Originally Posted By danyoung >Did your body go into shock at Epcot when you didn't indulge in your late night cigar, and adult beverage while on a peaceful stroll around the World Showcase?< It's just an indication as to how bone tired I was that I couldn't drag myself over to the pub after dinner. I thought I'd get rested up a bit at the start of my vacation. Unfortunately that didn't work out so well.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<During EMH, the park still does. The restaurants stay open later with seating until after 10 PM on EMH nights, too. I don't see where this is really any different. It impacts the day visitor who can't do the attractions after 9PM, but the restaurants are generally open to anyone that has the foresight to get a reservation that late and the park isn't driving people out to close everything down until the EMH is over.>> The impact is huge in that the park used to be open DAILY until late for ALL guests and is now open (partially) late for Disney resort guests ONE or TWO nights a week. When EC used to be open daily (both FW and WD) from 8 until midnight or 9 until 11, you can't compare the value that has been taken away from all guests in an effort to save on labor costs. And it makes no sense at a park where so much money is generated on sales of food, alcohol and merchandise. Those are things adults would be interested in during the cooler, magical nighttime hours! I have heard that extending EC's hours is on Jim MacPhee's 'to do' list and I would hope so.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 >Higher end restaurants tend to have fewer items on the menu.< <<Yes, I've seen this. But never at a Disney restaurant until now. And a seafood restaurant definitely needs more than 3 selections of seafood!>> I've never seen a seafood resturant of any caliber not have lobster on the menu at all. It just isn't done. It would be like going to a steakhouse and finding burgers and chicken, but no steak. And I've been to many a find dining location both at WDW and elsewhere around the country/world. I've never witnessed the 'streamlined' menus I see at WDW except on cruise ships. And that's exactly what Disney is trying to do ... stick a cruise ship model on Disney Dining ... right down to the pay in advance DDP.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I'm too much of a big wuss to do the Tower or the Coaster, and I can do Star Tours and Muppets at DL. There just always seemed to be stuff in the other parks that I needed to see more than anything else in the Studios.>> You don't do ToT or RnRC?!?! Danny, you are an old fart!
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << The impact is huge in that the park used to be open DAILY until late for ALL guests and is now open (partially) late for Disney resort guests ONE or TWO nights a week. >> Regardless of the impact, your original statement in this topic inferred that the park wasn't ever open late at all anymore -- when in fact it does operate quite a number of attractions and restaurant late in the evenings for EMH. Regardless of whether the guests are resort guests or day visitor, the park is operating late.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 ^^If you called WDW and asked park hours for EPCOT on an annual basis except for July 4th and Dec. 31st, you'd be told that FW is open from 9-7 and WS is open from 11-9, except for from Thanksgving until Dec. 30th when it adds 30 minutes. Those are the operating hours. EMH is a perq given to resort guests, so while the park is open, it really is closed officially. I can't believe I am typing this ...
Originally Posted By danyoung >You don't do ToT or RnRC?!?!< I've never been a fan of the straight drop ride. I did TofT a few times when it opened, and while I enjoy the effects and buildup, that drop is just too much for me. I haven't been on since they went to multiple drops, nor do I plan to any time soon. And while I love the roller coaster, the R&Roller Coaster has those over the shoulder harnesses, which just sends me into a claustrophobic panic. I may try it someday when I'm with someone who I can talk to and who can try to keep me chilled. But for now, visiting by myself, it's a no go. Everest, on the other hand, ROCKS!!!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 ^^You just needs some meds, Danny. Seriously. They can take that feeling right away. And might help with the weight loss too!
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << If you called WDW and asked park hours for EPCOT on an annual basis except for July 4th and Dec. 31st, you'd be told that FW is open from 9-7 and WS is open from 11-9, except for from Thanksgving until Dec. 30th when it adds 30 minutes. >> Great! I guess since i'm smart enough to know that the park is actually open much later than this on EMH nights (twice a week) and the restaurants continue seating for about an hour and a half beyond the 9 PM "closing" I should have the park to myself since everyone else is adhering to these "official" hours! Oh wait, I remember reading how unpleasant EPCOT is on EMH night because everyone is flooding the place -- I guess no one is calling the WDW infoline to get the official hours.
Originally Posted By Disneybrad "is huge in that the park used to be open DAILY until late for ALL guests and is now open (partially) late for Disney resort guests ONE or TWO nights a week." NO matter how much you mention it, that has not been the case for more than 10 years. I moved to Orlando in 1996, and by that time Epcot had already started with the 7pm close for Future World and 9 pm close for World Showcase. And Since, as we all know, the park is now 25 years old this is almost 1/2 the length of time the park has been open. Whne you make statments like the ones you make, you make is sound like this is somehting new, it isn't it has been this way for mor ethan 10 years. Like it or not.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Whne you make statments like the ones you make, you make is sound like this is somehting new, it isn't it has been this way for mor ethan 10 years.>> It started in early 90s actually when the first Iraq War took place and the recession, but hours still got pumped back after that. But the active move to improve labor costs, and the bottom line, by early closes was the brainchild of George Kalogridis (who was EPCOT VP from 95-00). It was under him that summer hours were gradually phased out. I believe (I have the schedules somewhere) that his first few summers EPCOT remained open until 10 nightly with occassional 11 holiday closes ... then it moved to 10:30 during holiday periods and finally to what we have now. Even NYE went from 2 a.m. back to 1 a.m., which is crazy early for that night. So, you are certainly partially correct about the hours. But you don't have the whole picture. <<Like it or not.>> I don't as a guest. And as a stockholder, I believe it is a very stupid business move. Apparently, the new EPCOT VP agrees with me.
Originally Posted By figment1986 << Apparently, the new EPCOT VP agrees with me. >> he wants to extend hours more??
