PM EMH drops from THREE Hours to TWO Hours

[fan1080]

Arghhhhhhhh........

I'm not even going back to disney for a few years yet, and this change has me frustrated!!! lolololol

 

[GreenCntryGirl]

I was looking off site and my hotel choice was a bit cheaper but the EMH was what was going to send me to onsite. ::: sigh :::

 

[mom2princesses2]

I'm not happy about the reduction of EMHs but I would rather them make this type of cut than increase prices even more.

 

[teddygurl28]

im really sad to see this happen. we always go in september when park hours close pretty early anyways, i havent seen a 3am closing since i went in 2008- and it clearly wasnt needed, since by 3am i think there were 7 people in the magic kingdom, but i loved it!

if disney is doing this, after they have closed pleasure island and increased the cost of jelly rolls, they really should be concidering what there is to do at night at the area. As of right now its just my husband and I, and while I know disney is a family destination, they should also be thinking of the adult only travelers. Makes me concider splitting my stay and maybe taking in some time at universal for city walk (even though i know i could never really do that to disney)


on the flip side, hasnt EMH always been listed as being open "up to an additional 3 hours" so in a way they are just enforcing that UP TO part and making it 2. Kind of like the Fastpass enforcement....

 

[disneyfantotheend]

Too many cutbacks and too many increases in price

 

[goofy4tink]

Ok....back about 12 years, we had E-Nights. You could buy an extra 3 (?) hrs in the MK for about $10 pp. Then, Disney took it away, saying that guests wanted more character interaction, so they started character caravans at the resorts early in the mornings. Ok, that was a big dud. So, they stopped that and instituted EMHs. All while upping park pass costs. They have stopped any park specific merchandise (pretty much anyway), not much resort specific stuff (although that may be changing), they have started selling many, many more tickets to the special parties while taking away many of the usual discounts that used to be available, holiday decor has been dwindling over the years (Lights of Winter is a huge loss to many). Buses are less frequent. Food costs have gone up, quality (in many areas) has gone down. It used to be that each restaurant had something really special about it..not so much anymore. Portion sizes have gotten a lot smaller.
Now? Shorter evening EMHs. Yes, it's only an hour. But really??? When a park closes early to begin with, an hour less is a biggish deal.

I get that Disney is a business...I really do. And I have always tried to understand what Disney does. But now??? They seem to be getting carried away with that bottom line. Yes, they should make a profit. But, there just seems to be so much cost cutting now.
I may have to start looking at offsite accommodations. I own DVC but there are times when I like to stay at a regular resort....looks like that may very well be an offsite resort for me. The benefits of staying onsite are just not all that terrific anymore.

 

[elaine amj]

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.

Which is why, IMHO, they are shortening them to 2 hours. I also think this is the same reason for all the "early" Saturday closings at MK this summer in comparison to past years. Why keep the park open for so few guests?

I am NOT happy

agree this is likely why. I raraely do EMH as I like my kids to be well rested - but still annoyed. The only reason to do EMH is that last hour. Otherwise with the massive number of on-site guests, EMH is just not worth it.

 

[spacemountainmom]

Consider me in the "I don't like this" camp. We usually travel in January and love being in the parks late. The prices continue to climb and the services are being reduced.

At what point in Disney shooting themselves in the foot?

 

[LaurieN]

It's called a cost-benefit analysis. Is it worth the costs of staff, power, and other things for the parks to be open when you have such a decrease in crowds? As you said, the later the PM EMH, the fewer the crowds. As such, they have a large number of staff (and a large amount of costs) for a very small group of people that is not really spending additional money.

Honestly, it doesn't bug me at all, but I don't do EMH. I stay onsite for another reasons.

This was my initial thought too. With so few people taking advantage of that last hour the cost of being open must be far greater than the profit!

Don't get me wrong, I feel bad for all who take advantage of the late night hours (I would LOVE to be at MK at 2:00am) but I do see why they would do such a thing. My family goes at a slower time of the year, so the late hours are 8:00 - 11:00 and aside from MVMCP we've never been in MK past 10:00 (but that's just us).

Laurie

 

[gator girl]

Oh! The Lights of Winter references! Like a dagger to the heart!!

 

[mickeysgirl17]

Oh! The Lights of Winter references! Like a dagger to the heart!!

I know!!!

 

[baler31]

I know!!!

My kids look at our pictures of that all the time and miss it greatly.

I don't think this is a direct response to any current financial situation within Disney. Rather another way to trim expenses in response to the current economic climate.

I still belive this is entering a phase out period for EMH until another program is put in place that may generate more revenue.

 

[Cafeen]

My kids look at our pictures of that all the time and miss it greatly.

I don't think this is a direct response to any current financial situation within Disney. Rather another way to trim expenses in response to the current economic climate.

I still belive this is entering a phase out period for EMH until another program is put in place that may generate more revenue.

EMH+ or XMH perhaps? Now you can pay us for what you used to be able to do for free*!

*Technically, we never gave it to you for free, it was rolled in with your resort stay, so now, for convenience, you can now decide to pay to use this perk or not pay to not use it. Of course, we're not lowering costs even though you no longer have access to it, we spent it on Mickey Bars and Dave's new hat, sorry. (And for us, not you!)

 

[AuntBJ]

It's called a cost-benefit analysis. Is it worth the costs of staff, power, and other things for the parks to be open when you have such a decrease in crowds? As you said, the later the PM EMH, the fewer the crowds. As such, they have a large number of staff (and a large amount of costs) for a very small group of people that is not really spending additional money.

But the true benefit to Disney is not necessarily the actual revenue generated by those in the park that last hour but their increased revenue overall from those staying onsite. For example, one of the main enticements I have mentioned to convince several families to stay on-site and to dedicate their vacation to visiting Disney Parks only is EMH. Most do not actually utilize all of the EMH available but it is an enticement none the less.

 

[fbb]

My kids look at our pictures of that all the time and miss it greatly.

I don't think this is a direct response to any current financial situation within Disney. Rather another way to trim expenses in response to the current economic climate.

I still belive this is entering a phase out period for EMH until another program is put in place that may generate more revenue.

Like the LoW, the third EMH became obsolete.

 

[OneBadApple]

Even though we have never fully taken advantage of all 3 extra hours, it was nice knowing it was available and one of the reasons we stay on-site.

 

[DebbieB]

When it first came out, didn't they advertise it as "at least one hour"?

I checked the website, they have already changed it to "up to 2 hours".

Extra Magic Hours

Extended Disney park hours, known as Extra Magic Hours, offer a rare and unique opportunity to enjoy additional time in Walt Disney World parks—above and beyond the standard operating schedule—at no extra charge. This special perk is offered to Guests of select Walt Disney World Resort hotels, and Residents and Guests of Golden Oak.

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. Additionally, Disney Water Parks offer Extra Magic Hours during select times of year.

 

[DVC92]

Having just returned from 12 nights that overlapped the 4th of July, I can attest to the fact the parks are not as crowded as in the past, particularly for summer. Even before EMH started, you could walk on or have a minimal wait for many rides that were always difficult to get on until an hour into EMH. If it weren't for all the South American tour groups, the park traffic would have been very slow. I believe the economy is taking its toll.

 

[Mindy5767]

More cutbacks.

I swear, Disney cannot be doing very well financially.

Not according to my Broker at Edward Jones. We added lots of Disney stock to my IRA, and my broker keeps me up on how my stock is doing.. and its been doing well.

Too many cutbacks and too many increases in price

What does Pete Werner always say on the podcast? As long we we're willing to keep going back, despite our grumblings, it'll keep happening.

What does make me wonder, is the fact that, these things are happening when Disney obviously needs to fill empty rooms. If they didn't have unsold inventory or slow selling inventory, they would not keep trying to entice people with free-dining and up to 30% off room-only etc etc. This change will not serve to fill rooms.

My own observation, is that in the summer, when MK is already open til 11pm or 12am... I personally do not need that extra 3 hours. But, when I was a teenager, it would have been perfect. When a park closes before 10pm, it needs late EMH. But even the people who think that the change will not effect them because they don't do late EMH will be effected because those later hours take some crowd and move them to the later hour. I know that personally, if AK is going to close at 6 or 7 and they offer a late EMH for 9 or 10... I'm going to go to that park, but I may not arrive until 4pm. Therefore I am not there adding to the crowds in the early hours. This is what will happen. I really miss the late EMH at AK because it was the perfect time to ride Kali over and over and get soaked because I can then just leave and go back to my resort happy!! Now I probably will not ride because I don't have room for being soaked in my schedule.

 

[kerplop]

We're rope dropers or close to, so we didn't use EMH at all. That doesn't mean I can't be frustrated on others' behalves!