Today (4/30) early morning magic report

[bcrook]

DH and I were talking about this, and we would have done the Early morning thing IF they offered a Mountain package.... While Pooh and PP are cute, they don't hold enough interest for us to ride over and over. If we could do 7DMT, Space, BTMRR (or even Splash but I don't think I want to start the day wet) that would be great fun for us and free up FP selections for the day...

I wonder if it really frees up any FP+ for 7dmt, I wonder people who rode during extra morning hours still kept their FP for 7:30 pm? Hmmmmm? Inquiring minds want to know.

There is another way to loosen up the FP crunch... Keep the park open longer for everyone. That helps a lot too.

 

[kellya222]

Your daughter is so cute and I'm glad you had a wonderful experience! Do you all think Disney can continue this with such small numbers? I can't imagine that this was profitable if the numbers are as low as they appear to be.

 

[3smithboys]

I wonder if it really frees up any FP+ for 7dmt, I wonder people who rode during extra morning hours still kept their FP for 7:30 pm? Hmmmmm? Inquiring minds want to know.

There is another way to loosen up the FP crunch... Keep the park open longer for everyone. That helps a lot too.

I'm not sure if people would hold onto them or not.... DH and I have not been back to DW since FP+... and this is out 1st trip without kids. However, IF I was going to the Early Morning thing with DH and riding 7DMT over and over, I would not be FP it later in the day because there are many other things I want to ride in MK that take FP. Since we have never been on 7DMT before, I am using one of my 3 on that now.

We considered going to the early morning thing at first because our MK day was planned for a Tuesday. When we looked at the rides that were offered, they just don't appeal to us to go on over and over - not worth it what we enjoy. We switched our MK day to Thursday.

 

[bcrook]

I'm not sure if people would hold onto them or not.... DH and I have not been back to DW since FP+... and this is out 1st trip without kids. However, IF I was going to the Early Morning thing with DH and riding 7DMT over and over, I would not be FP it later in the day because there are many other things I want to ride in MK that take FP. Since we have never been on 7DMT before, I am using one of my 3 on that now.

We considered going to the early morning thing at first because our MK day was planned for a Tuesday. When we looked at the rides that were offered, they just don't appeal to us to go on over and over - not worth it what we enjoy. We switched our MK day to Thursday.

Regular Rope drop is still very useful for Adventureland and Frontierland.

Fantasyland is a madhouse from 8:00am until close. Except for the Little Mermaid Ride, that is empty often.

 

[3smithboys]

Regular Rope drop is still very useful for Adventureland and Frontierland.

Fantasyland is a madhouse from 8:00am until close. Except for the Little Mermaid Ride, that is empty often.

Thanks! This is going to be our plan..... We've never done it this way before... we've always going to Space, Buzz, then Fantasyland....

 

[Iowamomof4]

If we were able to take advantage of EMM, we would probably stay at MK until around 11 or 12 and then hop to a different park where we would have our fastpasses scheduled for the afternoon.

 

[bcrook]

If we were able to take advantage of EMM, we would probably stay at MK until around 11 or 12 and then hop to a different park where we would have our fastpasses scheduled for the afternoon.

I'm not sure I could afford both Hoppers and Extra Morning Hours.

 

[Iowamomof4]

I'm not sure I could afford both Hoppers and Extra Morning Hours.

No worries then, with the small capacity of EMM I don't believe it will have near the impact at the park that regular EMH does.

 

[redsbe]

Riding any ride several times in a sequence, certainly not 7DM, PP or Pooh, and overpriced breakfast is not appealing to us and certainly not worth the extra $60-70 per person on top of park tickets. And yes we like all those rides and likely ride a few times during our visit, but over and over again is no fun. But as long as WDW keeps ticket #s low, and people enjoy those three rides enough, and one hour of a mostly empty park, then they can pay the extra and enjoy, their choice. Frankly Disney Corp continuing to add extra cost added park hour events is disappointing in the sense that we pay enough to experience the regular hours and if anything more extended free EMH would be better benefit for all of us. But I get it WDW looking to add to the profit line with these.

 

[revdon64]

Seems you're hoping for it to fail. Question is, why?

Not hoping, but fully expecting it to change. They'll sell more tickets as word gets out, until it'started just like the other hard ticket events. Crowds up, quality of experience down. Why do I expect that? Because I don't believe that Disney has the capacity to learn from their mistakes right now. At least they haven't demonstrated that capacity.

 

[pmaurer74]

I wonder if it really frees up any FP+ for 7dmt, I wonder people who rode during extra morning hours still kept their FP for 7:30 pm? Hmmmmm? Inquiring minds want to know.

There is another way to loosen up the FP crunch... Keep the park open longer for everyone. That helps a lot too.

If we go, I will be letting go my mine train Fps

 

[Nancyg56]

It's nice that this worked for the OP...............but I agree with Disneyliscious, to me much of the joy of the Magic Kingdom isn't in the emptiness. Now for some that emptiness is a plus..........but not for me. I'm fine with the way the park looks for EMH as they have\currently are run. I also don't need to do 7DMT more than twice in a day.......but that's me. Curious that there's only 25 groups signed up. What did that amount to? Disney won't extend this if they can't make money at it..........doesn't appear (based on the OP's statement) that many are taking advantage..........could be that Disney isn't promoting it. Maybe its the cost $69/per plus a regular admission is a bunch for just a couple of rides. The argument for the late night event seems better given almost all rides are available.

Hey I'm glad the OP had fun and her daughter loved it. If you want to ride 7DMT multiple times..........it may be worth it to you...........It's not something I'd pay extra for............

Doug

I don't pay extra for the dessert parties, etc, but if this package was offered in Epcot with Soarin and the new Frozen attractions included, as well as food and perhaps a M&G with A&E, I'm all over it.

I think that when we talk about these events we tend to personalize them and decide if in total, they have value. When we say no, that really means they have no value for me. This one has no value for me, but I think that hat foe many, it will be a positive experience.

I don't think it is a stretch to understand why this isn't good for a LOT of people. For everyone staying off site, this could mean 3 days a week that MK is not a good place to start off your day. If it becomes popular and spreads to other parks, it just makes it much more difficult to access the parks without paying a hefty additional fee on top of the already expensive park tickets.

I'm not as sure that these events wil adversely affect many people. Now if they reduce the cost, especially of the evening event, that may be a problem.

I'm not sure I could afford both Hoppers and Extra Morning Hours.

WE go through this dilemma every trip. Party or hoppers? Hoppers or tour? No hoppers, no tours and no party? DInner show? Each season presents challenges in terms of trimming and adding. TO have an unlimited budget!!!!!!

 

[nilla]

Seems you're hoping for it to fail. Question is, why?

I don't know that it's "hoping" as much as it is "expecting". How long do you think Disney will keep it available if it's only being purchased by 40-50 people a day?

It sounds like it would be an awesome experience, but I think that's why some might think Disney will eventually oversell it.

 

[nilla]

I don't think it is a stretch to understand why this isn't good for a LOT of people. For everyone staying off site, this could mean 3 days a week that MK is not a good place to start off your day. If it becomes popular and spreads to other parks, it just makes it much more difficult to access the parks without paying a hefty additional fee on top of the already expensive park tickets.

Not sure I follow. Why would 40-50 people hitting 7DMT, PP, and Winnie the Pooh before the regular park opening make MK not a good place to start off your day for guests staying offsite?

 

[mshanson3121]

Great review!

Funny to think about how many people scoffed at this event and even criticized Disney for it. I've read nothing but great reviews regarding it.

My initial response was that of a money-grabber, but once I stopped and thought about it, I 100% think it's great, and if they're still offering them next summer, I can definitely see us doing one!

 

[revdon64]

My initial response was that of a money-grabber, but once I stopped and thought about it, I 100% think it's great, and if they're still offering them next summer, I can definitely see us doing one!

If they're still offering this next summer, I'll 100% guarantee that you will not have the same experience as OP. There is no way in the world that this is making money with only fifty families or so attending. Either it's a monetary bust and they discontinue it, or it gets popular and they sell a lot more tickets and make money. Either way, what OP experienced is the second day of a new event that a lot of people didn't think was going to be worth it. That it seems "worth it" now does not reflect what it will be next year, if it even exists next year.

 

[tlmadden73]

Great report.

What the skeptics seem to ignore is that people are willing to pay for the experience of that "emptiness". We've all heard (and seen) that there is no slow time at WDW anymore. So that is what Disney is selling here. Not just a breakfast .. not just the ability to have no wait on three rides .. but the ability to be in the park when it is NOT crowded. To walk down Mainstreet and take it in .. to RUN around Fantasyland like your child.

Unlike some of the skeptics above, I think that Disney CAN'T really make this bigger than a small number of families since they are serving breakfast. There are only so many families they can serve without that breakfast becoming chaos. Sure .. this may get slightly more people going as word gets out, but I don't see it being "packed".

What I think they WILL do is instead of increasing capacity they will just make more versions of this in different lands.
I think this is a test for the upcoming lands.
I guarantee people will LINE UP for the opportunity to pay for an Early Morning Magic in AK and DHS ----> to go on Pandora rides, Star Wars rides or Toy Story rides since the wait times of those new attractions will be through the roof during the regular hours.

This is essentially paying for three free fast passes and getting a breakfast AND getting to enjoy a quiet and not very crowded park.
Well worth it for small groups.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I see a slippery slope.

Paying extra doesn't = more time in the park, it usually just means paying more for the same number of hours.

So how long did the OP last on the PM end, or until she left MK to nap?

Guests only last an average X number of hours per day, and Disney knows the numbers very well.

Paying extra doesn't give guests extra endurance. It might raise the quality of your time, but not always.

I have long reported that WDW's peripheral hours are less crowded.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I can totally see this being a good thing to do on a day when the MK closes early for a party. I don't know if this will become a permanent thing, but it would be worth it for those days.

ETA: worth it for SOME. I would consider it for my small family of 2 adults and 1 child if it were available next year.

 

[Eastern]

If they're still offering this next summer, I'll 100% guarantee that you will not have the same experience as OP. There is no way in the world that this is making money with only fifty families or so attending. Either it's a monetary bust and they discontinue it, or it gets popular and they sell a lot more tickets and make money. Either way, what OP experienced is the second day of a new event that a lot of people didn't think was going to be worth it. That it seems "worth it" now does not reflect what it will be next year, if it even exists next year.

I totally agree. Disney tries to ring the last penny out of every thing they do; this should not be any different.