Magic Kingdom EMH days being cut back

[ptaylor]

This has been mentioned a couple of times in various threads but I thought this deserved its own topic with some actual facts.

This summer the Magic Kingdom is seriously cutting back on EMH offerings. If anyone was in any doubt that guests are being weaned off EMH, then take a look at these numbers.

2011 July - 8 morning EMH, 10 evening EMH
2012 July - 4 morning EMH, 8 evening EMH
2013 July - 4 morning EMH, 5 evening EMH

Remember also that evening EMH has already been cut back to 2 hours from 3 hours, and that AK has removed evening EMH completely.

Will this help to bring back better maintenance and upkeep in the parks, or is it simply a cost cutting measure? With the planned MyMagic+ changes, will guests even need to be in the parks until the morning hours?

 

[ScoutN]

This has been mentioned a couple of times in various threads but I thought this deserved its own topic with some actual facts.

This summer the Magic Kingdom is seriously cutting back on EMH offerings. If anyone was in any doubt that guests are being weaned off EMH, then take a look at these numbers.

2011 July - 8 morning EMH, 10 evening EMH
2012 July - 4 morning EMH, 8 evening EMH
2013 July - 4 morning EMH, 5 evening EMH

Remember also that evening EMH has already been cut back to 2 hours from 3 hours, and that AK has removed evening EMH completely.

Will this help to bring back better maintenance and upkeep in the parks, or is it simply a cost cutting measure? With the planned MyMagic+ changes, will guests even need to be in the parks until the morning hours?

Evening is when I and others I tour with visit the most. Morning, hotel in the afternoon, and back until 12am-2am (used to be 3am). Once my AP expires end of the year I might just have to jump APs to Uni.

Certainly the upkeep could happen but highly doubtful in this cost cutting World WDW has adopted.

Big big thanks to DVC for providing nice accommodations in Orlando while visiting SWF/Uni/BGT!

 

[Prock3]

Will this help to bring back better maintenance and upkeep in the parks, or is it simply a cost cutting measure? With the planned MyMagic+ changes, will guests even need to be in the parks until the morning hours?

I think its both better maintenance and cost cutting

 

[DisneyDebRob]

What bugs me about the cutbacks, and I just don't mean in EMH, is that there is no outcry. Sure, some of the Internet boards make a stink but that's about it. Getting another letter ready to send off to Disney about this. Never seems to do much but ill keep trying.

 

[aladdin2007]

I think its both better maintenance and cost cutting

Agree and all for it. Too much wear and tear with lack of upkeep, hopefully it will reinstate some better measures of care. Its one cost cutting move that is for the better in the long run. The place cant remain open 24/7 and stay in descent shape.

 

[Prock3]

Agree and all for it. Too much wear and tear with lack of upkeep, hopefully it will reinstate some better measures of care. Its one cost cutting move that is for the better in the long run. The place cant remain open 24/7 and stay in descent shape.

Exactly there are already multiple days in the busy season when the park is open for 20 hours a day with only 5 or so hours between park days. Its a park thats been running nearly every day for 41 years, it needs a lot of upkeep.

 

[Clamman73]

Agree and all for it. Too much wear and tear with lack of upkeep, hopefully it will reinstate some better measures of care. Its one cost cutting move that is for the better in the long run. The place cant remain open 24/7 and stay in descent shape.

Who would have made the managment decision to have the EMH in the first place, and thought at the same time that upkeep would not be sacrificed? This assumes your stance that it's really a wear and tear issue with the weaning off of EMH.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Wasn't the thought process that the new incentive to stay on property would be Fastpass+?

 

[ChevisMickey]

I don't mind the hours they have within the day, so if they want to close the parks by 10pm I am fine with that, IF they give a full day's worth of hours. EMH will affect how I plan my vacation, however. I have stayed on property the majority of the time over my past dozen trips, and cutting back on the number of days EMH are given will give me a reason to take some of my money for rooms, food, and souveniers elsewhere. I want that hour, or two would be better in the evening, to get away from the locals and off-site vacationers. That is what keeps me on property more than any other perk since I drive to Disney. Those parking lots fill up, and empty in the daytime, so I know this isn't a minority of resort goers that may think twice about staying with Disney because they keep reducing EMH.

I mentioned their closing time because in the past the hours at night for EMH at MK and DHS could be extreme going on 2am and 3am. Cut back regular closing to before midnight, and by 1am everything is done on those late weekend nights. I've never been at EPCOT at 11pm and thought to myself that they were closing too early. For hours, EPCOT mostly has it right for what the park is, offers, and you can do within the 9-9 framework. I think the World Showcase would benefit from being open all hours that EPCOT is open, 9-9, but 31 years of tradition is slow in changing there.

 

[aladdin2007]

I don't mind the hours they have within the day, so if they want to close the parks by 10pm I am fine with that, IF they give a full day's worth of hours. EMH will affect how I plan my vacation, however. I have stayed on property the majority of the time over my past dozen trips, and cutting back on the number of days EMH are given will give me a reason to take some of my money for rooms, food, and souveniers elsewhere. I want that hour, or two would be better in the evening, to get away from the locals and off-site vacationers. That is what keeps me on property more than any other perk since I drive to Disney. Those parking lots fill up, and empty in the daytime, so I know this isn't a minority of resort goers that may think twice about staying with Disney because they keep reducing EMH.

I mentioned their closing time because in the past the hours at night for EMH at MK and DHS could be extreme going on 2am and 3am. Cut back regular closing to before midnight, and by 1am everything is done on those late weekend nights. I've never been at EPCOT at 11pm and thought to myself that they were closing too early. For hours, EPCOT mostly has it right for what the park is, offers, and you can do within the 9-9 framework. I think the World Showcase would benefit from being open all hours that EPCOT is open, 9-9, but 31 years of tradition is slow in changing there.

Especially with the prices as they are now it should be open the full day, so many people try to enter the UK shops in the morning as one example and find out everything is closed till 11. It seems like for the money things should be open and running.

 

[ChevisMickey]

Wasn't the thought process that the new incentive to stay on property would be Fastpass+?

I hope not. I appreciate the Fastpass+ concept, but my family benefits more from EMH. Even at one extra hour, both opening and closing, per park per week I would find it beneficial. If they cut that back to some balance of less than that they better add more incentives with the Fastpass+ for those staying on propery.

 

[aladdin2007]

Who would have made the managment decision to have the EMH in the first place, and thought at the same time that upkeep would not be sacrificed? This assumes your stance that it's really a wear and tear issue with the weaning off of EMH.

Are you agreeing or disagreeing lol

 

[asianway]

I don't mind the hours they have within the day, so if they want to close the parks by 10pm I am fine with that, IF they give a full day's worth of hours. EMH will affect how I plan my vacation, however. I have stayed on property the majority of the time over my past dozen trips, and cutting back on the number of days EMH are given will give me a reason to take some of my money for rooms, food, and souveniers elsewhere. I want that hour, or two would be better in the evening, to get away from the locals and off-site vacationers. That is what keeps me on property more than any other perk since I drive to Disney. Those parking lots fill up, and empty in the daytime, so I know this isn't a minority of resort goers that may think twice about staying with Disney because they keep reducing EMH.

I mentioned their closing time because in the past the hours at night for EMH at MK and DHS could be extreme going on 2am and 3am. Cut back regular closing to before midnight, and by 1am everything is done on those late weekend nights. I've never been at EPCOT at 11pm and thought to myself that they were closing too early. For hours, EPCOT mostly has it right for what the park is, offers, and you can do within the 9-9 framework. I think the World Showcase would benefit from being open all hours that EPCOT is open, 9-9, but 31 years of tradition is slow in changing there.

Epcot hours have only been that way since 1999-that was a cut early on

 

[bubbles1812]

Wasn't the thought process that the new incentive to stay on property would be Fastpass+?

I think so. But then the question is why would they think that would be equivalent? 3 FPs in advance vs EMH in multiple parks over a trip. I can ride the more popular attractions that require FPs many times in an EMH period and way more than 3 as a whole... So yeah, not equivalent. And definitely doesn't give me as much of an incentive to stay on property, particularly if FP+ isn't going to be resort exclusive as it will be for the time being (though I don't doubt Disney will monetize it to a "pay more to play more" model later)

 

[WDW1974]

I think its both better maintenance and cost cutting

Has nothing to do with maintenance and everything to do with labor costs (and since the average MK worker earns $32 an hour, you can surely sympathize with TWO's plight!)

 

[WDW1974]

Epcot hours have only been that way since 1999-that was a cut early on

EPCOT used to open both FW and WS at the same times. EPCOT also regularly had summer schedules of 8 am to midnight, seven days a week.

George K, who was VP of the park from 1995 to 2000, was the one largely responsible for the 9-9 hours that so many are used to. It absolutely kills them to leave the park open later, even the one hour they'll add for July 4th and weekends during Food and Wine.

Disney is so cheap that it pinks up pennies as Franklin's fly away. Food and Wine as well as summer (and other periods) should see EPCOT open until 11 p.m. Or later. They only look at labor costs and not revenue that walks. DUMB!

 

[Foolish Mortal]

Has nothing to do with maintenance and everything to do with labor costs (and since the average MK worker earns $32 an hour, you can surely sympathize with TWO's plight!)

What ??? You mean to tell me I could be making $32 an hour to tell you to watch your step on a speedramp as opposed to wiring your house for cable tv for about $22 an hour ? Oh hell yes, where do I sign up ?? I always joke with my co-workers that one day I'm coming back with a new job ! What is your source on WDW payroll ?

 

[unkadug]

What ??? You mean to tell me I could be making $32 an hour to tell you to watch your step on a speedramp as opposed to wiring your house for cable tv for about $22 an hour ? Oh hell yes, where do I sign up ?? I always joke with my co-workers the one day I'm coming back with a new job ! What is your source on WDW payroll ?

Count me in on the $32.00 an hour job....I'm ready to move.

 

[disney4life2008]

What bugs me about the cutbacks, and I just don't mean in EMH, is that there is no outcry. Sure, some of the Internet boards make a stink but that's about it. Getting another letter ready to send off to Disney about this. Never seems to do much but ill keep trying.

I agree fully on this. I am a member of several other thematic blogs and like this board - everyone will complain till the cows come home but no one is willing to complain to the suits. And at the end of the day - all of us will still spend thousands of dollars at WDW because we adjust and life goes on.

 

[Patrick_Ears]

I don't recall making $32.00 a hour at MK.... if so i'm working at the wrong job.