In this session, let me explain what E-Ride Night at Walt Disney World’s
Magic Kingdom is, how it came about, how it’s a win-win situation for
Walt Disney World and guests, and how to make the most of it. [Just a
reminder: These policies and basics are subject to change.]
A History Lesson
Of course, today’s park admission media (the park ticket or pass) gives
each guest access to all of the park’s attractions. But in the early days
of Disneyland and Walt Disney World, guests instead purchased ticket books
to go on attractions. These books contained several individual tickets
with different letter designations. Every time the guest wanted to ride
an attraction, they had to surrender one of those tickets to the ride
operator. Starting in 1955, when the park opened, Disneyland introduced
the A, B, and C tickets. The D ticket was introduced in 1956 and in 1959
the E ticket was added.
Walt Disney World adopted this ticket method as well, and both parks
used the E ticket for their top-of-the-line attractions. E-ticket attractions
were such favorites as Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, and The
Haunted Mansion. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain weren’t
around during those coupon days, but if they were they would certainly
qualify as E-ticket attractions.
Eventually, the term “E-ticket ride” became part of the American idiom
to describe an exciting event or experience.
Nineteen-eighty-two marked the end of the E-ticket coupon when Disney
replaced the ticket books with admission media that included unlimited
access to all attractions in the parks.
Customer Satisfaction Surveys
During the 1990s, Walt Disney World conducted many guest surveys to check
the pulse of its resort guests for what worked and what didn’t work. The
overall goal was customer satisfaction, which—translated—means
“revenue stream.”
The surveys indicated that the two most overwhelming issues needing attention
were access to the characters, and access to the most popular attractions.
The perennial number-one favorite park among guests, the Magic Kingdom,
was then targeted to address these issues.
Character greetings and character meals were added to give the guests
more opportunities to interact with Mickey and friends.
Surprise (also known as Early Entry) mornings, Fastpass, and E-Ride nights
were put in place to give guests greater access to the more popular attractions
in the Magic Kingdom. Of these innovations, E-Ride night took the lead
as the one move that seemed to work best for everyone.
What is E-Ride Night?
E-Ride night is a promotion offered only to those who stay on-property
in a Walt Disney World resort, and who purchase multi-day admission passes.
These qualifying guests then purchase e_ride vouchers, which they exchange
for special wristbands. E-Ride nights are offered several times a month,
as often as once or twice per week. Factors that determine frequency are
usually the seasonal time of year and projected resort hotel room bookings.
During E-Ride night, the Magic Kingdom closes to the general public at
a designated hour. At that time all park guests who have their E-Ride
wristbands have access to nine special E-Ride attractions for three more
hours.
Although the group of E-Ride attractions changes from time to time, they
are usually Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Country Bear
Jamboree, Haunted Mansion, Buzz Lightyear, Space Mountain, Astro-Orbiter,
Tommorrowland Transit Authority, and Alien Encounter. Jungle Cruise and
Pirates of the Caribbean sometimes replace one of the other attractions.
Big Thunder Mountain is an E-Ride Night Favorite.
Along with the open attractions, you may find some characters around
and about during E-Ride night at the base of Splash Mountain and at the
gazebos in front of Cinderella Castle. Those most likely to show up are
Goofy, Pluto, and Chip and Dale? but don’t count out Mickey and Minnie.
Counter service is available for guests to grab a snack during these
hours. The same holds true for the Emporium on Main Street USA.
E-Ride Voucher Basics
Guests purchase E-Ride night vouchers at Guest Services in any WDW resort
hotel up to the night before the day of the E-ride night, although on
the day of E-Ride, the vouchers are available only at Guest Services at
The Magic Kingdom.
Only 5000 vouchers are sold for E-Ride night. Those who miss out must
then purchase vouchers for the following E-Ride night.
The $12 vouchers look like a room access key. Starting at 4 p.m.,. guests
can go to the area between the City Hall and Fire Station to exchange
their vouchers for wristbands that are color-coded for the designated
evening.
Getting the Most Out of E-Ride Night
Yes, you should have a plan of attack even for E-Ride night.
During E-Ride hours, both Adventureland and Fantasyland are shut off.
With this in mind, here is one suggested plan of attack for E-Ride night.
Assuming you plan to enjoy all the available attractions, start with
the twin mountains in Frontierland. Some suggest alternating from Big
Thunder to Splash Mountain back to Big Thunder, however, going from one
attraction to the other could waste time.
One option can be to ride one attraction to your heart’s content, then
move on. Consider starting with Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and taking
about three or four spins on it (or however many you prefer), then moving
on to Splash Mountain for the same number of rides.
Once you have had your fill of the twin mountains, walk down to Country
Bear Jamboree and enjoy a performance, then move on to Haunted Mansion.
Of course, you can always skip Country Bear Jamboree and go directly to
Haunted Mansion.
Cast members who staff Haunted Mansion seem to enjoy working E-Ride nights.
For that matter, all cast members working E-Ride night seem to give a
little extra to their roles. This attraction is most enjoyable during
this special night.
After you have had your fill of Haunted Mansion, make your way towards
the castle forecourt and head into Tomorrowland.
In Tomorrowland, you have five attractions to choose from. Some guests
skip the Tomorrowland Transit Authority. I don’t – on a warm summer’s
eve it can be refreshing.
Check to see when the next Alien Encounter performance begins. If you
have time, go to Buzz Lightyear, then to Alien Encounter. After you have
visited Alien Encounter, go to Astro-Orbiter.
By now most of the E-Ride guests have probably had their fill of Space
Mountain. By waiting until now to do Space Mountain, you may find the
lines to be even shorter than they probably would have been at the start
of E-Ride night.
You should be able to ride Space Mountain several times before E-Ride
night is over. If you tire of Space Mountain, you could always return
to Astro-Orbiter visit Buzz Lightyear repeatedly.
This three-hour tour of E-Ride night is just a suggestion. You should
plan your approach E-Ride based on those attraction you and your traveling
party most favor.
A Win-Win Situation
The E-Ride night promotion is a great idea. From the Walt Disney World
Resort’s viewpoint, this promotion offers a boost to that day’s revenue
stream. If they max out with E-ride night, they realize another $60,000
in revenue for that day that they otherwise wouldn’t enjoy. With only
nine attractions in operation, there’s a need for only a skeleton crew
of cast members to service the public.
Guests of course are given a great opportunity to enjoy the most popular
attractions in the park without having to fight long lines and crowds?
and the hot sun. E-Ride nights allow you to squeeze a 12-hour day into
just three hours.
I strongly recommend taking advantage of E-Ride night, especially if
you are a big fan of the Magic Kingdom? it will make your stay a bit more
magical.
Next time: New Year’s Resolutions Wish List for WDW.
Class dismissed.
