Villians Sinister Soirée

[Angel Ariel]

1) $60ish for the 2013 MNSSHP experience OR
2) $160ish for the 2014 MNSSHP + soirée experience

Choice #1, hands down. We were dressed as Rapunzel (me), Flynn (DH), Pascal (15 month old DD), and Rapunzel's parents (my parents).

Meeting Flynn and Rapunzel was, without question, the best part of the night. Their reaction to our little Pascal was priceless. They don't sell Pascal costume patterns..my mom created it herself, and we got comments on DD all night long. Every character we saw was enthralled with her.
The night would have been greatly diminished without that experience.

 

[aaarcher86]

This is a great point. They make you pay the $70 for the basic MNSSHP admission, and another $99 for the VSS, but the people who go to the VSS won't really receive much value from their base ticket. After one congregates in the meeting area, watches the fireworks from a sub-par location, moves into the Soiree, enjoys that, and makes their way out, there isn't really much time left to walk around the park, enjoy the decorations, meet characters, ride rides, etc. To get the full MNSSHP experience, one would have to buy a second ticket for a different night. $70+$99+$70 per person. See above. While the time in the Castle might only be an hour or so, the total time devoted to this event sucks most of the time out of the main event, for which you have paid $70. I think that is what he was trying to convey, and the reason why aaarcher86 has bought a second night's admission for her family.

Don't forget the parade.

I'll have the parade, then fireworks, then the soirée. So an hour or so before all that and 35 min afterwards for regular party stuff.

 

[ChanFO]

After reading through all of this, I have come down pretty firmly on the side of it being OK for these premium parties to be offered. It does not personally sound like something I would book given my budget and general lack of interest in getting one-on-one time with a character, but it seems like an extremely valuable experience to those that really feel like that is a priority to them.

It seems like Disney has realized that certain characters have value and have priced them appropriately to demand, given all the fuss about them. If there was a character that I really loved at one of these parties, then I guess it would be up to me to see if I loved them enough to pay for the experience!

 

[aaarcher86]

I understand. If I was only attending MNSSHP I would not care at all about the changes, personally -- so subjective, and depends so much on why we each buy a party ticket to begin with. Curious about something... knowing all what you know now, would you choose -- IF it were possible to pick between these two offerings (which it obviously isn't now!): 1) $60ish for the 2013 MNSSHP experience OR 2) $160ish for the 2014 MNSSHP + soirée experience

$60ish for the 2013 experience - no question. The desserts and free cup don't equate to $100 value at all, IMO.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Another question, especially for those who would choose 1)...

A) Are you going to take a gamble and buy a MNSSHP for 2015??

B) If no, would you have if they had left their offering unchanged this year?

I know some will say NO and YES for sure, but I'm really curious...

 

[Angel Ariel]

After reading through all of this, I have come down pretty firmly on the side of it being OK for these premium parties to be offered. It does not personally sound like something I would book given my budget and general lack of interest in getting one-on-one time with a character, but it seems like an extremely valuable experience to those that really feel like that is a priority to them.

It seems like Disney has realized that certain characters have value and have priced them appropriately to demand, given all the fuss about them. If there was a character that I really loved at one of these parties, then I guess it would be up to me to see if I loved them enough to pay for the experience!

I don't care about them offering premium experiences. I care about them *taking away from the base experience* in order to offer the premium experience. Offer the premium without diminishing the base, and I don't have an issue.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Choice #1, hands down. We were dressed as Rapunzel (me), Flynn (DH), Pascal (15 month old DD), and Rapunzel's parents (my parents).

Meeting Flynn and Rapunzel was, without question, the best part of the night. Their reaction to our little Pascal was priceless. They don't sell Pascal costume patterns..my mom created it herself, and we got comments on DD all night long. Every character we saw was enthralled with her.
The night would have been greatly diminished without that experience.

This sounds so cool!!

 

[tiriggs1]

IMO, telling people that their complaints or concerns place them in the minority is very dismissive.

Every time I read a post where someone says that people who think like XYZ are probably in the minority, I want to scream.

Agree. Everyone has their own concerns, opinions, and experiences.

 

[tiriggs1]

I understand. If I was only attending MNSSHP I would not care at all about the changes, personally -- so subjective, and depends so much on why we each buy a party ticket to begin with.

Curious about something... knowing all what you know now, would you choose -- IF it were possible to pick between these two offerings (which it obviously isn't now!):

1) $60ish for the 2013 MNSSHP experience OR
2) $160ish for the 2014 MNSSHP + soirée experience

We were there last year. I choose the 2014 MNSSHP+soirée

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Agree. Everyone has their own concerns, opinions, and experiences.

Yes, of course. All valid. But when Disney makes decisions, they look at what the majority will think. They have to. And on net they must do this right to survive. We probably agree on that front, I'd guess!

 

[tiriggs1]

I don't think that's dismissive at all. There are plenty of places where my view is in the minority. Doesn't make it less valid TO ME, but it does have bearing on whether a change is ultimately seen as significant or not OVERALL.

Agree!

 

[aaarcher86]

Another question, especially for those who would choose 1)... A) Are you going to take a gamble and buy a MNSSHP for 2015?? B) If no, would you have if they had left their offering unchanged this year? I know some will say NO and YES for sure, but I'm really curious...

I can't answer honestly until I go to this years MNSSHP since I've never been. But after meeting all the rare characters this year, it wouldn't be as big of an appeal. I trick or treat at home and we ride enough rides during the day. The characters are the big draw for us.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I can't answer honestly until I go to this years MNSSHP since I've never been. But after meeting all the rare characters this year, it wouldn't be as big of an appeal. I trick or treat at home and we ride enough rides during the day. The characters are the big draw for us.

Makes sense!

 

[ShannonMB]

See above. While the time inside the Castle might only be an hour or so, the total time devoted to this event sucks most of the time out of the main event, for which you have paid $70.

I don't see it that way at all. I would have already been committed to watching the fireworks and parade (and staking out spots for those), and the actual hour we will be inside the castle is time I would have spent in line waiting on the Dwarves. Before the Soiree was announced, we were planning on ~1.5 hours in line for them. Once we decided on the Soiree, we decided we would forego the Dwarves in exchange for the plethora of villains. So no Dwarves, but who we will meet more than makes up for it, and is a savings of ~ 30 min. Give or take.

 

[aaarcher86]

Yes, of course. All valid. But when Disney makes decisions, they look at what the majority will think. They have to. And on net they must do this right to survive.

I do think they look at the majority, but it clearly isn't executed well a lot of the time considering the Villains Unleashed experience 2 years in a row.

I think they try to tread the line and see if it works out monetarily. If this year sells well and they do the same thing next year, but MNSSHP sales are down overall, that's not a success and they'd probably change it again.

The Frozen package was a success and they didn't take anything away from the regular guests (who didn't even pay an additional cost like MNSSHP), so I'll be interested in seeing the end results.

 

[tiriggs1]

I can't answer honestly until I go to this years MNSSHP since I've never been. But after meeting all the rare characters this year, it wouldn't be as big of an appeal. I trick or treat at home and we ride enough rides during the day. The characters are the big draw for us.

My son and I went last year. We didn't have the opportunity to meet Maleficent and we didnt book any extras. We still had a blast. So much fun that we booked the bounce back offer. MNSSHP is MAGICAL no matter what. You are going to LOVE it.

 

[JimmyV]

$60ish for the 2013 experience - no question. The desserts and free cup don't equate to $100 value at all, IMO.

Agree. I will have already eaten dinner. Feeding me again at 10:00 is totally unnecessary. I think they only plop food in front of you to make you think that you are getting something for your $99. But even if they eliminated the food (or made it cash OOP for whatever you choose to eat) and lowered the price of the VSS by $30, I still would prefer the 2013 iteration for a total of $60...ish.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I do think they look at the majority, but it clearly isn't executed well a lot of the time considering the Villains Unleashed experience 2 years in a row.

I think they try to tread the line and see if it works out monetarily. If this year sells well and they do the same thing next year, but MNSSHP sales are down overall, that's not a success and they'd probably change it again.

The Frozen package was a success and they didn't take anything away from the regular guests (who didn't even pay an additional cost like MNSSHP), so I'll be interested in seeing the end results.

ITA. Villains Unleashed sounds like they did a lot wrong -- or maybe it was one thing: over-selling it. They're not perfect, to be sure! Overall, and over time, they appear to know how to meet majority customer demand.

I think they'll tweak both to improve offerings AND the bottom line. Which seems fair to me. If they get it really wrong, they'll feel it in that bottom line, ultimately. Every incentive to balance the different market segments, etc. correctly.

 

[JanaDee]

I don't care about them offering premium experiences. I care about them *taking away from the base experience* in order to offer the premium experience. Offer the premium without diminishing the base, and I don't have an issue.

 

[cakebaker]

Another question, especially for those who would choose 1)...

A) Are you going to take a gamble and buy a MNSSHP for 2015??

B) If no, would you have if they had left their offering unchanged this year?

I know some will say NO and YES for sure, but I'm really curious...

Most likely, I'd wait and see if they actually do what they advertised and hope tickets were still available. If only they'd make these tickets refundable like they did the soiree.

Had they not made changes, definitely yes.