"Early Theme Park Entry" program to Replace Extra Magic Hours program in 2021

[Figment!]

The Walt Disney World resort has announced the Early Theme Park Entry program:

Coming later this year as part of our 50th anniversary celebration, Disney Resort hotel guests and guests of other select hotels will be able to enjoy more fun with 30-minute early entry to ANY theme park, EVERY day. It’ll be a great way to get a jump start on your Disney day, no matter the day!

This new offering will replace the Extra Magic Hours benefit that was suspended in the Summer of 2020. The new Early Theme Park Entry benefit will better spread visitation across all four theme parks to maintain social distancing, while providing added flexibility by giving Guests extra early park time on each day of their vacation and in the park of their choosing.

Guests will require valid admission and a park reservation made via the Disney Park Pass system to enter a theme park.

[merciantinkerbell]

And another perk bites the dust. We used the morning EMH alot and could get 1 or 2 things done in that hour with the place relatively uncrowded.

[azcavalier]

And another perk bites the dust. We used the morning EMH alot and could get 1 or 2 things done in that hour with the place relatively uncrowded.

It still seems like a perk to me. If you stay onsite, you now can get into ANY park early. Before, you planned which park for which day based on the morning EMH. And if we were staying offsite, we planned which park to avoid that morning, knowing that the resort guests would favor that park. Now, it's going to be more spread out, less crowded, and it won't matter which park you choose! I like this better than the EMH.

[Cinderelley]

I never used EMH, but I don't really understand how this is supposed to be better for Covid. Cramming the same number of people into shorter hours just increases the crowd. I think the same thing about grocery stores, etc who have shortened their hours.

[merciantinkerbell]

It still seems like a perk to me. If you stay onsite, you now can get into ANY park early. Before, you planned which park for which day based on the morning EMH. And if we were staying offsite, we planned which park to avoid that morning, knowing that the resort guests would favor that park. Now, it's going to be more spread out, less crowded, and it won't matter which park you choose! I like this better than the EMH.

But reducing it from 60 minutes to 30 means we may have time to get through the turnstiles and to 1 ride but maybe not depending on transport time. With 60 minutes we could certainly get to 1 ride and queue if not on it.

[azcavalier]

But reducing it from 60 minutes to 30 means we may have time to get through the turnstiles and to 1 ride but maybe not depending on transport time. With 60 minutes we could certainly get to 1 ride and queue if not on it.

Except that they never religiously stuck to that "1 hour" time frame. I can't tell you how many times we showed up and they let us in 20 minutes before that. I could totally see that happening here. But, you're right, it's not really a lot of time. I think what I like about it is that its for *all* of the parks *every day*. So, you won't get a majority of the resort guests all descending on that one park that will let them in early. It'll totally spread out those numbers.

[PopPhan]

But, you're right, it's not really a lot of time. I think what I like about it is that its for *all* of the parks *every day*. So, you won't get a majority of the resort guests all descending on that one park that will let them in early. It'll totally spread out those numbers.

Unfortunately, until they get rid of the 'park reservation' policy, you will still be limited to whatever park you reserved for that day.

Just some "food for thought".....

[mrte62]

The good news: it is for all four parks every day. Should help spread out the guests. The bad news: It is only thirty minutes. Worse news: Evenings will all be hard ticket events of some sort.

[Cinderelley]

I used to plan my days to stay away from morning extra magic hours parks. Now that won't be possible.

[1DisneyNut]

I never used EMH, but I don't really understand how this is supposed to be better for Covid. Cramming the same number of people into shorter hours just increases the crowd. I think the same thing about grocery stores, etc who have shortened their hours.

Exactly. One of the absolute dumbest things that have been done during all of this is cutting hours and packing everyone in with less shopping hours. That one has just baffled me from the beginning.

[joonyer]

Regardless of the reason, I am disappointed to hear that the evening EMH times are going away altogether. I am a bit of a night owl and loved to be at the parks at night, especially real late (midnight or later) in the summertime or during holidays. It's my favorite theme park time of day, with all the colorful lights after dark, and it was cooler too. Made it even more magical. I agree they'll probably go to hard ticketed events for late nights now.

[1DisneyNut]

Regardless of the reason, I am disappointed to hear that the evening EMH times are going away altogether. I am a bit of a night owl and loved to be at the parks at night, especially real late (midnight or later) in the summertime or during holidays. It's my favorite theme park time of day, with all the colorful lights after dark, and it was cooler too. Made it even more magical. I agree they'll probably go to hard ticketed events for late nights now.

Same here. I always preferred the evening EMH as well. I was there the summer when they were staying open really late with the 3 hours of EMH. I forget what year it was, maybe around 2005 or so I was there week of 4th of July. It was really busy and they extended the regular park hours that week and Magic Kingdom regular hours closing wasn't until 1:00AM and they had 3 hours of EMH after that. We got in line for space mountain right before closing at about 3:50 or so and it was about a 60 minute wait or something like that. By the time we rode and came out of the building, we were walking down Main Street to leave the park as the sun was starting to come up. That was pretty cool and one of my most favorite memories. We literally did Magic Kingdom all night long.

[azcavalier]

I used to plan my days to stay away from morning extra magic hours parks. Now that won't be possible.

Nor will it be necessary. If the new policy spreads everyone out so there is no need to avoid any one particularly over-crowded park, then what's the issue?

[Pooh Fan]

My initial thought was that this and the elimination of magical express were cost saving measures resulting from covid-19 but seems to be a tough argument when Disney stock hit an all time high during the pandemic.

[PopPhan]

My initial thought was that this and the elimination of magical express were cost saving measures resulting from covid-19 but seems to be a tough argument when Disney stock hit an all time high during the pandemic.

The thing you need to think about with these 'changes' are that they ARE cost-cutting moves. The Parks portion of Disney has its own budget and has been hemorrhaging cash since the CoVID crisis started. Putting out more money than they have been taking in from visitors. The media group has done pretty well with Disney+ hitting the 'airwaves' and pulling in more subscribers than they had anticipated in their first 5 years. All told, the company has done better than expected through this.

[azcavalier]

My initial thought was that this and the elimination of magical express were cost saving measures resulting from covid-19 but seems to be a tough argument when Disney stock hit an all time high during the pandemic.

What I think this really is, is a chance for Disney to reset a bunch of things they were looking at changing. I mean, Disneyland is taking advantage of the year-long closing to completely change the way they sell passes. As Walt Disney World stopped doing a LOT of things....shows, Fast Passes, Extra Magic Hours, parades, etc, they don't have to bring ANY of that back. They have a chance to make whatever changes they want as they bring things back online. While you and I might not appreciate those changes, I see the wisdom of making them now.

The one thing that I would LOVE to see them change is FP+, which is terrible. I hope they go to the MaxPass system DL uses, but that they don't charge for it.

[Pooh Fan]

I definitely get it but thinking of optics. I guess true fans will be aware of the difference between the various and arms of the company and the reality of one area compensating overall for another. There is no doubt that the shut downs have taken a huge toll and that Disney+ likely would not have seen such a steep growth had there NOT been a pandemic.

[Cinderelley]

Regardless of the reason, I am disappointed to hear that the evening EMH times are going away altogether. I am a bit of a night owl and loved to be at the parks at night, especially real late (midnight or later) in the summertime or during holidays. It's my favorite theme park time of day, with all the colorful lights after dark, and it was cooler too. Made it even more magical. I agree they'll probably go to hard ticketed events for late nights now.

I work night shift. I'm with you 100%.

[Cinderelley]

Nor will it be necessary. If the new policy spreads everyone out so there is no need to avoid any one particularly over-crowded park, then what's the issue?

I highly doubt the capacity will stay capped forever. Now there won't be a non-morning EMH park. Before, the non morning EMH parks were less crowded. Also, not a fan of no evening EMH. I work nights and don't do early mornings the majority of the time.

[Cinderelley]

I definitely get it but thinking of optics. I guess true fans will be aware of the difference between the various and arms of the company and the reality of one area compensating overall for another. There is no doubt that the shut downs have taken a huge toll and that Disney+ likely would not have seen such a steep growth had there NOT been a pandemic.

Haven't the parks been a huge source of revenue for Disney? I'm sure all of the money they make hasn't gone 100% back to the parks. Now it is time for the other parts of Disney to take care of the parks. If Disney doesn't have enough money stashed away to weather storms, someone wasn't doing their job right. The rest of us have to do it.