PM EMH drops from THREE Hours to TWO Hours

[prfctlyximprfct]

Don't they want to keep people on site as much as possible? Not everyone goes to sleep at 9 PM on vacation. Disney needs to start rethinking their strategies if you ask me.

 

[Quin]

They did rethink. They want you to go to DTD and go to the movies or go bowling.

Bleah.

I am very bummed about the news. Since it is just DH and I now, we were going to take full advantage of some evening EMH next year, with late or non-park mornings scheduled for the next day.

 

[Praying Colonel]

From the WDW webpage describing FP (emphasis mine):

Each day, one of the 4 Walt Disney World theme parks opens one hour early or remains open up to 2 hours after regular closing time.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/plan/calendar/extramagichours/

 

[prfctlyximprfct]

They did rethink. They want you to go to DTD and go to the movies or go bowling.

Bleah.

I am very bummed about the news. Since it is just DH and I now, we were going to take full advantage of some evening EMH next year, with late or non-park mornings scheduled for the next day.

Stupid. Who wants to go bowling or to the movies when you can do that at home?

 

[girls]

Thanks for the update, Robo. I've been waiting! Am I right that the TA site hasn't been updated with the EMH info?

Thanks for the info, even if it's not great news.

 

[Colleen27]

Well, I guess this makes it easier for me to try offsite. Those 3am closings have been the main thing that's kept us onsite for the last two trips, even though as a family of 5 Bonnet Creek gives us WAY more bang for the buck.

I honestly can't fathom what's going on in the heads of WDW leadership right now. Rides close for months-long rehab and still don't work properly when reopened, the parks are more crowded than ever so they shorten hours, and prices go up, up, up. And I can't see how Xpass is supposed to be the new "premier" perk for on-site guests as some have speculated, because pre-reserved ride times + near-daily "technical difficulties" at multiple popular rides is a recipe for disaster, not the formula for something so great that it will make up for all the other cutbacks.

 

[papamouse1]

The reason this is such a big deal to me is that
the later the PM EMH, the fewer the guests, the more attraction rides per remaining guests.

The last hour was the "golden hour" of PM EMH.

 

[larryz]

And I can't see how Xpass is supposed to be the new "premier" perk for on-site guests as some have speculated, because pre-reserved ride times + near-daily "technical difficulties" at multiple popular rides is a recipe for disaster, not the formula for something so great that it will make up for all the other cutbacks.

Well, if EMH is cut back drastically (1/3), the only other major perk of staying on property is NexPass...

And don't get me wrong -- I'm not saying it'll make up for the cutbacks. But if the majority of people going are, as speculated in this thread, first timers, how will they know the difference?

 

[Colleen27]

Well, if EMH is cut back drastically (1/3), the only other major perk of staying on property is NexPass...

And don't get me wrong -- I'm not saying it'll make up for the cutbacks. But if the majority of people going are, as speculated in this thread, first timers, how will they know the difference?

Given the recent state of the parks? They'll know *something* isn't right when they show up for their pre-reserved time for one of the classic/marquee rides and the ride is unexpectedly closed. They might not know exactly how it used to be better but the shine of Xpass will diminish in a hurry when they find themselves waiting in long lines anyway because closures back up the FP/XP return and bring standby lines to a screeching halt.

If you read the EasyWDW blog, look at the most recent MK post... 4-5 rides closed for part of the day, at the busiest time of year, every one of them on the rumored list of Xpass attractions. Rumor and speculation about FP enforcement has been that Xpass will require much more accurate timing than the classic FP did, but that accurate timing can't be maintained when the rides aren't running for the expected number of hours.

I don't give a crap about napkins and am only annoyed in passing at the spread of uncomfortable QS seating to Liberty Square, but shorter hours and rides not working consistently are bigger issues than this fan is willing to overlook.

 

[Kat73]

What a shame. I really enjoyed getting to stay in Epcot so super late!

 

[mickeypedia]

I don't agree with this.....first they take EMH from Animal Kingdom....they raised prices with dining..(which is getting to the point that it doesn't pay to get it)....then Disney said they are getting back on the discounts that they are making....and now shortening the EMH hours....

 

[Phatoomch]

Guest Services is notoriously wrong ~ about anything you ask them.

LOL - one told me the other day to drop my PH and if I decided to hop just add an extra day to my base tix for $10 and use that ticket to enter

I'm disappointed they are dropping an hour but its not the end of the world. It doesn't make sense to keep a park open with such few people - thats really throwing money down the pan which we would be quick to criticise Disney for.

 

[jking6]

Between 2 and 3 am is one of my favorite times to be @ Disney. I love the extra magic hours. I am not happy about this decision at all. Itls a good thing I will be going to Disney 4 times this fall.

 

[bkoehl]

Evening EMH is the biggest reason I choose to stay on property. We get up early,leave for several hours in the afternoon and return after dinner to complete our day. Even well rested, being at a park all day is exhausting. The afternoon break/swim/nap makes a world of difference. When we were there over the Fourth I already noticed a cut in hours and EMH offerings. Waited forever for buses,much longer then I ever remember waiting. Now this. My son and I have done EMH hours often all the way until 3AM for many years now. It is our "bonding" time and there is nothing better then hanging at MK at night IMHO. I think Pete's idea that they will do it until we stopped coming is finally going to come to fruition for me. Will definitely think twice about staying on property now, especially with an AP as I get free parking anyway. Those new Next Gen FP better be pretty frickin' good or I may be voting with my feet (walking off property).

 

[ct_chris]

I am confident that Disney knows what % of WDW resort guests actually use the third hour and as others have stated this is clearly a cost benefit analysis. If only a few percentage of the WDW resort guests are using the last hour then as a business I would pull back and use my money for other areas such as next-gen infrastructure, fantasyland expansion, etc.
Also for those guests that are shouting they will stay off site now due to this, I am sure Disney has a long term plan, including preferred x-pass for resort guests which will make you reconsider saying off-site.

 

[mlittig]

I was so mad when they stopped the character interactions during EMH and now they are shortening the time I go in April and August when there are two Magic Kingdom evening EMH nights but now there looks like there will only be one Like all the rest here, not happy that it is more money and less for it

 

[disneydad78]

I dont understand why guests that have been multiple times still use EMH.
During value season, when FL kids , parents are still at work/school. They only parks that are full are the EMH. The other parks are WAY WAY less crowded. You can just about walk onto every ride. Yes you have less hrs in the park but you can do so much more by not going to a EMH park.

It does however bite that disney will be doing this. I dont think they should take away a perk like EMH. The extra evening hr means alot to people and why so many people choose to stay onsite.
ONE MORE REASON WE SHOULD ALL BOYCOTT,,lol like thats going to happen. When will we all take a stand? Stand up to the mouse,I cant he is just so dang cute with that smile and big ears!

 

[tenaseewalker]

I just don't think that as DVC owners, they'll actually believe our outrage!! As long as we keep our contracts, we're coming back! They know it. They're counting on it with the sales of GF villas.

I can honestly say that we stay on-site at Disneyworld on every trip because we are DVC members but not all my money stays at Disney World. I rent a vehicle every time. I won't eat on site (their food isn't as tasty as it use to be and with their prices as high as they are, it's not worth it). When the parks close up early, I go to Universal Studios (City Walk), anything is better then going to bed at 9pm. I would go to DTD but the only thing to do there is shop and I dont need to shop 24/7.
Things have been changing at Disney for a long time and it isnt for the better. Maybe one day the big wigs in Disney will see that happy customers are returning customers. Returning customers end up as Disney addicts. Disney Addicts end up coming back 5 times a year WITH FRIENDS.
Keep taking everything away and the Disney Addicts won't return.

 

[Phatoomch]

I am confident that Disney knows what % of WDW resort guests actually use the third hour and as others have stated this is clearly a cost benefit analysis. If only a few percentage of the WDW resort guests are using the last hour then as a business I would pull back and use my money for other areas such as next-gen infrastructure, fantasyland expansion, etc.
Also for those guests that are shouting they will stay off site now due to this, I am sure Disney has a long term plan, including preferred x-pass for resort guests which will make you reconsider saying off-site.

Agree. If that 3rd hour was worth it, it wouldn't be going.

One hour less park time is not a big enough reason for me to stay offsite - I don't go only for the EMH/FPs/Napkins yadda yadda yadda, I go for bigger reasons than that

 

[andyman8]

I have done a bit of "investigative research" (and put a lot of thought into this) and came up with this article about the actual effect of the reduction of Evening EMH. Let me know if you disagree with me about any of it or you think there is something I need to add. I really want to hear your suggestions and opinions. Comment on this thread, PM me, or email me at disneyparksplanning@aol.com! Here's the link:

http://www.disneyparksplanning.com/eveningextramagichour.htm