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

[Huggups]

You didn't post a year. I thought we were discussing what people did before EMH, no specific decade was mentioned.

I didn't post a year because I was responding to HopperFan who was recalling the "lone" park days.

 

[bbjunkie]

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).

Except you don't JUST get rides. You can get into the park at 7:00, so you can see MSEP, Celebrate the Magic, and Wishes. You can eat between 7:00-10:00. Really, the only thing you can't do is see the daytime Castle show or Festival of Fantasy parade. But you can pin trade, buy a balloon, and take in all kinds of atmosphere.

 

[DoingDisney]

Wonderful!!!! Oh my goodness I really hope this sticks. Your experience sounds amazing!

Their experience can't be the norm, the event would not be profitable.

 

[ChadInOKC]

Interesting tidbit, I bought tickets for my wife and I to attend on May 5th. On my tickets that I printed at home, there is a number on each one. While I won't disclose the exact numbers, they were 4x2 and 4x3. I wonder if this is the amount of tickets for this even that have been sold so far? Well over 400+ tickets for this day.

 

[Robo]

While I won't disclose the exact numbers, they were 4x2 and 4x3.

Sorry. I don't know what you mean by this.

Well over 400+ tickets for this day.

How can you tell how many total tickets have been sold, just based on the tickets that YOU bought?
(Even if the ticket numbers DO mean something in regard to the actual number sold, which I'm not sure is the case.)

 

[Angie789]

Sorry. I don't know what you mean by this.

The PP is giving us information about his ticket numbers. He didn't feel comfortable giving the exact ticket number, so he used x to sub in for the middle number (just like algebra - x is the unknown number). The tix could be 412/413 or 442/443 or 492/493.

And of course there is no way to know whether those numbers are significant or not (unless a CM weighs in), but if they are, it means that for an event that is about 2 weeks out, they have already sold somewhere in the range of 400+ tix. Whether that is an indicator of the success or failure of the event depends on your perspective.

 

[Ariel Wanna-be]

Sorry. I don't know what you mean by this.

How can you tell how many total tickets have been sold, just based on the tickets that YOU bought?
(Even if the ticket numbers DO mean something in regard to the actual number sold, which I'm not sure is the case.)

I *think* he is saying that his tickets are something like 422 and 423...or 452 and 453....or 472 and 473 and so on. If the ticket numbers are based on the number of tickets sold, then this would imply that there were more than 400 tickets.

ETA: I HATE when I'm posting at the same time as someone else.

 

[nicko]

This is a great comparison. The cost for V&A means we'll never eat there, but I don't begrudge anyone who does value the experience and can pay for it.

DAH is really appealing to me and I'm actually looking at sorting out funds in case it's extended to August because it sounds like a once in a lifetime opportunity for me and I love riding rides back to back! Seriously sounds so magical! Doesn't make either of our priorities better or worse, we just like different things!

This is a great comparison. The cost for V&A means we'll never eat there, but I don't begrudge anyone who does value the experience and can pay for it.

DAH is really appealing to me and I'm actually looking at sorting out funds in case it's extended to August because it sounds like a once in a lifetime opportunity for me and I love riding rides back to back! Seriously sounds so magical! Doesn't make either of our priorities better or worse, we just like different things!

I disagree on the comparison. Disney does not reduce the portion size of my meal at Columbia Harbour House in order to maximize profit on your meal at V&A.
With DAH, Disney trims regular hours so they can sell a premium event to someone else. If the premium event was always midnight to 3 AM, I would have no issues with it all.

 

[Robo]

I *think* he is saying that his tickets are something like 422 and 423...or 452 and 453....or 472 and 473 and so on. If the ticket numbers are based on the number of tickets sold, then this would imply that there were more than 400 tickets.

Yup.
I was trying to figure what "four times two" and "four times three" had to do with it.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

Their experience can't be the norm, the event would not be profitable.

It's an interesting little catch 22. The guests at the first party had an amazing time, but it doesn't sound like there were enough of them to be very profitable for Disney. But it gets great press. No one was there, ride over and over without getting off, more CMs than guests, etc. Great for Disney and more people buy tix. But now since what they're selling is specifically no crowd, as they sell more tickets, the experience becomes less of what people were so excited about. Guests may have to get off each ride, maybe wait in a slight line which is still amazing but may not measure up with expectations based on the word of mouth and blog. I actually think that is why they invited DVC for free, to help the press line up with what the experience will actually be for later party guests.

If true, 400 guests for early May sounds amazing for guests, not so much for Disney. Other events would be sold out in a day.

 

[Robo]

We just don't know.

 

[Praying Colonel]

Extra Magic Hours (free): "We have to take away that 3rd hour! No one's there!"

Money Magic Hours ($149): "See, it's great! No one's there!"

 

[mesaboy2]

Yup.
I was trying to figure what "four times two" and "four times three" had to do with it.

I think they got ticket numbers 8 and 12. That sounds more in line with what the first DAH saw for paying guests.

 

[bcrook]

Extra Magic Hours (free): "We have to take away that 3rd hour! No one's there!"

Money Magic Hours ($149): "See, it's great! No one's there!"

This is the most cogent statement so far. In so many ways.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Interesting tidbit, I bought tickets for my wife and I to attend on May 5th. On my tickets that I printed at home, there is a number on each one. While I won't disclose the exact numbers, they were 4x2 and 4x3. I wonder if this is the amount of tickets for this even that have been sold so far? Well over 400+ tickets for this day.

It could also mean "4th date" (since May 5 is the 4th session) - 52nd and 53rd ticket sold...

 

[MariMama]

I attended the event on April 14 so I wanted to share my experience. I went right to the event after landing in Orlando and dropping off my bags in my room. I did not get to the Magic Kingdom until 10:20 so I had to push through the crowds leaving after Wishes to get through security and check in at the turnstiles. The park was open until 11 pm so you needed to find the section of the turnstiles right in the middle for the after hours event to scan your band and get your lanyard. You basically got a lanyard when you entered listing all the attractions that were operating during the event. It also said you could get ice cream and drinks at carts throughout the park or you could buy select items at Casey's and the Main Street bakery.

My mother was already at the park when I got there so we decided to ride the attractions that were not open during the event until 11 and then switch. There was a mixture of regular guests and event guests still in the park but the regular guests started to thin out the closer it got to 11.

Overall I really enjoyed the event and could not believe how empty the park felt. Often there were more cast members working at the attractions than guests riding the attractions. We could pick our seats on every attraction, walked up to the loading at every attraction, and were told we could stay on and ride again. We enjoyed the ice cream and the only downside was that we had to finish the ice cream before going on the next attraction. It rained off and on starting around midnight but it was a light misty rain so it did not really impact the evening.

We passed other guests walking around but you definitely felt like the park was open just for you as we were the only people walking through fantasyland or adventureland at times. My mom thought it felt strange to have no other people around but I thought it was fun to walk without dodging strollers or groups of people.

We stayed until 2 am and then headed out. There were photo pass photographers out on Main Street past 2 am and you could have entered any of the attractions or grabbed one more treat until 2 am. When you left the park they had busses lined up and a cast member would direct you to the bus that would go to your resort. I don't think the monorail was still running so I am not sure how guests who parked at the ticket and transportation center were transported back there.

As for whether it was worth the $149, I think it really depends on how you choose to visit the parks and how much you want to budget for your vacation. If you don't mind staying out late and really do not like crowds, the event is perfect for you because you can go on most of the attractions at the magic kingdom with no waits and you can be very efficient with your visit because you are not spending any time in line other than walking to the loading areas.

I don't know how many people actually attended the event so I don't know if wait times will change if more people attend in the future but it really was wonderful to go on so many attractions in such a short amount of time. And I do think it's nice that you enter at 7 pm so you can have 4 additional hours in the park with your ticket.

Also, I did notice that at the Grand Floridian they put a little flyer about this event in the check in packet so I imagine all the resorts are doing that now. I will be curious to see how the other parties go.

Did you pay for your ticket?

 

[MariMama]

Extra Magic Hours (free): "We have to take away that 3rd hour! No one's there!"

Money Magic Hours ($149): "See, it's great! No one's there!"

Spot on.

 

[DoingDisney]

The PP is giving us information about his ticket numbers. He didn't feel comfortable giving the exact ticket number, so he used x to sub in for the middle number (just like algebra - x is the unknown number). The tix could be 412/413 or 442/443 or 492/493.

And of course there is no way to know whether those numbers are significant or not (unless a CM weighs in), but if they are, it means that for an event that is about 2 weeks out, they have already sold somewhere in the range of 400+ tix. Whether that is an indicator of the success or failure of the event depends on your perspective.

Or it might be that the number is total tickets sold, ever. Who knows. Will be interesting to see as time goes on.

 

[Hikergirl]

I disagree on the comparison. Disney does not reduce the portion size of my meal at Columbia Harbour House in order to maximize profit on your meal at V&A.
With DAH, Disney trims regular hours so they can sell a premium event to someone else. If the premium event was always midnight to 3 AM, I would have no issues with it all.

Is it the norm for WDW to be open till 12AM every night in April and May?

 

[phyllis1966]

Thank you.
So looking forward to this if it's extended into June.

Given the Rivers of LOLight issues and the Frozen state of FEA, DAH is something to look forward to.

Huh??? No criticisms from me, I totally understand why you hated the idea of DAH - and you really HATED the idea for 30-something pages!

How did you make this complete turn-around, or am I missing some very subtle sarcasm?