Disney has just announced a new paid after hours event called “Disney After Hours”.
With “Disney After Hours,” guests may purchase a ticket and get access to The Magic Kingdom for three hours after the park closes, including select attractions and meet & greets.
Tickets are on sale now for select dates in April and May only. Dates of the events are April 14th, 21st, 28th, and May 5th, 8th, 12th, & 19th. Tickets are $149 plus tax each for children or adults. At that price, we imagine space is very, very limited and lines should be almost non-existent.
Disney has since announced that guests who buy tickets to the event may begin to check-in at 7PM, allowing them a few more hours of park enjoyment before the other guests leave at park closing time.
This is like extra magic hours but at a premium, wow…wow
That was exactly what came to mind when I read this. Disney is now charging for what used to be included in resort stays and park tickets. There seems to be a move to control crowds by upcharges and outpricing the average visitor. It looks like my Disney experience is fast becoming something of an elitist privilege. Gone are the days when everyone paid for a park ticket and got the same opportunities as the next person to make the most of a day at the park. The only thing I’m unsure of right now is whether I’m standing in… Read more »
Well said, Lee. I agree with you. Our last trip was 4 years ago and I’m starting to wonder when and if we will be able to afford another trip. Breaks my heart.
No one should expect to do everything at WDW on a given trip. And it’s a privilege (not a right) to be able to go in the first place. People are complaining that they’ll never be able to go back. But what about people who have never even been once?
My kids are 12 and 14 and we’ve never been able to take them. Looks like they’ll never get there now! It’s ridiculously priced as it is. wonder what Walt would think of all this….
Thank you , Andrew . I think based on what I`ve seen is Disney has been too fixed for way too long on pricing and discounting everybody into the parks thinking that they are going to be able to make everybody happy. Way too many people have been entitled to doing Disney over and over again vs. a person who is just visiting for the first time. There are people who visit more frequently who are starting to learn to enjoy what they have while they have it and not try to control what they can`t . Disney Parks Vacations… Read more »
I agree. To pay $100 and have to deal with the massive crouds is not worth it. If it weren’t that busy, it shouldn’t take a full day to see the Whole park. I would much rather save, pay a bit extra and actually ENJOY the visit.
And to think I just doubled my DVC points – a substantial additional investment.
This is a separate event that isn’t part of the Extra Magic Hours, you don’t have to go and I think your post is commonplace of the ill informed posts that are online these days. You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to, just go during regular hours or during EMH if you are staying on site, if you don’t wish to go to one then don’t, but, complain when you have no clue what you are talking about, once again, this isn’t EMH, that will be on another night. No one is forced to pay for… Read more »
The only one thing I would add is that E-Ride nights were there long before Extra Magic Hours…and in some ways were better. That said, it was only $20 a ticket for the same amount of time…This is sadly not that at all.
I bet we’ll see regular closing hours happening earlier as well. Guess we won’t see fireworks unless we’re willing to spend $600 (!!!) for our family of four? Yikes.
Plus tax. So. $700!
I just have a quick question. Do you really “got it going on”? Thanks!
Lol!!!^^^^
Does this have an effect on regular Extra Magic Hours for resort guests??
I don’t think so. The dates they listed are not the same as the dates they have listed for Magic Kingdom PM extra magic hours. Typically MK has PM Extra Magic Hours on Wednesdays. The dates listed for this new event were Thursdays, Tuesdays, and Sundays.
Nick it will have to. They can’t offer EMH on those nights so on site guests will see a reduction in “perks” for staying on site. Seems Disney is cutting off their nose despite their face.
There are 4 parks that offer EMH. The day for the DAH people wont be the same day for EMH people. So if today’s EMH are at EPCOT, DAH people are at MK. If tomorrow’s EMH are at the MK, then there would be no DAH that day. And DAH is only for one park, whereas the EMH are for all the parks. Although, im not sure about the water parks offering EMH. I personally have never seen the water parks have EMH.
$50 per hour?? I’d rather do a character meal. It’s sad how insane prices are getting.
Is that cost in addition to the day park ticket?
Yes it is in addition to whatever ticket you hold
Bailey the term is “Cutting off their nose to SPITE their face.”
Relax everyone. This is not taking place of EMH in any way, as they are still being offered on other dates throughout the week. The park doesn’t close to day Guests prior to 10pm on any of these particular nights, and fireworks will still be presented during regular hours. These are simply special events, much like MNSSHP & MVMCP, and Disney will most likely sell out every one of them.
Surely you can see a scenario where if this test is successful, it will lead to the parks closing at 10pm every night (no more evening EMH’s) and Disney planning one or more of these money-grabs each week? Thus another example of us all getting less value for the $$’s that we spend.
I’ve never planned a trip around EMH and neither should you. They’re “bonus” hours only. And one shouldn’t expect to do an entire park in one day. It is what it is.
The are also imposing a mandatory gratuity of 25% on all table service meals starting in April!
I’m going at the end of April and have table services every day. I didn’t see anywhere in the agreement terms there being a mandatory 25% tip. We’re a party of 6. It says 18% still, and I just made a reservation for BOG on April 27.
Those dates are all Thursday nights. Magic Kingdom wasn’t scheduled for EMH on any of the nights for which these tickets are being sold. And there is an EMH morning scheduled for the Magic Kingdom the morning after each of these special events. I don’t really see where the idea that this is taking anything away from guests who do not purchase the event ticket is coming from. This is an extra add-on, not a replacement for anything being offered to guests in general. At that price, I’m not willing to pay to experience it. But I’m sure there are… Read more »
So for a family of 5 $745 for 3 hours that’s ridiculous.My family will be at magic kingdom May 8th so guess they will rush you out at park closing. ?
This article doesn’t state when the extra hours will be. If 11pm-2am, you shouldn’t have an issue because who can stay up that late anyway? Frankly, if you get there at 9am and stay through fireworks at 9:30pm, you should have enough time to do everything you want to. By the way, Saturday in MK is the single busiest day of all the days and parks combined.
Also you won’t be rushed out of the park. You simply won’t be able to ride any rides after regular park close if you don’t have what I assume will be a wristband. I’m sure you’ll be able to do all the shopping you want on main street and work your way out just like any other night after closing.
If they are charging this for 3 hours, what are they going to charge for the 5 hour Halloween and Christmas parties?
Same price they’ve always charged? It costs the park a lot more to stay open for 8K (or however many) people vs. 24K for Halloween and Christmas.
It won’t be the same charge they always have charged – Disney prices go up every year……
And if they sell as many tickets for this as they do for the parties, it would for sure not be worth it. If only a few thousand tickets were sold, I would pay for that during peak weeks…if I were rich, of course.
What is there to do at Disney now, besides to shop for junk, character meet and greets and wait in lines? Most of the parks have reduced the number of ‘attractions’, and considering how many more people go, it’s really just a mall and place for kids to get a pic with a character. Paying $150 for 3 hours seems about par for their crowd honestly. You’re crazy if you don’t think they’re dropping extra magic hours. They couldn’t care less about safety, guest experience, or service. We went yesterday and 3/4 of the entrance gates were closed, just 4… Read more »
Pretty much everything you’ve said is incorrect.
Time to sell my DVC. The corporate greed is getting WAY out of control. They keep jacking up the prices, taking away alot of things that used to be included, and offering less. BTW, the parks are dirty, the staff is rude, and the experience is not what it used to be. They are taking the MAGIC out of the Kingdom!!!
You know what Mike, I will take your DVC just so I don’t have to listen to you grip and complain. Feel free to email me at [email protected] if you are serious. Otherwise shut your mouth because stuff like this has been going on for years. Jesus get a grip people.
You are my new hero, Andrew! But seriously, we all know Mike won’t sell. He, like everyone else complaining, is just complaining because they think their empty threats are being read by Disney execs and they’ll be like “oh no! The public has spoken!”. Money talks people, until you all band together and actually put your money where your mouth is and actually boycott the parks Disney will continue to make these types of changes. But you won’t stop going. You’ll just complain.
Andrew—I’ve been in DVC since ’03 & probably have spent min 75k down there over the years. I feel Mike’s frustration but I agree with your response. You seem very reasonable & I’m on the fence with selling or not selling my membership so tell me what to do! When I got in, it was certainly more affordable back then, & I wouldn’t dare buy 200 points now. Some days I want to sell, & others I feel like I would be dumb to sell. My kids are 17 & 20. Any advice from anyone would be appreciated. Thx! Steven
Steve, I wouldn’t sell. My kids are 21 and 25. I went to Disney with my wife on DVC points and didn’t do the parks last year. Did a trip to Mt. Dora, rode the Orlando Eye, did downtown Disney, etc. Point is there is plenty to do while staying on property. When you have grandkids you will regret selling your DVC.
Mike you are correct they don’t want to pay cast members descents salaries, they keep taking more benefits and perks away. That is why the service sucks. The cast just don’t care anymore.
So they increased the price for our annual passes, and now we can’t even stay as long as we want??? This is BS! Disney #FAIL
What are you talking about? It’s an extra event that’s got nothing to do with normal park hours. You could never stay as long as you wanted. They’ve always closed at some point.
Reducing park hours to accommodate special events is par for course in Disney World. This would be nothing new. What is bothersome is how much this sounds like EMH. I’m skeptical this event will transpire as Disney is known for giving such events a special theme making them have more value than what we’re reading here. Waiting and watching….
@Kevin: DON’T ask…LOL I don’t want to know. I am scared to know…
Disney could not care less about any individual. The place makes outlet malls look fun. Most people will whine, but pay whatever they ask. And then some. The parks are busting at the seems. People can’t spend money fast enough to stand in lines to spend more.
The sky is falling… The sky is falling. Geeeesh – get a grip folks!
Disney is NOT a not-for-profit operation. Why does every body run in circles screaming every single time the company take an opportunity to improve the bottom line? What’s so wrong with maximizing your potential. The only people I really feel sorry for is the staff that will have to keep this huge machine running for those extra three hours a day.
Especially Rib when they pay most at or just above minimum wage and they have cut hours for thousands of employees. Many attractions right now do not have enough cast to even follow proper closing procedures.
This is not official. There is no such announcement. I work for Disney and this story is false
I understand your response if this ‘news’ is still a rumor, but unless you hold a high ranking office in the company you won’t know most of the discussions going on in the company, Would be better to say this is rumor, until otherwise verified or discredited.
I work for disney as well, and we received emails about this change days ago. (and I’m not high ranking or “official” at all)
This is a special ticketed event. No relations to EMH. This a 1 month event. If you do not have this special ticket you will be unable to stay till 2 am. No EMH will be on thise nights.
Didn’t you just say this wasn’t true two days ago? I can find official offers and debate ordering.