Agree to Disagree! DISUnplugged Show March 22!

[JJZMgailey]

Not really. My husband and I have a combined annual income of about $65,000.00 2 million for Disney is approximately the same as $15 for us. I could hardly expect to be called philanthropic if that's all I gave away.

Fair enough, however; a donation is a donation and it helps the 'cause' whether it's $5 or $5,000. It's also not something that anyone is required to do.

 

[Princess Jes]

I listened to The Fix today and realized that this after party everyone is getting so upset about takes place from 11pm to 2am. This is not happening during normal park hours. Just the fact that it happens that late limits their potential audience. This isn't going to be a big family event. I'm sure some parents would keep their little ones out that late but most probably wouldn't. To be honest, this rules out my wife and I having any interest in this event as well. We're long past the "party all night" phase of our lives. If we were to do this, we'd pretty much lose the following day of our vacation to recovery. No thanks.

I have absolutely no problem with Disney doing this. It's giving them a way to monetize the park at a time when it would normally be closed. I'm sure it will sell out and be a success. I won't be there but I'm sure plenty of others will.

Like I mentioned 639 pages back, I actually feel like this could be a lush in the opposite direct to that which everyone has their knickers in a knot over.
I think they're testing to see if people are interested in a 20-24 hour park day outside of just the hype of a single 24 hour event once a year.
Pete has mentioned it many times, a 24 hour park (or even 20 hours) means people who are night owls can enjoy the park later with (in theory) lesser crowds, which should then reduce crowds to a degree during "normal" park hours.

 

[rteetz]

I think I actually put hours and pay. Which I could argue if you don't work any hours you don't get any pay. And to boot, in those articles they also talk about laying people off.

Correct. Painters were laid off and if you aren't working you're not getting paid. Disney doesn't pay a lot of CMs mug anyways.

 

[Nezumi Fan]

Fair enough, however; a donation is a donation and it helps the 'cause' whether it's $5 or $5,000. It's also not something that anyone is required to do.

Pretty good PR value for "only" $2M, though.

 

[Princess Jes]

Pretty good PR value for "only" $2M, though.

Why does it matter the intention?
Less fortunate people received a donation of $2M, and that's what matters.
Slamming a company for donating money, regardless of the intention is silly IYAM.

 

[disneysteve]

I think they're testing to see if people are interested in a 20-24 hour park day outside of just the hype of a single 24 hour event once a year.

That makes sense. They can use these late night events to judge interest and what people are willing to pay. Again, I think these will be wildly popular.

 

[EricInPA]

We've no FP+, of course, and until the PtN dining package, no way to reserve seating or viewing location for parades. Definitely no FP+ for parades or fireworks such as "Wishes" at WDW...although I guess that's soon to become pay-to-play at the Magic Kingdom

Does World of Color still have the FastPass area? They had it when I was there in 2013.

 

[rteetz]

Like I mentioned 639 pages back, I actually feel like this could be a lush in the opposite direct to that which everyone has their knickers in a knot over.
I think they're testing to see if people are interested in a 20-24 hour park day outside of just the hype of a single 24 hour event once a year.
Pete has mentioned it many times, a 24 hour park (or even 20 hours) means people who are night owls can enjoy the park later with (in theory) lesser crowds, which should then reduce crowds to a degree during "normal" park hours.

Personally I don't think they are. Disney isn't even doing a 24 hour day this year. Disney hates those days from an operational standpoint. Disney has also been making a lot of cuts. Having the parks open longer only costs them more. Having late night paid events at least helps offset some of those operational costs.

 

[rteetz]

Does World of Color still have the FastPass area? They had it when I was there in 2013.

Yes that's the main way besides a dinner package to see the show.

 

[Tonyz]

As long as Extra Magic Hours mornings/nights continue to exist, I don't care what they do the rest of the mornings/nights.

 

[cxcelica]

That makes sense. They can use these late night events to judge interest and what people are willing to pay. Again, I think these will be wildly popular.

In an interesting way, this might actually turn out to be a very fan friendly offering. If its accurate that these events will take place from 10pm to 1am or 11pm to 2am, presumably on nights when there were no EMH scheduled, it doesn't seem like its actually interferring with the normal operation of the park. Based on these hours, its hard to argue that Disney is taking something away from the average guest and forcing them to pay for it.

In fact, one of the biggest complaints on these boards over the past few years is that the crowd levels are high all year round. This sounds almost like a way of saying you want no crowds, we will keep the parks open after closing, you'll just have to pay extra. Disney isn't going to find ways to make the parks less crowded for guests during regular hours, so perhaps this is a way to please those fans who want the lower crowd numbers and are willing to pay more for it.

I would bet that somewhere on a survey there was a question that said "Would you be willing to pay extra to experience the park with little to no crowds". And I am sure that when guests were leaving the MK on a hot May night after experiencing the new "high" crowd levels, alot of them might have been clicking "Yes"

I am willing to see what all the details of this event will be.

 

[Boski]

Correct. Painters were laid off and if you aren't working you're not getting paid. Disney doesn't pay a lot of CMs mug anyways.

Yup. And lets not forget the cuts to curb side greeters, DHS's Citizens of Hollywood, etc.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I feel like there are multiple discussions going on and sometimes the points of argument are against not the exact counterpoint.

If we focus specifically on these new paid extra hours (both morning and evening), so far the dates that have been officially announced are when there were not EMH planned (so not taking away EMH) and before or after the park opening times (so not impacting regular park hours).

So I see two arguments against this developing:
1) I don't like how this "feels" as it is Disney nickel-and-diming people and a cash grab and creating different classes of guests - those that can pay the extra and those that can't. I think there have been enough things pointed out here that there has always been that split (with character meals, ticket books, vip tours, etc.) - but this might just be a bit more in your face. I also think that coupled with the cuts in other areas (eliminating CMs, taking away FP+ for parades, maintenance not what it was, etc.), even though these extra hours aren't directly tied to that, it feels like Disney is cutting back the "base" experience while adding these additional experiences that require a guest to pay extra.

2) Projecting these actions onto "what might come in the future" - that is, if these go well they will add them to additional nights and either get rid of/reduce EMH or have the non-EMH days close earlier than in the past (that is, in the summer MK was often open to midnight or 1am, now perhaps they close at 10pm and have these extra hours after) or, in the case of taking away the FP+ for parades, etc. - start charging a fee to be in those spots. I fully agree that if these "extras" start taking away more directly from the "base" experience that is not good and will upset me. But, if we are being fair, this is speculation on our part and not anything officially announced. And to get upset about things that might happen can be dangerous

I think the trouble is that so much is happening at one - cut backs due to overruns in Shanghai, feeling that care and maintenance is going down and CMs don't always have that "pixie dust"feel, crowds that make the trips more of a chore (be it dealing with them or having to plan things out with FP+) ... and then they are adding experiences one after another that cost extra - so looking at a macro sense, they are lessening the base experience while wanting you to make that up with extra experiences.

I think that if Disney did more of the "slow boil to the lobster" technique so we didn't notice as much it wouldn't be perceived so negatively. Also, if we stick to only what has been officially announced the changes really are more "extra" than replacing free with paid experiences - but obviously everyone's experiences are different and can feel how the feel about things - and I can understand all of the news lessening the "magic"

 

[disneysteve]

PDisney isn't even doing a 24 hour day this year. Disney hates those days from an operational standpoint.

True, but that is probably at least in part due to the fact that there is no added revenue (other than food and merchandise) from staying open 24 hours currently. If Disney were to move to a 20+ hour schedule, you know they wouldn't do it at the existing ticket price. They'd have to hike the price to make it work and have the means to hire another shift of workers. Maybe these late night experiences are testing the waters. We don't know. Just speculating. But it makes sense.

one of the biggest complaints on these boards over the past few years is that the crowd levels are high all year round. This sounds almost like a way of saying you want no crowds, we will keep the parks open after closing, you'll just have to pay extra. Disney isn't going to find ways to make the parks less crowded for guests during regular hours, so perhaps this is a way to please those fans who want the lower crowd numbers and are willing to pay more for it.

I agree. There doesn't seem to be anything Disney can do to lessen the crowds and that is the #1 complaint today. Maybe these extended hours events help. We'll see.

 

[rteetz]

True, but that is probably at least in part due to the fact that there is no added revenue (other than food and merchandise) from staying open 24 hours currently. If Disney were to move to a 20+ hour schedule, you know they wouldn't do it at the existing ticket price. They'd have to hike the price to make it work and have the means to hire another shift of workers. Maybe these late night experiences are testing the waters. We don't know. Just speculating. But it makes sense.

I think the only way Disney stays open later or does a 20+ hour day is if it's an extra ticket add on like the event just announced. They need something to offset those operational costs. If Disney stayed open 24 hours all the time you would start seeing attractions in bad condition. A ton of work is done at night to make sure things are working and in good condition for the next day.

 

[nolanboys]

I think the trouble is that so much is happening at one - cut backs due to overruns in Shanghai, feeling that care and maintenance is going down and CMs don't always have that "pixie dust"feel, crowds that make the trips more of a chore (be it dealing with them or having to plan things out with FP+) ... and then they are adding experiences one after another that cost extra - so looking at a macro sense, they are lessening the base experience while wanting you to make that up with extra experiences.

This is exactly why I am having an issue with these new ad ons. The Villians party is a new experience, so I like that they are doing innovative things like that, but these extra hour ad ons seem to me like a play to get more money because they aren't able to deliver what they used to during regular park hours anymore.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

This is exactly why I am having an issue with these new ad ons. The Villians party is a new experience, so I like that they are doing innovative things like that, but these extra hour ad ons seem to me like a play to get more money because they aren't able to deliver what they used to during regular park hours anymore.

Just out of curiosity - when you say they aren't able to deliver what they used to surfing regular park hours, is this due to removing things or just what they are presenting isn't as quality, or mainly due to crowds making it take Loki g to accomplish things? If the later, couldn't these extra hours be an attempt to address that? Spread out when people come? Even if not a lot if people do the extra morning hours theoretically isn't that less people that will need a FP for Mine Train?

 

[KingLlama]

I'd just like to say that I agree with all of you, except those of you who are wrong.

 

[nolanboys]

Just out of curiosity - when you say they aren't able to deliver what they used to surfing regular park hours, is this due to removing things or just what they are presenting isn't as quality, or mainly due to crowds making it take Loki g to accomplish things? If the later, couldn't these extra hours be an attempt to address that? Spread out when people come? Even if not a lot if people do the extra morning hours theoretically isn't that less people that will need a FP for Mine Train?

I think it is a combination of all of it. The quality of CM's are down IMO and with FP+, standby lines are longer for rides that used to have a minimum wait time. We've frequently gone at crowded times, so that for me is what I expect. Theoretically, you may be right, but the realist side of me says this is to just about $ and not about trying to improve guest's experience.

 

[pontikes67]

I'd just like to say that I agree with all of you, except those of you who are wrong.

http://on.aol.com/video/-chef--film-clip--you-re-trending-bro-518256841 the first 18 seconds of this clip personify this thread.