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

[Lucius Best]

It seems like one of the problems for some people with this event is that they resent the special Disney experience that others are getting that they themselves are unwilling to pay for.

It makes me sad to read about people jealous or angry about these new events or hoping that they fail. After hours events aren't going to affect anyone during the day, and they are optional, if you don't want to go you don't have to!!!And the people worrying that their trip might be affected 6 months from now, I know I sometimes worry a lot about things, but it's honestly a waste of time worrying about things that haven't happened yet!!! Disney's park hours are always subject to change, so that's nothing new, you just need to prepare for it and have a positive attitude! I wish I could have been there for the After Hours event, it sounds like it was fantastic!!!!!

 

[Nancyg56]

It makes me sad to read about people jealous or angry about these new events or hoping that they fail. After hours events aren't going to affect anyone during the day, and they are optional, if you don't want to go you don't have to!!!And the people worrying that their trip might be affected 6 months from now, I know I sometimes worry a lot about things, but it's honestly a waste of time worrying about things that haven't happened yet!!! Disney's park hours are always subject to change, so that's nothing new, you just need to prepare for it and have a positive attitude! I wish I could have been there for the After Hours event, it sounds like it was fantastic!!!!!

Until we saw the reviews no one knew if the extra events would be the same as the party nights. Between 4 and 7 on those nights it is crowded!!!

I really hope that I'd Disney continues to offer the additional option of paid before and after hours the experiences for those who opt out are still positive.

Time will tell.

 

[jknc]

Thats fair, but I'd say its also fair then to say the ticket is worth less, or devalued, regardless of whether Disney "promised" anything or not. If last year my "X" day ticket offered my 60 hours access to MK, and this year at the same time, even if they held the ticket price the same I was only offered 50 hours access to MK, the ticket is worth less. And of course they have in fact increased the price of the ticket.

I was flamed for making a similar point as this weeks ago.
I pointed out that this year MK is scheduled to be open 9 hours less on the days we visit as opposed to 2015.

 

[Lucius Best]

I can't find the source now, but base operating hours for MK are 9 AM to 7 PM.

This is correct, I read the same thing, but I forget where. Even though the last time MK closed at 7 PM on a non-party night was something like January 2007, the official base operating hours are 9 AM to 7 PM. Anything later than 7 PM is a "bonus", and Disney extends the hours past 7 PM almost every night of the year!! People complaining that the park closes earlier this year than some previous trip, Disney changes park hours based on attendance and other things, and be sure to remember that park hours are always subject to change!

 

[jknc]

I feel like a lot of people just have no perspective on how this event can impact those of us who have actual short term travel plans in place.

How would you feel if 8 weeks before your vacation in Oct/Nov/Dec Disney decided to have Halloween or Christmas Parties every single night you planned - 6/7 months in advance - to be at MK?

 

[Nancyg56]

I feel like a lot of people just have no perspective on how this event can impact those of us who have actual short term travel plans in place.

How would you feel if 8 weeks before your vacation in Oct/Nov/Dec Disney decided to have Halloween or Christmas Parties every single night you planned - 6/7 months in advance - to be at MK?

But what changed that was in place when you booked? I'm honestly trying to understand. Have posted hours changed?

 

[jknc]

But what changed that was in place when you booked? I'm honestly trying to understand. Have posted hours changed?

 

[Mikie]

It makes me sad to read about people jealous or angry about these new events or hoping that they fail. After hours events aren't going to affect anyone during the day, and they are optional, if you don't want to go you don't have to!!!And the people worrying that their trip might be affected 6 months from now, I know I sometimes worry a lot about things, but it's honestly a waste of time worrying about things that haven't happened yet!!! Disney's park hours are always subject to change, so that's nothing new, you just need to prepare for it and have a positive attitude! I wish I could have been there for the After Hours event, it sounds like it was fantastic!!!!!

This is correct, I read the same thing, but I forget where. Even though the last time MK closed at 7 PM on a non-party night was something like January 2007, the official base operating hours are 9 AM to 7 PM. Anything later than 7 PM is a "bonus", and Disney extends the hours past 7 PM almost every night of the year!! People complaining that the park closes earlier this year than some previous trip, Disney changes park hours based on attendance and other things, and be sure to remember that park hours are always subject to change!

I commented on another thread that we *really* need a sarcasm font! I think you've found it!
For sure on the 9-7pm "base hours". I don't care if that's written anywhere, I have a pretty profound confidence that the Sun'll Come Up Tomorrow despite an utter lack of contractual agreement to do so. The actual performance of the sun every morning of every year are the only assurances I have. As you said Lucius, MK has NEVER closed at that time in YEARS except for a party, so to call it regular closing time is ridiculous.

 

[Hikergirl]

I feel like a lot of people just have no perspective on how this event can impact those of us who have actual short term travel plans in place.

How would you feel if 8 weeks before your vacation in Oct/Nov/Dec Disney decided to have Halloween or Christmas Parties every single night you planned - 6/7 months in advance - to be at MK?

Nothing is ever a guarantee at WDW. Posted hours 6-7 months in advance are always subject to change, and they usually do. My last trip they added hours the week I was there, that week. But of course that was a positive so nobody would even think of complaining, right? They change things all the time, sometimes for the better for some, and sometimes that means its the worst for others. These after hour events do benefit some, but of course there are those who feel it will negatively impact them so they are the most vocal in their complaints about the event. It is impossible for Disney to make everyone happy all the time. If you are happy about a change, chances are someone is not.
You brought up party dates, if you make your plans before party dates are announced and you are planning on going during party season, you should expect that your plans will be effected. If you make your plans after party dates are announced, you should expect that your plans will be effected. Remember, everything is subject to change.
To answer your question, how would I feel, I'd feel disappointed but that is all on me. I plan a trip so far in advance, knowing that everything is subject to change, and it does, well that is how it goes since I wasn't guaranteed anything.

 

[cruisingtwins]

I don't care it it fail or not I'm sure disney did their research and decided it was worth a shot. This event in particular does not interest me at all too late. It's off putting to me because it seems like disney is just in a take take take mode. Sure I'll give you my money but give me something in return. 3/4 parks are in desperate need of new attractions. Mk itself could use a little love so many outdated attractions. And I don't mean thrill rides. But like with new technology they could make the jungle cruise amazing. They could update the tiki room and country bear jamboree and change them into something from this century but they don't instead they are finding every single way to squeeze every cent out of my pocket. It's just greedy and I don't like greedy.

 

[Lucius Best]

I commented on another thread that we *really* need a sarcasm font! I think you've found it!
For sure on the 9-7pm "base hours". I don't care if that's written anywhere, I have a pretty profound confidence that the Sun'll Come Up Tomorrow despite an utter lack of contractual agreement to do so. The actual performance of the sun every morning of every year are the only assurances I have. As you said Lucius, MK has NEVER closed at that time in YEARS except for a party, so to call it regular closing time is ridiculous.

Not sure what you're talking about, someone much smarter than me once said "sarcasm is the lowest form of wit" and I agree, I have no use for it!

And I think you are confusing "base" hours with "regular" hours. No one said MK regular closing time is 7 PM, that would be ridiculous!!! For example: if, say, "regular" closing time is 11 PM, think of it as you're getting an extra 4 hours of park time past the "base" closing time. But Disney's park hours are subject to change, and Disney is a business, so they might change the closing time to 10 PM instead for any number of reasons. Instead of looking at it as a reduction in hours, you can look at it with a more positive attitude as Disney adding 3 hours on top of the base time.

 

[KSL]

Good Morning, everyone!
I've been keeping up with this thread (trying to, anyway!) and others on the subject of these new evening and morning paid offerings.
It has been very interesting for me to read the comments of other folks who have a different perspective and brought up topics that hadn't occurred to me.
My reaction is this: I think much of the angst people feel about these events is due to the fact that they were offered on such short notice. I think (yes, making assumptions, I know!) most posters on these forums are people who enjoy Disney and/or travel there often. Therefore (extrapolating, I know!), they are aware that it is generally to the benefit of the travel party to make arrangements as far in advance as possible. Disney has trained us to do this, and we have learned how to do so to our own best advantage, whatever each of us determines that to be. When the travelers follow the "rules" Disney has set in place to book hotel, dining, and rides well in advance, they have invested a considerable amount of time and energy into planning their vacation, and they rightly (IMO) have the expectation that those plans will proceed as planned (barring of course any unforeseen issues with rides, weather, illness, etc.). When Disney offers events like this on such short notice, it messes with everyone's pre-planning efforts, and there is a natural emotional response to that. The dates of these events are so close to people's well-made travel plans that there is now no flexibility to change their schedules, and I think most people don't WANT to change their schedules, because now they have been anticipating and looking forward to their trip the way they planned it. I believe most people would have been much more receptive to the evening and morning paid events if Disney had offered them 181 days ahead of the first one (pre-ADR booking window), or at least 61 days ahead (pre-FP+ booking window for on-site guests) because then they would have felt like they had more of a choice about these events and how they might fit (or need to be worked around) with their planning. I know some will say that one day prior to their booking window is not enough time; you can never meet everyone's needs/wants, but that would have at least demonstrated a level of understanding and respect from Disney about the need for travelers to pre-plan which THEY created.
I have read that notice about these events was "leaked" early as it is; wondering why the need to move forward (and how long were they going to wait!?). They postponed the already-announced evening events at AK (which also messed with many people's plans, including mine), so why not postpone these, which hadn't even been officially publicized yet? I'm sure there are a multitude of factors behind-the-scenes that I know nothing about which impacted Disney's decisions, but without the benefit of that information, it is difficult for visitors to accept all of these last-minute changes.

 

[asbyrneva]

Nothing is ever a guarantee at WDW. Posted hours 6-7 months in advance are always subject to change, and they usually do. My last trip they added hours the week I was there, that week. But of course that was a positive so nobody would even think of complaining, right? They change things all the time, sometimes for the better for some, and sometimes that means its the worst for others. These after hour events do benefit some, but of course there are those who feel it will negatively impact them so they are the most vocal in their complaints about the event. It is impossible for Disney to make everyone happy all the time. If you are happy about a change, chances are someone is not.
You brought up party dates, if you make your plans before party dates are announced and you are planning on going during party season, you should expect that your plans will be effected. If you make your plans after party dates are announced, you should expect that your plans will be effected. Remember, everything is subject to change.
To answer your question, how would I feel, I'd feel disappointed but that is all on me. I plan a trip so far in advance, knowing that everything is subject to change, and it does, well that is how it goes since I wasn't guaranteed anything.

Of course people complained, especially on this board. "They added hours during peak time and ruined my PP ADR" Leading up to spring break that was all we heard.
I always hope they add hours and sometimes plan that way (Thanksgiving) but for example they didn't have the super early 7am EMH Thanksgiving day that they "always" had. But in looking back at previous trips the 7am was only a couple years and most the time it was 8 am. Did it totally ruin my day? NO. I still had a blast. Was it more crowded at 8 early opening for everybody then it was as a 7am EMH ,sure but did it significantly impact me no. Edited: Well DH was glad he wasnt at MK at 630 am

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

Of course people complained, especially on this board. "They added hours during peak time and ruined my PP ADR" Leading up to spring break that was all we heard.
I always hope they add hours and sometimes plan that way (Thanksgiving) but for example they didn't have the super early 7am EMH Thanksgiving day that they "always" had. But in looking back at previous trips the 7am was only a couple years and most the time it was 8 am. Did it totally ruin my day? NO. I still had a blast. Was it more crowded at 8 early opening for everybody then it was as a 7am EMH ,sure but did it significantly impact me no. Edited: Well DH was glad he wasnt at MK at 630 am

You beat me to it.

I remember reading those posts to my husband. And he couldn't stop laughing. Basically, people were complaining that the park was open extra hours.

With some people, Disney can't win.

 

[jknc]

="KSL, post: 55564736, When Disney offers events like this on such short notice, it messes with everyone's pre-planning efforts, and there is a natural emotional response to that. The dates of these events are so close to people's well-made travel plans that there is now no flexibility to change their schedules, and I think most people don't WANT to change their schedules, because now they have been anticipating and looking forward to their trip the way they planned it. I'm sure there are a multitude of factors behind-the-scenes that I know nothing about which impacted Disney's decisions, but without the benefit of that information, it is difficult for visitors to accept all of these last-minute changes.

And thus equally as difficult for those that do not have short term travel plans to understand why those of us with such plans are angry.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Actually Disney does close the MK at 7 pm, many many nights a year and that can really mess up your week if you are traveling during those times.

I guess the difference is everyone is used to that?

 

[Hikergirl]

You beat me to it.

I remember reading those posts to my husband. And he couldn't stop laughing. Basically, people were complaining that the park was open extra hours.

With some people, Disney can't win.

Ok I guess people did complain, I wasn't reading that but it just proves the point like you say Disney can't win. They just can't please everyone all of the time.

 

[Lucius Best]

Actually Disney does close the MK at 7 pm, many many nights a year and that can really mess up your week if you are traveling during those times.

Exactly!!! Those are party nights. The parties are so fun! I always plan ahead if I'm going during "party season"

 

[Lucius Best]

I remember reading those posts to my husband. And he couldn't stop laughing. Basically, people were complaining that the park was open extra hours.

With some people, Disney can't win.

So true, some people will complain about anything!!

 

[IrishNYC]

Here's an article calling it a flop "for now." http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/04/16/disney-worlds-149-experiment-is-a-flop-for-now.aspx