Let's face it. The icing on the cake for any WDW vacation would have to be none other than the majestic & extravagant nighttime spectacles that occur every evening after sunset. Who doesn't get the least bit emotional seeing the skies above Cinderella Castle aglow with Wishes fireworks? Who doesn't feel their inner child cheering Mickey onto victory as he defeats malevolent beings in Fantasmic! ? Who doesn't feel the pride & harmony of a world without worries while watching Illuminations ignite World Showcase lagoon? And now with Rivers Of Light on the verge of debuting upon DAK's waters...soon all 4 parks will have the after-dark hours greeted with projectiles of illuminated goodness for all to behold.
There is no doubt that Disney excels in bringing nighttime to life like no other. But, as the gallant Caped Crusader said in the 2008 blockbuster hit, 'The Dark Knight'.... "If you're good at something, never do it for free."
So my question is this: Is Disney missing a huge opportunity by not making all nighttime entertainment separate after-hours ticketed events? In doing this, not only would it benefit DisneyParks with the additional revenues that would be created, but would also benefit us as patrons for having less crowds, and ultimately less stress to deal with overall. Imagine exiting MK after Wishes without the elbow-to-elbow gridlock of humanity flooding out the gates in aggressive fashion. People would be willing to pay for this luxury, and the benefits to us attending would far outweigh the extra cost. Those who are unwilling to pay the extra costs of nighttime magic would still be able to enjoy the parks as usual until around 6:00pm every evening.
When Walt built WDW back in 1971, one thing he never wished for was heavy crowds. As we've all come to learn, some of the most horrendously crowded conditions are during times of nighttime spectacle. But with a more limited audience paying a little extra to attend (no more than MNSSHP or MVMCP), this would shrink crowd control issues during those times, while broadening shareholders' smiles.
My plea to Disney is this: Make all nighttime offerings at all 4 theme parks separate ticketed events. It will enhance the experience for the guests, it will reduce the crowd control worries of CM's, and it will pay for all equipment & materials needed for said nighttime productions. It's not only a good strategic move for Disney, but it's also a good strategic move for Disney.
What are your thoughts? Would you pay extra for Disney magic after dark?
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