My Beef with the Parties (MNSSHP and MVMCP)

[civileng68]

Let me first state this is just my opinion. I LOVE WDW and ALSO i love the parties!!! Yes, I said it! I Love the parties!!!! So then why do I have a beef?

I have a problem because of this........it seems these parties are happening more nad more each year. I never remember them being so intrusive on our vacation. We showed up to the parks Monday and today is our last day. We went to MK Monday, did the party Tuesday and went to MK Wednesday. Now ,keep this in mind. We are here with a two year old. MK is really the only park that is able to keep him entertained all day.

So here's the thing. I paid over $700 in tickets for two annual passes for my wife and I. Then I had to pay roughly another $130 for the party Tuesday night. This week the parties were Tuesday, Thursday Friday. Had I not paid the additional $130 for the party Tuesday night that would have left us with only two nights at MK. Sure you could go during the day but, without the parties the MK is open until 9 and lets face it the evening is the time to be at the MK.

So now here's the situation. EVEN WITH going to the party Tuesday night. We want to do MK tonight but cant. I'm trying to convince my wife to just buy the tix and go tonight on our last night. She's not budging yet. Its just too much money. If we do that we will have spent nearly $1000 in tickets this week.

I just really am disappointed in how intrusive the parties are becoming. I wish they were no more than twice a week. I could do with that but this thing of party after party after party is just getting to be too much.

We are actually debating just leaving town today. OUr son cant stay entertained at Epcot all day or at MGM all day. It just doesnt happen. I love those parks but IMHO the Studios definately dont have enough to keep my 2 year old busy all day. Just MHO. Its just frustrating and we're now trying to build our day around this party.

Anyways that's my two cents, and that's not even getting into my issues while at the party. They are so busy now that they are so often. People going on vacation feel if they dont go to the parties they wont get time in MK, so you will see many posts on here about the parties being too crowded.

At the party Tuesday night we didnt even do the trick or treating due to the ridiculous lines for a few pieces of candy. The character lines were too long too. Granted ride lines were not that bad (even though Dumbo was still about 15 mins), the overall park was crowded.

Anyways, I really wish WDW would consider either reducing the number of parties OR consider increasing say Epcot's hours by two hours during party nights to allow those who dont go to enjoy themselves.

Speaking of cost. WE feel it's too expensive to go to the partry and we dont even have to pay for our child yet. I cant imagine how we'll pay for this when our child hits three years old and we have to pay for his tickets.

[RCMommy]

I found it difficult to make adr's b/c the week we are there the party is on 4 nights. We are going on one night. I usually plan which park based on the adr's dates and times I get but a number of times I had to let the reservation go b/c it was on a MVMCP night and not the night I have a ticket for.

I hear what you are saying but people obviously want the parties and we enjoy them as well. For those of us who go quite often, it is nice to have a little something different to 'celebrate'

We went to the MNSSHP the first year it opened and it was soooo quiet. From what I read now it is crazy busy. Everyone has caught on to the fun and wants to be part of the action.

We have twins and were at WDW when they were about 2.5yr old. We didn't have any problems keeping them busy and entertained.

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

I agree with you. I was really disappointed with the number of times that the party is being held the week we are going. I really will not spend the extra $150 to get access to a park that I already had access to that day.
Stubborn? Maybe.

We didn't do the party last two trips and I have no intentions of doing it this trip. If my dks realllllllllly want to go, I *may* consider it, but really, I don't see the value. If they were to stay up late that night, then we would miss half our day the next day sleeping in. doesn't make sense to me.

I have planned 2 days at MK and on our "rest day" after we do DTD, if they want to go back to the MK after, I have no problems with that. and it won't cost me extra. :O)

[maraki527]

Why dont you do the Magic Kingdom during the day and then when the party starts go to another park???

[civileng68]

Originally Posted by maraki527

Why dont you do the Magic Kingdom during the day and then when the party starts go to another park???

That's what we're doing but, due to the incredible heat this week, we've been doing most of our touring in the evenings.

[maraki527]

Oh yes I guess I forgot how hot it is in Florida. We are freezing in Ohio.

[singnring]

I agree with you 100%.

Disney is throwing these extra ticket events in constantly, just to make more money.

I understand it's a business and making money is the point, but when regular paying customers are being infringed upon and can't have regular hours in the parks three nights a week, that's when it goes too far.

The very least they should do is back it off to 2 nights a week.
Maybe if they even gave a huge discount to someone who already has paid for park entrance that day, say another $15 per person to stay for the party.

I think they need to stay open regular hours for regular guests, then have the party after that, not shut down early to have the parties. Park hours are already shortened during the fall, so closing at 7 just isn't fair.

Now I know some will respond, go to another park. Maybe that works for some people, but we like the MK and spend 95% of our time there. And as OP said, this time of year is unbearably hot! We walked out of our room and instantly began sweating profusely. So we wanted to be out in the early morning and evenings.

I have always considered these events unfair to people who have purchased their park ticket expecting to be able to be in the park for the day, and then get kicked out early for these events.

Christmas season is just as bad with the Christmas parties, and the pirate and princess ones were just as intrusive to regular guests.

[wmharley]

and don't forget they start them in September for MNSSHP and November for MVMCP...

more way to milk revenue...

[civileng68]

Originally Posted by singnring

I agree with you 100%.

Disney is throwing these extra ticket events in constantly, just to make more money.

I understand it's a business and making money is the point, but when regular paying customers are being infringed upon and can't have regular hours in the parks three nights a week, that's when it goes too far.

The very least they should do is back it off to 2 nights a week.
Maybe if they even gave a huge discount to someone who already has paid for park entrance that day, say another $15 per person to stay for the party.

I think they need to stay open regular hours for regular guests, then have the party after that, not shut down early to have the parties. Park hours are already shortened during the fall, so closing at 7 just isn't fair.

Now I know some will respond, go to another park. Maybe that works for some people, but we like the MK and spend 95% of our time there. And as OP said, this time of year is unbearably hot! We walked out of our room and instantly began sweating profusely. So we wanted to be out in the early morning and evenings.

I have always considered these events unfair to people who have purchased their park ticket expecting to be able to be in the park for the day, and then get kicked out early for these events.

Christmas season is just as bad with the Christmas parties, and the pirate and princess ones were just as intrusive to regular guests.

Exactly. Add to this, about going to another park, for the evening......it's a FRiday night tonight, and the Disney Studios close at 8? REally? It's almost as if they are trying to force people to the party. Dont get me wrong, I enjoy them. In fact I just tried to convince my wife again to go. She wont budge. We're not going due to the cost.

[ShannonMB]

I definitely understand your points, but I'm thinking if they had less parties, they'd be so packed it would be awful to be there. So I'm glad they're having a few parties my week (for MVMCP) so that hopefully the one we are going to won't be a sell-out. I do enjoy MK in the evening, but I pick early morning as the best time to be there! We are planning on our full day at MK on one of the party nights, we'll get there at rope drop and stay till they kick us out. We are usually in the parks all day, so an early-ish evening will be a welcome break. I see you are posting in the late morning, so that's pretty much out for today. But next time you go during party time, try getting up and out early to get your MK fix for the day!

[civileng68]

Originally Posted by ShannonMB

I definitely understand your points, but I'm thinking if they had less parties, they'd be so packed it would be awful to be there. So I'm glad they're having a few parties my week (for MVMCP) so that hopefully the one we are going to won't be a sell-out. I do enjoy MK in the evening, but I pick early morning as the best time to be there! We are planning on our full day at MK on one of the party nights, we'll get there at rope drop and stay till they kick us out. We are usually in the parks all day, so an early-ish evening will be a welcome break. I see you are posting in the late morning, so that's pretty much out for today. But next time you go during party time, try getting up and out early to get your MK fix for the day!

Unfortunately mornings dont work for us as we have a medical condition in our family and the medicine takes a while to kick in before leaving. However, I think for MOST the evening is the best time in MK.

Now just so you know, you are going to MVMCP this year you may be saying the same things afterwards. I've been to parties since as long as I can remember and I can tell you this year is much different than anything I've seen at the parties. They're either selling more tickets (I do believe that's the case) or its the heavy promotion of the parties (I REALLY believe this is the case) but you'll probably find that your MVMCP party will be much more crowded than you remember.

As for the parties, I remember in the past them selling out more than two nights a season and yet this year with even as crowded as they are, they dont seem to be selling out. Seems pretty clear they are selling more tickets than normal. From what I experienced Friday night, the general crowds around the park seemed to be just shy of those during the day.

[Running_Bell]

I love that they have parties... however, with the cost of the party tickets being almost as much as a regular day pass... why don't they include them in the Magic Your Way ticket pricing? That seems a bit greedy to me....

[civileng68]

Originally Posted by Running_Bell

I love that they have parties... however, with the cost of the party tickets being almost as much as a regular day pass... why don't they include them in the Magic Your Way ticket pricing? That seems a bit greedy to me....

Exactly. That's my thing. I have nothing against the [parties themselves. I love them! HOwever after buying my regular tickets its' simply unaffordable to go to the party each time, which is a shame.

I wish if you already had tickets to the parks (MYW tickets or AP's), that they would offer it as an add=on for say $30. I think eventually this should happen.

[Pirates life for me]

It is magical and all but don't forget it is a business there to make money their not giving anything away for free. When I was there I was speaking with one of the bus drivers and he was talking about layoffs and saying when is enough profit enough

[civileng68]

Originally Posted by Pirates life for me

It is magical and all but don't forget it is a business there to make money their not giving anything away for free. When I was there I was speaking with one of the bus drivers and he was talking about layoffs and saying when is enough profit enough

Yes but as a business manager I can say this, it's not all what it seems. We are paying more to visit the parks in general than ever. Parking just went up to $14 on Monday. When a business lays people off, it doenst mean they are not making money. It simply means they are not making the profit they STATED they would make. When they do their predictions for the quarter, they have to meet that or deal with shareholders.


I think we all know the parties are money makers and that's why they do it but let me tell you, when your customers en-mass feel as though you are taking advantage of them to make money, and the value isnt there, they will speak out and Disney will suffer.

Again I like the parties but I feel cheated a bit when the park closes at 7 and the other parks like DS close at 8 on a Friday night. I dont like that the parties are so crowded. I feel as though I'm paying $130 extra to simply spend more time in the parks, not to have a less crowded park and party.