iowamomof4
Well-Known Member
My DeLorean is in the shop, so the after hours events will have to do for now.LOL... Back in the late 80s and early 90s, you could walk into MGM Studios and experience that every day.
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News 'Disney After Hours' ticketed event
- Thread starter wdwmagic
- Start date
BoarderPhreak
Well-Known Member
Yup. Late 80s.
Thank Pandora and TOT/RRC. It was empty through most of the 90s.Crowds are a little higher now
That's what you get for getting the Mr. Fusion instead of the Mr. Fission model.
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Kman101
Well-Known Member
Yup. Late 80s.
Thank Pandora and TOT/RRC. It was empty through most of the 90s.
That's what you get for getting the Mr. Fusion instead of the Mr. Fission model.
Yep. And I remember empty days back in 2006-2008 too. I wish we had slow seasons but we really don't (Jan/Feb and the very end of Aug are the closest). I don't blame Pandora and TOT. I blame the free dining, I blame the parties now starting in August ... I blame the festivals. They are determined for there to be no slow times, while also seemingly acknowledging how badly crowded the parks are ...
But it's a combination of a lot of things. Lack of things to do in the parks. More people coming. The population keeps growing. You have the kids of the 80s and 90s now having kids (or grandkids), etc. .... it's only going to get worse. And maybe it doesn't affect how crowded it feels, but think about the hundreds of people that are waiting on FastPasses and crowding the walkway, wandering around hoping for something they can do. Imagine how much more packed and miserable MK would be if they didn't have things like the PeopleMover, Liberty Boat, spinners, tea cups, PhilharMagic, Country Bears, Hall of President, etc .... a lot of things the other parks are lacking.
I detest the crowds so I do think After Hours is a nice offering for a park that has almost literally no one (and the park isn't dead in the slightest but it's really really pleasant and unless you experience this, you won't understand the appeal of the offering). I don't think it's worth more than it is now.
I really do wish, of course, that we could get lower crowds without paying for it.
BoarderPhreak
Well-Known Member
Oh, I'm definitely not complaining about crowds at HS (yet) or cool new attractions... Just saying, that until TOT/RRC came to the park it was largely empty. Same with AK and Pandora. For all the reasons you mention and of course the upcoming SWGE, those days are likely forever over. I remember going to MGM/HS back in the day and it was flat out creepy how empty it was. Standing practically alone on the main drag or in front of the theater. One time I was even wearing a heavy winter coat (I think that was 89 or 91).
To me, MGM/HS was always a "half day park" and even the last few trips - didn't go once, despite having PH tix. Come this fall, all bets are off! And I've not even a rabid SW fan. I just know what WDW has done with NFL and Pandora and this takes both up an order of magnitude.
More on topic, these events... Yes, it has to do with feeling like we're getting a raw deal here. The parks are overcrowded so their solution is to basically charge you a full day's admission for three hours - when we used to have parks open late and EMH meant something.
To me, MGM/HS was always a "half day park" and even the last few trips - didn't go once, despite having PH tix. Come this fall, all bets are off! And I've not even a rabid SW fan. I just know what WDW has done with NFL and Pandora and this takes both up an order of magnitude.
More on topic, these events... Yes, it has to do with feeling like we're getting a raw deal here. The parks are overcrowded so their solution is to basically charge you a full day's admission for three hours - when we used to have parks open late and EMH meant something.
Kman101
Well-Known Member
I can agree with all of that.
Yeah, EMH are kind of a joke now. They aren't really a benefit anymore.
I also remember when I felt like I had Universal Studios to myself. There are still slower times there, though, but for how much longer? I also feel like it's more the locals jam (obviously tourists too! lol) ... I remember going back to Universal for the first time in ten or eleven years in 2008, in May (right before my first trip to Disneyland, which was also a pleasant experience - now, look at those crowds! holy COW), and felt like I had the park to myself. I do miss those days. I miss not feeling pushed around by the crowds, not feeling rushed in the queue ... and I feel like it's more of a Disney thing. I don't feel the same 'rushed' feeling I do at Disney as I do at Universal. It's nice when it's cold in the parks because everyone's touring at a much more relaxed pace ... lol
But I guess we're digressing ...
FigmentForver96
Well-Known Member
Wife and I did the After Hours at HS in December. It was worth every penny. It was far more empty than any EMH Ive seen in the last 15 years. Literally walking onto every attraction and being able to ride multiple times was great, but more importantly, for us, just being in the park with practically nobody around is what made it amazing. Sitting down on a bench with drinks in hand and just soaking in the atmosphere was priceless. We had a blast getting pictures with nobody in sight.
Ugh I should have done it
BoarderPhreak
Well-Known Member
BoarderPhreak
Well-Known Member
For those curious, March 2007 at MGM (it was relatively barren).
aliceismad
Well-Known Member
DAH tickets get you in at 7 pm, though, right? So it's actually 5 hours. Not that it takes away from your point, but it seems like a no-brainer to get a DAH ticket vs. a one-day ticket.
BoarderPhreak
Well-Known Member
I'm too lazy to look up the hours, but you're probably right. The downside is, you'll need to find something to do during the day or suck it up and pay double. But more importantly, these DAH aren't really the full park experience; they're more like EMH where most stuff is closed. You basically get a few big ticket rides and "select fast dining." Naturally, the gift shops too.
Kman101
Well-Known Member
For those curious, March 2007 at MGM (it was relatively barren).
Welcome to After Hours
LOL.
But man, it's so nice seeing.
note2001
Well-Known Member
Seems to me that Disney would want After Hours to at least be profitable. With few to no people around is it possible that they're pulling in a profit after expenses?
Is there a chance of them lowering the price to entice more folk to try it?
iowamomof4
Well-Known Member
December events didn't sell as well, but recently there have been more sold out ones. If they continue, I'll be surprised if they drop the price at all. If anything, I'm worried they'll try to raise the price.
Kman101
Well-Known Member
Has anyone said what the cap is on tickets? How many are allowed in for the After Hours? It's not "dead" (I waited 20 minutes for Mine Train and 15 for Peter Pan even though the signs said it was a little longer) but it's pretty darn empty. And they give away a lot of ice cream and soda and water. But people were still buying merchandise and food at Casey's. So I imagine they rake in some money. They can surely afford the labor for a few hours when in some cases they'd have extended the hours anyway ... and a lot of castmembers don't go home right at park close ... so I imagine it's not a big loss for them. But I don't know anything really and am just kind of guessing out loud ...
I think they'll probably try to raise the price too, if anything. While it took some time, I do think the After Hours is catching on. And it's probably helped Disney has had their media vloggers promote them, and word of mouth in the DisCommunity travels fast, and lots of people are singing the After Hours praises ... I'm definitely curious to see where it goes, do they start selling more tickets, making it a bit more crowded (which then defeats it's appeal)? I imagine price goes up. But like most things, time will tell I guess.
VJ
Well-Known Member
Key difference from Walt (creative) types: giving people what they want vs. giving people what they didn't know they wanted. Faster horses and all that.
iowamomof4
Well-Known Member
FigmentForver96
Well-Known Member
This is why I wish the would just treat Hollywood Studios better. Hollywood/Sunset is BEAUTIFUL, especially at night. The music, ambiance, stores all add to such beautiful place making. But then being there this past Saturday, the poor park couldn’t handle the people. I waited over an hour just for single rider at RNRC. Which being spring break I expected crowds but there is nowhere for all these people to go. How are they going to handle Star Wars. Anyway not sure where I was goingWelcome to After Hours
LOL.
But man, it's so nice seeing.
Patcheslee
Well-Known Member
I'm starting to think they want ppl that avoid Extra Magic Hours to do these. We planned park days to avoid them and so far have Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios Early Morning Magic, now Animal Kingdom After Hours all on our park days, none of which we are doing. 
Ariel1986
Well-Known Member
But more importantly, these DAH aren't really the full park experience; they're more like EMH where most stuff is closed. You basically get a few big ticket rides and "select fast dining." Naturally, the gift shops too.
The one I attended at MK was pretty much every ride- I don't think Carousel of Progress or Laugh Floor was open, but every other ride, big ticket and small was open? Agreed on the food though, it would of been nice for something other than Casey's to have been open. I'd still do it again in a heartbeat, a truly empty MK was amazing.