Not sure $149 Disney After Hrs event is doing well... (ETA: reviews in 1st post)

[SureAsLiz]

Ahh I do not go to Disney around this time, is it that unbusy to begin with? Still looks like everyone had a great time regardless which is cool

Last night the park was extremely empty. I will have to stop by the other dates to see if it's similar - but they essentially seemed to treat it as a regular EMH night

 

[tarak]

My view of this event as a non-EMH-guest:

I arrived at MK after work about 615. Crowds were extremely low - spring break is definitely over. I saw 1 couple with credentials about 6:30 coming in, but no more really until after fireworks (I'm sure they were out. But with the low crowds, I was averaging about 15 minutes per ride so I wasn't paying too much attention)

After Wishes I made my way over to Tomorrowland for the last 40 minutes of regular park hours. In that time I was able to ride Space, Little Mermaid, and Haunted Mansion. NFL was deserted, There were maybe 10 people in my stretching room in HM. Overall, the park was extremely empty. I saw Peter Pan marked as 20 minutes, I probably could have gotten my own boat on Small World. I didn't check out 7DMT, but based on the complete lack of people I would guess that it was a pretty short wait at that point too.

I got out of HM a few minutes after 11, so everything was officially EMH. I saw 4 people walking towards HM, a few waiting in Liberty Square for MSEP, but other than that I didn't see any credentials (I was in Liberty square which has no attractions, so that's probably why). After watching the parade, I started to head towards the exit at 11:30. There weren't any checkpoints to see if I had credentials (I could have easily wandered the park unlike the parties). Walking down Main Street, Casey's and Starbucks were the only food open - Casey's was blocked off to non-EMH guests, and I saw a group get turned away.

The stores were supposed to have a hard close at 11, but they all seemed to be open to everyone - every door was open and there were no CMs checking credentials.

I left the park about 11:45. My overall impression was that it felt like a standard off-season after-wishes evening, and the event crowd didn't add anything noticeable. Even after the official check-in time, I was still averaging 15 minutes a ride.

I was planning an evening at MK in a few weeks and it's a night this is offered. While I don't know how late we'd stay (my DD4 could easily stay until closing but my 78-year-old mom probably couldn't), I'm cautiously optimistic we won't be dramatically impacted by the folks showing up for the after-hours event.

THIS THIS THIS.

They will totally do this (morning or evening) for the new lands. The demand to experience those attractions without the super long waits of Anna and Elsa and 7DMT will be high.

Some guests who are disappointed they couldn't get a FP for the new Millennium Falcon Ride (even at 60 days) will gladly fork out some extra cash to experience it with limited crowds in the morning or evening. EASILY. (I know I would consider it).

Sure it is costly, but time is money .. and if $150 saves you from waiting in a 90-120 minute (or longer line) .. then that is probably money WELL spent.

I'd be surprised if Disney DOESN'T do this for Epcot and the upcoming Frozen ride. I'm sure there are people who would JUST buy a package where you get character breakfast at Askerhaus .. the meet and greet with A&E . .and then get to ride the Frozen ride ... all before the park opens.

I completely agree with this. And if they offered it for Animal Kingdom or Epcot or DHS, once the Star Wars expansion is finished, I'd do it, depending on the price point and provided it would continue to not require separate park admission.

 

[tinkerbella16]

After the nightmare that was last year's first MNSSHP I know that I would pay extra for fewer people... but then again, the issue wasn't the number of tickets sold, it was the fact that Disney didn't clear the park properly.

I think that Disney would raise the ticket price and not reduce the number sold. You'd probably get less people per party than before but that would be because the price would hit a threshold that some don't want to, or can't, pay.

Disney would be ok if the same number of people bought at a higher price; they are in the business of making money.

Obviously just my opinion

I also don't think they would really decrease the amount of tickets sold. But even if they did not, I would pay the increased price.. because of what is offered.

I read the horror stories from last year. YIKES! At first I wasn't sure if it solely had to do with clearing out the park or because they started them later than usual too. But getting people out of the park should not even be a problem for CM's at this point - you'd think, since they've been having these parties for years now! LOL but I guess it still is an issue.

 

[HeyIt'sMe]

4. Having lots of people around is part of the experience. An empty park is creepy. (Again, boy, are people digging)

I was one of the people that agreed it would be creepy. I wasn't digging. That's how I feel about it. Even if people think that's weird or don't agree.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I haven't been to WDW in a low crowd situation since my oldest went to high school and probably won't again until my youngest leaves high school. This would absolutely be a dream for us to walk around like we did when they were little and it wasn't an issue to pull them out of school.

Are they planning on running it over the summer? I would absolutely pay for this for one evening of just enjoying the attractions without running from FP+ to FP+

 

[jade1]

I completely agree with this. And if they offered it for Animal Kingdom or Epcot or DHS, once the Star Wars expansion is finished, I'd do it, depending on the price point and provided it would continue to not require separate park admission.

Agreed. The alternative is just close the park at 10PM. May as well keep it open for those willing to pay IMO. Seem to be keeping EMH nights as well anyway-even though those are technically "paid" by room guests as well.

 

[BattyKoda]

I was one of the people that agreed it would be creepy. I wasn't digging. That's how I feel about it. Even if people think that's weird or don't agree.

I agree that it's a bit creepy, but that's why I like MNSSHP... the end of the nights are pretty cool when most of the people have already left. So nope, no weirdness there.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I was one of the people that agreed it would be creepy. I wasn't digging. That's how I feel about it. Even if people think that's weird or don't agree.

Yep, there were three or four of you.

 

[Ava]

I'd be surprised if Disney DOESN'T do this for Epcot and the upcoming Frozen ride. I'm sure there are people who would JUST buy a package where you get character breakfast at Askerhaus .. the meet and greet with A&E . .and then get to ride the Frozen ride ... all before the park opens.

I would definitely consider purchasing this if it's offered, and I'm not usually one to purchase extras on a Disney trip. (We've never done BBB or any of the dessert parties, etc. We did do MNSSHP in 2014, which I would also do again.) I don't know that I'd pay $150/person for it, but the Akershus breakfast alone is worth $48/adult and $28/child. They could completely charge at least what they are charging for the Early Morning Magic at MK for a Frozen Morning at EPCOT.

 

[loves to dive]

While for me, it holds no appeal to pay extra for this I can certainly see why it would for others. I'm an AP holder so have already paid for my tickets and as others have pointed out, some of us just do the park different and I'm not a big fan of ice cream bars or soft drinks (now if it was an ice cream cone from France I'm all over it). I'm not really ride centric, I can ride or not. However, when my son was young, I would probably have paid for this. I could also see for those who have military park hoppers it might come in handy. My son could only buy them in blocks of 4 days, for a 5 day trip that meant buying a one day ticket. He and his wife always enjoy the late nights since they sleep in so I could see them buying that for the one day they needed. We don't spend a lot of time in MK, we are Epcot/HS people so those few hours being able to get on the rides would be worth it in that situation. We have in the past, done the evening EMHs and knocked out all the rides we wanted in a 3 hour time frame. After that, the times in the park were for leisure, walking around and looking at things, taking our time to watch a show or eating. So, I could see how it would be beneficial in that circumstance as well.

 

[Nancyg56]

Yep, there were three or four of you.

I was another who was a little nervous about it.. Notice how fast i can be swayed??? LOL!!!!

 

[HeyIt'sMe]

Yep, there were three or four of you.

And I would guess those people weren't "digging" either.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

And I would guess those people weren't "digging" either.

Okay.

 

[KSL]

I'm reading a couple of PP's who mention that MK was relatively "empty" during the evening prior to the official park close and beginning of the event. I wonder whether that's because this is a period of lower attendance (after Easter and most Spring Break crowds), or whether people avoided MK that afternoon/evening in anticipation of hordes of people descending for the party. Probably a mix of both, to some extent. I know no one knows the answer, I'm just sharing my curiosity.
Also, I read (possibly on a different thread?) of someone who was there yesterday and saw massive crowds entering MK around 4pm, saying that the CMs were letting the after-hours people in even at that time. Anyone else there about that time who can comment? Curious whether people really were let in as early as 4pm.

 

[disneyseniors]

I arrived around 8:30, and had dinner, then started riding shortly after 9. I can't imagine that those of us with the event tickets had a huge impact on the crowds, as even Space Mountain had a 10 minute wait at around 10:30, and all the other rides I rode before 11 were the same way. so it wasn't like the huge crowd was overwhelming the ride lines during the regular park hours.

Agree to disagree

We all have different experiences, and am glad yours worked out for you.
I am a quilter too, as I guess your name implies!
Life's too short to quibble over each others experiences, I think.
It's a beautiful day here in the north country! 70 degrees, sunny, couldn't ask for more

 

[anniemae]

I can't stay up that late, so this event is not for me- even if it were free. BUT if people want to pay for this instead of waiting in front of me in line during the day, then I'm all for it!

I'm with you, I go to be embarrassingly early at Disney! But the appeal I think is for couples, and people with older kids/teens. They won't have to contend with all the toddler melt down, strollers, crying kids etc.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

Not stitch. But I did do Astro Orbiters. 2x, and I was the only person on the ride one of the times. I've only rarely ridden it in the past, and never at night, so it was fun to have a birds eye view at night.

Yeah but people actually do Astro Orbiters and while it is another spinner it's far from the worst thing in the parks.

Many moons ago in a time before Iger there were other events with true limited attendance that we truly enjoyed. Your experience wad not uncommon and we once ride Splash the entire last hour of the park without getting off or having anyone else added to our boat. Of cours another time we rode the Peoplemover for the last half hour almost completely alone as well so I get the Astro Orbiter thing.

I get the appeal for a true limited experience in the parks and I think if I didn't remember when this was $10 and/or had faith in modern Disney to truly control the numbers they'll let in I wouldn't see this as that outrageous.

 

[SureAsLiz]

I wonder whether that's because this is a period of lower attendance (after Easter and most Spring Break crowds), or whether people avoided MK that afternoon/evening in anticipation of hordes of people descending for the party. Probably a mix of both, to some extent.

I don't know of anyone that skipped the park in anticipation of the event - most people I know (who work for Disney) didn't even realize the event started yesterday. There hasn't been a big push for it, so I wouldn't be surprised if most regular guests didn't know it was happening

 

[ArwenMarie]

Yes it is. I think the sold tickets will go up (and hopefully not total number available) and this will be a way for folks to pay something similar to a 1day ticket price for low to no waits. Lots of convention goers, cruisers, other orlando vacationers that might do 1 day at Disney.

Very interesting. I can definitely see people who are in Orlando for business travel doing something like this, since they are generally working during the day and usually the evening too with dinners, etc. Lose a little sleep but get a few hours of rides in lol.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I'd be surprised if Disney DOESN'T do this for Epcot and the upcoming Frozen ride. I'm sure there are people who would JUST buy a package where you get character breakfast at Askerhaus .. the meet and greet with A&E . .and then get to ride the Frozen ride ... all before the park opens.

For Frozen, they can even hold it from 9-11 am, because WS doesn't technically open until 11 am anyway. Instead of moving the opening time and "giving out" more FPs, why not sell them?

Should be interesting.