-extra-magic-hours-over-the-busy-summer/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=disney-eliminates-friday-magic-kingdom-evening-extra-magic-hours-over-the-busy-summer

 

[bex7583]

we did have it penciled in for our first full day we arrive which was the friday , oh well i wasnt sure the kids would last anyway so thats one less decision to make

 

[DISWolves]

Thanks for the heads up Lee.
we had planned on two late nights,so......All change!

 

[2Tiggies]

Thanks for the heads up Lee.
we had planned on two late nights,so......All change!

It's not just those of us who love the late nights - there are also offsite visitors who plan around avoiding EMH so where MK would not have been a best park that could change. It's a nuisance though. I think if they get shot of EMH entirely that will be the point where we reassess whether WDW is going to be our only vacation destination in the future. It's really the last perk for onsite guests and they seem to be reducing those benefits slowly but surely. First AK stopped evening ones, then they stopped characters doing meet and greets in the MK during evening EMH then the cut from 3 hours to 2 ..... it looks like it's a matter of time. I won't stay offsite but cannot justify the lifestyle sacrifices we make to afford annual trips paying a premium for onsite if the only benefit is being onsite. For the money they charge, they need to offer something more. JMHO

 

[Disneynutinlondon]

It's not just those of us who love the late nights - there are also offsite visitors who plan around avoiding EMH so where MK would not have been a best park that could change. It's a nuisance though. I think if they get shot of EMH entirely that will be the point where we reassess whether WDW is going to be our only vacation destination in the future. It's really the last perk for onsite guests and they seem to be reducing those benefits slowly but surely. First AK stopped evening ones, then they stopped characters doing meet and greets in the MK during evening EMH then the cut from 3 hours to 2 ..... it looks like it's a matter of time. I won't stay offsite but cannot justify the lifestyle sacrifices we make to afford annual trips paying a premium for onsite if the only benefit is being onsite. For the money they charge, they need to offer something more. JMHO

Couldn't agree with you more Lee. When the boys were younger we also went to WDW yearly but for the last few years we made the move to every other year as we wanted the boys to experience other parts of the world (I know shock, horror ) and as the costs were going up and benefits are going down. I have hopes of going back in Oct 2014 for what will probably be our last family trip as DS1 will be 18 and DS2 will be 16 and I do hope that Disney offer free DDP as that will certainly make it an easier choice. It is very sad to see that Disney are eroding all the nice "special" things that made staying on site so magical and gave my family such wonderful memories such as riding Kali River Rapids in the dark

 

[sjfc99]

Like anything, they can always extend them if need be, depending on what hotel capacity is at, just as they do with the park hours depending on how full they are, and often the decision is taken that day or the week before.

Wouldnt be surprised once FastPass+ is fully operational, they will be taken away - well, the evening ones especially, as they will say you'd have more time to get the rides in during the day.

 

[disney_princess_85]

It's really the last perk for onsite guests and they seem to be reducing those benefits slowly but surely. First AK stopped evening ones, then they stopped characters doing meet and greets in the MK during evening EMH then the cut from 3 hours to 2 ..... it looks like it's a matter of time.

I hope not but I tend to agree. I love evening EMH. The temperature is cooler, the crowds are thinner and the atmosphere is great. I think I've spent more time at MK in particular at night- I just can't bear it in the day!

 

[Mrdudecool]

I agree with everything said here.

So many times our last night has landed luckily with EMH at MK and we'd watch Wishes, then do a couple more attractions then finish off with ice cream at Mrs Potts then leave for the last time.

I do agree that they need to offer something to onsite guests to make it worth the money we pay (or in my case, my parents luckily pay ) to give extra benefits. I also think it could attract other guests too.

I don't know, but definitely if they reduced it, it would affect us on our vacations especially mornings as we seem to get more done on early ones and its just nice to have a perk really.

 

[2Tiggies]

Like anything, they can always extend them if need be, depending on what hotel capacity is at, just as they do with the park hours depending on how full they are, and often the decision is taken that day or the week before.

Wouldnt be surprised once FastPass+ is fully operational, they will be taken away - well, the evening ones especially, as they will say you'd have more time to get the rides in during the day.

It's not about getting rides in. My biggest grievance is that this was the one free (or lets say paid for in the price of onsite resort) privilege offered to those paying to stay in a Disney hotel. My point is, if they take those away and open the parks longer for everyone, why should we pay extra for onsite?

 

[Cyrano]

Despite our best intentions we have never made evening magic hours.
I guess that our rope drop strategy means that something has to give.

Agree with Lee as Disney take away on-site perks this will have many guests assessing the value

 

[2Tiggies]

Despite our best intentions we have never made evening magic hours.
I guess that our rope drop strategy means that something has to give.

Agree with Lee as Disney take away on-site perks this will have many guests assessing the value

You get where I'm coming from

Even if you do rope drop and not EMH though, there is something about knowing you get something exclusive for your extra cash. It is probably silly, but successfully executed in marketing strategies - just like paying for a hard ticket event at Disney - there is a sense of value in knowing that it is to some extent, exclusive, because it cost you for the privilege.

If they do away with them altogether, there is nothing we can do about it. But I do expect something to replace it that is exclusive for resort guests.

 

[tinkerpea]

Maybe they will lower the prices on site to reflect everything they keep taking away? Lmao!!

When I was younger we always did 3 wks or more at international drive hotels, we either used the buses or my dad hired a car, I loved every one of those trips

Now with my own family we stay on site only because when we booked our 1st family trip in 2006 staying on site had all the perks at prices just as cheap as I-drive, my DH who had never been before was so amazed by just the values that when it came to staying at quality inn international he said never again will we stay off site,Now I'm afraid it's just NOT worth staying at a Disney property, ANSI never thought I'd hear myself say that since I just don't feel the magic when at I-drive!

I'm gutted that they might do away with evening EMH as our boys last trip was just old enough to really start enjoying the benefit of going out later,

The atmosphere is just amazing at night and I prefer it to the daytime by miles!!
I was looking forward next trip to be alternating between spending days at the water parks or pools followed by a few hours at the parks at night.

 

[Disneynutinlondon]

If they do away with evening EMH altogether it will certainly dramatically change our touring plans. As a family we get up reasonably early to go to a park and then after lunch we head back to the hotel for a swim/downtown/sleep. We then go back to the parks in time for a 7:30pm ADR dinner which is wherever possible in the parks that as evening ADR so we can stay there for the rest of the evening and enjoy the fireworks/parade and general night time atmosphere. It will be a very sad day indeed when EMH are taken away

 

[Elise79]

I tend to agree about them doing away with EMH however I have heard rumours (and that's all they are) that onsite guests will get more FP+ slots per day.

Not sure I would actually be that impressed with that as it means I would actually have to plan again

 

[Shazzie B]

Changed my plans around this week & re-booked ADRs so we could take advantange of Evening ADRs (not sure we'd make am ones!!!) hope they're still running in Sept Hope I didn't jinx it - if so I blame 2Tiggies for persuading me

 

[irenep]

I am really disappointed with this change as it really messes up our July plans and I was looking forward to doing evening EMH this time. It definitely looks like it is all part of Disney's plans in the transition to FP+ but I really HATE the sound of how this is likely to work and I really don't think anything they introduce will make up for what is being taken away

I would really like to add more points to my DVC but there have been too many unwelcome changes over the past year or two so that's something I will hold off on until this is all sorted out.

 

[Disneynutinlondon]

As PP have said it's not just the chance to ride more rides on EMHs it's more the being there and soaking up the different atmosphere whether it's the blissful quiet of Magic Kingdom first thing in the morning or the excitement of night time in EPCOT. Being able to "book" extra FP's that can be done during the day is IMO just missing the point entirely

 

[2Tiggies]

As PP have said it's not just the chance to ride more rides on EMHs it's more the being there and soaking up the different atmosphere whether it's the blissful quiet of Magic Kingdom first thing in the morning or the excitement of night time in EPCOT. Being able to "book" extra FP's that can be done during the day is IMO just missing the point entirely

Yeah, I feel the same, as do many hundreds of others. Pre booking FP's will no doubt discourage folk from making a last minute trips. I mean you have to scrape the remnants of what is left from ADR availability and then with FP too. And offsite guests get to make FP plus ressies too so you don't have to stay onsite for it - it just means more people to contend with. I predict this site being under enormous strain with the sheer volume of people trying to access it when their 60 day window opens. With the ADR system allowing onsite guests to make earlier ressies (as in beyond the first day on their 180 day mark) it does alleviate a certain amount of pressure on the site. We shall see. We are booking next year. I won't knock it til I've tried it and I'm sure we will adapt. But I will seriously need to assess whether this is the end of our Disney craze to the exclusion of all other vacations. And I will give them the fair chance. If they offer some other perks to us instead, for staying onsite, and they appeal to me, well that's just great. But it's looking a bit uncertain at the moment!

 

[scoobydooby]

Where have you seen off site guests will have access to FP Plus? I thought it was on site guests and more per higher category of hotel?

 

[2Tiggies]

Where have you seen off site guests will have access to FP Plus? I thought it was on site guests and more per higher category of hotel?

Its ALL speculation at the moment so we really don't know anything for sure. I cannot for the life of me remember where I read it because I've been following numerous threads and links but wherever it is, it's fairly current info (speculative from what I can gather) and when I spot it or remember I will post a link.

It was mentioned that the system is to be rolled out to onsite guests first to exercise a degree of control and help prevent the initial system overload before opening it up to all guests with a valid park ticket. I will start my search