Usually, I don't like to quote myself, but the following is a response I made on Micechat to Kevin Yee's latest column. I think it covers my opinions on the hard-ticket CPs that ended last night and how they affect a MK visit:
The MVMCPs (or as I call them Mickey Extorts Christmas From Bumpkin Tourists Parties) are indeed as you state them.
For some history, they began in 1983 on two nights. Now, they begin before Veteran's Day (would be sooner, but they have Halloween Parties too!) ... and Disney also doesn't start REGULAR daily showings of holiday entertainment until late (12/19 this year, but has been as late as the 22nd or 23rd in past years).
Until some point in this decade, they'd do a hard close at 6 and reopen at 7. It required far more labor to kick everyone out of the park, but it also assured a certain level of quality for day visitors in a way that didn't make them feel they were missing anything.
Now? Well, imagine spending $5K on a magical WDW visit (got that Discover Card charged to the limit because you don't live like Suzie Orman tells you to ... or the wacky rightwingers who believe our economy tanked because of common folk living above their means and not because we Walmarted our country and have no manufacturing base and every company wants to pay people as little as possible but ... I digress ... back to WDW) ... and you're there with your kids on what seems like an empty day when 4 p.m. strikes and you sense a more than disquieting metamorphosis.
Suddenly, CMs have changed and have swanky vests and holiday hats.
Suddenly, you notice the MK actually has an amazing lighting package that is turned on.
Suddenly, you notice projections of snow angels and the like on buildings in Tomorrowland.
Suddenly, you see characters out in holiday-themed meet and greets.
Suddenly, the music is turned up and every 15 minutes you hear the PA inviting you to purchase tickets for tonight's party.
And, yeah, suddenly your kids want to know why they can't stay and spend the night partying with Mickey and seeing Santa.
Sorry to the DoMers here, but I've watched the results and they're often quite ugly. ... It's an in your face sales job, done to pressure people into paying an extra $59 (seems like it was just $25 a few years ago ... oh, yeah, cause it was ... oh, and that was when they gave you a free photo ... and when they had a REAL stage show in T-Land ... and when they had another stage show in the Diamond Horseshoe ... and before they cut three minutes out of the pyro show ... but hey, who's counting, right?)
I don't doubt that for many people, as some have already stated, the early entry into the party actually can be a value. I'm also sure that for many people having chicken nuggets and burgers on every menu or having characters all over the place or the same merchandise in every store is also better and more convenient.
But none of them are good. They all dumb the product down.
The parties also aren't so exclusive as many 'stragglers' manage to stay for hours into them so they can catch the entertainment, even if it means not getting on attractions.
Phil Holmes and crew know this, but the chase for the almighty buck is what's so crucial. And these parties (like DVC and the DDP) have become cash cows for the rodent ... although take a look at how many folks were paying discounted rates to enter this year and how few nights actually sold out vs other years.>>
It was amazing, btw, to see MK go from near empty last Friday to packed at 4 p.m. when party-goers started cramming the place. It reminded me of Fridays in Anaheim where you can have DL to yourself almost from 10-5 and then school gets out and people get home from work ... and it suddenly feels like a stadium full of people just got plopped into the park.
Next up: A Future (World) Without Christmas.
The MVMCPs (or as I call them Mickey Extorts Christmas From Bumpkin Tourists Parties) are indeed as you state them.
For some history, they began in 1983 on two nights. Now, they begin before Veteran's Day (would be sooner, but they have Halloween Parties too!) ... and Disney also doesn't start REGULAR daily showings of holiday entertainment until late (12/19 this year, but has been as late as the 22nd or 23rd in past years).
Until some point in this decade, they'd do a hard close at 6 and reopen at 7. It required far more labor to kick everyone out of the park, but it also assured a certain level of quality for day visitors in a way that didn't make them feel they were missing anything.
Now? Well, imagine spending $5K on a magical WDW visit (got that Discover Card charged to the limit because you don't live like Suzie Orman tells you to ... or the wacky rightwingers who believe our economy tanked because of common folk living above their means and not because we Walmarted our country and have no manufacturing base and every company wants to pay people as little as possible but ... I digress ... back to WDW) ... and you're there with your kids on what seems like an empty day when 4 p.m. strikes and you sense a more than disquieting metamorphosis.
Suddenly, CMs have changed and have swanky vests and holiday hats.
Suddenly, you notice the MK actually has an amazing lighting package that is turned on.
Suddenly, you notice projections of snow angels and the like on buildings in Tomorrowland.
Suddenly, you see characters out in holiday-themed meet and greets.
Suddenly, the music is turned up and every 15 minutes you hear the PA inviting you to purchase tickets for tonight's party.
And, yeah, suddenly your kids want to know why they can't stay and spend the night partying with Mickey and seeing Santa.
Sorry to the DoMers here, but I've watched the results and they're often quite ugly. ... It's an in your face sales job, done to pressure people into paying an extra $59 (seems like it was just $25 a few years ago ... oh, yeah, cause it was ... oh, and that was when they gave you a free photo ... and when they had a REAL stage show in T-Land ... and when they had another stage show in the Diamond Horseshoe ... and before they cut three minutes out of the pyro show ... but hey, who's counting, right?)
I don't doubt that for many people, as some have already stated, the early entry into the party actually can be a value. I'm also sure that for many people having chicken nuggets and burgers on every menu or having characters all over the place or the same merchandise in every store is also better and more convenient.
But none of them are good. They all dumb the product down.
The parties also aren't so exclusive as many 'stragglers' manage to stay for hours into them so they can catch the entertainment, even if it means not getting on attractions.
Phil Holmes and crew know this, but the chase for the almighty buck is what's so crucial. And these parties (like DVC and the DDP) have become cash cows for the rodent ... although take a look at how many folks were paying discounted rates to enter this year and how few nights actually sold out vs other years.>>
It was amazing, btw, to see MK go from near empty last Friday to packed at 4 p.m. when party-goers started cramming the place. It reminded me of Fridays in Anaheim where you can have DL to yourself almost from 10-5 and then school gets out and people get home from work ... and it suddenly feels like a stadium full of people just got plopped into the park.
Next up: A Future (World) Without Christmas.
