Evening Magic Hours for Deluxe Guests Only

[FCDub]

Also, it's a great big world out there. Lots of places for people to visit if this is what makes you so upset.

 

[Obi-J Kenobi]

But I also recognize that this is the first time Disney is treating its onsite Guests differently at the theme parks.

I'm not sure about the accuracy of this statement. My recollection is that at WDW guests were allowed to purchase additional FPs, only if they stayed at CL (which would be impossible for value resorts and very impractical for moderate resorts being that there is only one CL at one moderate). Without question, onsite guests were being treated differently depending on which resort they stayed at. Can all resort guests go back to their hotel rooms and watch theme park, firework entertainment from their room's balcony? No. But, some CR resort guests can.

As an aside, my DW and I stayed at CR for an anniversary, and we had a BL tower view purposefully because there is nothing more romantic on this beautiful earth than the Electric Water Pageant. Nothing!

I'm not going to get upset guests getting extra or different park benefits than the other resorts. Heck, I'm not upset that Star Cruiser is going to be completely off-limits to non-resort guests (which is a first for WDW I believe, because I have never been told to vacate a WDW resort because I did not have a reservation at that particular resort). Star Cruiser guests are booking a "cruise" on a "starship", which is actually a hotel room in a place of fixed habitation. It looks like those guests are going to be involved in a 2-3 day LARPing event. Those guests who did book that "cruise" get a private excursion to Batuu in HS (and I think get to ride RoTR too?) but those folks who are staying at other resorts do not get this access or excursion or attraction benefit. And God Bless each and every person that wants to go LARPing on Star Cruiser and around Batuu.

Gird your loins folks because WDW sees an opening to change the rules of its operations post-COVID.

 

[dez1978]

I believe the previous poster’s point was that hotel Guests were treated equitably in the past. When you a paid for a Deluxe Resort, you got a better room in a better location with better amenities. That’s mostly it.

What about the club level rooms? You could pay more at a club level room and have access to buy extra fp at 90 days and this was only available to CL guests. So you paid extra for a room to be able to pay more to get more fp and no one else was allowed to buy more or pick them early. To me that isn't any different than pay more to stay at this resort and get an extra hr or 2 a couple of nights.

 

[FCDub]

What about the club level rooms? You could pay more at a club level room and have access to buy extra fp at 90 days and this was only available to CL guests. So you paid extra for a room to be able to pay more to get more fp and no one else was allowed to buy more or pick them early. To me that isn't any different than pay more to stay at this resort and get an extra hr or 2 a couple of nights.

It's not really any different. People just want stuff to be angry about when it excludes them.

 

[ST1TCH]

Terrible is a massive over-exaggeration.

Yeah.....massive. Never been to DL prior to last January. Wife and I stayed at the Travelodge to save some money and while it was a heck of a walk, I would never call that area terrible.

 

[dez1978]

It's not really any different. People just want stuff to be angry about when it excludes them.

I guess I have different thoughts on what it means to be excluded from things. I never considered myself excluded from Disney when I couldn't afford to go. I didn't consider myself excluded from after hours events when I chose not to pay to attend them.

 

[Nabas]

I'm not sure about the accuracy of this statement. My recollection is that at WDW guests were allowed to purchase additional FPs, only if they stayed at CL (which would be impossible for value resorts and very impractical for moderate resorts being that there is only one CL at one moderate).

What about the club level rooms?

Yes, Club Level. But then you are paying for Club Level. And you still have to pay for the additional FP+.

This is “pay more to get more”, not “onsite equity”.

 

[Jennasis]

Not sure where we fall on the scale. DH and I are literally farmers and I work 2 jobs. But we stay deluxe when we go because we own DVC and go every other year. So are we peasants or nobility?

I'm confused.

 

[dez1978]

Yes, Club Level. But then you are paying for Club Level. And you still have to pay for the additional FP+.

This is “pay more to get more”, not “onsite equity”.

ok, but you can pay more to stay at a deluxe and get the extra hours. Just like you can pay more to stay club level to get fp. the only difference is talking about hours or fp. It's not equitable that people can pay to stay CL and have different FP options than everyone else but no one complains about that.

 

[dez1978]

Not sure where we fall on the scale. DH and I are literally farmers and I work 2 jobs. But we stay deluxe when we go because we own DVC and go every other year. So are we peasants or nobility?

I'm confused.

You're noble peasants I think

 

[Nabas]

It's not really any different. People just want stuff to be angry about when it excludes them.

Increasingly, Disney is stratifying its Guests.

I think the biggest concern is that it's obvious that under CEO Bob Chapek, Disney intends to squeeze every cent out of you they can.

People have been complaining about this for decades; it's not new. What's different is that Chapek intends to take squeezing into the stratosphere.

Just think how many in California are upset about the end of Annual Passes at Disneyland. That was just the first salvo.

At WDW, Extra Magic Hours is over. Disney's Magic Express is over. Onsite Guests are being charged $15-$25 to park their cars, something that used to be free. Hotel rack rates have shot up since 2019. Ticket prices are up, park hours have been cut back. Rumors are strong that 'free' FP+ is over, soon to be replaced by a 'pay to play' system.

How much more shelling can we expect from Chapek? When is Chapek going to take a breather?

 

[elmwyn]

It's not really any different. People just want stuff to be angry about when it excludes them.

It really amazes me how far people go out of their way to misunderstand why this upsets people. It's not just offering more perks for more money, they are actively taking things aways from people while expecting them to pay more.

"Well, what about club level?" is such a non-sequitur. I've never had access to club level. I did have access to DME and EMHs and who the heck knows what is going to happen to the poor FPs.

 

[FCDub]

It really amazes me how far people go out of their way to misunderstand why this upsets people. It's not just offering more perks for more money, they are actively taking things aways from people while expecting them to pay more.

"Well, what about club level?" is such a non-sequitur. I've never had access to club level. I did have access to DME and EMHs and who the heck knows what is going to happen to the poor FPs.

How is this actively taking things away? If they are adding EXTRA hours – EXTRA! Not IN PLACE OF regular hours – for this perk, then they're not taking anything away.

And yes, you DID have the opportunity to go to club level if you wanted to pay for it. Just like you have the opportunity to attend this new event if you pay to stay in a deluxe hotel.

 

[BrianL]

Why would you ever stay in a moderate or value now vs offsite? Lost Magical Express, lost free magic bands, lost free resort parking, lost extra magic hours, cannot go to late night hours and once the new FP system comes out, lost advanced FP bookings and most hotels don't have transportation advantage because they only have unreliable bus service that they share with other resorts (next up large price increase to any value/moderate on skyliner)........What is the incentive to book a Disney value or moderate? I cannot find one thing......................Oh wait, 30 minutes in the morning so now i can get up at 6am

Yeah, this is the real issue. I'm not against the "pay more, get more" philosophy, but what are the Values and Moderates even getting? A couple have Skyliner access, but that's about it really. I do hope they will reevaluate and throw some perks at the lower tiers as well, because otherwise there isn't much incentive.

 

[Nabas]

Yeah, this is the real issue. I'm not against the "pay more, get more" philosophy, but what are the Values and Moderates even getting? A couple have Skyliner access, but that's about it really. I do hope they will reevaluate and throw some perks at the lower tiers as well, because otherwise there isn't much incentive.

The first year the Skyliner opened, rates at POP, AOA, and CBR went up by and average of 17%. There hasn't been that big of a single-year hotel price increase at WDW since the 1980s when Michael Eisner first took charge.

People at those 3 resorts didn't get anything. They are paying through the noise for that Skyliner.

 

[elmwyn]

How is this actively taking things away?

Because I had access to the extra hours and now I won't. It's really simple.

And honestly. Running around telling everybody they have the 'opportunity' to vacation club level so they should put up with cuts in service is, out of touch, to say the least.

 

[4Hawks]

How is this actively taking things away? If they are adding EXTRA hours – EXTRA! Not IN PLACE OF regular hours – for this perk, then they're not taking anything away.

And yes, you DID have the opportunity to go to club level if you wanted to pay for it. Just like you have the opportunity to attend this new event if you pay to stay in a deluxe hotel.

I think people are really hung up on the idea that this is the equivalent of EMH, but it is not. This will be a more exclusive event with smaller crowds. Disney should have just called it something else.

 

[philly_mcphillyface]

Disney should have just called it something else.

"THE NO POORS HOUR"

(I kid)

 

[amdphenom]

The first year the Skyliner opened, rates at POP, AOA, and CBR went up by and average of 17%. There hasn't been that big of a single-year hotel price increase at WDW since the 1980s when Michael Eisner first took charge.

People at those 3 resorts didn't get anything. They are paying through the noise for that Skyliner.

Honestly as long as it works, I am fine with it because it's actually a very functional system. It's likely the fastest way to go from a hotel to a park without walking.

I think people are really hung up on the idea that this is the equivalent of EMH, but it is not. This will be a more exclusive event with smaller crowds. Disney should have just called it something else.

Aside from it being only for deluxe guests and rebranded, how is it different? I do not see a difference other than the name and it being cut from the other hotels.

 

[Farro]

"THE NO POORS HOUR"

(I kid)

I like it!
Extra hours for all! (Steerage class not allowed)






(I kid too)