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

[Robo]

Other than low crowds and no waits what else was there to build value for a family of 4 where this would cost them $600?

Kind of like asking, "Other than the short time it takes to get to Orlando from Chicago, what is there to build value in flying vs. driving?"
What more do you need?

 

[jknc]

Kind of like asking, "Other than the short time it takes to get to Orlando from Chicago, what is there to build value in flying vs. driving?"
What more do you need?

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.

 

[Hikergirl]

Sounds like it was a success at least for the guests that went.
I remember one MNSSHP when dd and I rode Space Mountain 4 times in a row because nobody was getting on it. It was right about the time when the regular guests were leaving so there were only a few of us in line. We'd get off and run to the line again. It was such a sureal feeling being there "alone". I bet its the same feeling on the rides during this event. Hoping it continues into late summer and stays low crowd!

 

[Hikergirl]

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.

Yes, that is exactly what it means. I could spend $440 and spend all day in the hot sun waiting 30+ minutes in line and dealing with making my way through the crowds, not being able to find a table to sit and eat. And lets not forget about waiting for the crowded buses either. Or I could hang out by the resort pool sipping cocktails until dinner time. Eat at one of the resort restaurants, head to MK and enjoy an evening of mickey bars, low crowds and step on rides, and rides and rides........
Sounds like my perfect kind of WDW day and night.

 

[jknc]

Sounds like it was a success at least for the guests that went.
I remember one MNSSHP when me and dd rode Space Mountain 4 times in a row because nobody was getting on it. It was right about the time when the regular guests were leaving so there were only a few of us in line. We'd get off and run to the line again. It was such a sureal feeling being there "alone". I bet its the same feeling on the rides during this event. Hoping it continues into late summer and stays low crowd!

It seems even before this event started the wait times were manageable across the park.

 

[TitanBrett]

Normally I would scoff at th $149 price but my Daughters 12th birthday happens to be April 22nd. The chance to be in a near empty park next Thursday as the clock strikes 12 and she turns 12 was too tempting to pass up, I bought the tickets quick and now am really looking forward to it.

 

[Hikergirl]

It seems even before this event started the wait times were manageable across the park.

And it seems they were non existent for the 3 after hours. Works for me.

 

[asbyrneva]

Other than low crowds and no waits what else was there to build value for a family of 4 where this would cost them $600?

Well look at what a family of 4 would pay for a one day ticket. If you had one day only in MK and could have little to no wait for $600 why wouldn't you do it, compared to the tiered 1 day MK price? Might be a better value than a regular full day MK ticket. (yes I know most people dont by a single day MK ticket, but some do.)

Also looks a lot cheaper to me than the front of the line VIP tour with a minimum # of hours, especially for a smaller group like family of 4.

So in those two cases there is value. Maybe not to everybody but definitely to some.

Yes in most cases this would be an expensive add on which might not be justified but for some it might actually be cheaper than some of the other option.

 

[Mikie]

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?)
2) with the positive buzz from this event, what will the remaining dates look like?
3) will the crowds on future dates go up or remain the same?
4) how many ice cream bars DOES it take to cause a mess on the teacups?

 

[bbjunkie]

Yes, that is exactly what it means. I could spend $440 and spend all day in the hot sun waiting 30+ minutes in line and dealing with making my way through the crowds, not being able to find a table to sit and eat. And lets not forget about waiting for the crowded buses either. Or I could hang out by the resort pool sipping cocktails until dinner time. Eat at one of the resort restaurants, head to MK and enjoy an evening of mickey bars, low crowds and step on rides, and rides and rides........
Sounds like my perfect kind of WDW day and night.

EXACTLY! My daughter has a National Dance Compitition in Charleston in July, and I am now seriously considering going to Orlando after since we will be so close (for us ). I'm going to keep an eye on expanded dates for this event because I would love to do this exactly as described above. It has a ton of value for me and my family!

 

[jknc]

Yes, that is exactly what it means. I could spend $440 and spend all day in the hot sun waiting 30+ minutes in line and dealing with making my way through the crowds, not being able to find a table to sit and eat. And lets not forget about waiting for the crowded buses either. Or I could hang out by the resort pool sipping cocktails until dinner time. Eat at one of the resort restaurants, head to MK and enjoy an evening of mickey bars, low crowds and step on rides, and rides and rides........
Sounds like my perfect kind of WDW day and night.

You bought a single day MK ticket?

 

[Nancyg56]

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?)
2) with the positive buzz from this event, what will the remaining dates look like?
3) will the crowds on future dates go up or remain the same?
4) how many ice cream bars DOES it take to cause a mess on the teacups?

I can answer #4: One.

 

[Hikergirl]

You bought a single say MK ticket?

Not yet but I will be for my dd and 3 of her friends. If this event is being offered when she goes I will get this instead.

 

[jknc]

I gotta go or Im going to get in trouble. The Disney fanatics and apologists are far too strong on this thread.

My best to you all. Be blessed.

 

[kaytieeldr]

All Disney has to do is "open" a park at 10:00 a.m., and then "add" EMHs from 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. and give everyone the appearance that they are getting a great deal by staying on site.

The official/standard opening time for each park is 9 AM. Every day.

I just completed a call with DVC (for the gift card) and the man mentioned 8000 DVC members getting in tonight for free.

More likely 8,000 DVC members got invited.

I can't believe Disney would think a lot of people would be willing to pay $150 for 3 hours in the park, low crowds or not. I'm sorry, but unless you have money to burn (like 1% of the population), asking people to spend this kind of money is insane.

So many, many, many people not in the 1% absolutely have the discretionary income and will see, and pay for, the advantages of this offer.

No business will continue to sell a product that they lose money on every time someone buys it.

So are we to say the price for the event will go up?

No. Why do you think any money is being lost?

I'm not saying it should be the same cost of the party. They could have done better than $149.. especially when they are giving this to DVC members for free right now lol.

One free night for DVD members doesn't mean the price needs to be reduced. It just means they have space available.

Even in a best case scenario for the customer like last night for a large segment of the customer base asking them to spend $150 for some short lines and basically nothing else is a tall task.

If people find value in this go now because I just don't see this being a highly profitable event for Iger.

Didn't somebody estimate over $500,000 revenue per DAH? Even at a third of the previously estimated ticket sales, that's still $183,000.

 

[bbjunkie]

To those that were there last night; were the Photo Pass photographers still set up all over the place well into the night?

 

[Hikergirl]

I gotta go or Im going to get in trouble. The Disney fanatics and apologists are far too strong on this thread.

My best to you all. Be blessed.

There is nothing to apologize for here, Disney did right by this event. I guess you are just disappointed that that is the case, not sure why.

 

[kaytieeldr]

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.

The cost won't be $600 for everyone. One person pays $149. Eight people pay $1,192. Tens of thousands pay zero, because they don't see the value and don't buy any tickets.

 

[Nancyg56]

You bought a single day MK ticket?

There are more people than you imagine who do just that. They have one day. They buy a one day pass. Think about the folks who come in for a cruise and want one day in Disney before the begin. Shoot, this would be a great idea. You arrive a day earlier than planned, enjoy the day preparing and relaxing, hit the MK by 7, leave after teh even and board your ship the next day. I might consider this if we were that family, we had one day and we were going to the MK anyway.

 

[anniemae]

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.

Disney is genius at finding a weak spot and not only turning it positive, but making money at it. The parks are more crowded than ever. No matter what they do, people come in droves to Disney. Raise the price, maybe that will thin out the crowds. Nope, more crowded than ever. What do people complain about most? The crowds. How to make low crowds, and as a bonus make more money without decreasing the amount of guests coming to Disney.

The answer is this after hours thing, and the pre park opening thing at MK. People are happy to ride the rides with no crowds and Disney is happy to charge them for that privilege. People will pay it, and Disney will charge it. I think they are trying to spread out crowds. These after hours folks wont go during the day, they will come out at night, so that may alleviate the day time crowds a bit.