Evening Extra Magic Hours Cut by an Hour

[MNNHFLTX]

If you look at when sunset was in January 2004, it ranged from 5:40 PM to 6:04 PM. Were they really shooting off the fireworks for Wishes just 20 minutes after sunset or even before sunset? I know Disney has been steadily increasing hours over the past few years but I can't imagine they ever closed MK at 6 unless there was some sort of special event going on. Also, if you look at the internet archive on Intercot using the wayback machine I see some 7 PM closings, but not 6 PM.

They don't always have a night-time fireworks show, especially during non-peak months. That said, I don't recall the Magic Kingdom closing at 6 p.m. either, except for special events, even way back.

I feel for the people who liked to make the most of the evening Extra Magic Hours. Personally, it won't affect my touring style as we tend to take advantage of the morning EMH rather than the evening. In fact, I wouldn't mind if they made the morning EMH 2 hours long too to match the evening ones.

[ChipNDale79]

And now Magical Express has seen a decline in users/riders... So that tells me:

1) people staying offsite more or....
2) less people visiting WDW

Watch for Iger to ax ME next....

[DizneyRox]

Watch for Iger to ax ME next....

I can't believe it's been 'free' this long. Mears used to charge $20 (might have been more right before ME came along) for the service and that didn't include luggage delivery to your room.

I don't think it's a stretch that they will be charging for it in the not too distant future...

Above prices are/were per person, imagine adding $100 on your next trip.

[ChipNDale79]

I can't believe it's been 'free' this long. Mears used to charge $20 (might have been more right before ME came along) for the service and that didn't include luggage delivery to your room.

I don't think it's a stretch that they will be charging for it in the not too distant future...

Above prices are/were per person, imagine adding $100 on your next trip.

Might as well get a cab or rent a car.

[HackLaSalle]

I feel that there entirely too much negativity in this thread and more so based on here-say and opinion than on fact.

Why is enforcing fast pass times a bad thing? They are trying to improve the experience on the whole.

There seems to be a whole lot more coming into the parks then going out at this moment and regardless how you feel about the quality of it, which absolutely is up for debate, the quantity of it is pretty mind blowing.

There is an entire new land opening piece by piece in the Magic Kingdom in an area that desperately needed some new life.

There are refurbing Test Track which by many people's opinion was in severe need of it. A brand new value plus resort opened to compete with the family suites at Nickelodeon. It is an incredibly well themed resort with all sorts of fun new technology. A whole new land just opened in Disneyland...

I just don't see where they are nickel and diming. Yes maintenance needs to be improved. Yes there are still tons of attractions that need refurbs but with Walt Disney World being a once in a lifetime vacation for many people it's hard to put very popular attractions down for long periods without having the casual traveler freak out. Losing an hour of EMH stinks. I definitely dislike it but I don't think it's all doom and gloom. Further, I think they know that its a huge draw to stay at their resorts. If there was not EMH I would not stay at WDW. I would stay off site, rent a car or cab it and still use their transportation.

[Bethis26fan]

We never used more than 2 hours of EMH anyway, but also we go in the winter and don't have the heat of they day you have in the summer.

[Tekneek]

We really enjoyed the evening EMH. One less reason to stay on property. Almost every change makes it easier to stay off property and include more non-Disney offerings.

[Jared]

but with Walt Disney World being a once in a lifetime vacation for many people

Not to say anything about the rest of your post, but this statement has actually been proven wrong in the past with real statistics. On any given day at Walt Disney World, a vast, vast majority of people have visited the parks in the past. It's more accurate to say that for some people, Walt Disney World is a "once-in-a-few-years" sort of trip.

Disney wants you to believe in the "once-in-a-lifetime" thing because it furthers the notion of Walt Disney World being a necessary pilgrimage for every child. This is one of the major points of the company's marketing.

[HackLaSalle]

Not to say anything about the rest of your post, but this statement has actually been proven wrong in the past with real statistics. On any given day at Walt Disney World, a vast, vast majority of people have visited the parks in the past. It's more accurate to say that for some people, Walt Disney World is a "once-in-a-few-years" sort of trip.

Disney wants you to believe in the "once-in-a-lifetime" thing because it furthers the notion of Walt Disney World being a necessary pilgrimage for every child. This is one of the major points of the company's marketing.

Wow. That's crazy. Did not know that. Thank you for the info.

[DizneyFreak2002]

Watch for Iger to ax ME next....

If ME gets the axe (it won't), blame TDO... I don't think Iger really has much to say about small things like that... In fact, I doubt he has much to say, or cares to have much to say regarding big projects... He'll just sign his name and play around with his tech gadgets and ponder his political future....

[DizneyFreak2002]

I've been to the parks a lot in the last 3 years and I can certainly attest that crowds year round are bigger than ever. It's true, there is no down time anymore. But I also agree that it seems to have leveled off and spread out through the year. I think this is a good thing!

Christine (cantgetenuff) and I were commenting a few weeks ago when we were in the parks that if not for the tour groups, no one would be there. Well, not really, but you know what I mean.

No one says the crowds aren't there... But the crowds haven't grown... They are just spreading out over the course of the year... The numbers show the attendance is stagnant... The WDW parks have not seen attendance growth since DAK when it opened Everest...

[SurferStitch]

More likely they go back to charging for the EMH like they used to. A nominal charge isn't all that bad. It kept the crowds down, that's for sure.

Yep... E-Nights. I loved them! For $12 you pretty much got the MK to yourself! It was worth every penny and more, and the additional cost kept the crowds down. Also, they capped the attendance at a certain amount, so that helped, too.

I would much prefer an E-Night type of thing to the current EMH system. Evening EMH's are just waaaaaay too busy!

[barnaby]

No one says the crowds aren't there... But the crowds haven't grown... They are just spreading out over the course of the year... The numbers show the attendance is stagnant... The WDW parks have not seen attendance growth since DAK when it opened Everest...

Given the current dismal state of the economy, what has attendance done at other theme parks?
I realize comparing WDW to say Great Adventure is apples to oranges, only real comp is Universal.
I am not a business guy, but if you told me my business would stay flat when many businesses were going backwards, I'd take the flat. Again, I realize that may not be acceptable for Disney, but given the current state of things economy, I think expectations of growth have to be lowered.

[DizneyFreak2002]

Given the current dismal state of the economy, what has attendance done at other theme parks?
I realize comparing WDW to say Great Adventure is apples to oranges, only real comp is Universal.
I am not a business guy, but if you told me my business would stay flat when many businesses were going backwards, I'd take the flat. Again, I realize that may not be acceptable for Disney, but given the current state of things economy, I think expectations of growth have to be lowered.

IOA has gone up 30% and then again 29%.. Universal had only minimal increase last year, and to be honest, I don't know what they did the year before, but their attendance increased... And DCA is getting a HUGE jolt right now because of Carsland... So, other theme parks are seeing increases in attendance... WDW remains flat...

[MinnieMommie]

Well, we know from estimates released by various independent groups. By all accounts, attendance at Walt Disney World is continuing to climb. There really is no such thing as the "off-season" anymore.

I have to agree Jared. I have done lots of off peak visiting over the years including January. I must say from personal observation that the crowd level has certainly increased during these "off season" times. I can not say if this represents a growth in attendance or just a leveling among seasons. I can say though that the "off season" is much more populated that it had been years ago.

[Stu29573]

I agree that off season aint what it used to be. I can remember going in early March in 1990 and pretty much having the parks to ourselves. In fact, I can remember that it didnt seem as fun as the busier times because it was just so empty!

The last time I went was pre Thanksgiving 2010. There were lots of folks, although not nearly like peak. All in all I prefer the more people.....to a point!

[GAN]

Not to say anything about the rest of your post, but this statement has actually been proven wrong in the past with real statistics. On any given day at Walt Disney World, a vast, vast majority of people have visited the parks in the past. It's more accurate to say that for some people, Walt Disney World is a "once-in-a-few-years" sort of trip.

Disney wants you to believe in the "once-in-a-lifetime" thing because it furthers the notion of Walt Disney World being a necessary pilgrimage for every child. This is one of the major points of the company's marketing.

I'd be curious to know what the actual statistics say regarding what percentage of guests are in the "once-in-a-few-years" (which would be me) vs. the "once-in-a-lifetime" (which would be people who just can't justify a return trip because of financial constraints). I'm not sure where you get off saying HackLasalle has been "proven" wrong -because I would say, just from casual observation, that maybe 50-75% fall into my category of every few years(or more frequent) which would leave maybe 25% or more in the "once-in-a-lifetime" category. Those being either because they just can't afford or they just don't care to ever return. To me, 25% + would be "many". Please share those numbers -I've often wondered about the percentage of guests that return regularly.

[barnaby]

IOA has gone up 30% and then again 29%.. Universal had only minimal increase last year, and to be honest, I don't know what they did the year before, but their attendance increased... And DCA is getting a HUGE jolt right now because of Carsland... So, other theme parks are seeing increases in attendance... WDW remains flat...

Opening new "lands" and expansion wre the probable causes for the increases?
Let's see how MK does when the Fantasyland expansion is complete.

[DizneyFreak2002]

Opening new "lands" and expansion wre the probable causes for the increases?
Let's see how MK does when the Fantasyland expansion is complete.

But it isn't meant to increase attendance... New Fantasyland is meant to help spread out the park capacity as MK was and is bursting at the seems and it can't handle the stress any longer... And it will succeed in serving its purpose... Adding capacity (not attendance) for a park that needs it badly...

[barnaby]

But it isn't meant to increase attendance... New Fantasyland is meant to help spread out the park capacity as MK was and is bursting at the seems and it can't handle the stress any longer... And it will succeed in serving its purpose... Adding capacity (not attendance) for a park that needs it badly...

Gotcha, good point.