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

[Dismomalita]

My 16 yo DS and I are going in August and I think we will probably do it if it is still offered. He is all about rides and I would love to go to MK and not have to wait. With only the 2 of us it wouldn't really be a budget buster.

 

[lugnut33]

As all this is going on with MK, park closing earlier than normal (10pm), DAH, etc... what is exploding?? Disney Springs. This is GENIUS on Disney's part. Close MK earlier in the summer, where are people going to go for night time entertainment?? Disney springs. cha ching! Oh and gosh, MK is empty now, how can we make more money...? Disny After Hours. CHA CHING! This is not surprising really, this is genius. Brava Disney. I hope it doesn't bite you in the end. (or maybe I do...)

You hit it exactly right. That is where all this is going. Less regular park hours and more pay per extra hours. There was a little blurb on EasyWDW today that looked at AK hours from last year to this year and there has been significant cuts in hours. Add on top of that cutting EMH from 3 to 2 hours and the writing is on the wall. I'm not saying they will eliminate EMH completely, but it's going to be severely restricted. Also, during busy times they just won't keep the parks open as long as they used to. Why would they when they can charge a whole separate ticket for getting in and people are lining up to purchase it?

 

[mjr0483]

unfortunatley Disney is a business and it is beholden to stock holders. They are looking to boost profits ALL the time. This means raising prices and cutting costs. If people keep buying their product they will keep up with this behavior. And people are buying.

What this means is higher ticket prices and reduced EMH or eventually paid EMH if they feel they can profit from it.

Get used to it. There is no changing it. If you don't like it take your vacation dollars elsewhere.

 

[TwoMisfits]

unfortunatley Disney is a business and it is beholden to stock holders. They are looking to boost profits ALL the time. This means raising prices and cutting costs. If people keep buying their product they will keep up with this behavior. And people are buying.

What this means is higher ticket prices and reduced EMH or eventually paid EMH if they feel they can profit from it.

Get used to it. There is no changing it. If you don't like it take your vacation dollars elsewhere.

Well, there is changing it...BY taking your vacation dollars elsewhere. Money talks...

 

[maxiesmom]

Oh I remember those days. MK closed every night at maybe 7:00 and you were left to entertain yourself after that. This is why we spent so many nights in the CRT pool with the adults drinking monorails (red, pink, purple and yellow) and us kids having ice cream sundaes in the Concourse Grill around midnight. Fun times! It proved that you didn't need the park to be opened to have a great time. Of course, Disney could never do that now! Another fact is back then you could afford to stay in the Tower and I could never do that now!

I remember those days too. Everyone flooded Epcot, as it was THE fireworks show in all of WDW.

 

[lugnut33]

There has been a small coup inside of Disney with notorious budget choppers moving into upper management positions. Guys that are adept at maximizing profits and extracting as much as they can from guests.

 

[rjb123]

I just thought of another target audience for this- all those people who come down for sports events. I was actually at Disney this past Jan for a gymnastics meet held at Wide World of Sports. We had little time to do the parks- it really is a quick trip down and back, and most don't take many or any days surrounding the weekend. Since you don't need a regular ticket, I could absolutely see purchasing an after hours pass and just hitting the MK for a few hours after an event. I think it feels more "worth it" than using a regular ticket because you know you will get to do EVERYTHING in a few hours rather than having a ticket for an entire day and only being able to use it for a couple of hours and not get to do much.

 

[jknc]

There has been a small coup inside of Disney with notorious budget choppers moving into upper management positions. Guys that are adept at maximizing profits and extracting as much as they can from guests.

No disrespect but how much skill does it take for someone to order their minions to charge more money for additional park access?

 

[3DisneyFanz]

No disrespect but how much skill does it take for someone to order their minions to charge more money for additional park access?

As it turns out apparently Staggs couldn't do this which is why the board "lost confidence" in him. To do it the way they are you have to be able to turn off your customer focus and simply keep raising prices. Some people don't like ignoring their customers and employees which is apparently a problem now.

 

[TLSnell1981]

In other words, Staggs has a conscience? ;D

 

[mjr0483]

Getting back on track. This is a VIP program with a VIP price. If you feel it is worth it to you to pay a premium to have the park to yourself and you have the cash, go for it.

Personally it is not for me.

My thing is every several years I go to V&A. Will everyone pay $180 for a meal? No but that is what I enjoy. I would rather do that then an extra 3 hours in the park. To each their own.

 

[HeyIt'sMe]

Tickets are still available for all dates.

This Thursday isn't sold out yet. Wonder who will get freebies this week?

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I'll be shocked if this gets expanded past the dates next month.

 

[Kimberly9701]

Tickets are still available for all dates.

This Thursday isn't sold out yet. Wonder who will get freebies this week?

Who cares?

I mean seriously, people post things like "I just got upgraded from Coronado Springs to GF for free!" And everyone loves the pixie dust.

It doesn't impact the people who paid 3-4x as much to stay at GF, they are still getting what they paid for.

Offering free admission to DVC people on site is really no different.

 

[jknc]

Tickets are still available for all dates.

This Thursday isn't sold out yet. Wonder who will get freebies this week?

The flock of family/travel bloggers that have overtaken WDW this week. I really hope they extend this into June so we can buy tickets.

 

[Mikie]

I'll be shocked if this gets expanded past the dates next month.

Why? Because of the reported low numbers on night1? I was guessing that the low advertising for that contributed to low sales and that the positive social media flutter would likely increase interest for subsequent nights.

I have seen lots of articles echoing my thoughts that this is too much (too much expense, too much pushing the envelope of add-ons) but I suspect that positive social media chatter (low lines! Multiple re-rides! Lots of easily accessible treats!) would be more impactful to potential purchasers.

 

[Love Tink]

I just thought of another target audience for this- all those people who come down for sports events. I was actually at Disney this past Jan for a gymnastics meet held at Wide World of Sports. We had little time to do the parks- it really is a quick trip down and back, and most don't take many or any days surrounding the weekend. Since you don't need a regular ticket, I could absolutely see purchasing an after hours pass and just hitting the MK for a few hours after an event. I think it feels more "worth it" than using a regular ticket because you know you will get to do EVERYTHING in a few hours rather than having a ticket for an entire day and only being able to use it for a couple of hours and not get to do much.

I agree with you that people who can't get to the parks until later might see this as a good value.

But I couldn't disagree more with the assertion - by you and by others - that this allows one to do EVERYTHING. For a certain percentage of people, rides are just one part of going to a park. My kids and I like to meet characters, see shows and performers on Main Street, trade pins, try different restaurants, watch the afternoon parade, run around Tom Sawyer Island, etc. etc. etc. It's a luxury we've earned because we've visited so often, and it maybe makes us outliers...but it is true of many here on the Dis. I want to ride and ride, but I also want to do other things and enjoy the atmosphere.

Yes, many one-time visitors think RIDES and this would appeal if when you think of Disney you just think of rides - I can see it being appealing in that way. But it doesn't appeal to me because it leaves out pretty much everything else (except ice cream bars).

 

[Mikie]

I agree with you that people who can't get to the parks until later might see this as a good value.

But I couldn't disagree more with the assertion - by you and by others - that this allows one to do EVERYTHING. For a certain percentage of people, rides are just one part of going to a park. My kids and I like to meet characters, see shows and performers on Main Street, trade pins, try different restaurants, watch the afternoon parade, run around Tom Sawyer Island, etc. etc. etc. It's a luxury we've earned because we've visited so often, and it maybe makes us outliers...but it is true of many here on the Dis. I want to ride and ride, but I also want to do other things and enjoy the atmosphere.

Yes, many one-time visitors think RIDES and this would appeal if when you think of Disney you just think of rides - I can see it being appealing in that way. But it doesn't appeal to me because it leaves out pretty much everything else (except ice cream bars).

Yes that's a good point. Hard for me to relate because I experience the parks like you do, but let's walk this through:
- this event is great for RIDES
- many hypotheses that the ideal buyer is a one- timer and/or short tripper who wants to get it "all" done
- lots of folks say that WDW is all about the atmosphere, theming, characters and entertainment and that their rides are second-tier to the likes of Uni and Busch Gardens
- Disney's slow/dark rides appeal to more age groups than other parks' thrill rides do, but will those age groups be the likely buyers of DAH?
- strip down the "magic", leaving re-rides on WDWs less thrilling rides only, and will these customers be satisfied with the experience??

 

[Kimberly9701]

Yes that's a good point. Hard for me to relate because I experience the parks like you do, but let's walk this through:
- this event is great for RIDES
- many hypotheses that the ideal buyer is a one- timer and/or short tripper who wants to get it "all" done
- lots of folks say that WDW is all about the atmosphere, theming, characters and entertainment and that their rides are second-tier to the likes of Uni and Busch Gardens
- Disney's slow/dark rides appeal to more age groups than other parks' thrill rides do, but will those age groups be the likely buyers of DAH?
- strip down the "magic", leaving re-rides on WDWs less thrilling rides only, and will these customers be satisfied with the experience??

I couldn't resist not commenting here..lol

If someone is only about rides then they won't be at MK. They will be at Islands of Adventure. MK's ride appeal is about the experience, not just the thrill.

My son is tall enough for everything at MK, not tall enough for everything at Universal.

The appeal for adults- No, MK is not only about rides, but a very low crowd park sounds pretty magical. I've never been all about the shows when on an adult trip.. And again, they can get in to the park at 7, so plenty of time to see a parade or show, just being in the park and taking it all in, without being bumped by a stroller is huge.

 

[DoingDisney]

Who cares?

I mean seriously, people post things like "I just got upgraded from Coronado Springs to GF for free!" And everyone loves the pixie dust.

It doesn't impact the people who paid 3-4x as much to stay at GF, they are still getting what they paid for.

Offering free admission to DVC people on site is really no different.

I think you are missing the point really ...