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

[Kimberly9701]

But that was my point...

Someone said that they doubted most people would pay for this event *after* having experienced it for free because of the price.

That was then countered with how people spend for concerts/broadway shows as a way of saying why wouldn't people pay to come back to event like this again, given what they spend on broadway shows/concerts....but simply attending a show or a concert is not the same thing.

The comparison to be made is would one pay the $$$ for a concert or a broadway show AFTER having had that same experience for free. And that's where I say (and where you seem to agree ) - that no, I highly doubt that most people would pay $$$ for something like a show or a concert - or, in this case, the DAH event - *after* having experienced for free. Disney lovers may, sure - just as Broadway lovers may pay to see a show after having seen it for free - but the die hard fans/lovers are not enough of a population to sustain the event.

In March I paid $240 per ticket to see Newsies.
The face value of the ticket I bought said something like $98 lol
I wanted to go, so I paid the guy.
People will pay for what they want. In this case with DAH Disney never charged above face value.

 

[Angel Ariel]

But we all have different budgets. And even more so- we have things that are important to us and things that aren't.
The $16 additional is less than one character dinner for the same family of 4.
Maybe they skip a character meals and choose DAH instead. Who knows? But there is a million scenarios as to why and how someone could fit it in.

However, if they don't want to..then they won't. Simple.

Regardless of what a total family's budget is, again, my point is that $600 is a significantly larger percentage of that budget than $16 is. There's no arguing that. That's pure mathematics. Yes, $600 could be just 1% of someone's budget, and just a drop in the bucket, but in that situation then the $16 is infinitesimal in comparison.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

Here's what's comparable-
Something that is given for free does not reduce it's value to free.
Especially when it is a select few who receive it. And there has been 0 proof that it was offered to more for free than those who paid.

It doesn't matter. If I paid 149.00 per family member for something I believed to be an exclusive event then found out that tickets were given away because the sales were not what they wanted (or for any reason other than a random pixie dust), I would not be happy. If 300 tickets were sold but attendance was reported at 1000, then more than a couple of tickets were given away. Now that it has been reported that some people pay while some people don't, I would never be the sap who paid. Period.

 

[Angel Ariel]

In March I paid $240 per ticket to see Newsies.
The face value of the ticket I bought said something like $98 lol
I wanted to go, so I paid the guy.
People will pay for what they want. In this case with DAH Disney never charged above face value.

I never argued that point at all. You're missing my point. Which is fine, that's your choice, but I'm not going back and forth on it anymore.

 

[Ambear]

Lol

Your poor laugh lines...

 

[Kimberly9701]

Your hypothetical evidence isn't any more valid than anyone else's. Your opinion isn't any less anecdotal. There is also "0 proof" that they filled the event with mostly paying guests. As I said before, I'm expecting changes as they move forward. Those changes will be the proof either way.

No it isn't. But I'm not pushing it as fact... The only fact that I actually know is that not every onsite guest or DVC member was offered it..and I've yet to see any thread where someone who was staying at AoA received it. Could someone not on these boards receive it? Sure! So I can't indisputably so that no one there did. I do highly doubt that if it happened it was a majority.

It doesn't matter. If I paid 149.00 per family member for something I believed to be an exclusive event then found out that tickets were given away because the sales were not what they wanted (or for any reason other than a random pixie dust), I would not be happy. If 300 tickets were sold but attendance was reported at 1000, then more than a couple of tickets were given away. Now that it has been reported that some people pay while some people don't, I would never be the sap who paid. Period.

I posted a reason for giving complimentary tickets earlier. It's a sound reason. You're free to not agree, but I assure you that a business makes that kind of decision everyday.

 

[Kimberly9701]

Your poor laugh lines...

Totally. DAH or Botox.. Which do I choose?!?!

 

[Mambo Junkie]

No it isn't. But I'm not pushing it as fact... The only fact that I actually know is that not every onsite guest or DVC member was offered it..and I've yet to see any thread where someone who was staying at AoA received it. Could someone not on these boards receive it? Sure! So I can't indisputably so that no one there did. I do highly doubt that if it happened it was a majority.

I posted a reason for giving complimentary tickets earlier. It's a sound reason. You're free to not agree, but I assure you that a business makes that kind of decision everyday.

That wasn't my point but never mind.

 

[Kimberly9701]

That wasn't my point but never mind.

Yes, I get your point. DAH is a horrible flop bc they gave tickets away. No one should pay for it now!!
What if the intention all along was to give free tickets? Maybe it was maybe it wasn't. But it would make sense to do it.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

So, getting back to the original topic, does anyone know if this event is a success or failure? What about the early am event? I just now checked for tickets and there were quite a few available. Do you really think this is a test to see if they can go up on the party tickets, and do you suppose that's why they're not on sale yet? I will be there for MNSSHP, and not sure we will go, but I may just purchase a ticket instead of the day pass, as the only park I really want to go to in September is AK. If the party ticket goes up high enough, it would be just as wise to buy the day ticket and not go on a party night UNLESS (should it happen) the price increase means a crowd decrease.

 

[Angel Ariel]

So, getting back to the original topic, does anyone know if this event is a success or failure? What about the early am event? I just now checked for tickets and there were quite a few available. Do you really think this is a test to see if they can go up on the party tickets, and do you suppose that's why they're not on sale yet? I will be there for MNSSHP, and not sure we will go, but I may just purchase a ticket instead of the day pass, as the only park I really want to go to in September is AK. If the party ticket goes up high enough, it would be just as wise to buy the day ticket and not go on a party night UNLESS (should it happen) the price increase means a crowd decrease.

I mentioned the Len Testa podcast earlier..he said that one of the Touring Plans blog members would be attending the DAH event later in the week (I think this past Thursday, IIRC). I'll be interested to hear that insight.

I do think this is a test to see how much they can raise party tickets. If this doesn't sell well, I don't expect there will be a huge increase in party tickets. If it sells well overall by the end of the event, though, I would be concerned about the potential increase. They've already released dates..they have no reason to hold back prices unless they aren't yet sure what they are going to price them at.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

I mentioned the Len Testa podcast earlier..he said that one of the Touring Plans blog members would be attending the DAH event later in the week (I think this past Thursday, IIRC). I'll be interested to hear that insight.

I do think this is a test to see how much they can raise party tickets. If this doesn't sell well, I don't expect there will be a huge increase in party tickets. If it sells well overall by the end of the event, though, I would be concerned about the potential increase. They've already released dates..they have no reason to hold back prices unless they aren't yet sure what they are going to price them at.

Wow, that's right; I had forgotten. Thanks, I'll be on the lookout.

 

[BK2014]

Prior to this event starting, it seemed like a lot of people were hesitant about its value due to fears that it would crowded like other extra price events. So if the first nights of this new event was underselling, I think giving out free tickets was a smart move by WDW. First, assuming that they gave enough tickets away to make the event "full", then it helps give an accurate idea of what you would be paying for capacity-wise. Without filling it with free tickets, people may have felt deceived if they paid for a future night and it was more crowded.

Second, while not all attendees would say this, there are surely some of the free ticket recipients who would report back that they would have paid the full-price if they had known what they were going to get. That free advertising will likely pay for itself several times over. Giving the free tickets to DVC members was smart in my opinion, because those people are going to be return visitors to WDW. So there is likely to be some who come back thinking it was worth $149 and I will do it again.

The idea that someone else getting in free somehow devalues the $149 paid by someone else is ridiculous. The people who paid full price paid for a reserved spot at the event, and for the benefits that were advertised as being part of the event. They made an evaluation and decided that those promised benefits were worth $149, and paid to guarantee their ability to receive those benefits. If the event was significantly undersold, WDW was in a lose-lose position. If they canceled the event, the people who had paid and scheduled their trip plans around the event would have been upset. Clearly, by giving away free tickets, WDW knew they would still upset some people. But allowing people in for free doesn't mean that the people who paid got ripped off. They still got everything they expected and were promised.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

Yes, I get your point. DAH is a horrible flop bc they gave tickets away. No one should pay for it now!!
What if the intention all along was to give free tickets? Maybe it was maybe it wasn't. But it would make sense to do it.

I think that Disney expected to comp tickets for the usual group of bloggers and TA's. They usually rely on them to get the word out. I don't think they planned to comp as many people as they did. While I know you don't believe them, I usually believe Len Testa's information.

 

[Mikie]

Prior to this event starting, it seemed like a lot of people were hesitant about its value due to fears that it would crowded like other extra price events. So if the first nights of this new event was underselling, I think giving out free tickets was a smart move by WDW. First, assuming that they gave enough tickets away to make the event "full", then it helps give an accurate idea of what you would be paying for capacity-wise. Without filling it with free tickets, people may have felt deceived if they paid for a future night and it was more crowded.

Second, while not all attendees would say this, there are surely some of the free ticket recipients who would report back that they would have paid the full-price if they had known what they were going to get. That free advertising will likely pay for itself several times over. Giving the free tickets to DVC members was smart in my opinion, because those people are going to be return visitors to WDW. So there is likely to be some who come back thinking it was worth $149 and I will do it again.

Agree with those quoted portion. . . Wish we knew what "full" was. It might be whatever amount they got on the first two nights, or it might be more if a greater percentage were paid guests. One thing I think we all agree on is how great it would be to be privy to Disneys actual figures.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The comparison to be made is would one pay the $$$ for a concert or a broadway show AFTER having had that same experience for free. And that's where I say (and where you seem to agree ) - that no, I highly doubt that most people would pay $$$ for something like a show or a concert - or, in this case, the DAH event - *after* having experienced for free. Disney lovers may, sure - just as Broadway lovers may pay to see a show after having seen it for free - but the die

Plenty of people pay to see a specific Broadway show multiple times. On a less expensive scale, many people pay to see the same movie time and time again.

There's a huge difference between paying a $4 increase for something and paying a $149 increase.

It's not a $4 or any increase. It'd be the regular price.

They didn't cover the comps, if they did they would have paid alot more than $149.

There isn't any reason or expectation that anyone paying for tickets should cover the comps.

It doesn't matter. If I paid 149.00 per family member for something I believed to be an exclusive event then found out that tickets were given away because the sales were not what they wanted (or for any reason other than a random pixie dust), I would not be happy. If 300 tickets were sold but attendance was reported at 1000, then more than a couple of tickets were given away. Now that it has been reported that some people pay while some people don't, I would never be the sap who paid. Period.

Nothing official implies exclusive. Very limited, with or without actual numbers, doesn't mean it's exclusive. Disney even states "the number of tickets available for each one is very limited" - not number sold, just number.

So, getting back to the original topic, does anyone know if this event is a success or failure? What about the early am event? I just now checked for tickets and there were quite a few available. Do you really think this is a test to see if they can go up on the party tickets, and do you suppose that's why they're not on sale yet? I will be there for MNSSHP, and not sure we will go, but I may just purchase a ticket instead of the day pass, as the only park I really want to go to in September is AK. If the party ticket goes up high enough, it would be just as wise to buy the day ticket and not go on a party night UNLESS (should it happen) the price increase means a crowd decrease.

Success or failure? Only two of the planned seven have happened, and I'm not finding any articles on the second one. Probably no determination is going to be made until after 5/17.
Early AM hasn't begun.
Don't think it's any kind of test for party ticket pricing.

 

[mom2rtk]

So when Jimmy Johns does their $1 sub day.. Do people not purchase a $5 sub the next?
Does that $5 sub now become worth $1?

That's not a valid comparison. I have to eat. Every day. Usually 3 times a day.

I don't ever have to visit a theme park.

 

[maxiesmom]

That's not a valid comparison. I have to eat. Every day. Usually 3 times a day.

I don't ever have to visit a theme park.

I think it makes the comparison even more valid. We have to eat, but no one is being forced to go on Disney vacations. One is a need, though subway is not a need, and one is a splurge. Complaining that an expensive vacation destination offers things that are too expensive seems silly. We all have to pay for food at some point. None of us have to pay for a trip to WDW or for their extra offerings.

 

[mom2rtk]

I think it makes the comparison even more valid. We have to eat, but no one is being forced to go on Disney vacations. One is a need, though subway is not a need, and one is a splurge. Complaining that an expensive vacation destination offers things that are too expensive seems silly. We all have to pay for food at some point. None of us have to pay for a trip to WDW or for their extra offerings.

You make my point for me.

We were talking about the effectiveness of giving things away as a marketing technique, and the consumer's response to that. I think the need to eat every day makes one far more likely to come back and pay full price next time. And the fact that Disney is not a daily need makes one less likely to come back and pay full price for it the next time.

From a marketing and sales perspective, that's a problem.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

So, getting back to the original topic, does anyone know if this event is a success or failure? What about the early am event?

No. Not possible YET. Period.