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

[PhotoDave219]

It showed, too. You didn't need Early Entry (I think that's what it was called before they brought it back as "Extra Magic Hours"). The rides weren't "walk-ons" that summer. But, they were certainly manageable. Fastpasses from the day (sometimes month) before were accepted. One could park-hop to the must-do attractions of 2001/2002 in two days easily.

There was no dining plan (that I knew of), but if you had an annual pass and were staying on site, they'd upgrade you without asking.

Different Dining Plan. They had Dream Maker packages as Joe pointed out. Nowhere near as popular or as pushed as today.

And I agree... the parks were wonderful when MK was pulling an average of 38k/day. Nowadays, its pulling 53K/day on average.

 

[CJR]

EMH served its purpose, but I think the benefit will be replaced by something more cost effective for the company. I doubt they will replace it with nothing, but I also wouldn't put it passed them.

An easy solution would be to allow resort guests an extra FP booking or two in advance. I would personally hate this as I never stay on site since I'm local. However, it provides a lot to resort guests while costing Disney practically nothing that they haven't already paid for. Of course, my relatives would be much happier if they just pushed the pool hours back an hour or so. They absolutely hate that the hours are enforced now vs before. I understand too, because I used to love the late night swims at the Wilderness Lodge.

On second thought, they'll probably swap it out with nothing.

 

[DsnyFevr]

Just think if you bought into DVC - I was disappointed that they got rid of EMH evening hours at DAK

I am a DVC member and it is disappointing. We go three times a year at the most busiest times and we always use those EMH to ride all the rides that were too long during the day. We always stay to the end even 3am in MK. The lowering of the EMH over the years us very disappointing from the hours, to rides available, to them last year taking away all the "real" food (quick service) and just leaving open snack places ( ice cream, popcorn, etc) we used to always get Cosmic Rays or Casey's during EMH.

 

[DsnyFevr]

Always liked those because AK is an AMAZING place after dark, Many details are lit from within etc.

Very true and not to mention riding on Everest is so cool in the dark.

 

[Ralphlaw]

Here's why taking away EMH would be insane:

1. Incentive to stay on property would go down.
2. Thus, staying on property would be a bit less attractive, so room prices would go down.
3. Disney Vacation Club sales would likely be hurt.
4. Thus, DVC prices will drop, delinquent maintenance fees will rise, etc . .
5. Daytime crowding will get worse because many of us vacate the parks during the day of good EMH hours.
6. Some nighttime magic will be gone. I love less crowded parks at night.
7. Many people would overall be less likely to go, at least not as often. Every 2 years instead of every year.
8. Busy times of the year (ie., Christmas) would be even less fun because there will be no escaping the crowds.
9. The mad rush for e-ticket rides will be even more insane.

Very sad if true, a big mistake in the offing. What are they thinking? "Attendance is up. Hotels and DVC are doing great. Let's scrunch them all into normal hours." Outrageous.

So far, I have not seen Disney make a decision that so openly lessens the experience for the premium on site guests. Yes, we all have complaints about this and that, but nothing that was once so good being taken away without an adequate replacement. EMH is a vital selling point for DVC and onsite guests. Taking it away is such a huge backward step, and there's nothing to replace it. I guarantee, we will go less frequently if EMH disappears. And all at a time numbers and profits are up. Lasetter can't approve of this.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Here's why taking away EMH would be insane:

1. Incentive to stay on property would go down.
2. Thus, staying on property would be a bit less attractive, so room prices would go down.
3. Disney Vacation Club sales would likely be hurt.
4. Thus, DVC prices will drop, delinquent maintenance fees will rise, etc . .
5. Daytime crowding will get worse because many of us vacate the parks during the day of good EMH hours.
6. Some nighttime magic will be gone. I love less crowded parks at night.
7. Many people would overall be less likely to go, at least not as often. Every 2 years instead of every year.
8. Busy times of the year (ie., Christmas) would be even less fun because there will be no escaping the crowds.
9. The mad rush for e-ticket rides will be even more insane.

Very sad if true, a big mistake in the offing. What are they thinking? "Attendance is up. Hotels and DVC are doing great. Let's scrunch them all into normal hours." Outrageous.

So far, I have not seen Disney make a decision that so openly lessens the experience for the premium on site guests. Yes, we all have complaints about this and that, but nothing that was once so good being taken away without an adequate replacement. EMH is a vital selling point for DVC and onsite guests. Taking it away is such a huge backward step, and there's nothing to replace it. I guarantee, we will go less frequently if EMH disappears. And all at a time numbers and profits are up. Lasetter can't approve of this.

Then again, this is the same company that is putting in a 900 guest/hour Frozen ride. Judgment is lacking of late.

 

[hopemax]

Why did Disney start cutting back after 9/11? I also saw after 9/11 Disney removed the remainder of the webcast cameras, but I think the reason for that was obvious.

Like mentioned, travel took a nosedive. Not just because of fear of traveling, but because of the economic ripple affects, and no one had job security. We postponed our trip to England/France, that we were about a month from booking, because we didn't know how big the job layoffs were going to be. All businesses were shedding costs, business travel, convention business shrunk overnight. Disney included.

I went back and looked at old posts. Early entry got the axe, Oct 20, 2001. Rumors that Disney was "Re-evaluating" picked up in late spring. It was announced it was coming back in mid-September, and officially re-instated Oct 1, 2002, with AK in the mix, when previously they never offered it.

 

[MarkTwain]

Just think if you bought into DVC - I was disappointed that they got rid of EMH evening hours at DAK

That was my first thought too. The parents were already annoyed that they were sold into Saratoga Springs, in part, because of how much Disney was pushing the views of Pleasure Island's nightly fireworks (RIP). I really doubt this is going to improve their mood any. They bought into DVC largely for on-property perks like EMH; they were very content staying off-property for their annual trips before DVC took off.

I wonder if we'll see an increase in the DVC resale market.

 

[LuvtheGoof]

That was my first thought too. The parents were already annoyed that they were sold into Saratoga Springs, in part, because of how much Disney was pushing the views of Pleasure Island's nightly fireworks (RIP). I really doubt this is going to improve their mood any. They bought into DVC largely for on-property perks like EMH; they were very content staying off-property for their annual trips before DVC took off.

I wonder if we'll see an increase in the DVC resale market.

Well, I hate to say it, but your parents bought into DVC for all the wrong reasons, and didn't do any proper diligence before the purchase. You NEVER buy DVC for anything other than saving money on your resort costs. NOTHING else matters.

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

Here is another thought, sorry if someone has brought this up already. What if Disney starts to sell a different catagory for Extra Magic Hours pass for resort guest only? They are taking note of what people are willing to dish out extra at different events. Even the MNSSHP has a separate area that you pay extra on top of the event ticket to eat cupcakes or a good area to watch fireworks. People will probably have to pay extra for the EMH in the future.

 

[MarkTwain]

Well, I hate to say it, but your parents bought into DVC for all the wrong reasons, and didn't do any proper diligence before the purchase. You NEVER buy DVC for anything other than saving money on your resort costs. NOTHING else matters.

Things like resort amenities and perks don't matter???

People build factors like amenities and personal values into their decisions when evaluating expenses like timeshares. Some people probably held off on purchasing DVC until Bay Lake Tower provided monorail access, or Kidani Village provided views of animals. Perhaps they were willing to pay a bit more for the ability to experience something they couldn't at a hotel on I-4. For some people, those amenities might include Extra Magic Hours and views of fireworks at Pleasure Island.

How do you think those people would react if Disney took away the animals from Kidani, or permanently shut down monorail access to BLT? Maybe those things aren't written into the contracts, but I guarantee those factors played into why a large number of people bought at those resorts, and people would have justification in getting annoyed if they were taken away.

 

[doctornick]

EMH served its purpose, but I think the benefit will be replaced by something more cost effective for the company. I doubt they will replace it with nothing, but I also wouldn't put it passed them.

It's tough for me to imagine that they would remove EMH without replacing it with a different incentive for staying on property. Extra FP+ could make sense. But EMH is such a big selling point for on property stays that it would be odd for them to just remove it and not give the marketing guys something else to use.

 

[doctornick]

Here is another thought, sorry if someone has brought this up already. What if Disney starts to sell a different catagory for Extra Magic Hours pass for resort guest only? They are taking note of what people are willing to dish out extra at different events. Even the MNSSHP has a separate area that you pay extra on top of the event ticket to eat cupcakes or a good area to watch fireworks. People will probably have to pay extra for the EMH in the future.

People have mentioned this already -- that's basically what E-ticket nights were. Though they were very affordable.

 

[LuvtheGoof]

Things like resort amenities and perks don't matter???

People build factors like amenities and personal values into their decisions when evaluating expenses like timeshares. Some people probably held off on purchasing DVC until Bay Lake Tower provided monorail access, or Kidani Village provided views of animals. Perhaps they were willing to pay a bit more for the ability to experience something they couldn't at a hotel on I-5. For some people, those amenities might include Extra Magic Hours and views of fireworks at Pleasure Island.

How do you think those people would react if Disney took away the animals from Kidani, or permanently shut down monorail access to BLT? Maybe those things aren't written into the contracts, but I guarantee those factors played into why a large number of people bought at those resorts, and people would have justification in getting annoyed if they were taken away.

You are looking at apples and oranges. Yes, people may buy into BLT or VGF for monorail access (loved our stay at VGF in March!), but you do know that they have been doing a lot of maintenance on them, and that frequently the monorails aren't running? What happens when they have to take the entire system down, possibly for months in the future to replace the concrete pilings and structures that go through the lake? It will happen some day, and it will be down for quite some time. There will be no point discount either. It is what it is. You deal with it and move on.

AKL's pitch is the animals, but they don't guarantee that you will see much. We spent a week there in a savannah view room, and it wasn't until day 4 that we even saw a giraffe. Did we sell our DVC membership? Of course not. Oh, and AKL is absolutely one of the best resorts on property by far. We love it there.

Comparing this to fireworks at PI (which completely closed several years ago) or EMH at the parks is a bit disingenuous. Those are not perks at the resort, and outside the control of the resort.

If they were OK with staying at a hotel on I-5 (I'll assume you meant I-4 or I-Drive), then they weren't good candidates for DVC in the first place. Again, due diligence. We get many discounts being DVC members as well, including darn good ones for APs and PAPs. They can go away tomorrow. Would we sell our membership because these discounts went away? No, because we understand that they are a perk, and can go away at any time. If you are buying into DVC for the perks, you are buying for the wrong reason. The perks are nice, but you buy in with the understanding that they aren't permanent, and can change at any time. That's just the way it is.

 

[marni1971]

People have mentioned this already -- that's basically what E-ticket nights were. Though they were very affordable.

They were great fun too!

 

[Mawg]

If this is true, then Flamingo crossings when done could really benefit from this. I would probably move offsite as I'm growing tired of the bus lines.

 

[HolleBolleGijs]

You are looking at apples and oranges. Yes, people may buy into BLT or VGF for monorail access (loved our stay at VGF in March!), but you do know that they have been doing a lot of maintenance on them, and that frequently the monorails aren't running? What happens when they have to take the entire system down, possibly for months in the future to replace the concrete pilings and structures that go through the lake? It will happen some day, and it will be down for quite some time. There will be no point discount either. It is what it is. You deal with it and move on.

AKL's pitch is the animals, but they don't guarantee that you will see much. We spent a week there in a savannah view room, and it wasn't until day 4 that we even saw a giraffe. Did we sell our DVC membership? Of course not. Oh, and AKL is absolutely one of the best resorts on property by far. We love it there.

Comparing this to fireworks at PI (which completely closed several years ago) or EMH at the parks is a bit disingenuous. Those are not perks at the resort, and outside the control of the resort.

If they were OK with staying at a hotel on I-5 (I'll assume you meant I-4 or I-Drive), then they weren't good candidates for DVC in the first place. Again, due diligence. We get many discounts being DVC members as well, including darn good ones for APs and PAPs. They can go away tomorrow. Would we sell our membership because these discounts went away? No, because we understand that they are a perk, and can go away at any time. If you are buying into DVC for the perks, you are buying for the wrong reason. The perks are nice, but you buy in with the understanding that they aren't permanent, and can change at any time. That's just the way it is.

But a perk is an advantage/benefit by definition. If those so-called "perks" disappear, there won't be as big of an advantage or benefit for joining DVC, therefore there will be less incentive to join.

 

[punkabella]

But a perk is an advantage/benefit by definition. If those so-called "perks" disappear, there won't be as big of an advantage or benefit for joining DVC, therefore there will be less incentive to join.

I feel a marketing scheme coming on for the upcoming Wilderness Lodge DVC villa bungalow fishing holes.. "Why do you need EMH when your DVC purchase is right next door to the Magic Kingdom?!?"

 

[Mawg]

Now I know why they are expanding the MK parking lot. They are actually expecting and wanting people to stay offsite and use more cars. Great planning and good thinking.

 

[DManRightHere]

It wouldn't surprise me. It has to be a huge expense and gives maintenance even less time. There are a lot of other theme parks besides Disney that offer early access though...usually only an hour.

EMH could become a peak season thing.

MM+ could also offer some perks to make replacing EMH worth it.