EMH To Be Cut By An Hour?

[John]

If we don't get as much satisfaction out of our trip to Disney, they're not going to get as much of our money. We can still go while cutting our own costs. If they have crappy merchandise I'm not going to buy what they have, just because. If they want me to stay on property, I'm not going to pay full rack rate because it's not worth it. If I don't feel that the AP is worth it anymore, I'll get a Magic Your Way ticket.

Yes, they're still getting our money, but not as much of it. That extra money that all of us has is going over to other Entertainment offerings either on the same vacation (Universal?) or elsewhere.

The only thing I have purchased in my last three trips are a few pins as I am a pin collector, have been for years. I have no intentions to purchase anything on my upcomming trip. Which may prove hard to do being I am taking my grandaughter for her first trip. No BBB for her though....I know....mean ol' pop pop!

 

[the-reason14]

If you are out that's your decision. I'm not going to try to talk you out of it. I can't speak for everyone else, but for me personally, the negatives talked about on here don't come close to adding up to me not going. Maybe some day they might, but not today. I often disagree with a lot of the negatives brought up, but this particular one is inexcusable. I will grant you there are some other people on here who seem so down on WDW that I often wonder why they still go, but I think the majority are just expressing displeasure over the loss of a perk.

I think everyone at some point with the way WDW is headed will say it's not worth it, at least the ones with the logic part of their brain still working. I think the ones that bash WDW the most, not just in things worth bashing like this change, but like everything, are the ones that will continue to go regardless of how bad WDW actually gets and they claim. If a light bulb doesn't go off in people's head after not only reading the negativity but experiencing it, then that's them. My last trip for awhile was in March. Our APs expired this past May, and we would have went then and renewed as well as went back this month and maybe next month, but with the fastpass being the way it is as well as other things, it just isn't worth it for me. So logic kicked in and now I'm on cruise control. But like I've said, everyone's different. And maybe some will reach their final straw while they still have money in the bank.

 

[wdwfan22]

During our last 3 trips (August, November, and April), the first 2 hours of EMH were crowded, 40 minutes or longer for the attractions you mentioned. But the parks were crowded during normal hours as well. It's why Disney dropping the 3rd EMH stinks; crowds didn't seem to start to thin out until the 3rd hour on the days we went.

What were crowds like during normal hours on the days you went?

Crowds were moderate to heavy during the normal park operating hours on the last couple of Extra Magic Hours i attended at Magic Kingdom. One thing i have noticed quite a bit here lately is that the wait times are always posted for longer than what the actual wait time is. most recently I've done 3 Magic Hours in June and 1 in July and have never found the park to be extremely busy. Keep in mind wait times are 15 to 30 mins especially during the first hour, but to me that is reasonable. The last hour is never busy especially if the closing time is 2 or 3 am.

 

[mousefanmax]

I have noticed that in may when my family went. The first two hours of EMH were fairly crowded but then the last hour started to taper off.

Disney has a history of pinching every last dime out of a guest. I used to collect pins however, now I can't justify spending $6.00 to $12.00 on a pin. They ruined the collectability of pins.

To say Iger is to blame for not keeping up the parks is hogwash. He has put millions of dollars into parks and resorts. It is a huge facility to keep up, now he is definitely not perfect. I would have to agree the cruises have much better service, food, entertainment, etc.. but they are much more expensive then other cruise lines.

I will say I have been 4 times this year and the merch buying is getting less and less.

 

[GoofGoof]

I think everyone at some point with the way WDW is headed will say it's not worth it, at least the ones with the logic part of their brain still working. I think the ones that bash WDW the most, not just in things worth bashing like this change, but like everything, are the ones that will continue to go regardless of how bad WDW actually gets and they claim. If a light bulb doesn't go off in people's head after not only reading the negativity but experiencing it, then that's them. My last trip for awhile was in March. Our APs expired this past May, and we would have went then and renewed as well as went back this month and maybe next month, but with the fastpass being the way it is as well as other things, it just isn't worth it for me. So logic kicked in and now I'm on cruise control. But like I've said, everyone's different. And maybe some will reach their final straw while they still have money in the bank.

You are far from the only person I have heard on here who has hit the breaking point. I think for me it may be more of a financial breaking point then anything related to the upkeep of the parks if it happens. One trend that I have noticed is a lot of people who have hit the breaking point were previously AP holders or at least did multiple trips in a year. I am more of a 2 trips every 3 years visitor. For example I did a week in 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2012 and I have one planned for 2013. After 2013 I plan to take a year off for sure. I think that I probably don't notice as many of the issues or let them bother me because I don't go as frequently. When I return after a year off I haven't seen any of the rides in 2 years. I hear a lot of complaints that nothing new has been built (especially MK). I think this would bother me a lot more if I did multiple trips a year. I would probably be more sick of the same old rides. As far as the value for the money I think WDW is really expensive compared to other vacation options. For me I also think its worth it. I can understand that if people are spending $10k or $15k a year on WDW trips and they are not happy with the parks that they would hit a breaking point and stop going. Of course this is all just my opinion based on a very small sample size. I am sure there are tons of people on here who go multiple times a year that have not hit a breaking point. But in my limited time here I have not heard too many once in a while visitors say they are done with the place.

 

[RSoxNo1]

All this conversation about fastpass time windows is interesting.. because everyone is assuming fastpass will still have traditional time window structure like it does now.....hmmmmm

I've also speculated that the Windows will need to be expanded. However, I would guess that the window may actually decrease in time. Care to elaborate?

 

[the-reason14]

You are far from the only person I have heard on here who has hit the breaking point. I think for me it may be more of a financial breaking point then anything related to the upkeep of the parks if it happens. One trend that I have noticed is a lot of people who have hit the breaking point were previously AP holders or at least did multiple trips in a year. I am more of a 2 trips every 3 years visitor. For example I did a week in 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2012 and I have one planned for 2013. After 2013 I plan to take a year off for sure. I think that I probably don't notice as many of the issues or let them bother me because I don't go as frequently. When I return after a year off I haven't seen any of the rides in 2 years. I hear a lot of complaints that nothing new has been built (especially MK). I think this would bother me a lot more if I did multiple trips a year. I would probably be more sick of the same old rides. As far as the value for the money I think WDW is really expensive compared to other vacation options. For me I also think its worth it. I can understand that if people are spending $10k or $15k a year on WDW trips and they are not happy with the parks that they would hit a breaking point and stop going. Of course this is all just my opinion based on a very small sample size. I am sure there are tons of people on here who go multiple times a year that have not hit a breaking point. But in my limited time here I have not heard too many once in a while visitors say they are done with the place.

This makes sense. If you go every other year then you're less likely to reach a breaking point as soon as someone who goes multiple times. I guess as long as you enjoy it in spite of it's recent shortcomings and flaws then that's all that matters. It just seems that a lot of people have almost nothing positive to say about WDW and bash it with such a cynical tone yet still go that you just want to hit them upside the head with a brick with hopes that common sense will hit. As long as there's a balance, then that's good.

 

[Zummi Gummi]

The only park that i would call unbareable for Extra Magic Hours would be Disney Hollywood Studios. Magic Kingdom very rarely has long lines during the evening magic hours and that does include Pan. I'm always able to get on Peter Pan (20 mins or less) Splash, Thunder, Space and everything else.

This has been my experience as well, since there's so few things to do at DHS, anyway.

I've been to EMH at MK where the last hour everything but Space was a walk-on, and Space was something like 15 minutes (posted at 30, I believe).

 

[WDW1974]

EMH won't be around much longer anyway.. It will be phased out one NextGen FP gets into full swing.. however, operations for the resort will likely be extending.. In other words, instead of EMH, the whole dang thing will be open later..

I believe the first part because I've heard rumblings ... I wonder about the second, however.

 

[WDW1974]

I don't disagree with your post but note that staying offsite (and we've done it often) has numerous disadvantages:

• Airport to hotel transportation (car rental for us)
• Hotel to theme park transportation (again, car rental for us; transportation for nearly all of the the offsite hotels is terrible but admittedly the Downtown Disney hotels are probably the best of the offsite hotels)
• Pay for parking & gas (because we rent a car)
• No EMH at most DTD hotels (even if it is only 2 hours in the evening)

Even though WL is perhaps the least expensive Deluxe Resort, it's still an expensive hotel. IMHO, the I'd compare the Hilton to one of the Moderate Resorts, with the Moderate Resorts providing a better vacation atmosphere.


For us, the big offsite savings comes from food. We simply eat no more than one meal a day at WDW and dine much more cheaply offsite.

As Disney continues to nibble away at the onsite perks, staying offsite becomes more and more appealing.

I have cancelled reservations at WDW resorts at least three times in the last four years when I got the DD Hilton on Priceline.com for $49-60 a night. And the Hilton is most definitely on par with Disney deluxe resorts. It is a full service hotel, great beds, nice pool area with jacuzzis, 3-4 restaurants, including Benihana (which is better and cheaper than Tepan Edo) and Andiamo (which is better and cheaper than Tutto Italia) -- both of which you can just show up and dine, no six months planning needed.

You can use their transport system or simply walk across to DD and hop on a Disney bus.

Oh, and it's also included in the EMH benefit, so you get that as well.

My $99 room at CBR, my $84 room at Pop and my $79 room at ASMu just didn't seem quite the values that some folks would have considered.

 

[StageFrenzy]

I have cancelled reservations at WDW resorts at least three times in the last four years when I got the DD Hilton on Priceline.com for $49-60 a night. And the Hilton is most definitely on par with Disney deluxe resorts. It is a full service hotel, great beds, nice pool area with jacuzzis, 3-4 restaurants, including Benihana (which is better and cheaper than Tepan Edo) and Andiamo (which is better and cheaper than Tutto Italia) -- both of which you can just show up and dine, no six months planning needed.

You can use their transport system or simply walk across to DD and hop on a Disney bus.

Oh, and it's also included in the EMH benefit, so you get that as well.

My $99 room at CBR, my $84 room at Pop and my $79 room at ASMu just didn't seem quite the values that some folks would have considered.

Have you been to any of the Bonnet Creek resorts yet?

 

[Cosmic Commando]

I believe the first part because I've heard rumblings ... I wonder about the second, however.

Cut three two hours of EMH, add one hour of normal park operations.

 

[Daddymouse]

I wonder how they will spin this one. Seems like a very blatent example of cutting perks to me. I wonder if this is yet another prep step for XPass or whatever the official name of that thing is now.

I am wondering the same thing. It would make sense to me. Especially since much of the next gen system is expected to control the line wait times etc..., allowing people to possibly experience more in a shorter period of time.

 

[bunnyman]

If we don't get as much satisfaction out of our trip to Disney, they're not going to get as much of our money. We can still go while cutting our own costs. If they have crappy merchandise I'm not going to buy what they have, just because. If they want me to stay on property, I'm not going to pay full rack rate because it's not worth it. If I don't feel that the AP is worth it anymore, I'll get a Magic Your Way ticket.

Yes, they're still getting our money, but not as much of it. That extra money that all of us has is going over to other Entertainment offerings either on the same vacation (Universal?) or elsewhere.


I can support that if that's indeed the case. If the 4 hours per park are spread out over multiple days that makes more sense for everyone, even if it doesn't give guests that 2 AM walk where the park's are a ghost town.


My experience with Disney's computer system would say otherwise, but yes, this would be something that could be done. However, it would require several things that Disney simply hasn't been able to do consistently such as tying existing ticket media (AP or 3rd party tickets) to your room reservation, and being able to handle simple "if/then" statements in their programming.

Agree with you on most points (even being a Yankees fan). We've gotten to the point where we only go when they have deep room only discounts; 7 or 8 day trips have become 4 or 5 day long weekends; we don't pay for the extra ticket features such as park hoppers, water parks, etc.; and we cut way back on souvenir purchases.

I actually miss the days of length of stay passes with plus features; no dining plan so you could actually make reservations for dining once you were down there for most (not all) restaurants and the restaurants actually had large menus; and the total spontaneity we used to enjoy. Back in those days it seemed we were in the parks longer (without the advent of EMH), we dined more in the parks, and we probably spent more. With the length of stay tickets we would usually book later return flights and earlier arrival flights just to spend 1/2 days in the parks. Now, with the cost of park tickets, we usually fly down later at night and leave earlier in the day because we don't want to spend $$ for partial days in the parks.

 

[JiminyandTink]

On the surface, this announcement seems really dissapointing. Hopefully there is some other shoe to drop to soften this (like extended park hours in general?).