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

[mom2rtk]

The difference in comparing this with airlines is that everyone knows that airlines change the price of tickets all the time. If you are going to buy tickets and want the best price, you know to watch prices for a drop.

 

[mom2rtk]

I actually wonder if it is to set a price point for EMH so they can justify adding the rumored resort fee?

And I wonder if this (and the AM version) are about deciding how to (further) monetize the new attractions coming to Epcot and DHS.

 

[mom2rtk]

I think my biggest issue with all of this is that it would make me feel more like a "mark" in Disney's eyes than a guest.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

I think the free tickets make it obvious that this idea has not taken off so far. It has only been around for a very short time, so it certainly may still happen. However, I would guess those who know they are giving away tickets, may just take their chance and hope they are the random group selected when they are there. I would also guess that it doesn't do Disney much good financially to be giving away tickets. And we know they are a business and they are about the money, so unless the purchased tickets pick up in the summer, I would guess these events will not continue. They will come up with something new or tweak this a bit to get a better response. Maybe lower the price but increase the number of tickets.

 

[Mikie]

So, on the title subject: Not Sure the DAH are doing so well, I think it looks mostly positive from a guest perspective for these two nights - great event for attendees; no problem for non-attendees; only downside I see so far is that it looks like a low enough participation rate that if you LIKE it, you might be at risk they won't continue and you miss out.

I'm interested in speculating from Disney's perspective. We don't know their goals for this event, but there have been quite a few theories. Could be more than one.
1) Simply to make money on this as a stand-alone with no further motive. Credible speculation that sold tickets have been very low. Looks like not success for Disney
2) Test the waters for a new price level for parties - since this is so ride-centric, with later hours and no additional features like special characters and parades, not sure the information gained is relevant, but maybe low sales still provide important info for Disney. I'd put it as a ?? for success
3) Conbined with the Morning Magic, Test the waters for appeal to paying for low-wait admission to hot-ticket items. Seems like they'll get valuable info about these theories. I'd put it as successful from an info-gathering standpoint.
4) Set a defined dollar amount on EMH, so that you can market a "value of $150" on your premium-priced rooms or potential resort fee. I personally think it would need to be a bit longer-running before people would take it as fact that EMH are "worth" $150, but maybe not. I'd put it as ?? for success.
5) consider eliminating EMH altogether in place of paid DAH. Not sure here. . . does low attendance (unwillingness to pay) mean that Disney will conclude that people don't care about late hours? No idea what to conclude here.

Any further items? Agree/disagree?

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I don't see how Disney could expect this to have "taken off" when they really haven't marketed it.

Not talking about major ad campaign, but they could get everyone all riled up via Twitter, FB, DPB, etc like they did with RoL.

 

[Mikie]

I don't see how Disney could expect this to have "taken off" when they really haven't marketed it.

Not talking about major ad campaign, but they could get everyone all riled up via Twitter, FB, DPB, etc like they did with RoL.

I agree, but I've become so dependent on my specific chosen Disney sources that I have no idea what other sources are/are not doing AND I don't have a trip in the works, so I probably wouldn't be the recipient of targeted marketing. I couldn't tell if there really hasn't been much marketing or if *I* just haven't seen it.

 

[mom2rtk]

I agree, but I've become so dependent on my specific chosen Disney sources that I have no idea what other sources are/are not doing AND I don't have a trip in the works, so I probably wouldn't be the recipient of targeted marketing. I couldn't tell if there really hasn't been much marketing or if *I* just haven't seen it.

I'm in the same boat. I do think someone said they had flyers in their check-in packet.

I wonder if they have been so sure of themselves lately and what people will pay that they just assumed the limited number of tickets would just sell out without much effort.

Otherwise, why do all of this with little to no marketing support? It can't be cheap to staff the park 3 extra hours.

 

[cindyfan]

Clearly.

Instead of insulting the perfectly valid logic of people who simply disagree with you, I would suggest conceding that those who disagree might actually have some, ahem, logical points and just agree to disagree.

I think it's a reasonable and even logical assertion that a company giving away something to some people that others paid for cheapens the product for those who paid for it, and I can't blame those who paid full price for disliking that and asking for some type of redress from customer service.

exactly.

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

I think my biggest issue with all of this is that it would make me feel more like a "mark" in Disney's eyes than a guest.

Yes they are absolutely getting away from a "guest" mentality and into a "customer" mentality. That is the frustration that people have which is hard to explain.

 

[tarak]

I'm in the same boat. I do think someone said they had flyers in their check-in packet.

I wonder if they have been so sure of themselves lately and what people will pay that they just assumed the limited number of tickets would just sell out without much effort.

Otherwise, why do all of this with little to no marketing support? It can't be cheap to staff the park 3 extra hours.

I think you are correct about TPTB thinking they can organize just about any special event and people will sign up by the boatload. They look at the parties and Club Villain and how BOG fills up for the pre-park openings so people can get on 7DMT with no wait and wonder how they can capitalize on that market.

 

[DebbieB]

I'm in the same boat. I do think someone said they had flyers in their check-in packet.

I wonder if they have been so sure of themselves lately and what people will pay that they just assumed the limited number of tickets would just sell out without much effort.

Otherwise, why do all of this with little to no marketing support? It can't be cheap to staff the park 3 extra hours.

I agree, I think they thought people would jump on it just through spreading word through the internet, targeting their biggest fans. I don't know if they want to do big advertising - I think it would turn off a lot of people with the price.

I would be surprised if it continues past the May dates.

 

[jhaig]

I don't mind paying for an extra event, but if EMH ever gets taken away as a perk for staying on site, then we riot.

 

[jhaig]

I would be surprised if it continues past the May dates.

Agreed. No need to spread out the crowds in September. Although it would be nice to have a MK night from 9-mid with only a handful of people in the park.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

So, on the title subject: Not Sure the DAH are doing so well, I think it looks mostly positive from a guest perspective for these two nights - great event for attendees; no problem for non-attendees; only downside I see so far is that it looks like a low enough participation rate that if you LIKE it, you might be at risk they won't continue and you miss out.

I'm interested in speculating from Disney's perspective. We don't know their goals for this event, but there have been quite a few theories. Could be more than one.
1) Simply to make money on this as a stand-alone with no further motive. Credible speculation that sold tickets have been very low. Looks like not success for Disney
2) Test the waters for a new price level for parties - since this is so ride-centric, with later hours and no additional features like special characters and parades, not sure the information gained is relevant, but maybe low sales still provide important info for Disney. I'd put it as a ?? for success
3) Conbined with the Morning Magic, Test the waters for appeal to paying for low-wait admission to hot-ticket items. Seems like they'll get valuable info about these theories. I'd put it as successful from an info-gathering standpoint.
4) Set a defined dollar amount on EMH, so that you can market a "value of $150" on your premium-priced rooms or potential resort fee. I personally think it would need to be a bit longer-running before people would take it as fact that EMH are "worth" $150, but maybe not. I'd put it as ?? for success.
5) consider eliminating EMH altogether in place of paid DAH. Not sure here. . . does low attendance (unwillingness to pay) mean that Disney will conclude that people don't care about late hours? No idea what to conclude here.

Any further items? Agree/disagree?

I would agree with the Testing the Waters theory but what conclusion they are seeking, I have no idea. Maybe a way to compete wit US on the room/skip the lines perk, or seeing if people are willing to pay for what they once got for free, I don't know. One thing is certain: there are way too many price increases, paid events, money making schemes for the average Disney patron to accept or process. Maybe if they would slow down on the money making ideas and introduce them at a slower rate. I think right now the consumer is overwhelmed on the charges on top of charges on top of high prices for rooms, food, tickets, parking etc. last time we went we did the MVMCP and the Wishes Dessert party and I made the comment, only Disney could come up with a paid event inside a paid event on top of paid admission. Triple charges.
On another note, I would not mind if ALL the free passes were given to CMs. That would be the 1 exception to my paying for something that others got for free. On the plus side, I'm staying at AoA hint hint. Lol

 

[Kimberly9701]

I don't know if anyone has read these posts-
But a few people have created threads posting about their experiences doing DAH.
Real life experiences, not gossip and speculation.
If you are curious about this event I highly suggest reading said posts.

It sounds amazing!!! I hope it sticks around!!

 

[3DisneyFanz]

Agreed. No need to spread out the crowds in September. Although it would be nice to have a MK night from 9-mid with only a handful of people in the park.

I don't think they could do it in September since the MNSSHP pretty much starts at the beginning of the month. They've already scheduled at least 2 nights a week to close the MK at 7 for events so I wouldn't think they'd add DAH in between the parties.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

I would agree with the Testing the Waters theory but what conclusion they are seeking, I have no idea. Maybe a way to compete wit US on the room/skip the lines perk, or seeing if people are willing to pay for what they once got for free, I don't know. One thing is certain: there are way too many price increases, paid events, money making schemes for the average Disney patron to accept or process. Maybe if they would slow down on the money making ideas and introduce them at a slower rate. I think right now the consumer is overwhelmed on the charges on top of charges on top of high prices for rooms, food, tickets, parking etc. last time we went we did the MVMCP and the Wishes Dessert party and I made the comment, only Disney could come up with a paid event inside a paid event on top of paid admission. Triple charges.
On another note, I would not mind if ALL the free passes were given to CMs. That would be the 1 exception to my paying for something that others got for free. On the plus side, I'm staying at AoA hint hint. Lol

I think they were curios what the magic point was where people would say enough is enough. Shoot high on these and then roll the parties out at $99 and people will think they are a bargain despite being significantly higher attendance.

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

No one is questioning whether people enjoy the event. The question is whether or not this is a success for Disney. That is a completely debatable topic and while no one knows exactly why they rolled this out the way they did I do think it can be assumed based on the low reported numbers of tickets sold they are losing money which I'm fairly sure is not their goal.

They may be losing money for these parties, but you don't know what their end game is. They clearly don't mind losing money on the first couple of parties or they would have cancelled them all together. Maybe they are hoping to find their sweet spot in staffing and capacity, so they are filling the park to figure out what the party CAN maintain. Then they will work with the pricing structure after they are comfortable knowing if they even want to run a party at all.

 

[Slapshot1188]

No one is questioning whether people enjoy the event. The question is whether or not this is a success for Disney. That is a completely debatable topic and while no one knows exactly why they rolled this out the way they did I do think it can be assumed based on the low reported numbers of tickets sold they are losing money which I'm fairly sure is not their goal.

Actually multiple financial sites have already described it as disastrous for Disney based on analyst feedback.