Will you pay $150 for the new "Disney After Dark" event in the MK?

[DisneyMomx7]

NO!!!! We've taken 18 trips since 2003 and I'm seriously thinking of cancelling this year's trip and doing Universal/SeaWorld instead. I was getting tired of all the nickel and dining and this might just be the last straw

 

[momof2n2]

Yes. If you do EMH, things start to die out. That's why this whole idea makes me frustrated. Disney is taking something that is typically free and profit off it. There have been times in the summer that MK was open until 3am. This was a "perk" of being on property. Which is what worries me about EMH... that we're going to see them disappear.

 

[DVCcurious]

Quick question:

Will all the rides be running? Because with EMH they don't run all the rides. How many CM's are required to run the rides? MK has 41 attractions (according to their website). If we assume 3 CM's per attraction that's 120, then add in maybe 80 for the people who give out drinks and run gift shops and clean up garbage, etc.

So 200 cast members at $10 per hour = $2,000 per hour X 3 hours = $6000 total wage expense. At $150 per ticket the break even for Disney is.......40 people?

Did I do that right? Disney only needs 40 people in order to break even if they're running all the attractions plus extra employees to give out mickey bars and run gift shops.

If this is true (and I'm not saying it is), then Disney is going to cash in BIG on these paid evenings.

 

[snayak]

Quick question:

Will all the rides be running? Because with EMH they don't run all the rides. How many CM's are required to run the rides? MK has 41 attractions (according to their website). If we assume 3 CM's per attraction that's 120, then add in maybe 80 for the people who give out drinks and run gift shops and clean up garbage, etc.

So 200 cast members at $10 per hour = $2,000 per hour X 3 hours = $6000 total wage expense. At $150 per ticket the break even for Disney is.......40 people?

Did I do that right? Disney only needs 40 people in order to break even if they're running all the attractions plus extra employees to give out mickey bars and run gift shops.

If this is true (and I'm not saying it is), then Disney is going to cash in BIG on these paid evenings.

So you can't calculate the cost of labor as just the gross pay to the employee...there are other considerations such as matching taxes, health care, overhead etc. Plus you would need costumed CMs for M&G, attendants, etc, so lets round up to 300 (which I still think is low). And, lets say it Disney estimates each employee's time worth $75/hour to cover all that - so $75 x 300 x 4 (lets give them an hour to clean up/punch out) = $90,000 in labor costs alone.

With that said, I believe renting the MK is something like $1,000,000 for 7pm to close for most of the park to run. Here is a 5 year old link for DHS private party pricing - so we can assume prices have gone up from there, and are higher at the flagship park. Its like $3k-$17k per attraction, plus food minimums, etc.

http://www.studioscentral.com/blog/2011/07/13/private-party-venues-disneys-hollywood-studios-–-part-i-sunset-boulevard

 

[starryagain]

The other thing regarding whether or not this will be profitable is the cost of lost business. I am sure they have this in their projections (or, I would if I was involved in the Operations of the theme parks). So if they lose 200 families a week who would have been spending $6k each on a Disney vacation that is $1.2m. Who knows what the actual numbers are (hopefully Disney has a good guess for their own sake but large businesses make glaring missteps all the time).

 

[Saltywardog]

Just sad,

Here's what will happen, this first batch will not be as crowded and Disney will make a good penny, you might get lucky and the first few times they do this crowds will be lower. Then it will end up like most after hours party's and just become a unlimited ticket event and this one they can do year round.

Plenty of people will go so I expect this to be a huge success

 

[Pigletpal40]

This is usually the time, 11p-1 or 2a, when my oldest, DS15, and his cousins, 15 and 19, stay until closing and the old fogies and youngsters go back to the room. Normally Free!

 

[MrsDuck]

Nope.

We attended the DVC members event at MK which sounds a bit like this event BUT, it was free. And, that was awesome.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I think that non-DISer are probably MORE Likely to pay for this than Disers are. Because most of us on the DIS have been to WDW many many times. Most people don't go multiple times every year, every year, or even every other year. I think that most people go to WDW a couple times EVER, and if it's a once in a lifetime trip, they are more likely to pay for extras. If I"m spending 33 days in WDW this year, a couple extra rides on 7DMT might make me go "meh, whatever" but for someone who has never been before, that might be a lot more appealing. Maybe I'm way off base, but that's how my mind works.

Maybe some are..but no one I know. Any non DISer I know would absolutely look at this and would not think it was worth the money. These are people who think it's too expensive just for regular tickets, but who would go to bring their kids. Their kids aren't staying out til 1am. They would take one look at this and say hell no. Honestly, if those people knew about all the price increases of late I'd fully expect them to tell me they are vacationing elsewhere entirely. They aren't Disney lovers..they would not in a million years pay this price.

 

[Hannahinwonderland]

Quick question:

Will all the rides be running? Because with EMH they don't run all the rides. How many CM's are required to run the rides? MK has 41 attractions (according to their website). If we assume 3 CM's per attraction that's 120, then add in maybe 80 for the people who give out drinks and run gift shops and clean up garbage, etc.

So 200 cast members at $10 per hour = $2,000 per hour X 3 hours = $6000 total wage expense. At $150 per ticket the break even for Disney is.......40 people?

Did I do that right? Disney only needs 40 people in order to break even if they're running all the attractions plus extra employees to give out mickey bars and run gift shops.

If this is true (and I'm not saying it is), then Disney is going to cash in BIG on these paid evenings.

This is a good estimate and I think Disney WILL be cashing in a lot, but keep in mind that many attractions more than 3 CMs to run. At Jungle Cruise, the minimum number of "closers" is about 10 CMs. Jungle Cruise has been closed for EMH in the past, so perhaps that's a reason why. I'd imagine that a lot of other rides also need more than 3 CMs.

 

[BattyKoda]

Also, we don't know how they are going to clean out the park for the the event - if they pull a MNSSHP type clean out - than no thank you - not good enough. $150.00 for 3 hours is BIG money and I'd only be interested if it was worth my while.

After last year's first MNSSHP, this would be my main worry. The crowds, due to a lack of clean out, were horrible. While we still managed to have a good time it was an experience that I would not like to repeat, especially at a higher cost. That said, the clean out of the second party was fine (or at least it seemed so when compared to the first).

 

[CMDTA]

Yes. If you do EMH, things start to die out. That's why this whole idea makes me frustrated. Disney is taking something that is typically free and profit off it. There have been times in the summer that MK was open until 3am. This was a "perk" of being on property. Which is what worries me about EMH... that we're going to see them disappear.

They have to be very careful in what they cut. They need to maintain an edge over off-site. If they cut too much, there is no reason to stay on-site. If the price is cheaper and the benefits are not there, All Star Vacation Homes here I come. If I got nothing for paying extra to stay on site, I'd only have one thing to say to Disney...

 

[Delirium]

Hey, don't crowds thin out after fireworks anyway? I mean isn't midnight to 2 am already pretty uncrowded?

This seems to be lost on many that are willing to consider paying the charge. You essentially get this now for free any time MK is open past midnight. Add to that, and I can definitely see a scenario where, because people paid the charge, they will have more incentive to stay until the end, resulting in LARGER crowds at these extended hours, not smaller ones. If someone thinks THAT"S a good deal, then maybe Disney made the right choice.

 

[Mikie]

Fast passes are next (I say half jokingly).

I have previously agreed wholeheartedly with posters who have said that Disney wouldn't charge for FP (even though all other amusement parks charge for their versions) because they've been free from the start and it would be too hard to back-pedal and start charging for it.

However, these new paid after hours and early morning hours are barely more than charging for EMH, which are currently a free perk. I do understand the economic argument that they're not "free" because you pay a huge premium to stay onsite, but there's sure no indication that they'll be reducing resort rates to reflect the loss of EMHs.

I'll not go so far as to predict charging for FP (or extra FP) but these new charges for formerly included items means I'll sadly be a lot less surprised if paid FP comes around than I would have been just a week ago. . .

 

[mom2rtk]

The other thing regarding whether or not this will be profitable is the cost of lost business. I am sure they have this in their projections (or, I would if I was involved in the Operations of the theme parks). So if they lose 200 families a week who would have been spending $6k each on a Disney vacation that is $1.2m. Who knows what the actual numbers are (hopefully Disney has a good guess for their own sake but large businesses make glaring missteps all the time).

I'm not at all convinced they consider the possibility of lost business.

 

[River Country]

Just out of my own curiosity I called the ticketing number and the CM told me for $149 per person I get free Ice Cream and Bottled Water. Well sign me up LOL

I drank the Disney Kool Aid a long time ago but they are off the reservation with this one. this is twice the price of MNSSHP and MVMCP

As Crazy Eddie once said "THESE PRICES ARE INSAAAAAAAAAANE"

 

[Hikergirl]

Yes I would definitely do it.
If I am staying offsite and planning to do one day at MK during my week in Orlando, its worth it for me.
I would not do it if I'm already doing a WDW vacation with tickets and on-site resort booked.

Are people really going to stop going to WDW because of this? They haven't taken anything from you, they've added something for other's though. Maybe that is the problem?

 

[Smbmoyers]

Nope. Emh are part of the reason why I pay out the nose to stay onsite. I'll utilize the emh this trip instead of paying $150 for the same thing called a different name. If they take away my emh I will consider staying off site

 

[Delirium]

Today's Late Night MK Conversation

Disney Guest - "Honey, it's almost midnight and I'm getting kind of tired."

Disney Spouse - "I am too, but the park is really starting to thin out, and it's open until 2 a.m."

Disney Guest - "I know, but let's head on back and get an early start tomorrow"

Disney Spouse - "OK'.


Tomorrow's Late Night MK Conversation

Disney Guest - "Honey it's almost midnight and I'm getting kind of tired."

Disney Spouse - "I am too, and the weird thing is the park isn't thinning out like it use to at this time in the past."

Disney Guest - "Well, all 10,000 of us paid $150 per person to have the park to 'ourselves', so I can't imagine anyone leaving until 2 a.m.".

Disney Spouse - "Not at that price. Look, there's still a 40 minute wait time posted on Mine Train".

 

[JimmyV]

If I can save waiting in lines for 2-3 hours then it's worth it to me. Bonus would be cooler temperatures, less crowds, and fewer strollers, etc.

But rather than comparing what After Hours gets you as compared to a typical afternoon in the MK, shouldn't you be comparing After Hours to what you would experience 24 hours earlier by going to the EMHs offered at the MK on Wednesday? If you go to the free EMH on Wednesday, aren't you saving significant wait time, getting cooler temperatures, lower crowds and fewer strollers? And if the answer is: "Because we stay off site", then it probably warrants looking at whether the $600 (for a family of four) shouldn't be better allocated to an on site hotel. For a six night stay, that averages out to $100 per night. There isn't a single off site property that is priced so low that a family of four couldn't add $100 per night to that total and not get a room on site. If you can find an off site hotel for $70 per night, one can easily add $100 to that, get on site, and then enjoy free EMHs all week long. I just can't see how After Hours can coexist with evening EMHs because I can't see that what you get on Thursday at midnight is worth $149 more than what you can get on Wednesday at midnight.