Checkpoints at MK for EMH

Penny Lane

New Member
I'm just amazed that Disney has not implemented RFID into the wristbands. They could give you a nice plastic wristband, like a cheap watch wristband, when you arrive at your resort. Now, if you forget it at the hotel, just go to guest services and show your Key to the World and get another. If you lose both IDs, you would use your driver's license or state ID just like usual to get issued a new key and also the wristband. Ah, maybe even a $2.50 penalty for replacement. But, here is how they could be used:

I like this idea! However, what would stop people from "losing" their wristbands, getting new wristbands and giving the other "lost" bands to their family and friends? Would they have a way of deactivating the other bands?
 

Figment82

Well-Known Member
You know, you had me until that last little bit...

Lack of planning/preparedness on anyone's part does not constitute an emergency on mine or anyone elses. While I haven't been to Disney in 7 years, the shops were open before closing the last time I was there, so I'm fairly certain they still are now allowing plenty of shopping time for all. Please don't lay guilt out on me for choices made by other guests.

I'm sorry, I don't understand what you are saying here. I don't understand what you mean by "emergency" - I am merely saying that most guests are under the (correct) impression that the big stores will stay open later than the park to allow guests to do some end-of-night shopping.

By suddenly, on one or two nights a week, closing the shop off promptly at closing time, you confuse and anger a huge number of guests. Trust me, it is not a pretty picture!

I am not laying guilt on anybody - I am merely saying that I feel it is only right to allow the same procedures that occur on any normal operating day to continue on EMH. The shops allow all guests to do their shopping without kicking anyone out. By closing the door to only those with wristbands, you are upsetting a large number of people. Thus, I feel you can understand it is not the proper thing to do and Disney is handling it correctly.
 

wickedfan07

Member
Lack of planning/preparedness on anyone's part does not constitute an emergency on mine or anyone elses. While I haven't been to Disney in 7 years, the shops were open before closing the last time I was there, so I'm fairly certain they still are now allowing plenty of shopping time for all. Please don't lay guilt out on me for choices made by other guests.

Using this logic, everyone should be hauled out of the park immediately upon closing on non-EMH nights. If non-resort guests can do their shopping before closing on EMH nights, why can't everyone, resort guest or not, do their shopping before closing any other night? EMH does not change normal park operations, it just keep certain attractions open longer. If its good for some people, it should be good for everyone.

If Disney can find a way to set up the checkpoints so that non-resort guests can only get to the main shopping/eating areas on Main Street, Hollywood Boulevard, Discovery Island and Innoventions Plaza, I don't see why non-resort guests should be kicked out of the stores and counter service places exactly at closing. Besides, odds are good you're not in a store on Main Street at closing. You're probably heading towards one of the Mountains.

Staying off Disney property should not make you a second-class park guest. Nor does it make your opinion, your experience, and your future vacation dollars less valuable to Disney. Someone who is hauled out of the shops on Main Street five minutes past closing because they aren't a WDW Resort guest isn't going t remember their trip too fondly. People who have bad experiences tend to avoid repeating them. And for their next Florida vacation, these guests may just try Universal instead of Disney. See the dilemma?

I know resort guests have paid more for the privilege of EMH. However, look at the situation for every angle and you'll see why clearing non-resort guests from the park for your uninterrupted playtime isn't as fast, as easy or as simple as you may think it is.
 

Swfewrmco

Active Member
Staying off Disney property should not make you a second-class park guest.

It kinda should. If Disney is to be a true "resort", there needs to be privileges that are strictly for "resort" guests, and these "resort" guests should not be inconvenienced by those who have made the choice not to be "resort" guests.

With the ability to score a Disney resort room for as little at $70 a night, I don't see much point in the argument that there are some people who cannot afford a Disney hotel and so they should not be penalized due to their circumstances. You can't get a room at the Holiday Inn by my house in upstate NY for less than $100.

In my mind, you have three options:
1) Save up for a Disney hotel and enjoy the benefits.
2) Stay off-property and don't complain when you are not entitled to Disney Resort benefits.
3) Go somewhere else on vacation.
 

wickedfan07

Member
2) Stay off-property and don't complain when you are not entitled to Disney Resort benefits.

Since when was being able to shop and/or eat for an hour or so after park closing a resort guest benefit? Last time I checked, Disney had no rule barring non-resort guests from shops and restaurants.

Not everyone is lucky enough to be able to go when the lowest prices and deepest discounts are offered. More power to you if you have the luxury of going whenever you want. But that doesn't mean that people who don't have the means to stay on property or get good discounts should be locked out of normal park operations that everyone has always been enitiled to.

Extra Magic Hours do not change normal park operations: the program only keeps certain attractions open longer.
 

WEDisney

Active Member
I don't think people are necessarily being snobby about the whole EMH thing. One of the perks Disney advertises for 'WDW Resort Guests' is EMH's. This refers to people who are staying in the WDW resort hotels on property. This is offered as an incentive to spend what it takes to stay on their property in their hotels. It's not that WDW hotel guests think that others who love Disney but stay off-property for various reasons are not as good as they are or less dedicated to the Disney-experience because they aren't spending the money to stay in the WDW resort hotels. Disney advertises this particular perk for the guests at their hotels and most people like to get what they are paying for. I know I do. Non-WDW-resort-guests shouldn't take this personally. It's not intended that way. If EMH's were for anyone who paid admission to be in the park(s) they wouldn't be EMH's. They'd just be later/limited operating hours.

Also, in reference to the notion that it shouldn't be a big deal for non-WDW-resort-guests to stay in the parks just to partake of the atmosphere/shop/dine during EMH's, I disagree with that as well. Again, it goes back to the fact that Disney has advertised to their resort/hotel guests that the EMH's are special for them only. If you crowd in extra people that are not resort/hotel guests then it takes away that exclusivity that has been advertised. The shops, restaurants, and park(s) are more crowded. The perk is aimed at less crowds. It does detract from the perk as a whole.

I wish there were an easy solution for people like DisneyWales who travel long distances but have circumstances that don't make it sensible for them to stay on the property and partake of EMH's. I guess one of those solutions would be what seems to be the ongoing effort to add some extra magic by having Pirate & Princess Parties, MNSSHP, MVMCP, etc. As much as admissions are to these parties it may be more reasonable to just get a single night stay in a value resort utilizing some of the discounts that float out there even if you aren't staying so that now you are legitimate in staying for EMH's.

Personally, I'm glad that Disney is making an effort to keep the EMH's for their hotel guests. That's one of the things I feel like I pay for in staying there. The reason I feel that way is because that's what Disney advertises. In all the years we've been, I didn't even realize that non-resort guests stayed because I thought it would be pointless for them. In addition to the check-points I think it would also help to check wristbands at the cash registers in the shops or at the check-in booths at the sit-down restaurants. Let wristband-less people make purchases in shops and counter-service eateries for perhaps 1/2 hour after official park closing in limited locations closest to the park entrances (ie. Main St. or Mouse Gear) and then stop. Let wristband-less people check-in for dining reservations at the podiums at the restaurants until park closing and stop. That along with the check-points could get the job done.

But please, don't think that I feel like I'm better than someone else because I'm a WDW hotel guest. I just feel like Disney has advertised this perk, I bought the perk, and I should receive the perk. That's all.

Nicely stated :)
 

WEDisney

Active Member
EMH starts right at closing time, so the fact that guests are still in the stores 1.5-2 hours into an EMH is NO different than any other normal night at a park.

LOL Main Street stays open 30 minutes (give or take) after the official park closing so please don't say 1.5-2 hours
 

Swfewrmco

Active Member
Since when was being able to shop and/or eat for an hour or so after park closing a resort guest benefit? Last time I checked, Disney had no rule barring non-resort guests from shops and restaurants.

"Park closing" means just that: the park is closed. If you are allowed to do anything at all past closing time, it is at Disney's whim, and it can be changed without notice or without any credence to what has happened in the past.
 

kateface517

New Member
Yes, during normal park operation people stay later and shop, but I think the fact that it's EMH makes it not normal park operation. For other special events when they sweep the park you can't just stay and shop or eat. I think that EMH should be treated as a special event. Any other night during the week, you can hang around after closing and shop to your heart's content, does it really hurt to have non-resort guests leave at closing during the EMH nights? It's not like you're asking everyone to give up every night of nighttime shopping/eating/soaking in the atmosphere. If you want to hang around later, go to a park that doesn't have EMH that night. It just makes sense to me that way.
 

the-reason14

Well-Known Member
What do you mean checkpoints, I think the emhs are good for basically spending extra time in the parks, I dont really go expecting it to be light.
 

disney_nutter

Active Member
It kinda should. If Disney is to be a true "resort", there needs to be privileges that are strictly for "resort" guests, and these "resort" guests should not be inconvenienced by those who have made the choice not to be "resort" guests.

With the ability to score a Disney resort room for as little at $70 a night, I don't see much point in the argument that there are some people who cannot afford a Disney hotel and so they should not be penalized due to their circumstances. You can't get a room at the Holiday Inn by my house in upstate NY for less than $100.

In my mind, you have three options:
1) Save up for a Disney hotel and enjoy the benefits.
2) Stay off-property and don't complain when you are not entitled to Disney Resort benefits.
3) Go somewhere else on vacation.

this isn't that easy for uk guests who find out a lot of better deals for staying of property. I thought disney said this park was for everyone not just people who are willing to shell out more money because they have it. I usally stay of property as it works out up to 500 quid cheaper than resort stays. As for EMH i was aware it was only for attractions not for shopping. On my last trip i stayed for the EMH in magic kingdom, did i try and go any rides? no, did i try and go and see a show? no, what was it i done, i found a seat sat down with a coke and watched people walking by. Now are you going to tell me that i need a band now just to take a seat. As long as non resort guests are not in rides and show's i really dont see the problem, all they want to do is shop and walk around if that appeals to them then let them do that
 

DisneyWales

Member
It kinda should. If Disney is to be a true "resort", there needs to be privileges that are strictly for "resort" guests, and these "resort" guests should not be inconvenienced by those who have made the choice not to be "resort" guests.

With the ability to score a Disney resort room for as little at $70 a night, I don't see much point in the argument that there are some people who cannot afford a Disney hotel and so they should not be penalized due to their circumstances. You can't get a room at the Holiday Inn by my house in upstate NY for less than $100.

In my mind, you have three options:
1) Save up for a Disney hotel and enjoy the benefits.
2) Stay off-property and don't complain when you are not entitled to Disney Resort benefits.
3) Go somewhere else on vacation.

Its this kinda attitude that really winds me up.:fork:

I can afford to stay on property, i can afford to stay of property for a whole month at a time if i so wish to choose, however seeing as i tend to take 3-4 week trips to Florida we decided to buy a home in the area and stay there, in the times we do not stay it is rented out as a vacation home.

I do not complain about EMH i think they are fantastic and they should be for Resort staying guests only, however arrogant people like you should not DEMAND that people who may have logical reasons for not staying on a Mouse hotel be booted out of the park just because you stay in a Mouse Hotel.

To be honest my average spend at WDW over the three four weeks we tend to vacation there is most likely higher than most families who spend 3/4 days there, so money is not an issue here, we are talking peoples vacationing trends. Some people Visit WDW while they are down to see family, they are not 2nd class guests, they just have another means of staying in the area. Guests from the UK and im assuming other international countries tend to vacation for 2 week on average, which is longer than Disney's and the USA's typical vacation pattern. Therefore very few companies cater for the UK vacation pattern in Orlando. So that its why a large portion of UK/international guests stay off property.

Please try and open your mind for longer than a second, Disney is not only for resort staying guests, should resorts guests get more, yes, and they do, dining plan is something that would save me a small fortune, however it is only available to resort guests. These are things I understand and have no issues with, and when I visit Florida I visit my own home, I use my annual pass, and eat my own food. Ideal for me.

I guess I'm a little off topic here, EMH are great, yes i believe checkpoints are the right way forward, however all guests have a right to shop after park closing, they do not and should not be getting into attraction lines at park closing.

As people have said before you can still get into line until the park closes, so just because its EMH doesn't mean that non resort guests leave the line at that point, they leave when they have completed there ride, which is typical for any other night. So the first hour of most EMH will be full of non resort guests either sill in line, or waiting for family on attractions. Some may even be eating at park closing what are they supposed to do stop eating and run out of the park.

Sorry about my rant, but this whole were better coz we stay on site argument is a load of crap, you are not better, you just fall into Disney's Vacation Catchment, nothing more, nothing less.
 

Pumbas Nakasak

Heading for the great escape.
Actually In my experience most UK based people stay off site cause they havent found out about getting discounts and are shocked at the inflated Disney hotel prices offered by ________ Turpin sorry tour operators. Also they have no concept of the size of WDW or the Orlando area. Its like people who are conned by I drive hotels having bussess then finding that by the time they reach the parks they are heaving. I had a discussion with someone about Orlando last night, as far as they were concerned it was all about getting everything as cheap as possible, not cause they couldnt afford it, but because it was all about getting bragging rights to a bargain :shrug:

I used to stay in a villa till one year I ended up in Polk county, Virgin still claimed it as a Kissimmee home, lying bar stewards. The house was beautiful but all use in structuring a break.

Disney has changed its practices to accomodate UK guests I have seen things change over the last 10 years dramatically. And to be fair they do try and help anytime even in the days of having to split bookings to get the length of stay I needed.

But back to the point, the biggest issue with EEMH is too mant people go and theres not enough still operating to cope.
 

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