Evening Magic Hours for Deluxe Guests Only

[imbelle]

Disney isn't Universal.

So apparently Universal is now the industry leader.

 

[happiestpoe]

Disney used to offer evening EMH for all resort guests. Now it’s only for Deluxe guests. How is that not taking something away?

I guess for me I see it as Disney didn't elect to take away EMH, Covid forced their hand. Or at least, they felt it was something they needed to do in response to the pandemic. I assume EMH will be rolled out to all guests in due time, it's just that they've offered it to Deluxe guests first, as a sort of reward for them paying more.

I'm conflicted on whether it's the best way to go. It's very capitalist, it makes sense: pay more, get more (perks). But if they wait too long to roll it out to all guests, I'll be upset. But I figure by October lots of things will go back to the way they used to be.

 

[Jonfw2]

One tiny positive is it might be less crowded to get to the bus when us peasants get kicked out.

No one is kicking you out. Everyone can stay, walk around, eat- just can't use Magic Band attractions.

 

[Jonfw2]

I guess for me I see it as Disney didn't elect to take away EMH, Covid forced their hand. Or at least, they felt it was something they needed to do in response to the pandemic. I assume EMH will be rolled out to all guests in due time, it's just that they've offered it to Deluxe guests first, as a sort of reward for them paying more.

I'm conflicted on whether it's the best way to go. It's very capitalist, it makes sense: pay more, get more (perks). But if they wait too long to roll it out to all guests, I'll be upset. But I figure by October lots of things will go back to the way they used to be.

If you roll it out to all guests, it's just longer park hours.

 

[Minniemoo15]

As DVC this benefits me, but I don’t really like it. I grew up staying at Caribbean Beach every year and that was definitely a splurge for my family. I have the greatest memories of our trips back then and never felt that I was missing out by not staying at a deluxe resort. Now that I am grown and DVC allows me to stay at deluxe - I do love them. But I would never ever shell out the nightly rate they ask.

Also, I know I’m in the minority here with the morning hours, but I think they’re great. We actually avoided parks with EMH in the past because they were so much more crowded all day long. This way we will get a benefit at whatever Park we pick every day and those AM crowds will be dispersed much more evenly. Even if it is only 1/2 hour, it still puts us a step or two ahead throughout the day.

 

[dato63]

We switched to the WL when it reopened, so this does benefit us. We also booked Universal Royal Pacific, specifically for the express passes since it will be a busy time of the year.

My daughters were wanting to see Pandora at AK after dark. I was hoping for the Disney After Dark at AK to come back. But, if AK is included in one of the late hours while we are there, it would save us money. I do hate having to wait to find out what parks, on what nights - since it could effect our park reservations, etc. But, for us, it could save money, if we can coordinate it correctly.

Up until now, I liked the park reservations. Since we are going at Christmas, it seemed a benefit that we could leave a park and come back. But with this. . . . . I guess it depends on when they share the schedule of what parks, what nights, etc.

I do think the EMH was a better set up for WDW. While we are staying deluxe, it does feel like Disney magic has always been shared among all who chose to stay on property to be immersed. While I know Disney is not just for the young, I guess I liked that the magic seemed like it was equally shared for their sakes.

 

[Minniemoo15]

I have never stayed on site at Universal but if I did I would definitely book deluxe to get the EP. So in that sense they are pretty smart.

but at universal you are staying on site for maybe 3-4 nights, so the bump to deluxe is a lot less hard on the wallet than a full week deluxe at WDW

 

[Jacq7414]

I have never stayed on site at Universal but if I did I would definitely book deluxe to get the EP. So in that sense they are pretty smart.

but at universal you are staying on site for maybe 3-4, so the bump to deluxe is a lot less hard on the wallet than a full week deluxe at WDW

We stayed at the Royal Pacific when we went to universal and the passes were definitely worth it. We would go back there again when our daughter is older and stay on property.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Disney messed up when they added all the good neighbor hotels to the perks list. And I think they know it. I feel this step is just the first one backtracking the old ways. As many have said yes emh was all resorts but it felt very much like a regular day with the amount of people in the parks at the time.

Step 1 : make evening emh deluxe only
Step 2 : make fast passes free for deluxe guest
Step 3 : say they are sorry and add in value and mods to this list a month after 50th.
Step 4: never ever give a benefit to the good neighbor hotels again.

Right now they still have the adr booking benefits and I think maybe.. that will stay but 60 day fast passes and emh are forever gone for these resorts.

I was thinking about this last night. I can see Disney giving it to the mods and values down the road and act like they’re doing them a favor. When I’m reality it’s something they always had. And people will be grateful and forget that it used to be a regular perk.

 

[cakebaker]

Perhaps what they should do is have some evening EMH for all resort guests and some for deluxe only.

It wouldn’t help. The second Disney gives anything to a class of resorts that others don’t get, people will complain.

Part of disneys inclusivity mantra then. Leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Rich vs the poor. Its not how this park was set out to be.

Of course it was. Club 33- does it get any more exclusive than that? Don’t make it a class issue. I guarantee you, most people who stay at deluxe resorts are not rich. We certainly are not. We just prioritize our wants and make sacrifices on other things to get them. Having more money than someone else doesn’t make you rich and having less doesn’t make you poor.

Unless they make their resorts free, they are all exclusive. Saying that Disney’s policy of being inclusive is violated by giving more incentive to stay at their more expensive resorts is ridiculous.

 

[ChipnDale79]

I guess for me I see it as Disney didn't elect to take away EMH, Covid forced their hand. Or at least, they felt it was something they needed to do in response to the pandemic. I assume EMH will be rolled out to all guests in due time, it's just that they've offered it to Deluxe guests first, as a sort of reward for them paying more.

I'm conflicted on whether it's the best way to go. It's very capitalist, it makes sense: pay more, get more (perks). But if they wait too long to roll it out to all guests, I'll be upset. But I figure by October lots of things will go back to the way they used to be.

Disney was phasing it out before covid, we all knew it’s days were numbered

 

[glocon]

I have never stayed on site at Universal but if I did I would definitely book deluxe to get the EP. So in that sense they are pretty smart.

but at universal you are staying on site for maybe 3-4 nights, so the bump to deluxe is a lot less hard on the wallet than a full week deluxe at WDW

The other thing someone can do at wdw is a split stay with part of their time at a deluxe and another part at a value or mod. Get the benefit of emh while at the deluxe then save some $$$ at a value or mod.
Just a thought

 

[Jonfw2]

I remember an editorial in the Cleveland Plain Dealer when Cedar Point started Fast Lane.

The author said “what am I supposed to tell my son when he sees all these people walking past us when we’ve waited for an hour?” and then went on to make it a rich vs poor argument.

First off, tell your son the same thing you’d tell him if he’s confused about first class on a plane or suites at a baseball game: they paid more money than we did. Great life lesson.

Second, the rich vs poor thing is insane. As cake said, these people aren’t rich. They just decided to budget their money towards a more pleasurable experience and you didn’t.

 

[cakebaker]

Disney was phasing it out before covid, we all knew it’s days were numbered

Agreed. There’s is absolutely nothing about EMH’s that was inherently unsafe, in fact quite the opposite. If they could open the parks at 9am to everyone who had a ticket, they could open them at 8 to on site guests only. The crowds would’ve been less and fewer people means a safer environment.

This was from the beginning a cost cutting measure.

And even if it were a safety issue, they could bring it back to everyone now and they aren’t. Bringing it back as an exclusive perk for Deluxe/DVC gives incentive to stay at a deluxe and solves the issue of EMH’s being so crowded that they weren’t worth doing anymore.

 

[Marionnette]

I was thinking about this last night. I can see Disney giving it to the mods and values down the road and act like they’re doing them a favor. When I’m reality it’s something they always had. And people will be grateful and forget that it used to be a regular perk.

I'm thinking that this will only happen if the current plan blows up in their face and it becomes difficult to fill the moderates and values. Is there anyone who thinks that this current plan wasn't instituted because deluxe rooms aren't selling and RIV sales aren't hitting their projected marks? That target market, the guest with lots of jingle in their pocket, wants to know that they're going to get more if they pay more. A bigger room and nicer pool isn't enough to sway those guests. They can get that at the Four Seasons or the Waldorf. And if that high-spending guest isn't staying onsite, they're not dining onsite, and doing some shopping elsewhere.

The other thing someone can do at wdw is a split stay with part of their time at a deluxe and another part at a value or mod. Get the benefit of emh while at the deluxe then save some $$$ at a value or mod.
Just a thought

But that would require knowing which nights would be the EMH nights and actually being able to book just the night you want. Given how Disney has been using an algorithm to selectively determine the number of open nights at a resort, it's quite possible that you won't be able to book just a night or two in order to take advantage of the EMHs.

 

[Future_WorldPhonencian]

the distinction is the number of guests able to access these evening hours is about 25% of all rooms that are onsite. I have no idea how many rooms there are at the swan/dolphin/springs area but this will translate to a significantly lower number of people vs prior EMH.

edited: I was going to Google search the number of rooms but holy cow there were a ton of Springs area hotels that could access EMH.

The list below includes Disney Springs Hotels that used to get onsite perks:
https://touringplans.com/walt-disney-world/hotels/number-rooms

 

[bluezy]

I guess for me I see it as Disney didn't elect to take away EMH, Covid forced their hand. Or at least, they felt it was something they needed to do in response to the pandemic. I assume EMH will be rolled out to all guests in due time, it's just that they've offered it to Deluxe guests first, as a sort of reward for them paying more.

I'm conflicted on whether it's the best way to go. It's very capitalist, it makes sense: pay more, get more (perks). But if they wait too long to roll it out to all guests, I'll be upset. But I figure by October lots of things will go back to the way they used to be.

Except that people staying in a suite at AoA are paying *more* for their room than some people staying in a standard deluxe room. If they want to be "fair", they should say that it's available to anyone who pays more than $500/night (random number there) for their room. But that's not "trackable" through a magic band/MDE so they have to just say Deluxe resorts.

 

[wolfawk]

We have been DVC owners for only a couple of years now, not rich by any stretch of the imagination. Our family was used to the value resorts, eventually stayed at POR and CBR, loved em. So for us we love the idea of EMH in the evening. But as someone who has had to find the best deal for the most time at a value, I certainly would feel somewhat slighted that Disney chose to bestow it on Deluxe resort guests. My hope is that eventually they will offer it to all those staying at any Disney resort.

 

[glocon]

But that would require knowing which nights would be the EMH nights and actually being able to book just the night you want. Given how Disney has been using an algorithm to selectively determine the number of open nights at a resort, it's quite possible that you won't be able to book just a night or two in order to take advantage of the EMHs.

Yes. I meant once the schedule for the emh parks comes out, not right at first when we basically know nothing more than it is coming. I guess I just assumed that it would be a set type of schedule of which nights at which parks would be emh. Maybe shouldn’t assume though...

 

[mom2rtk]

It is…but for years now, Universal has only given their version of fast passes for free to their deluxe guests.

The fact that Universal has been doing it for years is the key point here. This is a big sea change for Disney. Especially when everyone used to get EMH. Universal's value resorts weren't even built until after the Express Pass at deluxe hotels was well established.