PM EMH drops from THREE Hours to TWO Hours

[Colleen27]

Well said.

Last year it was the characters at EMH. (And if anyone wants to dredge up that thread, you'll notice I said "and in a year they're going to tell us that EMH just isn't that popular any more and cut back on that......" )

This year it's that extra hour of EMH. I have only ever stayed for that last hour one time, but it still makes me very uneasy to wonder what's next.

It used to be simple enough to find ways of working around the massive crowds Disney can attract. One by one they are eliminating those ways, I suppose all in the name of "efficiency". With the new Fantasyland Expansion coming on board, I had considered late night EMH as one of the ways to cope if the crowds were too big during the day. And yes, EMH still exists, but that last hour was the only one that seemed to make enough difference, especially in the off-season times we go.

Me too, and I think it should make fans uneasy even if they don't care about this cut because if they're cutting the last hour of the day based on lower attendance who's to say the first hour of the day is safe from that same axe? After all, it would also make sense not to have that super-slow first hour each morning, and to instead open the parks at 10am to better mesh with the vacation schedules of the majority of guests.

 

[vicki_c]

But some of us (me) don't care if they do away with all EMHs. Or free dining. Or a number of other things. Not to say there aren't thing that would bother me, but these aren't them.

 

[Phatoomch]

I do utilise EMH but I can't really protest about this because it just makes sense. There has to be a ton of wastage, especially power, in that last hour, a lot of manpower to look after so few people. After reading this thread and seeing how few people do utilise that last hour, my own personal pov is more comfortable with less waste

 

[Clare Voince]

I have to think that DVC and the dining plans are a contributing factor to many of the issues with declining quality and service at Disney. If you buy DVC, they know you're coming back for 30 years, whether there's EMH or not. If you get the dining plan and have a bad meal, you're not going to go offsite and lose your credits.

 

[tiki23]

I do utilise EMH but I can't really protest about this because it just makes sense. There has to be a ton of wastage, especially power, in that last hour, a lot of manpower to look after so few people. After reading this thread and seeing how few people do utilise that last hour, my own personal pov is more comfortable with less waste

When I was a kid and worked in retail and food service, oftentimes that slow last hour gave us the time to get a majority of our cleaning and restocking done. When it was busy, we would be there considerably longer after closing time to get the work done.

I think the same thing could be applied to power also; with all the work that goes on overnight at the parks, I don't know how much down time there is on the power, though I am sure there is a reduction when guests are gone. At least with the shop doors closed, the A/C won't have to work so hard!

 

[Scrooge Jr]

This makes my family very sad. We are one of the ones that took advantage of EMH evenings in Magic Kingdom every trip. We always stay until the end and some of my favorite memories in the park, were during that last hour. Lots of changes and not many of them positive for my family!

I agree!

 

[vacationer1954]

Disney always ADDS hours and events to the calendar as the actual dates get closer, so they might be adding PM EMH in Feb.

Stay tuned.

That makes sense.

That also explains why it always seems like things are being cut, because we're comparing our actual experience during our last vacation to the early plans for our next vacation.

 

[vacationer1954]

But some of us (me) don't care if they do away with all EMHs. Or free dining. Or a number of other things. Not to say there aren't thing that would bother me, but these aren't them.

I care about morning EMH. I remember when there was an early opening every day. I preferred the old system. I know a lot of people prefer the current system, with both early openings and late closings. Do they care about my disappointment? Probably not and that's okay. What matters is whether Disney cares, and hopefully they will consider my preferences over the preferences of the late night people a bit more, someday, reaching a better balance. What I would hate though is if they didn't keep trying different things, adding things and therefore also taking things away to make way for the new things.

 

[culli]

How many people are not going to go to Disney our stay off site because of the change? I hypothesize very few at best and a vast majority won't even notice or care about the change, so from a business stand point why not do it? If anything it will be one of those things that some people might think "hmmmm didn't they use to stay open for three hours a while back? Let me google it and find out.".

It is obvious just from the few people that use this hour at the parks this change will not be as negative as people are suggesting. This is a change that effects few people, saves money allowing them to allocate the expenses elsewhere.

Now I'm not suggesting some people won't be upset, but from a bang for their buck stand point those dollars could be used more efficiently. Put your business hat on for a second, everyone wants more but how is this more going to be paid for? Remember that businesses that don't make money...well they disappear. I prefer Disney to make money and reinvest wisely into their business.

Not to mention if for some reason they are wrong about their change it is pretty easy to add it back. "Due to overwhelming response to the EMHs in the evening and our desire to provide an extra magical experience for our on site guests we are going to once again provide 3 evening hours of extra magic!". This is worth trying from a business stand point, very little downside that can't easily be changed.

 

[Phatoomch]

When I was a kid and worked in retail and food service, oftentimes that slow last hour gave us the time to get a majority of our cleaning and restocking done. When it was busy, we would be there considerably longer after closing time to get the work done.

I think the same thing could be applied to power also; with all the work that goes on overnight at the parks, I don't know how much down time there is on the power, though I am sure there is a reduction when guests are gone. At least with the shop doors closed, the A/C won't have to work so hard!

Yes, I agree to an extent but there is a huge difference between a store & Disney running costs.

 

[ben1993]

I think this is hugely significant and fans should be slightly worried to be honest. Management can only cut away at the flesh so far before they start hitting bone.

 

[Andtototoo]

My dd and a family friend were both in the CP this year and worked at MK. They both talked about how empty the last hour of EMH was. I remember one time they said their rides averaged 5 people in one hour. What a waste of resources to keep those rides open.

 

[tiki23]

Yes, I agree to an extent but there is a huge difference between a store & Disney running costs.

The basics are the same; it's just on a much larger scale.

 

[KellyNY]

The basics are the same; it's just on a much larger scale.

And when we are talking about larger scale, we are talking about more savings, which is exactly what they do.

 

[tiki23]

And when we are talking about larger scale, we are talking about more savings, which is exactly what they do.

Larger scale doesn't necessarily mean a larger percentage point, but that's the kind of info that Disney keeps close to their vest when it has to do with Guest Services, especially when they are cutting said services.

 

[TLSnell1981]

More cuts in service and more price hikes. I understand, Disney is concentrating on the infrequent quest, they won't notice the changes. But, I'm shocked at the number of fanatics, not only accepting, but defending these constant "changes".

The Magic is slowly, but surely diminishing.

 

[culli]

More cuts in service and more price hikes. I understand, Disney is concentrating on the infrequent quest, they won't notice the changes. But, I'm shocked at the number of fanatics, not only accepting, but defending these constant "changes".

The Magic is slowly, but surely diminishing.

Not diminishing, just changing. Look at the parks today verses the past. Improvements have been made overall, things added that most people enjoy and things taken away that most people don't value.

 

[KellyNY]

Larger scale doesn't necessarily mean a larger percentage point, but that's the kind of info that Disney keeps close to their vest when it has to do with Guest Services, especially when they are cutting said services.

% maybe not, but $$ is. And only Disney knows how many taking advantage of this service, very possible it just not worth it and it is just a smart way to save money withot affecting much people.

 

[KellyNY]

More cuts in service and more price hikes. I understand, Disney is concentrating on the infrequent quest, they won't notice the changes. But, I'm shocked at the number of fanatics, not only accepting, but defending these constant "changes".

The Magic is slowly, but surely diminishing.

Because not all fans believe that sky is falling. Disney adds all the time, you go since forever, just write a list what was there on your first trip and what is there now and you will see.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Because not all fans believe that sky is falling. Disney adds all the time, you go since forever, just write a list what was there on your first trip and what is there now and you will see.

Or if your glass is half empty, write a list about what is missing since then...