Disney After Hours Event

[AEfx]

So a bit of research. In May 2009, MK closed at 9PM on 10 days, 10PM on 12 days, so over 2/3 of the month, it was closed by 10PM to everyone. It was open until 11PM only 3 days, and 12am - ZERO days. I did not count ANY days that had evening EMH for those numbers.

This month - May 2016, MK NEVER closes at 9PM, and closes at 10PM ONLY 2 DAYS all month. 11 days it closes at 11PM, and 14 days it stays open until 12AM - without ANY evening EMH days counted. So this year MK stays open until 11 or 12 for 25 days of the month for everyone.

You are missing some key factors in your analysis, though.

You are looking at historical posted hours. At the time period you are talking about (2009) Disney had a practice of posting severely cut down posted hours, but would extend the park hours the day of or the day before. These were updated on the Times Guides handed out but didn't get retroactively corrected online. They can't do this anymore because of MM+ and all the advance scheduling they are asking people to do.

Beyond that, this is also the start of the summer season.- so yes, operating hours are longer. They always are. But much of the year, they aren't. Going back to 2009 is interesting, but if you go back further - MK used to be open late nearly every day, all year. They didn't need "EMH" because everyone who bought a ticket got the same operating hours.

Yet, admission prices have skyrocketed in unprecedented amounts.

To put this event in perspective - $50/hr used to get you A PERSONAL GUIDE CM to escort you through the park.

To those that don't see us sliding down that slope, who don't realize that if this was designed to further reduce hours and eliminate EMH, you are absolutely dreaming. If this had been successful, you would have seen it by the end of the year, no question. And even though it seems this event fizzled, you can also bet that they aren't done trying.

 

[cslafferty]

Thank you for digging out the facts. I'm growing tired of the folks crying that this paid event is replacing the EMH. The fact is that it is not for now. We don't know what the future holds, and I think there are many times even Disney has a hard time seeing into their own crystal ball. However, ads for the resorts currently playing are still mentioning getting into the parks for extra hours as a bonus of staying on site. I believe that this commits Disney to keeping EMH until the reservations made under this advertising umbrella have come and gone.

The plans for the future with , and the overall joke regarding the administration of this event are what interest me. It would have been so easy for Disney to turn this into something worth $150 by simply digging into their potential earnings just a little and adding a touch of magic to the atmosphere. By doing ~something~ random and "magical" every so often the event would suddenly take on a new flavor and folks would be wanting to get in. (Note, the key word "random": this is for a different discussion, but I feel that modern Disney parks have lost the ability to surprise. When they do something that is a hit, word gets out and they feel the need to repeat it until it gets old.) All it takes is imagination, which the ones who organized this obviously lack.

However, it's going to take more than Disney Magic to put that money in my bank account. There comes a point where they are going to price the average family right out of the park, no matter how many magical extras they throw in.

 

[LuvtheGoof]

You are missing some key factors in your analysis, though.

You are looking at historical posted hours. At the time period you are talking about (2009) Disney had a practice of posting severely cut down posted hours, but would extend the park hours the day of or the day before. These were updated on the Times Guides handed out but didn't get retroactively corrected online. They can't do this anymore because of MM+ and all the advance scheduling they are asking people to do.

Sorry, but you are wrong. I got the hours from here on WDWMagic, and Steve ALWAYS keeps the hours up-to-date. If his calendar says they closed at 9PM in May of 2009, then it closed at 9PM in May 2009. The WDW website may not have been kept up-to-date, but the one here is.

Going back to 2009 is interesting, but if you go back further - MK used to be open late nearly every day, all year. They didn't need "EMH" because everyone who bought a ticket got the same operating hours.

Fine, so here you go:
May 2005
Magic Kingdom
May 1 - 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
May 2 - 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
May 3,4 - 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
May 5 - 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
May 6 - 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
May 7 - 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
May 8,9 - 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
May 10 - 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
May 11,12 - 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
May 13 - 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
May 14 - 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
May 15 - 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
May 16 - 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
May 17,18,19 - 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
May 20 - 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
May 21 - 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
May 22 - 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
May 23,24,25 - 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
May 26 - 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
May 27,28,29 - 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
May 30 - 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
May 31 - 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

May 2004
Magic Kingdom
May 1,2 -- 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
May 3 -- 9:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
May 4 -- 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
May 5-7 -- 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
May 8 -- 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
May 9,10 -- 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
May 11 -- 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
May 12-14 -- 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
May 15 -- 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
May 16,17 -- 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
May 18 -- 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
May 19-21 -- 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
May 22 -- 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
May 23,24 -- 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
May 25 -- 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
May 26,27 -- 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
May 28 -- 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
May 29, 30 -- 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
May 31 -- 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

May 2003
Magic Kingdom
May 1 -- 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
May 2-5 -- 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
May 6 -- 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
May 7-9 -- 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
May 10 -- 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
May 11,12 -- 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
May 13 -- 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
May 11-16 -- 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
May 17 -- 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
May 18,19 -- 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
May 20 -- 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
May 21-23 -- 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
May 24 -- 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
May 25,26 -- 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
May 27 -- 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
May 28 -- 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
May 29, 30 -- 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
May 31 -- 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Would you like more????? Please do just a bit of research before spouting nonsense.

 

[AEfx]

Sorry, but you are wrong. I got the hours from here on WDWMagic, and Steve ALWAYS keeps the hours up-to-date. If his calendar says they closed at 9PM in May of 2009, then it closed at 9PM in May 2009. The WDW website may not have been kept up-to-date, but the one here is.

You don't know what you are talking about. Unless he had someone on property every day monitoring and retroactively updated them, then no, he is depending on online published times.

Would you like more????? Please do just a bit of research before spouting nonsense.

Nonsense? I don't know what has crawled into your shorts over this, but it is well known and accepted fact that MK used to have much longer operating hours. Some of us know because we, you know, were like - there. On weekend nights they were routinely open until at least 11, if not 12, not just during select times of the year. 10PM on slower nights. During busy seasons, MK could actually be scheduled until 1AM.

If you don't think we are paying way more for way less, you don't have a lot of historical knowledge of WDW. There was a WDW before Disney's Leasing Club and Very Merry Upcharge parties...

 

[PhotoDave219]

To put this event in perspective - $50/hr used to get you A PERSONAL GUIDE CM to escort you through the park.

Its never been $50 for an escort.....

:lookaroun

 

[LuvtheGoof]

You don't know what you are talking about. Unless he had someone on property every day monitoring and retroactively updated them, then no, he is depending on online published times.

You'll have to ask Steve, as he admonished me for using the Disney website posted times, and said that his are constantly updated. Since this is a written record, it is much more accurate than any memory you can have.

Nonsense? I don't know what has crawled into your shorts over this, but it is well known and accepted fact that MK used to have much longer operating hours. Some of us know because we, you know, were like - there. On weekend nights they were routinely open until at least 11, if not 12, not just during select times of the year. 10PM on slower nights. During busy seasons, MK could actually be scheduled until 1AM.

Umm, I've been going to WDW since 1978 (probably before you were even born, I would imagine), and was a local there for years. I have been to MK literally hundreds of times. I was at EPCOT when it first opened. Yes, MK was open until 1AM on certain nights during the summer, BUT NOT IN MAY. We cannot begin to talk about hours for the coming months, since, well, they haven't happened. You cannot look at the published hours for June, July, or August this year, and compare it to past years until after it happens. Then you can complain.

If you don't think we are paying way more for way less, you don't have a lot of historical knowledge of WDW. There was a WDW before Disney's Leasing Club and Very Merry Upcharge parties...

No, I don't think so, as if you do it right, it is still a very good value. I couldn't care less about most of the upcharge events, as they don't affect MY enjoyment of the parks, and I don't pay for what I don't want to do. You have no clue what you are talking about, or who you are talking too. If you dislike all of this so much (and please remember that NONE of it is going away), then either get over it and move on, or quit going and complaining about it.

 

[AEfx]

Then you can complain.

I can complain any time I choose, thank you.

You have no clue what you are talking about, or who you are talking too.

I know very well what I am talking about - and couldn't begin to care less who you are. The operating hours of MK have reduced over time. In that time period, upcharge events started replacing those times. This is undeniable, even if you look at the 7PM closings for the parties, which now take up nearly 1/3 of the year - MK didn't close at 7PM until this nonsense started. It was also one thing when it was a $30-40 fee, quite another now that these events are starting at the price of an entire day's admission to begin iwth.

Then they also reduced hours to offer EMH to resort guests. This new $150 upcharge event is obviously meant to supplant that, which explains one of the reasons why EMH itself has been scaled back over the past few years. This isn't a potential slippery slope - we have watched the steady slide over the past 15 years.

If you dislike all of this so much (and please remember that NONE of it is going away), then either get over it and move on, or quit going and complaining about it.

Well then, you just put me in my place...LOL. How about if you don't like my posts, you skip or ignore them? In any case, it's clear you have been drowning in the Kool-Aid. I am often put in the position of "defending" Disney because I think many folks around these parts complain about the most asinine things, but I've never heard anyone defend the reduction of operating hours coupled with the huge increases in admission and the obvious supplanting of parties and events for what were once standard offerings.

 

[LuvtheGoof]

I can complain any time I choose, thank you.

I'll give you that, you certainly can and do.

I know very well what I am talking about - and couldn't begin to care less who you are. The operating hours of MK have reduced over time. In that time period, upcharge events started replacing those times. This is undeniable, even if you look at the 7PM closings for the parties, which now take up nearly 1/3 of the year - MK didn't close at 7PM until this nonsense started. It was also one thing when it was a $30-40 fee, quite another now that these events are starting at the price of an entire day's admission to begin with.

Then they also reduced hours to offer EMH to resort guests. This new $150 upcharge event is obviously meant to supplant that, which explains one of the reasons why EMH itself has been scaled back over the past few years. This isn't a potential slippery slope - we have watched the steady slide over the past 15 years.

Ahh, OK, I will agree that adding in the MNSSHP and MVMCP have reduced hours during certain days and times of the year. But they are obviously popular, or else they wouldn't offer them. And you're only talking about one park. You can go somewhere else on those nights.

Oh, and in May of 2009, there was only ONE week that had 2 evening EMH nights. The other weeks only had ONE night, so just because there are only ONE night a week now, doesn't make it materially less than before.

Well then, you just put me in my place...LOL. How about if you don't like my posts, you skip or ignore them? In any case, it's clear you have been drowning in the Kool-Aid. I am often put in the position of "defending" Disney because I think many folks around these parts complain about the most asinine things, but I've never heard anyone defend the reduction of operating hours coupled with the huge increases in admission and the obvious supplanting of parties and events for what were once standard offerings.

I'm not defending Disney in so much as I am correcting faulty memories. Just because someone thinks that the hours were longer, doesn't make it so. As an example - when Disney first posted the hours for May 2016, there was not one single night that the park stayed open past 10PM, and people were complaining. There are now 25 days in May that the park stays open until 11 or 12AM for everyone. Just like in years past they have added hours.

 

[ratherbeinwdw]

I can complain any time I choose, thank you.



I know very well what I am talking about - and couldn't begin to care less who you are. The operating hours of MK have reduced over time. In that time period, upcharge events started replacing those times. This is undeniable, even if you look at the 7PM closings for the parties, which now take up nearly 1/3 of the year - MK didn't close at 7PM until this nonsense started. It was also one thing when it was a $30-40 fee, quite another now that these events are starting at the price of an entire day's admission to begin iwth.

Then they also reduced hours to offer EMH to resort guests. This new $150 upcharge event is obviously meant to supplant that, which explains one of the reasons why EMH itself has been scaled back over the past few years. This isn't a potential slippery slope - we have watched the steady slide over the past 15 years.



Well then, you just put me in my place...LOL. How about if you don't like my posts, you skip or ignore them? In any case, it's clear you have been drowning in the Kool-Aid. I am often put in the position of "defending" Disney because I think many folks around these parts complain about the most asinine things, but I've never heard anyone defend the reduction of operating hours coupled with the huge increases in admission and the obvious supplanting of parties and events for what were once standard offerings.

You are correct in much of what you say. I got out my Passporters where I stored all my Time Guides, Disney site park hours print out, and my hand written notes on hours for each park. I am a planner. I have daily schedules for each park, etc.
In 2010 extra evening hours were three hours. We later lost one of those hours, and they are now two hours. There were four evening extra hours and four morning hours every week in May 2010. For the morning hours, AK had 8-9 on Mondays. Epcot had 8-9 on Tuesdays. DHS had 8-9 on Saturdays. Magic Kingdom had 8-9 on Thursdays. AK had evening hours on Wednesdays 5-8. Epcot had Fridays 9-12. DHS had Mondays 7-10. Magic Kingdom had Sundays 10-12. Magic Kingdom closed at 7 on Fridays and DHS closed at 7 on Mondays. AK closed at 5 all but the extra night and one other night they closed at 6. However, I remember they extended those hours during the May weeks we were there because we didn't like that the extra hours were moved to a later time, which made us have to stay up later to enjoy them. I remember many times where the extra hours were from 12-3 a.m in Magic Kingdom. We only made it that late twice. But, we really did enjoy it because everything was walk-on.
I think it was 2012 when they moved MK extra evening hours to Saturdays, which we enjoyed because we got late hours there two times a week instead of one when it was on Sundays.
I haven't pulled the other years yet, but I'm pretty sure this was the same schedule for 2011 and 2012. I remember when they changed Epcot's hours from Friday to Tuesday evening and the morning hours to Thursday. They also moved MK's early hours from Thursday to Friday and late hours to Wednesday. I was so used to the other schedule, that it took me a couple of trips to get the new one memorized. They also added an extra morning hours to AK.

So, we did lose extra hours, but it kind of evened out with them opening later on some evenings for regular hours.

 

[note2001]

Is it tonight that Disney is hosting the first Sunday event? How's that shaping up? Any reports of free passes being handed out to folks at the bus stops, Resort lobbies? Disney Springs?

 

[LuvtheGoof]

How about we agree to disagree?

Moving on.... is it tonight that Disney is hosting the first Sunday event? How's that shaping up? Any reports of free passes being handed out to folks at the bus stops, Resort lobbies? Disney Springs?

Sure, and yes, that is tonight. Of course people will now complain that Disney is closing an hour earlier than in the past to support it, but that is not true. Park hours show it closing at 11PM tonight, so the event will run until 2AM. Looking back, the 2nd Sunday in May has been closing at 11PM for many years. The first Sunday in the month has traditionally stayed open until midnight, just like this year.

 

[FyreDansyr]

I just got back from the after hours event. It seemed like a lot of free tickets were given away. I was still able to walk on all of the rides. I chose to skip seven dwarves mine train because I've already been on it three times in the last few days and I don't think it's worth it. There may have been a wait for that. I did have a great time. My boyfriend and I rented scooters and had a blast riding them around an uncrowded park. If they ever had this event again while I'm visiting I'll probably go again.

 

[JustInTime]

Any reports they are still giving these passes away?

 

[wogwog]

Another cut coming to MK. Tonight 5/19 is the last of the 'Disney After Hours Event' according to the WDW calendar.

So sad.

 

[DisneyDebRob]

Another cut coming to MK. Tonight 5/19 is the last of the 'Disney After Hours Event' according to the WDW calendar.

So sad.

I am very surprised at this.

 

[wdwmagic]

Another cut coming to MK. Tonight 5/19 is the last of the 'Disney After Hours Event' according to the WDW calendar.

So sad.

Wasn't this always the last scheduled night?

 

[DisneyJeff]

Why would they cut a program that is so successful? From what I have heard, everyone who received a free pass to this event had a great time and thought it was well worth what they paid.

 

[wogwog]

Wasn't this always the last scheduled night?

Yes. Thank goodness it failed. I am celebrating.

 

[note2001]

Yes. Thank goodness it failed. I am celebrating.

Failure is learning, misspelled.

My question is: What comes next? Disney does not give up.

 

[ford91exploder]

Another cut coming to MK. Tonight 5/19 is the last of the 'Disney After Hours Event' according to the WDW calendar.

So sad.

Finally a Cut at WDW which improves the place...