Whew. Just got finished reading the whole thread. I bury my head in work for a week and don't skim the boards and the whole World changes while I am gone. It took me a "heads up" email from Touring Plans to bring this who issue to my attention. Lots has been said. Not sure what I can add. But here are some random thoughts and some replies to previous posts.
- I am a little surprised at the skepticism some showed toward the OP before it became "official". The "rumor" was broadcast simultaneously by several sources that have proven to be very reliable in the past. As much as we all like to challenge the authenticity of things we read on the internet, when it comes to WDW, rumors posted by certain sources prove to be true far more often than not.
- For the same price as the ticket for 3 extra hours in the MK, (a park that most people will be going to already at some point in their trip), that same family could spend an entire day at Universal with Two-Park Passes.
- I know that there has been no suggestion that EMHs are going away, but it seems to me that if Disney really wants to sell tickets to this event, it is doing itself no favors by having EMHs at the MK on Wednesdays that don't cost on site guests extra. And as for the argument that the After Hours event allows off-site guests to get in on the action, well, for as long as the earth has been cooling, Disney has been doing its level best to attract people to its on site hotels. If the After Hours event is being marketed to off-site guests, that seems to undercut their strategy to lure people on site. Unless, of course, if on site hotels are at full capacity and they no longer need to attract more guests. But I don't think that is the case.
- This Board is comprised of some of the most hard-core Disney fans on the planet and the enthusiasm for this event is sorely lacking here. If the staunchest supporters cannot get behind this idea, will the casual fan?
- I attended many E-Ticket Nights. They were great. But I paid between $8-$12 for each of those. $149 is way beyond my comfort level for the joy of riding Splash Mountain 4 times in succession without getting out of the log.
- As for "very limited capacity", will the first person who calls for a ticket and is told that the event is sold out please come back here and post that fact. I won't be holding my breath.
I have plans that are set in stone. Included among those plans is a full day at the MK on 4/21. There is an Electrical Parade scheduled for 11:00 p.m. and I plan on attending that. But now, a few thousand people will be added to the park. So while my original hours have not been taken away from me, something just as valuable has--space. I planned to stay for the 11:00 parade because it is far less crowded. Now? Maybe not so much. We'll see. But space is a valued commodity at WDW, and from 7:00pm-11:00pm, and then again during the parade, space has been taken away from me and sold to others. I consider that "losing something". I would be much happier as a "regular guest" if they didn't allow the hard ticket people in until 10:00pm. Taking space away from me in the park and in the restaurants for dinner is a significant loss.
I'm in the same boat. Just when you think you have done what Disney asks and "locked it in", Disney comes along and picks the lock. I suppose that Disney owes me nothing in this regard, but it is still frustrating.
Given? For how long? When will off-site guests have to pay an extra $12 for their armband?
While that may be true, how many of your middle class friends and how many middle class posters are going to bite on this event? While it is too broad to suggest that Disney does not market to the middle class, it is certainly not a stretch to suggest that this event thumbs its nose at the middle class.
Agree completely. Odd that they would create an event that so obviously limits families of young children. Especially when the event includes no uniquely "adult" offerings. At DHS or Epcot, this type of thing would make more sense. But ice cream and soda isn't going to lure me into a park for an "adult evening".
Agree. As I noted above, if the guests with the deepest passion for Disney aren't going to bite, who will?
Sometimes that is exactly what it means. If you can't sell something to the people who already drop the most money into your pockets, who do you think is going to pay the price? I suppose we will soon find out.
We've been given good reason of late.
I think it has to be true. As noted above, I am going on a day when the hard ticket event begins at 11:00, and there is an Electrical Parade scheduled for 11:00. I can't imagine that I am going to be kicked out before the parade starts. If so, you will be reading about me in the police blotter in the Orlando Sentinel.
