Evening Extra Magic Hours Reduced
Evening Extra Magic Hours at Walt Disney World are being reduced from 3 hours at night to 2 hours at night, beginning in January. For those unfamiliar with Extra Magic Hours, they are operating hours exclusively for Walt Disney World resort-hotel guests. Every morning and/or night, a select park opens early or stays open late, just for Disney hotel guests.
Walt Disney World’s website confirms this with the following: “Each day, one of the 4 Walt Disney World theme parks opens one hour early or remains open up to 2 hours after regular closing time. Additionally, Disney Water Parks offer Extra Magic Hours during select times of year.”
Our Reaction:
There’s no possible way to spin this as a positive. During the course of the past few years, Walt Disney World has made gradual, small cuts to its offerings (from fewer fireworks per show to the Lights of Winter to tips in the Disney Dining Plan among many, many other things) all while raising prices. This 1-hour cut by itself isn’t huge news or the end of the world, but all of these cuts in aggregate really hurt the guest experience. Walt Disney World watchdog Kevin Yee has aptly described these happenings as “Declining by Degrees,” and we couldn’t agree more.
Disney, there’s only so much fat you can cut before you start hitting muscle. You’re clear through the muscle and starting to cut bone.
With expanded operating hours, constant plussing throughout the resort, new lands in Disney California Adventure, etc., Disneyland Resort looks better and better as a vacation destination. At least there the ticket price increases are somewhat justifiable.
We encourage you to contact Walt Disney World Guest Services to let them know how you feel about this change: [email protected]
Share your thoughts on this latest Walt Disney World cut in the comments!
Isnt’ the whole point of the Evening EMH to give resort guests run of the park without the long lines experienced during the day? Our family of 6 visited for the first time in 2008. We slept in most mornings, and took advantage of every single evening extra magic hour at all four parks. From midnight until 2am, we would ride the most popular rides over and over again with little to no wait. That in itself was a magical experience, and the ONLY reason we paid the big bucks to stay at a Disney resort. Not only have they reduced the extra magic hours in comparison to 2008, they are closing one hour earlier! in 2008, MK closed at 11pm or 12pm during Thanksgiving week. This will be our second year to go during Thanksgiving week – 5 years later, and we were shocked to see that MK closes at 10pm?? And the cherry on top……Splash Mountain is no longer available to ride during evening EMH!! However……we are taking advantage of Disney’s free dining plan that is being offered. I believe that is the trade off. In order to not lose money, Disney is cutting back on hourly wages, to compensate for the free meals. For our family of 6, the free dining plan is a HUGE savings. So we are going to make the best of it, and now that our kids are older, try to take as little breaks as possible to see and do all that we want.
I actually had no problem spending the 12 dollars way back when for E-ride night, remember those? it was well worth the cost for the late night experience. Then came EMH and that was good too but now … well the words escape me here even a year after this article was first posted. It appears not enough folks took you up on your suggestion Tom to let the customer service people know how we felt about this situation. Bad show Disney!
This is very upsetting. We booked Our trip for Feb. already, not knowing this was going on. I wondered when I started planning our days, what the heck happened to the magic hours! This is so unfair. Thats why we stay at the resorts to wander at night, and enjoy the parks as well as to utilize the priviledge of getting on rides very quick! SHAME ON YOU DISNEY….All that money spent, and prices go up, and Magic hours cut!!!! Not a wise move. I’m sure there will be lots staying off site, and going elsewhere for their family vacations! I know we will for 20014. This was our 3rd trip in 4 years to Disney!! How sad:(
I do not like this one bit. I feel as many others..Disney continues to raise ticket prices..over sells ticketed events..AS the “Not So Scary Halloween Party” (This year..they even ran out of Halloween Merchandise..I am a passholder planned a vacation..bought the tickets to the event..and couldn’t even purchase a Halloween 2012 T-shirt..SERIOUSLY??? Not to mention,,this exclusive so called ticket only event..yeah..ok..they don’t clear out the park..you just cannot trick or treat or ride rides..so why even bother purchasing a ticket???) Bottom line..MONEY!! The more they sell, the more they make. The more they cut..the more profit they make. Dining plan, increase in price, decrease in what is included, Resort Stays, increase in prices..and now the price per night is based on what actual resort in which category (Not just straight lined as it once was..all Value resorts were one rate..all Moderate resorts were one rate..now they are acording to their popularity(if you will)..it is sad that Disney is stooping to this marketing way..less in this case is not more for the consumer..just for the company). I am seriously reconsidering renewing our passes to the park as I am not so happy with how the Company is being run. I LOVE DISNEY..just not so happy with how the parks and such are being handles..not as clean, rides continually going down, ammenities not as they once were..and now running out of merchandise. Not acceptable Disney Standards as once set forth by the Owner/Creator/Founder Walt Disney..I am sure if he were still here with us..he would be sure his Company would be run much differnetly where families could enjoy a vacation at a reasonable cost., Bad move Disney company..Bad bad move. I will definately write to guest realtions!
My family loved staying at disney resorts. We used the extra hours every visit. not anymore. thank you disney for taking a big piece of the magic out our vacation. we will go back but not at a disney resort. too expensive and now not enough services
Figures that these cuts and price increases are happening right before my honeymoon to WDW in Jan 2013!
Horrible.! Extra magic hours not so “Magic” anymore.! very sad. I already spend thousands on trips there now they take away….Instead of giving back. sad.
I am holding out hope that the timing of this coincides with the X-Pass rollout and X-Pass includes some sort of resort only (maybe Deluxe only) benefits to offset the reduction in EMH myself so I am waiting before I assume that this is a cutback with no replacement….thus no complaints to [email protected] coming from me until this plays out.
They release hours 6 months in advance so if my hopes are correct, they were forced to play this hand before the other.