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

[Kimberly9701]

I think you are missing the point really ...

No, I don't see this as a gloom and doom for this event. It's a slower time right now. If this is offered end of May-June and thru summer.. I imagine it will come very close to selling out.

 

[BudgieMama]

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.

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!

 

[dfb]

Is the Magic after hours event a flop? I don't think so. I think, with the reports of no wait times and empty park, the remaining nights scheduled will sell more tickets and eventually sell out.

You'll buy them you know you will!!

Even though I am not a fan of the magic after hours it may be the answer to my dilemma.

My dilemma being, after recent changes going on at WDW the last couple years, my family and I have had about a 75% or more drop in desire to vacation at Disney. Since we are DVC owners, what will we do with our DVC points. Don't want to sell, don't want to rent so the only answer is to use the points and just not go to the parks. In reality staying a week or more at a Disney resort without going to the parks would be difficult. But i could stay a week - hang out at the pool, relax at resort during the day and then go to the MAH event one night out of seven with six days doing other non-Disney stuff. Of course this is based on Disney keeping the numbers low, # tickets sold and prices lower or at least no higher.

I think once/if the DAH catches on, it will significantly change , if not replace EMH. I don't think it will completely replace EMH without Disney offering some replacement token to on site guest. No matter what actually happens it is obvious there are more changes to my touring style definitely a coming.

I miss FP legacy and I'll never forgive them for cutting Gi-Tar Dan!!!

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

When the MK has a event, where the first few nights, so far, have more CM's in the park then guests (per some reports) its a big problem. Disney may have finally stepped over the limit and people are just saying no!

At least I hope they are!

AKK

 

[whiporee]

I just realized something else about it -- it puts an advertising number on EMH. You may be paying 500 a night for your room, but in addition to everything, your family of four now has a $600 value for each nighttime EMH and a $200 for each morning one.

It's not real, of course, but EMH has never had a value attached, and now it does.

 

[Mikie]

I just realized something else about it -- it puts an advertising number on EMH. You may be paying 500 a night for your room, but in addition to everything, your family of four now has a $600 value for each nighttime EMH and a $200 for each morning one.

It's not real, of course, but EMH has never had a value attached, and now it does.

There was discussion of that when there were threads about Disney surveys people received asking what they would think about paying a $15 per night resort fee - that they were putting a dollar value on your formerly "free" EMH. Now they could institute the $15 fee, market that it has a value of "up to $600 for a family of 4" while still charging you the high premium that on-site resorts have vs comparable lodging offsite.

 

[mom2rtk]

No, I don't see this as a gloom and doom for this event. It's a slower time right now. If this is offered end of May-June and thru summer.. I imagine it will come very close to selling out.

But is that even their intention? Busier parks means longer regular park hours. Is this as appealing from 12-3 as it was from 10-1? I might consider it with a 10 PM start. No way could I stay upright long enough to last all 3 hours if it started at 12.

 

[Kimberly9701]

But is that even their intention? Busier parks means longer regular park hours. Is this as appealing from 12-3 as it was from 10-1? I might consider it with a 10 PM start. No way could I stay upright long enough to last all 3 hours if it started at 12.

I wouldn't do a 12-3 with my son. I would as an adult.

He's 6 and I would take him til 1am..but the day time I'd make sure he was worn out enough in morning (he has never slept in so that's not an option) and then take a few hour nap before going to park at 7pm.

 

[Mikie]

But is that even their intention? Busier parks means longer regular park hours. Is this as appealing from 12-3 as it was from 10-1? I might consider it with a 10 PM start. No way could I stay upright long enough to last all 3 hours if it started at 12.

Can't recall anymore whether it was this thread or a related one where someone posted that the talk among CMs was that this would be a promotion for "shoulder" seasons - letting people buy later hours when the park wouldn't otherwise have them.

Peak times make more sense from the standpoint of someone purchasing line avoidance, but as you say, how many will pay to play til 3 am? However, the current calendars showing 10 pm closings all summer are worrisome, though I don't know when extended hours (if any) can usually be expected to be posted.

 

[mom2rtk]

Can't recall anymore whether it was this thread or a related one where someone posted that the talk among CMs was that this would be a promotion for "shoulder" seasons - letting people buy later hours when the park wouldn't otherwise have them.

Peak times make more sense from the standpoint of someone purchasing line avoidance, but as you say, how many will pay to play til 3 am? However, the current calendars showing 10 pm closings all summer are worrisome, though I don't know when extended hours (if any) can usually be expected to be posted.

We were in the MK the first Saturday of June last year and regular open was until midnight. I will be watching to see what it is this year.

 

[Mikie]

We were in the MK the first Saturday of June last year and regular open was until midnight. I will be watching to see what it is this year.

And too! My traveling group has changed and high school activities dictate a lot, which made me start looking at summer for the first time in a long time. We do NOT like the summer weather, but longer hours and multiple showings of night shows could have sweetened the pot. Nightly 10 pm closings and upcharge events ain't gonna sway me toward that swampy weather!!

 

[lugnut33]

Is the Magic after hours event a flop? I don't think so. I think, with the reports of no wait times and empty park, the remaining nights scheduled will sell more tickets and eventually sell out.

You'll buy them you know you will!!

Even though I am not a fan of the magic after hours it may be the answer to my dilemma.

My dilemma being, after recent changes going on at WDW the last couple years, my family and I have had about a 75% or more drop in desire to vacation at Disney. Since we are DVC owners, what will we do with our DVC points. Don't want to sell, don't want to rent so the only answer is to use the points and just not go to the parks. In reality staying a week or more at a Disney resort without going to the parks would be difficult. But i could stay a week - hang out at the pool, relax at resort during the day and then go to the MAH event one night out of seven with six days doing other non-Disney stuff. Of course this is based on Disney keeping the numbers low, # tickets sold and prices lower or at least no higher.

I think once/if the DAH catches on, it will significantly change , if not replace EMH. I don't think it will completely replace EMH without Disney offering some replacement token to on site guest. No matter what actually happens it is obvious there are more changes to my touring style definitely a coming.

I miss FP legacy and I'll never forgive them for cutting Gi-Tar Dan!!!

I sold all my points last fall and I'm happy I did. I really dislike the direction Disney is headed with spending more to get less. I really disliked the move from legacy FP to FP+. I saw a decrease in the value of my travel dollars because of it.

 

[HeyIt'sMe]

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.

You missed my point. I'm all for freebies and pixie dust.
I'm just wondering if this DAH thing is gonna make it. Time will tell .....

 

[IrishNYC]

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.

Buh? Did the same person that wrote the above write the complaints below, and then some?

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?

Hopefully, DAH is not extended. If so, from experience Disney will have managed to take priceless time from 11 - 1 am I had with my girls and put a price tag on it.

Totally see your point of view on this. For me being I've already paid $1600 for tickets, it's potentially an additional $750+ for experiences that didn't cost me that much additional money in 2015.

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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.

I completely agree about the low crowd being extremely attractive, especially if you only have one day to "do it all" and you've been to MK before.

But I think there are a lot of people that are only about rides at WDW in general. That's why you see a lot of people saying that AK and DHS are "half day" parks for their family. They're in, they ride, they're out. I don't agree with any of them being half day parks, but I can see how some people certainly do only do rides.

 

[Kimberly9701]

Buh? Did the same person that wrote the above write the complaints below, and then some?







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I completely agree about the low crowd being extremely attractive, especially if you only have one day to "do it all" and you've been to MK before.

But I think there are a lot of people that are only about rides at WDW in general. That's why you see a lot of people saying that AK and DHS are "half day" parks for their family. They're in, they ride, they're out. I don't agree with any of them being half day parks, but I can see how some people certainly do only do rides.

I'll definitely say that we went to AK for 2 main reasons- Everest and Dinosaur. But we did enjoy a lot of other things in the park..and we loved Tusker House.

We are skipping AK on our next trip.. But if the park was more conveniently located, we would stop in just to do Everest and a few others then leave.

We have season passes to a theme park here..with many similar attractions to Kali river etc.. The WDW experience is just different.

 

[tiger04]

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.

 

[Huggups]

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

I'm talking about during the 70s. No EPCOT then or any other park besides MK.

 

[maxiesmom]

I'm talking about during the 70s. No EPCOT then or any other park besides MK.

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

 

[jknc]

Buh? Did the same person that wrote the above write the complaints below, and then some?







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I completely agree about the low crowd being extremely attractive, especially if you only have one day to "do it all" and you've been to MK before.

But I think there are a lot of people that are only about rides at WDW in general. That's why you see a lot of people saying that AK and DHS are "half day" parks for their family. They're in, they ride, they're out. I don't agree with any of them being half day parks, but I can see how some people certainly do only do rides.

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.

 

[Kimberly9701]

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.

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