MK private event tonight (May 31) - early close and perimeters for Wishes

englanddg

One Little Spark...
It's funny you say that. I was reading an article about online dating, and when I pointed out some very valid criticisms, someone noted that the authors aren't CNN regulars, but run some kind of humor site, and so OF COURSE I shouldn't take it seriously. I didn't pick up on it, because a) it wasn't funny, and b) when I think of topical humor, CNN doesn't immediately spring to the forefront.
CNN has been trying very hard, imho, to play the fine line between a real news organization (like BBC News and Al Jazeera News) and the mixed op/ed crap that MSNBC and Fox push.
 

pax_65

Well-Known Member
There was a time when merely going to Disney World garnered you the right to "get" everything. Back when Disney treated all guests like VIPs. The disdain that WDW shows toward guests in the parks is jaw-dropping.

^THIS. It's depressing to me that the reaction to this story from many is, "Why can't Disney have more private events for extra $$$ that we can buy?"

My reaction is, "Why can't Disney have this kind of entertainment in the Magic Kingdom on a regular basis for park guests?"

I understand it makes sense for Disney to do this particular special event. I also understand the upcharge events for Christmas and Halloween are very popular, so I don't blame Disney for doing them either. But the fact remains - if you buy a 7-day pass and Magic Kingdom is closed 2 of those nights for private events, the value of that pass just went down. And that's even more true for an AP - in theory that gets you in the park anytime you want to go... only now it doesn't.

When I first started visiting WDW in the early 90s, the magic was pretty much available to all in relatively equal measure. Yeah, I'm sure if you were wealthy enough you could sign up for private tours and whatnot but that didn't really impact other guests in a visible way. Certainly not like closing the park for those who didn't pay extra $.
 

pmaljr

Well-Known Member
drunken-pooh.jpg


Was this at the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot last year?
 

devoy1701

Well-Known Member
Well if you're renting out the entire magic kingdom for 5 hours, I'm pretty sure you can afford whatever characters you want..... Whats an extra couple tens of thousands when you're dropping Millions for the MK?
it's not millions. I've seen the most recent price schedule. Let me see if I can find where I put it.
 

ToTBellHop

Well-Known Member
^THIS. It's depressing to me that the reaction to this story from many is, "Why can't Disney have more private events for extra $$$ that we can buy?"

My reaction is, "Why can't Disney have this kind of entertainment in the Magic Kingdom on a regular basis for park guests?"

I understand it makes sense for Disney to do this particular special event. I also understand the upcharge events for Christmas and Halloween are very popular, so I don't blame Disney for doing them either. But the fact remains - if you buy a 7-day pass and Magic Kingdom is closed 2 of those nights for private events, the value of that pass just went down. And that's even more true for an AP - in theory that gets you in the park anytime you want to go... only now it doesn't.

When I first started visiting WDW in the early 90s, the magic was pretty much available to all in relatively equal measure. Yeah, I'm sure if you were wealthy enough you could sign up for private tours and whatnot but that didn't really impact other guests in a visible way. Certainly not like closing the park for those who didn't pay extra $.
This is my problem, as well. I know exclusive parties like this have always happened, but it didn't used to be such a stark difference between these parties and what the day-to-day guests see. This is made especially clear given that they just threw a 24-hour "party" for day-guests which had far less to offer than this party.
 

Tigger1988

Well-Known Member
This is my problem, as well. I know exclusive parties like this have always happened, but it didn't used to be such a stark difference between these parties and what the day-to-day guests see. This is made especially clear given that they just threw a 24-hour "party" for day-guests which had far less to offer than this party.
How would you even know? The age of posting real time photos of these events is a fairly new thing.

If someone has enough money they can have their wedding inside the Great Movie Ride, should that anger people who can only afford a wedding at the normal Wedding Pavilion?

If a group is paying millions they will have a VASTLY different experience than average guests. True in the 80s, true in the 90s, true today.
 

devoy1701

Well-Known Member
So I can't find the cost schedule that I has when we were looking for locations in the Orlando area for our corporate event this summer. The only reason I know that we're not talking Millions of dollars is because when I was looking at the prices I was thinking "oh...we're only a few years away from having a budget like that!" (I was operating at a $30,000 budget for the event).

Anyway...I tried googling some stuff, and found this article regarding Hollywood Studios. From the dates on the comments, it was published in 2011.

Just to give an idea of costs back then, to rent out either Streets of Americas or Sunset Blvd, it was a flat $5,000 Venue Fee + $10,000 minimum in Food and Beverage. To keep attractions such as RnR or ToT opened during your event it was $6,500 per attraction. Character packages seem to range from $300 to $2000. You could have the entire Pixar Parade run for $35,000.

Reading through the article, some venue fees are as little as $500 and F&B Mins as little as $1,500. Obviously MK would Cost ALOT more to rent...and prices have probably gone up in 5 years, but for large companies with entertainment budgets, the prices aren't unreasonable.

Anyway, here's the article. http://disneytravelbabble.com/blog/2011/08/02/private-party-locations-at-disneys-hollywood-studios/
 

pax_65

Well-Known Member
If someone has enough money they can have their wedding inside the Great Movie Ride, should that anger people who can only afford a wedding at the normal Wedding Pavilion?

If a group is paying millions they will have a VASTLY different experience than average guests. True in the 80s, true in the 90s, true today.

I'm sure it happened throughout the history of the park, but in the 90's I don't remember the typical guest's experience being impacted like it is today. It was done more discretely - maybe an attraction or area was blocked off "for a special event". As a guest you'd just shrug, wonder what was going on and then move on to enjoy another attraction.

Today the entire park closes and you find yourself outside the Magic Kingdom at 7:05pm wondering what to do with the rest of your evening.
 

sporadic

Well-Known Member
I'm sure it happened throughout the history of the park, but in the 90's I don't remember the typical guest's experience being impacted like it is today. It was done more discretely - maybe an attraction or area was blocked off "for a special event". As a guest you'd just shrug, wonder what was going on and then move on to enjoy another attraction.

Today the entire park closes and you find yourself outside the Magic Kingdom at 7:05pm wondering what to do with the rest of your evening.

I'd probably chalk this up to awareness via social media.
 

RandomPrincess

Keep Moving Forward
I thank you for all of the information you provided. Very grateful. It's a learning experience.

However, I'm wondering how Mousesteps and Inside The Magic (not naming individuals names) get into this event when they are not journalists. They are Youtubers who make videos often. They were even at Disneyland 60th Anniversary shooting video.

So my question is: Are these individuals on a payroll or a "comp roll" by the Disney Company? Because I can't imagine living in Orlando without a corporate job would enable anyone to pay for such extravagances.

I'm an just trying to understand this. That is why I'm asking. Thank you.

Ricky from Inside the Magic has written articles on travel for Foxnews.com so he does qualify under the rules stated above as press who can get into this event.
 

pax_65

Well-Known Member
I'd probably chalk this up to awareness via social media.

I'm sure that plays a role but for myself I was talking about what I've experienced in the parks.

In the 90s, it appeared that everyone had the same magical experience. You had to look closer to see things amiss, such as a cast member escorting a party through the park, or an attraction closed or a small part of a park roped off (I distinctly remember the patio near France hosting special events and private fireworks viewing way back, long before the dessert parties were officially a thing.)

The special attention received by a few did not impact the average guest the same way it does today.
 

PhotoDave219

Well-Known Member
I thank you for all of the information you provided. Very grateful. It's a learning experience.

However, I'm wondering how Mousesteps and Inside The Magic (not naming individuals names) get into this event when they are not journalists. They are Youtubers who make videos often. They were even at Disneyland 60th Anniversary shooting video.

So my question is: Are these individuals on a payroll or a "comp roll" by the Disney Company? Because I can't imagine living in Orlando without a corporate job would enable anyone to pay for such extravagances.

I'm an just trying to understand this. That is why I'm asking. Thank you.

I'd love the answer to that question as well.
 

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom