Epcot Money Grab

[BigTxEars]

Lol... nice!

I also think someone else made a good point: Wind down from what? To me, that terminology would make more sense if WS was open until, say, midnight and then the extra time was until 2 am or something along those lines. But many of the people who would be inclined to do something like this probably hardly consider finishing up anywhere at 11 pm "winding down."

It almost seems like maybe they are trying to make the idea of staying at Epcot for a few drinks sound a little more upscale? Kind of "class it up" a bit from the notion of a WS crawl? If so, I'm not sure that this will change anything on that front... just throwing out my thoughts as they come.

Disclaimer: I'm not saying at all that I think the drinking around WS needs to be "classed up" at all. I haven't even been as an adult yet, so I can't comment on that. My comments above were driven mainly by some of the comments I've seen here where people are a little down on the idea of drinking going on at Disney parks and in no way reflect my opinion on the subject.

Hey now I am getting kinda old, 11pm is way past my bedtime

I think the wind down term is applied to mean winding down front eh entire day. The day we are doing it we start at AK, end up at Epcot for a ADR so by 9am I will start to be ready to wind it down and hit the ole hay

 

[cw1982]

Hey now I am getting kinda old, 11pm is way past my bedtime

I think the wind down term is applied to mean winding down front eh entire day. The day we are doing it we start at AK, end up at Epcot for a ADR so by 9am I will start to be ready to wind it down and hit the ole hay

By 9 am you're ready to wind down? LOL... methinks you meant 9 pm... at least I hope. There are days at work that I'm ready to go home by 9 am, but at WDW? Hopefully not!

That does make sense, and it does have a somewhat relaxing connotation to it. I still think, though, that Disney would make more money on this if they kept WS as a whole open a little later and then bumped the time on this back to match that. It would still be calmer and more the pace they are trying to offer, but I don't think they would lose any sales of ADR's on this one by making it a little later... it would be a win-win for them.

 

[BigTxEars]

By 9 am you're ready to wind down? LOL... methinks you meant 9 pm... at least I hope. There are days at work that I'm ready to go home by 9 am, but at WDW? Hopefully not!

That does make sense, and it does have a somewhat relaxing connotation to it. I still think, though, that Disney would make more money on this if they kept WS as a whole open a little later and then bumped the time on this back to match that. It would still be calmer and more the pace they are trying to offer, but I don't think they would lose any sales of ADR's on this one by making it a little later... it would be a win-win for them.

Yeah 9pm, I ain't that old....yet

Maybe they are testing to see how many folks would stay at WS late. If this is successful then maybe WS will stay open latter.

 

[cw1982]

Maybe they are testing to see how many folks would stay at WS late. If this is successful then maybe WS will stay open latter.

That would make sense. Hopefully this is the case.

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

As noted in the spirited threads, WDW1974 said we'll see a lot more upcharge experiences at WDW premiere this year to prop up guest spending numbers and make MM+ look like a success.

This isn't a test to see if World Showcase should stay open later. Park hours won't be extended on a regular basis - that costs money.

 

[BigTxEars]

As noted in the spirited threads, WDW1974 said we'll see a lot more upcharge experiences at WDW premiere this year to prop up guest spending numbers and make MM+ look like a success.

This isn't a test to see if World Showcase should stay open later. Park hours won't be extended on a regular basis - that costs money.

Like I said earlier that is fine with me, I rather pay more for lower crowds after hours at Epcot.

How is this making MM+ look like a success? It's a simple ADR, the same way we did it years before MM+. Other than the fact it will be linked to my MB rather than me giving them my name when I get there it's no different than if this had occurred 2 years ago.

Upscale experiences are nothing new at Disney, heck "pay to play more" goes back to DL when it first opened. Guest could buy more tickets to ride the attractions again and again, or not. Behind the scene tours at the parks have been pay to play and successful for years at WDW. This is really not outside of that ideology to me.

WDW has always worked to prop up guest spending, just as any business does. I don't look at it as a negative, just more options that I can chose from.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Its Disney, Id rather pay triple and get rid of the poor people

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

Like I said earlier that is fine with me, I rather pay more for lower crowds after hours at Epcot.

How is this making MM+ look like a success? It's a simple ADR, the same way we did it years before MM+. Other than the fact it will be linked to my MB rather than me giving them my name when I get there it's no different than if this had occurred 2 years ago.

Upscale experiences are nothing new at Disney, heck "pay to play more" goes back to DL when it first opened. Guest could buy more tickets to ride the attractions again and again, or not. Behind the scene tours at the parks have been pay to play and successful for years at WDW. This is really not outside of that ideology to me.

WDW has always worked to prop up guest spending, just as any business does. I don't look at it as a negative, just more options that I can chose from.

All extra revenue can be lumped into "guest spending" - since they guaranteed an 11% increase on guest spending as a result of MM+, they are going to come up with that 11% come hell or high water - but it won't be from MM+, which is useless when it comes to raising guest spending in any meaningful way. Creating new hard ticket experiences - like this - is an easy way to create a new revenue stream that they can crow about to corporate and put on a spreadsheet to show spending increased this year. Rumor is that DHS will get a hard ticket Halloween party this year too - another easy way to increase the numbers.

This trend is bad for guests - more and more experiences that used to be free (World Showcase used to be open till 11pm on many nights) are now available at an upcharge.

Nonetheless, I hope you enjoy the event (and don't mind the price tag) - you won't have any ADR booking competition from me.

 

[BigTxEars]

Its Disney, Id rather pay triple and get rid of the poor people

There are no poor people at Disney. Disney is a pure luxury, an expensive one at that, poor people are not going to Disney in any measurable numbers.

But if you want to open that can of worms then how is this any different than what Walt did at DL when it opened? The more money a guest had then allowed them to do more as well, just as it does today. So 50 + years latter the business formal is the same. And what exactly is wrong with that?

 

[BigTxEars]

All extra revenue can be lumped into "guest spending" - since they guaranteed an 11% increase on guest spending as a result of MM+, they are going to come up with that 11% come hell or high water - but it won't be from MM+, which is useless when it comes to raising guest spending in any meaningful way. Creating new hard ticket experiences - like this - is an easy way to create a new revenue stream that they can crow about to corporate and put on a spreadsheet to show spending increased this year. Rumor is that DHS will get a hard ticket Halloween party this year too - another easy way to increase the numbers.

This trend is bad for guests - more and more experiences that used to be free (World Showcase used to be open till 11pm on many nights) are now available at an upcharge.

Nonetheless, I hope you enjoy the event (and don't mind the price tag) - you won't have any ADR booking competition from me.

When WS was open till 11pm your ticket did not include a table, drink and food. This does thus the cost. I don't agree at all the trend is bad for guest, what's wrong with more options? Take or leave them is fine with me.

Had they not done this new program Epcot would still close at 9pm, this is not harming or taking away from anybody's day at Epcot.

How is it any different than the Christmas part or the NSHHP? Those are hugely popular with guest, are those bad for guest as well?

The link to MM is just conjecture on your part honestly. You are linking the two together, nothing else is. What is odd is that if this had occurred a year ago it would have just been linked to WDW "greed" but now it's WDW "greed" and linked to MM as well . It's twice as "evil" that way I guess to some.

 

[rt06]

There are still a lot of moving parts for such a small window of time. If I decide to leave the resort at 10PM, think about everything Disney has to coordinate to get me there, then get me home. There is an expense to this. Your local joint, with its pre-game specials or whatnot, doesn't have to worry about transportation, security, and magic bands.

I think the price is fair, in the way I imagine Disney will present this "intimate experience." I'm not expecting curtains, candles, couches, and cocktail waitresses. There is an expectation of something "different."

Disney just can't seat me at Tutto Gusto next to the family with the 8:45 ADR. They'll still be there at 9:15. They're likely to stay until 10. If that's the case, what's all the brouhaha about? Then they're experiencing what I'm experiencing, while still being able to order whatever the heck they want, and I'm stuck with a sample of dry salami (maybe).

At $35, I want a first class curtain, for the waitress to yank closed, as she shoos away the interlopers trying to use the wind down lavatory.

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

When WS was open till 11pm your ticket did not include a table, drink and food. This does thus the cost. I don't agree at all the trend is bad for guest, what's wrong with more options? Take or leave them is fine with me.

Had they not done this new program Epcot would still close at 9pm, this is not harming or taking away from anybody's day at Epcot.

How is it any different than the Christmas part or the NSHHP? Those are hugely popular with guest, are those bad for guest as well?

The link to MM is just conjecture on your part honestly. You are linking the two together, nothing else is. What is odd is that if this had occurred a year ago it would have just been linked to WDW "greed" but now it's WDW "greed" and linked to MM as well . It's twice as "evil" that way I guess to some.

I'm sure the $35 is a real value for the "small bites" and "beverage flight" you'll receive. Can't wait to see the portions once the first event happens (if I had to guess, I'd wager they'll be tiny). And of course, they'll let you buy more drinks.

Epcot would still close at 9pm, but on peak days it should be closing at 11pm anyway. It's what popular theme parks do on peak days...everywhere but WDW.

Well since you asked, yes, MNSSHP and MVMCP are BAD for guests. At every other Disney theme park in the world, Halloween and Christmas festivities are included with your park admission and available to all guests. DLR has a Halloween party, but it doesn't include anything that's not available during the day except for fireworks and candy (it's not much of an event, and they should ditch it too). TDO has used them as a way to squeeze more money out of guests while limiting MK hours to the general public. Genius, really, but guests do lose. You'd never look at MVMCP the same way again if you spent a day at DLR during Christmas - both parks have Christmas parades and nighttime spectaculars available to all guests, plus ride overlays WDW is too lazy to even try.

Guests LOVE all sorts of things that are bad - it's not a valid metric. Guests would love not having to shell out an extra $300 for the family to see the Christmas parade too - they just don't know any other way, so the MVMCP is magical. Did you know that in 2005 MVMCP cost $38.95 for an adult (advance purchase price)? In 2013 it was $67 or $62 depending on the party date. In that time, the MVMCP offerings have decreased - so, explain to me how that's not outright greed/number propping? It's just one example - ticket, event ticket, food and hotel prices have skyrocketed over the past 10 years or so.

The link to MM+ isn't conjecture, but if you want to believe that, it's fine. Just keep looking out for more hard ticket upcharge things at WDW - they're on their way, and will continue to pile up. TDO won't stop at anything to cover their butts with the moneypit that is MM+, and since failure is not an option, that 11% guest spending increase has to come from somewhere (and it won't happen organically from people buying marked up rubber bracelet dongles).

 

[EpcoTim]

When WS was open till 11pm your ticket did not include a table, drink and food. This does thus the cost. I don't agree at all the trend is bad for guest, what's wrong with more options? Take or leave them is fine with me.

Had they not done this new program Epcot would still close at 9pm, this is not harming or taking away from anybody's day at Epcot.

How is it any different than the Christmas part or the NSHHP? Those are hugely popular with guest, are those bad for guest as well?

The link to MM is just conjecture on your part honestly. You are linking the two together, nothing else is. What is odd is that if this had occurred a year ago it would have just been linked to WDW "greed" but now it's WDW "greed" and linked to MM as well . It's twice as "evil" that way I guess to some.

I don't want my ticket to include a table, drinks or food. Just let me pay and let me spend my day there. I'll decide when and what food and drinks I want and I'll pay full boat for them when I want them.

Honestly, how can you justify being charged twice to stay at a theme park you already paid to get in?

 

[janoimagine]

I love to take picture in the parks when no one is there these are the best photos!!! so I am excited

You can still do that without shelling out the extra $35 ...

Or here's a theory... just put on offerings in your bars and restaurants that make people want to come and spend time there... without having to pay a up front fee and make a reservation.

That just makes to much sense ... which is why it will never work.

 

[MarkTwain]

I don't want my ticket to include a table, drinks or food. Just let me pay and let me spend my day there. I'll decide when and what food and drinks I want and I'll pay full boat for them when I want them.

Honestly, how can you justify being charged twice to stay at a theme park you already paid to get in?

MK does it every alternating night from September to December, and it's a raging success.

(Not saying I agree with the mentality, just playing devil's advocate)

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

There are no poor people at Disney. Disney is a pure luxury, an expensive one at that, poor people are not going to Disney in any measurable numbers.

But if you want to open that can of worms then how is this any different than what Walt did at DL when it opened? The more money a guest had then allowed them to do more as well, just as it does today. So 50 + years latter the business formal is the same. And what exactly is wrong with that?

Its all relative, just none of mine.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

.

Honestly, how can you justify being charged twice to stay at a theme park you already paid to get in?

Because its Disney, and its pure magical by the way and its a business and its what Walt would have wanted.

 

[EpcoTim]

MK does it every alternating night from September to December, and it's a raging success.

(Not saying I agree with the mentality, just playing devil's advocate)

Yeah, but you get to attend events you normally wouldn't. With the Epcot deal you get nothing, absolutely nothing that you couldn't get otherwise.

 

[BigTxEars]

I don't want my ticket to include a table, drinks or food. Just let me pay and let me spend my day there. I'll decide when and what food and drinks I want and I'll pay full boat for them when I want them.

Honestly, how can you justify being charged twice to stay at a theme park you already paid to get in?

You get all that, the park closes at 9pm, that is known before you step foot in it that day, heck it's known months before. This does nothing to change that at all.

This all occurs after 9pm, when the park is closed. So your day and your ticket is effected not at all.

I can justify it because I want to do it. It 100% my choice. You clearly do not want to do it, thats fine. Why does it bother you that I do?

 

[BigTxEars]

Because its Disney, and its pure magical by the way and its a business and its what Walt would have wanted.

Again how does it differ than what Walt did at DL when it opened? The more money you were willing to spend there the more you were able to do. Same thing here. Again if you wanted to ride more attractions at DL you paid more, if you want to eat, drink and be at WS after if closes you pay more here. I fail to see any difference. Do you?