EMH To Be Cut By An Hour?

[SeanC]

I always use the nighttime EMH at Magic Kingdom on Sundays on my trips, frequently till 3am. The park is usually pretty quiet from 2am on but its the best part of the day for us, As for spending, - maybe if they left a few places open guest spending would be higher. You can't even get a cup of hot chocolate or coffee on a cool night without heading back out to Main Street. And a popcorn cart would go a long way to that I haven't eaten since 10 or 11 peckishness.

Oh and there is always a line for a picture with Mickey and Minnie behind the castle even at 2:55!

 

[muteki]

I will say that on nights with EMH, we rarely make it through the second hour and if we do we will suffer the next morning because of it. As others have mentioned as well, by then the park is in such a skeleton state as far as food and rides go the value of staying diminishes.

That being said though, definitely a lame move and another case of getting less or more. If any good comes of this upkeep wise I seriously doubt a visiting guest would notice.

They aren't really recouping that much time anyway. One hour every 5 days or so? Every other day isn't emh (or evening emh at least), so the operational cost savings can't be significant. Which makes the whole thing even worse. What's next?

 

[bubbles1812]

As I posted earlier I never take advantage of EMHs since the parks which have them are generally more crowded on the days they are offered so I am not missing out on anything. I personally would prefer 8am opening for every park for hotel guests instead of EMHs. If fast pass becomes a resort guest only benefit then I am all for it since I usually stay on property.

Yikes. I don't Disney would survive that PR hullabaloo. There are many many guests who come consistently to Disney who choose to stay offsite. If Fastpass became something only for the resorts, they would seriously have to work overtime in the PR department.

 

[xdan0920]

Yikes. I don't Disney would survive that PR hullabaloo. There are many many guests who come consistently to Disney who choose to stay offsite. If Fastpass became something only for the resorts, they would seriously have to work overtime in the PR department.

I think the prevailing thought on this is, FP will become tiered. Offsite guests will be able to use the standard fast pass machines in park. And resort guests, depending on hotel level, will have the opportunity to book X amount of attractions prior to entering the park.

 

[GoofGoof]

Yikes. I don't Disney would survive that PR hullabaloo. There are many many guests who come consistently to Disney who choose to stay offsite. If Fastpass became something only for the resorts, they would seriously have to work overtime in the PR department.

Not my idea, but I wouldn't be against it. I think universal does this, but offers off site guests the option to pay more for the right. Somebody can confirm this since i never actually stayed on site at Uni. I think the other person was saying he thought that they were taking away some extra hours for resort guests but planned to replace that perk with a new version of fast pass for resort guests only. With recent Florida resident AP hikes and DVC construction maybe this would be another step to cater to higher spending guests who typically stay on property.

 

[GoofGoof]

I think the prevailing thought on this is, FP will become tiered. Offsite guests will be able to use the standard fast pass machines in park. And resort guests, depending on hotel level, will have the opportunity to book X amount of attractions prior to entering the park.

That makes more sense than making it totally exclusive.

 

[nepalostparks]

I think universal does this, but offers off site guests the option to pay more for the right. Somebody can confirm this since i never actually stayed on site at Uni.

That is correct. Guests staying at the current Universal resorts get free, unlimited express pass. The new resort they will be building will not offer that perk to it's guests.

Day guests to Uni can advance purchase the standard Express Pass, which is one time use per attraction. They also offer that in the parks on the day of purchase. The price of this fluctuates based on attendance levels. All based on availability as the number of passes are limited.

There is also an unlimited Express Pass option available for purchase, but only at the parks on that day. There is also zero information on Universal's website about this option, so I'm not sure how many day guests are even aware it exists before they get to the parks.

 

[ParentsOf4]

There is also an unlimited Express Pass option available for purchase, but only at the parks on that day. There is also zero information on Universal's website about this option, so I'm not sure how many day guests are even aware it exists before they get to the parks.

Please see the following link:

http://www.universalorlando.com/Theme-Park-Tickets/Universal-Express/Express-Plus-Passes.aspx

Universal's Express Pass Plus is available for purchase but is limited to one front-of-the-line access per attraction. If you are a group of four and want front-of-the-line access, it's often cheaper to stay onsite. The least expensive strategy is to stay one night. This entitles you to Express Pass for 2 days. Just stop by your resort in the morning and pick up your room key before the parks open. Express Pass is good for the entire days you check-in and check-out. Plus you get early admission on both days as well. It's really a great onsite benefit.

 

[nepalostparks]

Please see the following link:

http://www.universalorlando.com/Theme-Park-Tickets/Universal-Express/Express-Plus-Passes.aspx

Universal's Express Pass Plus is available for purchase but is limited to one front-of-the-line access per attraction.

I noted that in my post above.

If you are a group of four and want front-of-the-line access, it's often cheaper to stay onsite. The least expensive strategy is to stay one night. This entitles you to Express Pass for 2 days. Just stop by your resort in the morning and pick up your room key before the parks open. Express Pass is good for the entire days you check-in and check-out. Plus you get early admission on both days as well. It's really a great onsite benefit.

That may be the case, and would be worth looking into for each travel party to see if it's worth it.

But there is an option at the parks to purchase the unlimited version of Express Pass, however that information is not available on the website.

 

[Fe Maiden]

I think we're beyond using the term "declining by degrees" when it comes to WDW.

 

[ParentsOf4]

But there is an option at the parks to purchase the unlimited version of Express Pass, however that information is not available on the website.

Sorry, thought you were referring to the VIP ticket, which is mentioned at the bottom of the webpage I posted:

Get admission and unlimited Universal Express access at both parks with the VIP ticket

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Excellent idea, given the lack of attractions is not really required anyway.

 

[MarkTwain]

I think we're beyond using the term "declining by degrees" when it comes to WDW.

Yeah, "declining by degrees" implies that product reduction is done in such small increments that no one notices. This is a pretty noticeable change, even as little as they may advertise it. They're getting bolder with how they reduce.

 

[puntagordabob]

Universal seems to be upping their game while WDW seems to be doing things far differently... sorta confusing to be honest....Disney has always as far as I can recall been the top when it comes to offering their Guests value for their time/money... I wonder if a day coming soon we will all say that about another company such as Universal instead.... sad state we find ourselves in here in Florida. Of course in California, Disney seems to be doing the right things these days...

 

[Zummi Gummi]

Tiered fastpasses would be yet another slap in the face to locals.

Which is of course a demographic they could care less about, so I'm sure that will be the next change.

 

[asianway]

I always use the nighttime EMH at Magic Kingdom on Sundays on my trips, frequently till 3am. The park is usually pretty quiet from 2am on but its the best part of the day for us, As for spending, - maybe if they left a few places open guest spending would be higher. You can't even get a cup of hot chocolate or coffee on a cool night without heading back out to Main Street. And a popcorn cart would go a long way to that I haven't eaten since 10 or 11 peckishness.

Oh and there is always a line for a picture with Mickey and Minnie behind the castle even at 2:55!

Where have you been? Fantasyland EMH characters got the axe last summer-that was the first decline. By FY '14 I predict EMH will be phased out entirely, then replaced by a new version of the Eride nights but the tickets won't be $12 this time.

Next cut will be in the number of rides offered at EMH-watch for it...

 

[the-reason14]

When are we, officially, allowed to express our disappointment in the change? Am I required to experience it first? "So this is what one less hour feels like. Yep, I still don't like it."

I'd rather respond ahead of a confirmed change than after it occurs. I already know that I won't like one less hour of EMH, so why can't I register a complaint now. I doubt Disney will alter its position on this, but if there's a chance of that happening, it's before the change is actually implemented.

Actually they would. Stop going and supporting them while they continue to cut back, and then they will see that they need to add more to keep getting it's customers back instead of take things away. What if next year at this time they decide that having all 4 parks open every day isn't beneficial, but will instead close MK every Monday's and Wednesdays, Epcot every Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, MGM every Friday, and AK every Tuesday starting early 2014? Will people here still go? Probably, while complaining about it at every chance.

 

[dxwwf3]

Also I'd like to add that no EMH at AK is a travesty. That park is brilliantly lit at night... It might be the most beautiful at night even... And there is basically no time to ever experience it anymore.

Couldn't have said it better mysefl

 

[koryadams]

I was wondering when this would happen. Does this effect me? Yes. I use all the EMH and don't leave until they are over. BUT I can see why they are cutting it because my brother and I were like among 12 other people in Fantasyland around 2:30am. Yes it is fun, but why have cast members there when like no one is in the park! It makes sense, but I will miss being in the MK till 3am!

 

[mike7904]

very disappointing. at this point having evening EMH is the main reason we elect to stay onsite. There are plenty of other places we could stay at a similar or lower price that would be nicer. We stay the full 3 hours, the first 1/2 hour to hour are still busy with day guests exiting. The final two hours allow for riding attractions that may have been missed during the day. I see more offsite stays in the future.