So mad- Star Wars event messing up my Dining Reservations!

[rapunzel3]

So, we are in Disney April 12-16. Back in October we set up our dining reservations at 180 days out, and since we don't get the Park Hopper option, decided which days we go to which parks. My kids love Star Wars, so they've been looking forward to Jedi training, SW fireworks at night, etc. I have a Sci-Fi reservation at 6:10pm. Lined up our Fast Pass Plus too.
So today I find this -
http://wdwnt.com/blog/2017/01/disneys-hollywood-studios-hold-one-night-hours-star-wars-event-april/

Soo... not only will we be kicked out of the park at 7 pm unless we pay $129 per person (not happening), won't be able to go to our dinner reservation at SciFi, but also no star wars fireworks. Not sure if we'll get to do jedi training in the morning due to the crazed SW fans there all day probably.
And it's to late to change our days around because I have dining reservations set up for the other days, and cant get SciFi for any other day. I'm so annoyed! Disney didn't even think to notify me, when I've had this dinner reservation since October, and this is announced in January. Such a huge disappointment!

 

[mom2rtk]

Are you sure you will be kicked out? For other hard ticket parties if you have a dining time prior to park closing you get to stay, then are escorted to the exit when done eating. I would double check. Although you're right, you won't get to stay for fireworks. I'd be disappointed with that for sure.

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

You should be able to keep Sci Fi! The last ADR for hard ticketed nights has been 6:10 - 6:15, so you should still be good!
Don't change it or d/c it yet.
I totally understand your angst. Disney is like the weather in New England, wait a minute and it will change!
And "the crazed Star Wars fans" probably won't be there at rope drop to sign up for Jedi training. I believe you will have no problem signing up for that if you're there prior to RD, which is the same time you would have had to show up even without the party.
The party will not allow ticket holders in until 4 pm, so you actually should have a good day at HS...
I know you're disappointed about the fireworks, that does suck, but you can still salvage your day!

 

[rapunzel3]

I'm not canceling it yet, but trying to switch around with one other day. Yes the fact that we won't be able to stay for SW fireworks is a huge disappointment... would be more important than the SciFi reservation I think! We could always just try for SCIFI last minute instead. Plus HS will just probably be packed all day with SW fans who can afford the 7pm ticket which will be annoying.

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

I'm not canceling it yet, but trying to switch around with one other day. Yes the fact that we won't be able to stay for SW fireworks is a huge disappointment... would be more important than the SciFi reservation I think! We could always just try for SCIFI last minute instead. Plus HS will just probably be packed all day with SW fans who can afford the 7pm ticket which will be annoying.

Actually, again I've been to many many ticketed events and most commonly the day of is low crowds, r/t the early closing time. It does NOT get busy until the 4 pm - 7 pm time when both crowds are there. Very few people come to the park all day and then stay until midnight for the hard ticket event.
We have experienced extremely short wait times from 9am until 4 pm.
I do understand your disappointment! But if you are unable to switch your plans around, know that you will probably not be packed in like a sardine. most folks don't want to pay for a park ticket PLUS a hard ticket, ouch!
Good luck on your quest! May tge force be with you!

 

[rapunzel3]

Thank you, great point!

 

[CarrieR]

Were the fireworks on the schedule prior to this event? If so, I might drop a line to the guest relations email with your disappointment/frustration. Maybe they can add park hopper to your tix so that you can hop over to see them another night.

Moreover, they need to hear feedback that when they encourage us, as guests, to plan six months out, they cannot change the playing field at T minus sixty days! It feels like it's been happening more and more lately... and it's for the birds! Ridiculous.

 

[wilkeliza]

The event was announced at least a month ago if not two. If they haven't cancelled your reservation yet they most likely won't. I believe the fireworks hadn't been on the schedule that's why many people had speculated at that date.

The special event ticket doesn't work until 5 (possible 4 I would have to check ours) and most of us "crazed fans" as you so nicely put it will be over at the convention center until then so no need to worry about slammed crowds in the morning.

 

[wilkeliza]

Were the fireworks on the schedule prior to this event? If so, I might drop a line to the guest relations email with your disappointment/frustration. Maybe they can add park hopper to your tix so that you can hop over to see them another night.

Moreover, they need to hear feedback that when they encourage us, as guests, to plan six months out, they cannot change the playing field at T minus sixty days! It feels like it's been happening more and more lately... and it's for the birds! Ridiculous.

This definitly was on the schedule before the 60 days. I got my tickets before our 60 day FP window so it had to have been at least a month ago that they announced it if not 2.

 

[CarrieR]

Thanks, Eliza! The way OP's post read is that it was something that was just announced. Knowing there was a bit more lead time changes my opinion slightly.

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

Were the fireworks on the schedule prior to this event? If so, I might drop a line to the guest relations email with your disappointment/frustration. Maybe they can add park hopper to your tix so that you can hop over to see them another night.

Moreover, they need to hear feedback that when they encourage us, as guests, to plan six months out, they cannot change the playing field at T minus sixty days! It feels like it's been happening more and more lately... and it's for the birds! Ridiculous.

Such a good idea! and Disney is all about customer service!

 

[wilkeliza]

Thanks, Eliza! The way OP's post read is that it was something that was just announced. Knowing there was a bit more lead time changes my opinion slightly.

No problem. Double checked and the announcement was January 11 so 60 days for that time period wasn't until February so when the OP made FP they would have known DHS closed at 7 and no fireworks were on the schedule.

 

[rapunzel3]

Yes I am aware that the announcement was made on January 11. I did not find out about it until last week. I have a lot of things going on with my life and don't log on to Disney World or these boards very often. I made my dining reservations in October, 180 days out, and wasn't checking on Disney news etc.
Yes, I did email Disney customer service expressing my disappointment. The only response I got was a person telling me that we will still be allowed to stay and eat there for our 6:10 reservation. We're not interested in keeping it though... we just want to be able to have the option of staying at DHS that night if we want. Not doing park hopper and not paying $650 to stay. It's fine, we actually are just switching a day and it's not as annoying as I thought. If we don't eat at Sci-Fi this trip, it's ok.

 

[nikkispurrell]

Yes I am aware that the announcement was made on January 11. I did not find out about it until last week. I have a lot of things going on with my life and don't log on to Disney World or these boards very often. I made my dining reservations in October, 180 days out, and wasn't checking on Disney news etc.
Yes, I did email Disney customer service expressing my disappointment. The only response I got was a person telling me that we will still be allowed to stay and eat there for our 6:10 reservation. We're not interested in keeping it though... we just want to be able to have the option of staying at DHS that night if we want. Not doing park hopper and not paying $650 to stay. It's fine, we actually are just switching a day and it's not as annoying as I thought. If we don't eat at Sci-Fi this trip, it's ok.

How would you even know that was happening unless they specifically told you? That is really unfair. Unless an email or alert came through my email I would never know about something like that. Is there somewhere we can check for this type of information? I'd like to know my days are going to go as planned

 

[wilkeliza]

How would you even know that was happening unless they specifically told you? That is really unfair. Unless an email or alert came through my email I would never know about something like that. Is there somewhere we can check for this type of information? I'd like to know my days are going to go as planned

Disney parks blog is the official source. You can also check the scheduled hours. Once these types of events are announced the park hours for the day will show as special ticketed event if there is one. So it may say something like extra magic hours 8am-9am park hours 9am-7pm special ticketed event 7pm-12am. So the park hours open to just a normal ticket would be 9am-7pm EMH is for on site guests and Special ticket is an extra cost.

 

[rapunzel3]

Right - I would have appreciated an email alert or something. I had the ADR for that date, you would think they would alert us somehow. I just didn't look at any disney stuff for a while, until last week. Of course when we booked and whenwe made our dining reservations, I had looked at the park hours etc. They added it on 3 months out (January for an April event). Annoying.

 

[maxiesmom]

Right - I would have appreciated an email alert or something. I had the ADR for that date, you would think they would alert us somehow. I just didn't look at any disney stuff for a while, until last week. Of course when we booked and whenwe made our dining reservations, I had looked at the park hours etc. They added it on 3 months out (January for an April event). Annoying.

Why would they alert you when it doesn't affect your ADR?

As an fyi to those who may not be aware, everything is subject to change at Disney World. They change park hours all the time, they add events too. You really do have to keep checking if you feel the need to keep a handle on things.

 

[Roxyfire]

Right - I would have appreciated an email alert or something. I had the ADR for that date, you would think they would alert us somehow. I just didn't look at any disney stuff for a while, until last week. Of course when we booked and whenwe made our dining reservations, I had looked at the park hours etc. They added it on 3 months out (January for an April event). Annoying.

Yeah you will be able to stay unless they call you and say there's an adjustment in hours. This happened to me around June of last year. I had scheduled an evening ADR in October at Sci Fi and someone from Disney Dining called me. A private event was planned for the night I was going to be at DHS and they had to cancel everyone's reservations. They were very nice and allowed me to pick another night. Coincidentally, this night happened to be the evening WDW closed early for Hurricane Matthew and the next day everything was closed (except Disney Springs). I always wondered what happened with that event...

But back to my point, if your ADR was not ok, they would have called you to reschedule and you could have your pick of times. Now for the fireworks, that truly is a bummer. No way around it. Hopefully you can fit those in somewhere else.

 

[nikkispurrell]

Why would they alert you when it doesn't affect your ADR?

As an fyi to those who may not be aware, everything is subject to change at Disney World. They change park hours all the time, they add events too. You really do have to keep checking if you feel the need to keep a handle on things.

They should alert you because if you have a dinner ADR I think it's a fair assumption that most people follow that up with fireworks. I very rarely complain about Disney - I think their service is excellent. However some people are paying $10,000+ to visit at a park per day. Many plan months in advance, wake early to obtain ADR's and FP's to fit the schedule for the park. Simply switching and deciding you cannot attend fireworks is unfair.

 

[maxiesmom]

They should alert you because if you have a dinner ADR I think it's a fair assumption that most people follow that up with fireworks. I very rarely complain about Disney - I think their service is excellent. However some people are paying $10,000+ to visit at a park per day. Many plan months in advance, wake early to obtain ADR's and FP's to fit the schedule for the park. Simply switching and deciding you cannot attend fireworks is unfair.

It may not be fair, but it has been that way for years and years. I have to disagree about them calling every time there is a change too. They have no idea what your plans are, they don't have hundreds of people to call guests every time there is a change. At least now with boards such as this one it is much easier to find and keep track of changes. I've been at the parks when hours have changed without notice. Gotta stay on the ball.