No Extra Magic Hours Starting 1/1/16? Update: EMH to Continue

[GeneralZod]

Not 100% true (tho it IS a good idea to book as soon as you can). As a "Local" I never plan more than 2 weeks in advance for dining..and I have had little issue getting into anyplace at a decent time...you just need to be a little flexible (a 3 hour window is usually sufficient from my experience).

Definitely depends on the size of the party and even then, with only three, I have been turned away regardless of the time of day. Last September we were denied from one restaurant in particular and told that not only were there no available times for that day, but they were also booked solid for the next two days. Just depends.

 

[sxeensweet]

Definitely depends on the size of the party and even then, with only three, I have been turned away regardless of the time of day. Last September we were denied from one restaurant in particular and told that not only were there no available times for that day, but they were also booked solid for the next two days. Just depends.

Walk ups not usually unless at a resort, but if you get on MDE you can usually make a Ressie somewhere even the day of/several hours prior.

 

[GeneralZod]

Walk ups not usually unless at a resort, but if you get on MDE you can usually make a Ressie somewhere even the day of/several hours prior.

We walk up all the time when there is only three of us, not as easy when there are eight, but this time there were no time slots in person or on the app. We also had an odd experience where it seemed to be the wording, of the request people were using, that caused them to get denied.

 

[ToTBellHop]

It's not like they don't announce that Tomorrowland and Fantasyland are the only areas open for morning EMH. It's your own fault if you stand in front of a rope for an hour staring at palm trees.

 

[AEfx]

We walk up all the time when there is only three of us, not as easy when there are eight, but this time there were no time slots in person or on the app. We also had an odd experience where it seemed to be the wording, of the request people were using, that caused them to get denied.

Yup, I have seen that as well - they refuse to seat a party of 2 or 3, but if a party of 4 walks up - walk right this way.

 

[sxeensweet]

Yup, I have seen that as well - they refuse to seat a party of 2 or 3, but if a party of 4 walks up - walk right this way.

I personally have not seen anyone successful yet in the parks when we are waiting for our reservations. I have seen them turned away a lot when we go. We are usually there Oct - Dec sometime and not during the holidays.

 

[EvilQueen-T]

Disney has posted the January 2016 park hours and noticeably absent are any EMH offerings. Are they finally doing away with the extra hours? Almost as a consolation, MSEP is scheduled every night in January 2016. It would also seem the Osborne Lights are scheduled to run 11/6/15-1/3/16.

http://media.disneywebcontent.com/StaticFiles/ParkHours/WDWTravelAgent_january.pdf

I really hope they don't do away with EMH since it's the biggest reason we stay onsite. We drive to disney so for us we'd still go but I'd probably get a less expensive room offsite.

 

[peter11435]

If they get ride of morning EMH that wouldn't be a bad thing, those are worthless anyway.

Disney: Yes you have morning EMH and you get into the park an hour before anyone else.
Us: So we can ride rides before the real gates open?
Disney: Oh no...you can walk to a rope just outside of a particular section of Magic Kingdom, but you can't actually go in there
Us: So what are we supposed to do during EMH?
Disney: Shop, take pictures, roam around.....shop.
Us: We just got here, and you want us to buy stuff first thing in the morning so we can carry it around all day?
Disney: Of course not...you can buy stuff and then spend money on a locker to keep it in all day.
Us: So we are still spending more money
Disney: Yup
Us: So where does the "Extra Magic" come into play?
Disney: It's Extra Magic for our bottom line baby.

As others have pointed out fantasyland and tomorrowland are open during EMH. Also just so you know they will send all of your purchases back to your resort at no cost. So there would be no need to rent a locker.

 

[gmajew]

I really hope they don't do away with EMH since it's the biggest reason we stay onsite. We drive to disney so for us we'd still go but I'd probably get a less expensive room offsite.

I thought it was already stated it will be back for 2016 by one of the insiders?

 

[The Visionary Soul]

I looked at your post, and didn't see that this was the plan all along. Perhaps it has always been an alternative, but I don't see it as THE plan. Maybe I missed something.

EMH is more than just short lines for the rides. It's being in a less crowded park, feeling special, and justifying the extra bucks you paid for the convenience of being onsite. As I get older, I'm starting to like big crowds less and less. This apparently is not unusual. Many of the age 50+ men that I know are truly starting to avoid crowds, wanting quiet times in a man cave or woods instead. Short lines are nice, of course, but it's the atmosphere and relative quiet that brings me back for evening EMH's with each visit.

Also this one. http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/...ions-thoughts-iv.870129/page-610#post-5784371

It's the plan.

And you can have a less crowded park any night after about an hour after the fireworks.

 

[The Visionary Soul]

Except that mathematically everyone cannot have 10 FP+ per day...you'd hit a point where standby would disappear, and that couldn't happen due to day visitors and park hoppers etc.

It wouldn't surprise me if they returned to surprise mornings only and then kept the parks open later.

I never said everyone would have 10 FP+ per day. I was making a "what if?" statement and I specifically said this would be a benefit for only those staying at the Deluxe resorts. I don't expect it to be as high as 10 anyway, but maybe...

 

[AEfx]

And you can have a less crowded park any night after about an hour after the fireworks.

See, again - this is only true for parts of the year where MK is actually open past 9.

Many nights, the parks aren't open after the fireworks or they close 1/2 hour later.

If Disney actually kept their parks open late enough to enjoy in the evenings, I wouldn't give a fig about EMH. But there is a lot of the year when DHS closes at freaking 7, 8 at the latest if you are lucky. MK is the worst, though, because so much of that park is so much richer at night when it's all lit up - and during the times of the year they close up at 9, on alternate nights they close up at 7 for hard ticket events.

I think some folks only go during times when the parks are open later, so EMH goes until like 2 or 3AM or something - that simply doesn't happen for a decent chunk of the year. I have spent up to 32 days in one calendar year at WDW (on a half-dozen trips) and I have never been to MK at a night where it was scheduled to be open past 11, and even that was a rarity it's almost always been 9PM. Midnight is the latest I have been, and that's almost always been because of a hard ticket event. I honestly don't think I have been in the park after 11 without having to pay $60, even with EMH.

 

[sxeensweet]

See, again - this is only true for parts of the year where MK is actually open past 9.

Many nights, the parks aren't open after the fireworks or they close 1/2 hour later.

If Disney actually kept their parks open late enough to enjoy in the evenings, I wouldn't give a fig about EMH. But there is a lot of the year when DHS closes at freaking 7, 8 at the latest if you are lucky. MK is the worst, though, because so much of that park is so much richer at night when it's all lit up - and during the times of the year they close up at 9, on alternate nights they close up at 7 for hard ticket events.

I think some folks only go during times when the parks are open later, so EMH goes until like 2 or 3AM or something - that simply doesn't happen for a decent chunk of the year. I have spent up to 32 days in one calendar year at WDW (on a half-dozen trips) and I have never been to MK at a night where it was scheduled to be open past 11, and even that was a rarity it's almost always been 9PM. Midnight is the latest I have been, and that's almost always been because of a hard ticket event. I honestly don't think I have been in the park after 11 without having to pay $60, even with EMH.

Mostly agree as I always go Oct-Dec. Usually besides the parties MK has had a night without EMH at least once a week on a Saturday usually that is open until 12am now or 1am (a few years back). This years hours for when we will be there has 1 night until 12am on the Saturdays without a party or EMH. Other than that yes you are right that usually in the slower fall/winter periods the hours are drastically reduced in the evenings compared to the spring/ summer. So the evening EMH are an important part for me and DH due to the shorter hours like you mentioned. I have never been able to be in MK until 3am either!! Lol

 

[Brad Bishop]

I also wonder how much extra EMH really costs. The parks are open that day anyway, and the basic costs of building everything is already in place. What's needed is workers for those few hours and utilities (all variable costs). The fixed costs are already in place. It's similar to a factory owner with a widget making machine that costs $10,000,000. Once you purchased the machine, it's wise to run it as much as possible, 24/7 if you can.

Also consider that it's not a total loss to open the parks early or keep them open late. They're still selling food (some - many places close) and merchandise.

 

[PAW PAW 70]

Can anyone tell me what is Osborne Lights and where it's held.

 

[Tuvalu]

Can anyone tell me what is Osborne Lights and where it's held.

Have you not seen the Osborne Lights during the trips you have taken during Thanksgiving week? The Osborne Lights are on the Streets of America in Disney's Hollywood Studios and run nightly from 6 pm til closing from early November until early January.

 

[asianway]

As others have pointed out fantasyland and tomorrowland are open during EMH. Also just so you know they will send all of your purchases back to your resort at no cost. So there would be no need to rent a locker.

I'll remind everyone they used to take the packages to your room. Now you have to go to the gift shop. Depending on the resort you may want to rent a locker rather than make the trek

 

[NowInc]

I'll remind everyone they used to take the packages to your room. Now you have to go to the gift shop. Depending on the resort you may want to rent a locker rather than make the trek

From what I understand, the "to your room" delivery was stopped due to guests complaints. Even tho they would request it, they would take the opportunity to say they werent comfortable with people in their room. The options now are "front of park" for same day, or to your resorts gift shop (next day).

 

[Ralphlaw]

Also consider that it's not a total loss to open the parks early or keep them open late. They're still selling food (some - many places close) and merchandise.

True, those direct extras help pay for the workers and utilities. Alone, I doubt that they directly pay for the costs of EMH, yet they certainly help the bottom line.

I would have to think that the real profitability comes from the premium prices for rooms and DVC, which are so hard to quantify, as well as the profits generated from guests who eat and buy other stuff when they never leave property. I certainly hope the bigwigs at Disney are taking lower room prices and cheaper DVC points and less "other purchases" as costs of potentially doing away with EMH.

 

[HRHPrincessAriel]

I'll remind everyone they used to take the packages to your room. Now you have to go to the gift shop. Depending on the resort you may want to rent a locker rather than make the trek

Won't they also take them to the front and hold for you?