The Park After Dark to replace E-Ride Nights and Extra Magic Hour?

[ToTBellHop]

It might be more crowded than Extra Magic Hour, but that would be the purpose of it. Disney wants a program that more guests can enjoy. Furthermore, I think maybe half of the Resort guests on a given night would utilize this, which brings the attendance in the parks down to about a quarter of where they are during the day. That is a dramatic decrease in your wait times, and it is free. Utilizing such a program, Disney might actually be able to keep people in Animal Kingdom past 4 pm...

 

[Snapper Bean]

I agree from Disney's point of view this makes sense. It extends a benefit to more people who might take advantage of it. Since staffing costs are basically fixed with regard to how many people take advantage of an extra hour, it makes more sense for Disney to put it when it will be better utilized.

That being said 8-9 AM has always been great for my family.

 

[CTXRover]

I would personally love if they even just moved the EMH to an hour after the park closes vs an hour before it opens...although I can see the problems that may arise as pointed out above. But, I'm not that much of a morning person and can never get myself up to be there at 8am in the morning. I absolutely love the parks at night though...they take on an entire different look and feel at night. I'm all for giving the additional hour(s) to resort guests at night vs in the mornings. I'm hoping that it happens.

 

[se8472]

I belive this comes form guest who have complained that they DIDN"T want to get out of bed that eary to go to the parks. Lets be real here...there are just some people who can't get out that eary and in some ways its not fair.

But in terms of how they might run this event. I can't see it being any diffrent then when we have to clear the parks for Very marry or not so scary at MK. All but tomorrowland get closed and wrist bands are given out at not just the enterance to the park...but also at the hub and in tomorrowland as well.

 

[epcot2004]

I want both! The extra magic hour is great. We don't mind getting up early and there is something special about the parks early in the morinig when it is not crowded. However another few hours at night would be good too. It would take some of the burden off the DTD area by allowing the crowds to split up over more area. After all, we only go to sleep because the parks are closed. You can sleep when you get home.

 

[MKCP 1985]

I'd much rather have an extra hour at the end of the day than at the beginning. Getting my crew up and going in the morning when they are at home is hard enough, but when they are on vacation/holiday - forget it!

The next time we get into any WDW park before the general admission crowds arrive will be the first time ever.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Originally posted by Snapper Bean
First, I have small children so that really doesn't seem like "an advantage" to me. Second, I believe that the financial demographics tend to show that families with small children spend more per capita than the other age classifications (I may be wrong on this). Third, it doesn't feel like Disney policy would be designed to "get rid of" (your words) families with small children, that's their target audience.

:lol: I think you took my reply a little to personally! I also have small children. Of course by "get rid of" I meant go back to the room and go to bed, not sure what you're implying there.

I was agreeing with you in some ways. I was saying there are advantages to both so maybe it's a trade off attendance wise. But - if this really was three hours instead of one - sounds great to me!

 

[Snapper Bean]

Originally posted by Disneyfalcon
:lol: I think you took my reply a little to personally! I also have small children. Of course by "get rid of" I meant go back to the room and go to bed, not sure what you're implying there.

I was agreeing with you in some ways. I was saying there are advantages to both so maybe it's a trade off attendance wise. But - if this really was three hours instead of one - sounds great to me!

Naahh. All in good fun. As stated above, I think the move makes perfect sense for Disney. Just not for the Bean family....

Snapper Bean

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Maybe Epcot2004 is right, we need both!:sohappy:

 

[ToTBellHop]

I don't think we would end up with both. If they intended to make the Park after Dark free to Resort Hotel guests, it would be replacing Extra Magic Hour. It seems from the response to this thread thus far, most people would prefer the extra time in the parks at night. I'm sure the same company that came up with Fastpass, a system that by and large works at cutting wait times down by filtering people around (I know this is up for debate, but I know I benefit from Fastpass), can find a smooth way to operate a new perk like this.

 

[zulaya]

For every person who thinks have the parks open later at night, there will be one person who will be upset if EMH is removed.

There's no pleasing everybody here. Personally, I much prefer EMH. We are early risers...it's just the way we are. And you seem to forget that there are people who fly from Europe who, with jet lag, are chomping at the bit to go somewhere at 7am.

That being said, I also love MK for MVMCP. The parks at night have different aspects. The Jungle Cruise at night, for example, is great!

BTW, there is a sneaky rumor going around about the timing of this idea. You do remember what Thursday was, right? So don't be surprised if this may all turn out to be just a discussion.

 

[Becky]

First logistics:
Very simple solution that is used by the all inclusive resorts in Mexico.

The wrist band is issued at check-in at the hotel. Takes an extra 15 seconds there vs special gates hand stamps etc.

Next crowds:

In the "old days" the parks were open late. Crowds thined out around sundown. Lines were very short as the evening progressed. If this goes through the lines will be even shorter as only resort guests would be staying late.

Finally:

Evening was Walt's favorite time in The Park. It is mine too

 

[Becky]

Additional thought:

For those that don't want to lose the EMH you might find you end up with EMH's as those of us who love the parks at night would be more likely to sleep in

Also parents do most of you really enjoy getting your children up at 5 or 6 to use the EMH I think many do it because "It is there" and you feel guilty if you don't use it:lookaroun

 

[BRER STITCH]

Heck....most families think it's pretty darn "Extra Magical" if they make it to the parks by NOON! :lol: That's why the parks tend to "start seeming crowded" by then. For families with young children, 8 hours is often long enough for them and they tend to leave the parks in the early evening. That's why the lines are shorter for everything later.

Remember too, that - as propsed above - the late hours would only be in one park at a time. Logistics alone could determine how many people flood the "after hours party" from wherever they may have spent the day. The transportation woes of getting from park to park at closing time is enough to deter people from going.

I'm guessing that the parks that stay open would likely be Magic Kingdom and MGM, as they have the most activities to keep people busy for the extra hours.

The best benefit of the later hours for me would be the time available return to the resort, take a shower, get dressed up nicer, have a leisurely dinner, and still have a couple hours in the parks. Right now it feels like we are either always rushing, or eating really late!

Can't wait to see what they decide! One thing's for sure - there is money to be made with this idea, so it will probably happen!!!

:sohappy:

 

[ToTBellHop]

Epcot could remain open late, as well, especially once Soarin' is open. Animal Kingdom is perhaps the least likely, although it would be nice in the winter months to let Resort guests stay in Animal Kingdom till about 7 pm, finally allowing us to see Animal Kingdom after dark, which I would love!

 

[soccer9miahamm]

It would be awesome if the parks were open late~let's face it, not many can wake up for that extra magic hour and if you don't get a bus right away, it's half over by the time you get there. In Disney time, an hour does not give you much time to get on all the rides without wait. I would much rather see the parks stay open 3 hours later. The weather is better...you avoid the Florida heat, there aren't little kids everywhere and rides like the Tower of Terror, Splash Mt., Big Thunder Mt. R/R, and Test Track are more exciting at night. Plus, even the indoor rides like Haunted Mansion and Space Mt. are more interesting because of the sole fact that it is night. I think that the idea to program your tickets with your hotel information would work perfectly. It would be pretty quick as well. I think this is a wonderful idea that should be followed up on.

 

[DDuckFan130]

Originally posted by BRER STITCH
Heck....most families think it's pretty darn "Extra Magical" if they make it to the parks by NOON! :lol:

Have we met before? :lol:

 

[pepsistar]

:sohappy: :lol: :sohappy: :lol: This sounds like the BEST news ever!! We are not morning people either-- Who wants to get up on vacation!! Soooooo in all the years we have been going, and that is quite a few, I think we have made it to the early hour maybe once???

"IF" we are not going to have E- ride nights anymore, this would be the answer, but isn't it the same thing, or better!!!! without paying?? Could that be? NOT charge us? $$$$ ??? Owwwwwwwww--------------------

Might they include the other parks also? I am sorry if that was mentioned in the original post. Just did not remember! That would be WONDERFUL!!!!!!

Hurry , Hurry, NOW PLEASE!!!!! :sohappy:

 

[Heyyall]

sounds good to me

We have no little kids in our family, so EMH at night would be great! Especially since we go in the first two weeks of December, and the parks close so early. However, I also think that a lot of people would take advantage of this because if MK closes at 6, most people would stay until 7. But my family usually can't get up early enough anyway, so I like it better at night. I hope that it's true!

 

[ToTBellHop]

Looks like Disney was reading these boards...or Screamscape got something right for once! YAY!