Disney After Hours

[ibelieveindisneymagic]

Someone mentioned that on the 14th, they had access from 7pm - 2am? That was longer than the 3 hours that was mentioned in the announcement. Unless I read it incorrectly.

You can enter on your "event ticket" at 7pm, even though the exclusive access doesn't start until the park closes.

I am actually thinking about this, just for DD & I though ... we'll have to see how it plays out over the next little while.

[deedee73]

I believe it is 3 hours beyond the regular MK closing. So it will be either 1 am or 2 am depending.

[DizneyFreak2002]

Two words: EPIC FAILURE

Is it wrong I am smiling?

[magicofdisney]

Two words: EPIC FAILURE

Is it wrong I am smiling?

Is that why they're now offering it to pass holders at half price?

[PopPhan]

Two words: EPIC FAILURE

Is it wrong I am smiling?

True

Nope

Is that why they're now offering it to pass holders at half price?

Most probably

[Tekneek]

Is that why they're now offering it to pass holders at half price?

Which still feels like a scam to me. If I paid $749 for an AP, why would I spend $75 for some extra hours on one night?

[Polynesian Dweller]

Two words: EPIC FAILURE

Is it wrong I am smiling?

Yep. It's wrong. Why would it be a point of joy that they lose money and so don't invest in the park. Not something I'd be cheering.

Besides, if one is a true Disney fan why would you get glee out of failure and second why does an optional activity matter that much too you.

[Tekneek]

Why would it be a point of joy that they lose money and so don't invest in the park. Not something I'd be cheering.

One might posit that slowing down the constant increases in tickets, exclusive events, etc, is born of a love of Disney and not from some destructive place. If they wanted to have the parks open during these times, they could choose to do so. If they want them closed, they could choose to do so. They, instead, thought they could extract $149 out of a bunch of people for what amounts to an evening in the park with a few hours of limited exclusive access. As we are routinely reminded, Disney will continue raising rates, fees, and increasing the number of exclusive events until the market won't bend to their desires. If we prefer to see these sorts of trends roll back, then any sign that the market isn't lining up to throw money at them is a positive development.

[Stu29573]

One might posit that slowing down the constant increases in tickets, exclusive events, etc, is born of a love of Disney and not from some destructive place. If they wanted to have the parks open during these times, they could choose to do so. If they want them closed, they could choose to do so. They, instead, thought they could extract $149 out of a bunch of people for what amounts to an evening in the park with a few hours of limited exclusive access. As we are routinely reminded, Disney will continue raising rates, fees, and increasing the number of exclusive events until the market won't bend to their desires. If we prefer to see these sorts of trends roll back, then any sign that the market isn't lining up to throw money at them is a positive development.

This. Exactly. They kept looking for "the point" where people would stop paying. Looks like they found it.

[kdilkington]

Now that we know the park is limited to 3000 guests I would totally do this. I haven't been to WDW since they started the magic band system because I hate the idea of having to plan everything including rides in advance. If I could spend one night in MK without the need for fast pass then it's well worth it. Of course it's only a matter of time before the 3000 limit becomes 10000.

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[Tekneek]

Of course it's only a matter of time before the 3000 limit becomes 10000.

If they desire to find that price point, they will surely get there. As others have surmised, the impression is that by having to give tickets away and offer discounts to DVC/AP holders, this new program is a flop. My hunch is they will abandon it completely, but there is a chance they will try to find a price point that regularly sells all 3000 for each "selected date" (which might become many more, reducing the hours previously available to regular park goers eventually).

[VWL Mom]

Which still feels like a scam to me. If I paid $749 for an AP, why would I spend $75 for some extra hours on one night?

DVC AP renewal is under $500 and this will be our third trip on our pass so we've decided to spend the extra money. IMO MK has been very crowded since DHS is basically shut down, May & October were hot which made things worse, January was so cold but still had long waits. Being able to be in the park with low crowds is just something I couldn't resist and I don't even go on most of the rides but I plan on soaking it all in. People routinely pay extra for the parties and such which is never questioned and those are packed to the gills. Different strokes for different folks.

I think the original price point was a bit high but probably would have been a better sell if released in the summer when it's extremely hot and super crowded.

[mickeyman42]

as a DVC member I would pay $75 for this for a night, but I can't see this extended beyond the announced dates so for us its a moot point as we wont be back until Aug. at $75 its kind of like going to a holiday party, but not getting to do any of the specific party things........so just like going to the parties!

[Tekneek]

\People routinely pay extra for the parties and such which is never questioned and those are packed to the gills.

As the price has gone up (and seems like the number of tickets sold per party have been going up as well), people have complained more about the actual value of the parties. The last time I attended one, the waits were not much better than non-party. At this point, the parties are all about the party-specific parades/extras and not a chance to get some great ride time. I don't find them to have the value they once had and probably won't ever attend another.

[ChipNDale79]

Yep. It's wrong. Why would it be a point of joy that they lose money and so don't invest in the park. Not something I'd be cheering.

Besides, if one is a true Disney fan why would you get glee out of failure and second why does an optional activity matter that much too you.

They've been making money hand over fists the past few years, and not until they have been forced to spend money on the parks have they finally decided to.

All of us here are huge fans, but we're also consumers. Consumers that are paying more and more for a product that hasn't really improved. So the failure of this is a good thing for the consumer.

We have to force disney to do better, we all know they can.

[DizneyRox]

h++p://www.themeparktourist.com/news/20160427/31907/failed-experiments-walt-disney-world

Making news. Of course it could just be people reveling in their failure.

Of course the discount is because it's not popular. They can't afford to open with only 300 people paying. If they can get 1000 at 1/2 price, it's still closer to breaking even than 300 at full price. I'm sure they are trying to decide if the PR flak for cancelling all together is worse that grasping at straws to break even. They aren't in the business of losing money...

[Ian]

This one particular event may be a failure, at least from where we're sitting now, but I can tell you first hand the parks are still absolutely jam packed to the gills. Every year we go the parks are just a bit more crowded than the year before.

Whatever they're doing and whatever we, the hardcore fans might think of it, it really doesn't matter ... until the time comes when the parks aren't absolutely teeming with paying guests nothing is going to change.

And even if attendance does drop I think we'll see it go the other way ... more cuts not less. The only thing at this point that can fix the problem is a complete and total replacement of the company leadership with a creative/customer focused group. And really why would the Board want that? The fiscals have been at historic highs for a decade now.

[Ian]

Look at this five year ... what possible incentive is there to change anything?

[baldburke]

Look at this five year ... what possible incentive is there to change anything?

It may seem like Disney is throwing anything and everything at the wall to see what sticks, but with Disney Shanghai opening next month the house of mouse should easily add an extra billion (full year) in sales to improve cash flow. Have patience, their plan is solid.

[1DisneyNut]

Look at this five year ... what possible incentive is there to change anything?

Do keep in mind that the 5 year stock price graph carries you back to the low point in the height of the recession. A lot of that upwards momentum is basically just the return of the economy. It basically mimics the DOW. You now see that in the last year and a half it has leveled out and started a sideways trend. I believe investors also realize they have just about milked the cow to death.

Who really knows if Shanghai is going to be an immediate success or not. It may boom but then China is on the brink of their own massive recession which could result in this park being a cash eating machine. Only time will tell.