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

[FeralCatRogue]

It would really work well for the school I go to. Our disseration seminars have a choice for in Orlando til 6pm so something that gives park hours 7 onwards I can see people grabbing that who come off seminars, I know many of the people paid a full day ticket for just a few hours.

 

[JimmyV]

Apparently my curiosity has no patience. . . Now I want to know:
1) when will we find out what this was a test for? (Ceiling on party prices? Other events like this for other parks and lands? Simply extending this event to more dates?)

A fascinating question. What we know:

• Ticket sales were below expectations, so they had to give tickets away. How many sold and how many given away? We will never know.
• Reports are that the event "sold out", but I have yet to see a post, tweet or statement from anyone who was denied a ticket.
• The park wasn't all that crowded to begin with, suggesting that had the MK simply stayed open to everyone until 1:00 a.m., people might have had very close to the same experience. Perhaps no one would have been the only person in their Space Mountain rocket ship, and instead there would have been 4 other people with them. Or perhaps instead of having a literal "walk-on" experience, lines would have been 2-5 minutes long.

So what did we learn from all of this? That when crowd levels are low, the MK is very manageable after dark, and people really like this. And when crowd levels are low and you charge $149 for an event, people feel as if they have the MK all to themselves, and a number of people really, really like this. It could be that an event like this in mid-April might be analogous to the 4th FP that you can get for a ride that doesn't need one. During a low or shoulder season, people could have had an awesome time at the MK late at night if Disney had simply keep the park open late. "Free" extended hours would seem to give one a good chance of walking onto rides from midnight to 1:00 a.m.. But for $149, you are guaranteed that ability. To weigh the full value of this event, one would have to compare wait times and crowd levels from 10:00 p.m.-midnight next Tuesday, (which are normal operating hours open to everyone), to the wait times and crowd levels on Wednesday from 11:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m. (which are evening EMHs open to resort guests), to the wait times and crowd levels on Thursday during the next event. There is no doubt that the latter will be the least crowded. But will it be $149 per person less crowded? I would be amazed if the experience one has on Wednesday during EMHs turns out to be vastly inferior to the experience one has on Thursday for $149. The obvious difference being that off site guests don't have the ability to choose. And the ice cream.

 

[jade1]

A fascinating question. What we know:

• Ticket sales were below expectations, so they had to give tickets away. How many sold and how many given away? We will never know.
• Reports are that the event "sold out", but I have yet to see a post, tweet or statement from anyone who was denied a ticket.
• The park wasn't all that crowded to begin with, suggesting that had the MK simply stayed open to everyone until 1:00 a.m., people might have had very close to the same experience. Perhaps no one would have been the only person in their Space Mountain rocket ship, and instead there would have been 4 other people with them. Or perhaps instead of having a literal "walk-on" experience, lines would have been 2-5 minutes long.

So what did we learn from all of this? That when crowd levels are low, the MK is very manageable after dark, and people really like this. And when crowd levels are low and you charge $149 for an event, people feel as if they have the MK all to themselves, and a number of people really, really like this. It could be that an event like this in mid-April might be analogous to the 4th FP that you can get for a ride that doesn't need one. During a low or shoulder season, people could have had an awesome time at the MK late at night if Disney had simply keep the park open late. "Free" extended hours would seem to give one a good chance of walking onto rides from midnight to 1:00 a.m.. But for $149, you are guaranteed that ability. To weigh the full value of this event, one would have to compare wait times and crowd levels from 10:00 p.m.-midnight next Tuesday, (which are normal operating hours open to everyone), to the wait times and crowd levels on Wednesday from 11:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m. (which are evening EMHs open to resort guests), to the wait times and crowd levels on Thursday during the next event. There is no doubt that the latter will be the least crowded. But will it be $149 per person less crowded? I would be amazed if the experience one has on Wednesday during EMHs turns out to be vastly inferior to the experience one has on Thursday for $149. The obvious difference being that off site guests don't have the ability to choose. And the ice cream.

Good points.

If they are taking an otherwise "closing at 10PM" night, who really cares?

It's one more night guests can choose to tour MK after closing hours, and CM's get to pick up more working hours.

Just staying open the extra hours brings in no extra revenue at all. I think they are testing reactions and crowds for future expansion of the program.

 

[Mikie]

First we got:
1. It is too expensive, there is no way anyone would pay that.
2. Disney will make it so crowded, that you will wait and wait for just one ride.
3. Free treats? They mean a cookie and a sip of soda.
4. Disney will make too many tickets available and there will be too many people there

Reports showed
1. People paid and were there
2. Rides were walk on
3. They handed out full size ice cream treats and full size bottles of Coke products
4. The park felt empty

So we heard
1. Seems that no paid, everyone got in for free. (There may have been many free tickets offered, but no one knows how many were given)
2. It was already a short wait time (Short is very different than rides being walk on)
3. How many do they have to hand out until someone gets sick (Boy people are really digging deep)
4. Having lots of people around is part of the experience. An empty park is creepy. (Again, boy, are people digging)

Then the icing on the cake, when someone said that they might actually buy tickets to this event . . . . . . . you, you, you Disney apologist.

Sound about right?

LOL! If you're just following the flow of conversation without noticing exactly who says what, it's easy to lump ALL people who like the event or generally say positive things as having one monolithic opinion and all people who express skepticism, complaints or fears as having one other monolithic opinion. This, of course, is not accurate.

It appears I was the poster "digging" in #3 and #4.
#3 - I was making a JOKE!! wondering tongue-in-cheek whether someone will stuff themselves silly on MickeyBars and then hurl on the Teacups was not intended in any way to evaluate the success or failure of Disney After Hours (tm)
#4 - As far as I was concerned, this was a side conversation about the enjoyability of empty parks. I have said in this thread that this event at this price would not interest me for a variety of reasons. On a separate note, some of us began discussing the merits of an empty park (a benefit that I fully agree is meaningful and valuable to others) and then I agreed with the poster who admitted "it sounds weird but. . . " Once again, a side conversation intended in no way to attribute success or failure to this event.

I expressed a lot of skepticism about this event - specifically, I believed the earliest dates would be the best results (but had no idea what "best" would look like) but am fearful that it would have negative impact on day patrons (proven, at least in this instance to be unfounded!) and fearful that it will be repeated in other areas and other parks - may happen or may not, even if it does it may adversely affect parks hours or day guest experience or it may not - remains to be seen!

Perhaps you don't like that after this apparently very successful first event, some of us haven't completely let go of all skepticism. One successful event doesn't mean that there is no room for discussion, questioning and predictions.

 

[bbjunkie]

A fascinating question. What we know:

• Ticket sales were below expectations, so they had to give tickets away. How many sold and how many given away? We will never know.
• Reports are that the event "sold out", but I have yet to see a post, tweet or statement from anyone who was denied a ticket.
• The park wasn't all that crowded to begin with, suggesting that had the MK simply stayed open to everyone until 1:00 a.m., people might have had very close to the same experience. Perhaps no one would have been the only person in their Space Mountain rocket ship, and instead there would have been 4 other people with them. Or perhaps instead of having a literal "walk-on" experience, lines would have been 2-5 minutes long.

So what did we learn from all of this? That when crowd levels are low, the MK is very manageable after dark, and people really like this. And when crowd levels are low and you charge $149 for an event, people feel as if they have the MK all to themselves, and a number of people really, really like this. It could be that an event like this in mid-April might be analogous to the 4th FP that you can get for a ride that doesn't need one. During a low or shoulder season, people could have had an awesome time at the MK late at night if Disney had simply keep the park open late. "Free" extended hours would seem to give one a good chance of walking onto rides from midnight to 1:00 a.m.. But for $149, you are guaranteed that ability. To weigh the full value of this event, one would have to compare wait times and crowd levels from 10:00 p.m.-midnight next Tuesday, (which are normal operating hours open to everyone), to the wait times and crowd levels on Wednesday from 11:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m. (which are evening EMHs open to resort guests), to the wait times and crowd levels on Thursday during the next event. There is no doubt that the latter will be the least crowded. But will it be $149 per person less crowded? I would be amazed if the experience one has on Wednesday during EMHs turns out to be vastly inferior to the experience one has on Thursday for $149. The obvious difference being that off site guests don't have the ability to choose. And the ice cream.

Someone earlier in this thread mentioned that they (I believe one of the DVC people) called to get a ticket and was told there were no more available. What we don't know is if Disney left a few available for purchase til the end, as it seemed to still be available online.


I have thought since I heard about this that their intention was to draw a paying crowd on low-attendance nights. It seems to be exactly what happened. (It is in stark contrast to the hoards that were complaining ahead of time that the MK would be packed, it would be a horrible experience, and wouldn't be fair to the people in the park with regular tickets from 7:00-close because the park would be so choked with people no kne could ride anything. Less for more!) It looks like Disney knows exactly what it is doing.

 

[ksinniger]

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.

Uh yeah - that would be me.

 

[IrishNYC]

So that's it, no wait times for rides and attractions most people have done multiple times has this much value to people?

I've said this before but for $600 how about a pic with Walts Frozen Head?

I've lost faith in my fellow man.

You really sound like you're just here to argue and didn't read anything else in this thread. If you have only one day to spend at all of WDW, at only $40 more than a regular one day ticket to MK, this is a great value.

 

[jknc]

You really sound like you're just here to argue and didn't read anything else in this thread. If you have only one day to spend at all of WDW, at only $40 more than a regular one day ticket to MK, this is a great value.

There are 2 sides to every story.
No arguing only thoughtful discussion.

 

[BattyKoda]

I have thought since I heard about this that their intention was to draw a paying crowd on low-attendance nights. It seems to be exactly what happened.

Is that really what happened though? Their intention was def to draw a paying crowd on a low-attendance night. But the only reason this appears to be any sort of success is, *reportedly*, due to the number of FREE tickets that they gave out.

I don't think a couple hundred sold tickets, if the reports are true, is what they were looking for.

 

[TexasKiwiPrincess]

Do you know the definition of "summary." Of course details are lost.

At least 3, possibly 4, people indicated that having no lines and an empty park was a problem. That it was creepy or weird or whatever.

Posters also indicated that waiting 15 minutes for a ride was almost the same as walk on.

Those are points. If you want the details, read the entire thread.

Wow. I hope your day gets better, lady. You sure sound like a grouch.

I don't recall a single post claiming "no lines" could be a problem. It's merely a preference to enjoy the company of other pleasant people. That so few people shared this humble opinion in this thread, it is flawed to include it as a major point in an attempt to summarize the entire thread. Are you familiar with the quote "There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it." A very similar statement could be made about the Magic at Walt Disney World. Create some Magic or reflect it. Personally, I get a fantastic high watching others be happy and enjoy life, especially at Disney. It amplifies the Magic. To me, the Disney experience would be less enjoyable if there's no one to share it with.

Very small crowds (5-10 min "wait" for major rides) >>> Empty park (zero wait for any ride, entire vehicles for single riders) > Moderate crowds (20-30 min waits) >> Peak crowds

 

[bbjunkie]

Is that really what happened though? Their intention was def to draw a paying crowd on a low-attendance night. But the only reason this appears to be any sort of success is, *reportedly*, due to the number of FREE tickets that they gave out.

I don't think a couple hundred sold tickets, if the reports are true, is what they were looking for.

I suspect that the number of sold tickets will increase significantly now that the premiere of the event has happened. Word-of-mouth is a powerful tool, and they gave a perk to their DVC owners to facilitate getting the word out. I'd guess after reading the reactions from those that attended, as well as the comments of those with future plans, that this event will be a huge success going forward.

 

[Jennasis]

It's far too a expensive an offering for us to EVER be interested in. I totally get the folks who think a completely empty park would feel creepy...it has to me, the few times I've had areas of the park pretty much to myself (right after rope drop we went to Frontierland and we were the only humans there and it felt really strange, and we also stayed at Epcot until the all the crowds left after Illuminations and strolled out of the park through WS and were the only people there...felt a little zombie apocalypse). But walk-ons are certainly a plus.

I'll freely admit I am rubbing my hands together atop Mount Crumpet hoping this event fails in the long run.

 

[BattyKoda]

I suspect that the number of sold tickets will increase significantly now that the premiere of the event has happened. Word-of-mouth is a powerful tool, and they gave a perk to their DVC owners to facilitate getting the word out. I'd guess after reading the reactions from those that attended, as well as the comments of those with future plans, that this event will be a huge success going forward.

I completely agree that perception has changed after last night's event. It will be interesting to see how it affects the events going forward.

 

[mjr0483]

Free or pay for me the issue is value. Let's say the park closes at 9pm and you know that as long as you jump on a line before the clock strikes 9 you are on the line. So now you have rides with a 60 minute or more wait. Now your paid 3 hours is down to 2 or less by the time they clear the lines and the freeloaders. How long before are the popular rides down to walk on? And how many rides can you get on and enjoy your free Mickey bar before your time is up? Pass.

Then it brings up the debate about accurate wait times. Is the wait for mine train really 120 minutes at park close or are they discouraging you?

 

[dfb]

Don't drug dealers often give the first sample for free? Let's see how fast the addiction occurs??

 

[BattyKoda]

Don't drug dealers often give the first sample for free? Let's see how fast the addiction occurs??

Pretty sure the drug dealers got that from Disney

 

[MJ6987]

Hopefully this will be a cool new perk for DVC members

 

[dfb]

Pretty sure the drug dealers got that from Disney

I think that could be very true!!

 

[dfb]

Hopefully this will be a cool new perk for DVC members

Good thinking! Not very likely but a nice thought none the less!!

 

[jdrasin]

A fascinating question. What we know:

• Ticket sales were below expectations, so they had to give tickets away. How many sold and how many given away? We will never know.
• Reports are that the event "sold out", but I have yet to see a post, tweet or statement from anyone who was denied a ticket.
• The park wasn't all that crowded to begin with, suggesting that had the MK simply stayed open to everyone until 1:00 a.m., people might have had very close to the same experience. Perhaps no one would have been the only person in their Space Mountain rocket ship, and instead there would have been 4 other people with them. Or perhaps instead of having a literal "walk-on" experience, lines would have been 2-5 minutes long.

So what did we learn from all of this? That when crowd levels are low, the MK is very manageable after dark, and people really like this. And when crowd levels are low and you charge $149 for an event, people feel as if they have the MK all to themselves, and a number of people really, really like this. It could be that an event like this in mid-April might be analogous to the 4th FP that you can get for a ride that doesn't need one. During a low or shoulder season, people could have had an awesome time at the MK late at night if Disney had simply keep the park open late. "Free" extended hours would seem to give one a good chance of walking onto rides from midnight to 1:00 a.m.. But for $149, you are guaranteed that ability. To weigh the full value of this event, one would have to compare wait times and crowd levels from 10:00 p.m.-midnight next Tuesday, (which are normal operating hours open to everyone), to the wait times and crowd levels on Wednesday from 11:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m. (which are evening EMHs open to resort guests), to the wait times and crowd levels on Thursday during the next event. There is no doubt that the latter will be the least crowded. But will it be $149 per person less crowded? I would be amazed if the experience one has on Wednesday during EMHs turns out to be vastly inferior to the experience one has on Thursday for $149. The obvious difference being that off site guests don't have the ability to choose. And the ice cream.

For what it's worth, when we were there in Feb, the MK was dead after the last parade and my son and I did 7DMT 4 times in a row (I'm a neglectful father having my 8 year old up past midnight ).

Joseph