Why Did Disney Drop Early Entry In The Past?

[OLT2004]

I have been away from Disney since since October 2000.
I have heard that Disney completely did away with EE in 2001.
Why did Disney do that...and why did they bring it back?
Thanks!

 

[decker96]

I don't know why they dropped it to begin with, but they brought it back because TONS of people complained about not having it. The replacement of having characters at your resort to "send you off" for the day, just did not cut it with most people.

 

[tar heel]

They dropped it after Sept. 11 b/c crowds were so low. It was replaced with characters coming to resorts, Character Caravan, for a while. I assume it returned b/c crowds picked up and people were complaining about it missing. One thing different is that it is really one hour now -- before Sept. 11 it was an hour and a half even though it was advertised as an hour.

 

[eljojo]

Is the rumor true that they're changing the days for Early Entry? I'd like to schedule my dinner reservations but am waiting to know what park we'll be in when.

 

[Kaycee]

Disney will be testing a different EMH schedule with some mornings and some evenings May 9 - 22. No one know if there will be any changes after that. We'll have to wait and see how the test goes.

We are going in June, and what I am doing is keeping my PS's based on the current EMH schedule plus adding a couple of extra PS's based on the schedule during the test period just in case it's in effect during my visit. I'll cancel whichever PS's I end up not using.

 

[Kapp]

after 9/11 in 2001 but I believe I read that they were already considering stopping EE and this was an easy way to do it. We usually follow the "any park but the EE" strategy so it never bothered us. The "Caravan of Characters" did not make up for this in anyway. It was nice to see the characters at the resorts but you know...they should be a the resorts (not all the time but at least a few a day) anyway.

Glad to hear they are at least experimenting with some new benefits for on-site guests!

 

[Synonymous]

Jeez, don't you guys read your Disney press releases? EE was discontinued because guests told Disney they wanted characters at the hotels, instead

Then all those fickle guests complained when Disney had only done EXACTLY what we all wanted them to do, so EMH was born



Yes, I am being sarcastic.

 

[eljojo]

Now, I'm really confused - what's the difference between EE and EMH???

 

[helenk]

eljojo

EE stands for early entry, that was what the early morning entry was called before the name change to EMH or extra morning hour. If I remember correctly with EE you actually got into the park an hour and a half prior to the offical opening. After 9/11 this was discontinued and the Character Caravan was put in place, that was discontinued and EMH was created.

 

[Robo]

Originally posted by Kapp
We usually follow the "any park but the EE" strategy so it never bothered us.

That's an interesting idea to "follow" since you obviously can't actually take ADVANTAGE of EMH or EE by doing this.
And its ALWAYS been an advantage to me in all the years its been offered.
I must have done it 50-70 times.
(If I count each day, on every trip it was offered.)
I ALWAYS go to the EE park for the first hour or two... it works GREAT, and then, if that park starts to get busy, we either CHANGE parks or stroll around FtW or wherever... no PANIC... just extra FUN!

I've never been disappointed...
By going EARLY and standing in (what I thought were) incredibly-long lines outside the park's gates BEFORE EE... and then being pleasantly surprised by how easily the early-opened rides "swallowed up" so many guests, so quickly... and I still got to ride (and re-ride) these attractions before the hour was up... and the REST of the WORLD poured in.

I live in the Kansas City, MO area and plan my WDW trips months in advance. (Don't we ALL?)
And I always double-check for EE/EMH and E-ride nights... we DO 'EM ALL!

Hey, if I'm at WDW and its OPEN... I'm goin' IN!

('coz I can always SLEEP when I'm back at home.)