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

[mom2rtk]

To tell you the truth, when you say $750 I cringe! Yes, that amount would just make me cry!

I think that one thing Disney could do if they wanted to ram up the excitement is to continue a few of these late nights in MK, and instead of selling any tickets, give them away to guests. I remembe that year of a million dreams....I never did get a dream, although my DGD got one of those special pins that you save one and give one away. That was pretty darn neat, BTW, but anyway, I remember how much fun it was thinking about that chanvce to be awarded a night in the Castle. I bet we were not alone.

If Disney randomly chose families at checkin at every level of resort, gave them the chance to experience a close to empy MK at night, WOW! Talk about Pixie Dust! I get excited when I get a cupcake, so I would definately be a fan for life!

That really is fun to think about. It would be a return to the excitement of YOMD. We never won a single thing during YOMD, but it was a lot of fun waking up every day dreaming about the possibility of staying in the castle that night.

But honestly, the Disney of YOMD time just does not seem like the current Disney that just raised prices on food 3 times in the last 3 months.

 

[Mikie]

That really is fun to think about. It would be a return to the excitement of YOMD. We never won a single thing during YOMD, but it was a lot of fun waking up every day dreaming about the possibility of staying in the castle that night.

But honestly, the Disney of YOMD time just does not seem like the current Disney that just raised prices on food 3 times in the last 3 months.

Feels like such a difference from "how can we WOW people?" To "how can we charge people?"

I was going to say what are the chances people will wax nostalgic about DAH like we are about Year of a Million Dreams, but maybe participants will look back saying "remember when we went and felt like VIP guests for only $150!" I dunno. . .

 

[chelynnah]

Back when I was angered about this event in an unhealthy manner, I would have politely requested to take a Splash Mountain boat home with me as a souvenir had I paid $750 and others were free.

This comment has given me my best laugh of the day (in a 'no offence intended, laugh with you not at you kind of way). Glad you're back in a healthy discussion frame of mind . Hmmm Not sure 750 would get you the whole boat, but perhaps a seat from one

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I don't think anyone is a fool in either case, but I can sometimes take it personally when something I like or decide to pay for is being criticized - it can feel like an attack on my brains or judgement. Since I'm not planning and have no dog in this fight, it's easier to focus on the critical/analytical instead of the magical and it comes off negative. Just people coming at everything from a different angle, I think.

Nope -- that's not me! I don't take anything personally about this... or anything on social media of any sort, to be honest! If you were to look back through my posts, perhaps the most common phrase you'd find is "Vive la difference!!"

I just don't personally see the point in blind speculation about something negative that Disney MIGHT do. There is enough moving and shifting that we KNOW about -- whether we're currently planning a trip or not. I guess I focus my discussion here. But to each his own... vive la difference, etc., etc.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

I'm gonna guess that's at least partly due to the AofA freebies. Maybe Disney is trying different giveaway groups to find out who responds positively -maybe a family wouldn't have thought about going, but tries it and discovers its unexpectedly worth it even for younger kids or people who aren't usually night owls and spreads the word?

How is that possible that this was a result of AoA. Didn't we learn a couple pages ago that AoA doesn't cater to families with small kids but instead is full of large groups of adults?

 

[Mikie]

Back when I had an unhealthy anger about this event, I would have politely requested to take a Splash Mountain boat home with me as a souvenir had I paid $750 and others were free.

This comment has given me my best laugh of the day (in a 'no offence intended, laugh with you not at you kind of way). Glad you're back in a healthy discussion frame of mind . Hmmm Not sure 750 would get you the whole boat, but perhaps a seat from one

Makes me think of the movie Father of the Bride, where Steve Martin has finally had it with all the expenses of a wedding and goes into the grocery store ripping open hot dog bun packages because he's mad they come in 10s, while the hot dogs come in 8s and he's Not Going To Take It Anymore!!

Picturing jknc struggling to drag a heavy boat down Main Street with maybe a young son helping and everyone just watching along the sidewalks

 

[Mikie]

How is that possible that this was a result of AoA. Didn't we learn a couple pages ago that AoA doesn't cater to families with small kids but instead is full of large groups of adults?

Well, mine was just a guess, as I assume the other poster describing all-adult suites was also a guess. I've not stayed there, but have walked over from Pop and it sure looked like a wide variety of ages there to me. . .

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Back when I had an unhealthy anger about this event, I would have politely requested to take a Splash Mountain boat home with me as a souvenir had I paid $750 and others were free.

This is so funny!! I had looked into an event held in DL at the Jungle Cruise before the park opened. I can't even remember the cost -- since I thought it was so insane I must have blocked it out!! I said that for that price, I certainly hope I'm taking home an audioanimatronic animal of my very own!!

 

[jknc]

Makes me think of the movie Father of the Bride, where Steve Martin has finally had it with all the expenses of a wedding and goes into the grocery store ripping open hot dog bun packages because he's mad they come in 10s, while the hot dogs come in 8s and he's Not Going To Take It Anymore!!

Picturing jknc struggling to drag a heavy boat down Main Street with maybe a young son helping and everyone just watching along the sidewalks

Hadn't thought about how to get it on the bus.

 

[chelynnah]

Hadn't thought about how to get it on the bus.

Just put it in the lake and row it back to your resort

Ooh, your own, personal non-crowded Disney transport!

 

[MariMama]

Amen! I am tired of the haters. I'm begging them to stop going to WDW. If you don't think its a good value, then don't go, but be quiet about it. We're going and I don't think I'm stupid and my guess is that I won't for the 3 hours I'm in MK that night.

No.

 

[msdaisy]

Just put it in the lake and row it back to your resort

Ooh, your own, personal non-crowded Disney transport!

You my friend just gave Disney their next up charge! $750 and you can paddle your own family back to your resort!

 

[mom2rtk]

This is so funny!! I had looked into an event held in DL at the Jungle Cruise before the park opened. I can't even remember the cost -- since I thought it was so insane I must have blocked it out!! I said that for that price, I certainly hope I'm taking home an audioanimatronic animal of my very own!!

It was $300 each. Really. I'm not even making that up.

 

[Mikie]

Nope -- that's not me! I don't take anything personally about this... or anything on social media of any sort, to be honest! If you were to look back through my posts, perhaps the most common phrase you'd find is "Vive la difference!!"

I just don't personally see the point in blind speculation about something negative that Disney MIGHT do. There is enough moving and shifting that we KNOW about -- whether we're currently planning a trip or not. I guess I focus my discussion here. But to each his own... vive la difference, etc., etc.

Ahhh, c'est Le difference! I don't think it's blind speculation - I think we have just enough clues to make the speculation fun! News articles about Disney management changes, shake ups in overall business philosophy, other upcharge events - what are the similarities and differences, park calendar changes, other attractions opening in other parks. . . . I find it fun to play with different scenarios and hear other fans' take on it, especially posters here who have been following closely longer than I have.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Ahhh, c'est Le difference! I don't think it's blind speculation - I think we have just enough clues to make the speculation fun!

PO-TAY-TO, PO-TAH-TO...

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

It was $300 each. Really. I'm not even making that up.

That sounds right!! $1,500 for our group to do it... somehow, I resisted...

 

[3DisneyFanz]

It was $300 each. Really. I'm not even making that up.

Yeah but that was at least a unique experience. For that price you got to eat in the middle of the attraction and become the JC skipper for a few laps around the lagoon and you got an extremely limited quantity souvenir for that price. Unless you count the lanyard (which is laughable considering the 2 billions spent to replace these kinds of things) you're not getting anything special. Everyone can ride rides and I wouldn't suggest trying to smuggle home a bunch of Mickey bars in your luggage.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

Well, mine was just a guess, as I assume the other poster describing all-adult suites was also a guess. I've not stayed there, but have walked over from Pop and it sure looked like a wide variety of ages there to me. . .

Channeling my inner Danny Vermin but we stayed there once...once. Like you we have also strolled across the bridge a few times as well but the demographic has always seemed much more skewed on the younger end of families.

 

[CarrieR]

I'm curious where your room location is. Did you put in the request or just get lucky? We're staying there next year and want a really good location close to the bus stop and food court.

We requested ground floor 60s... which is our normal request, but normally they put us in the 90s. This time we actually got ground floor 60s (lake facing) - I don't think it's a preferred room but it's totally perfect for us. Close to classic hall but not noisy.

 

[CMNJ]

So who do we think they will give free tickets to next week....
Annual passholders staying on site? Guests at a moderate hotel?
Assuming they still will have low sales numbers they want to boost