24 Hours of Magic Kingdom Dilemma, would appreciate input

[MarknTara]

Hi Everyone!

My Wife surprised me with a trip to Disney trip for my 30th Birthday! It was an awesome surprise since we weren't planning on going this year. We always talked about how great going to 24 hours of Magic Kingdom would be and now it has become a possibility.
My Wife booked May 22nd to May 29th. We will land super early on May 22nd. We already have plans for Epcot on that day, however we really wanted to do the 24 hours of Magic Kingdom. Ever since it has been officially announced, we have been trying to figure out whether it will be worth it or not since we are going to likely be dead tired and won't last since we have a super early flight in that day.

Would it be worth it to cancel all plans already made at Epcot that day and attend the 24 hours of Magic Kingdom instead? Do they do any special events worth going for? The Magic Kingdom is supposed to be open until 2 AM the following day (23rd) so we were debating just doing Epcot, getting rest then going to MK on the 23rd. UPDATE: I just went to the park hours and now no magic hours even show on the day of May 23rd. Would they have removed the EMH on that day due to the 24 hours the day before? That would make sense.. This may make this decision even easier if that is the case.

I'm not sure what to do here. I was looking forward to doing the 24 hours of MK and my Wife had booked it specifically for this week so we could attend. Any advice? Thanks guys.

 

[kaybird]

Do you have hoppers? We LOVED the 24 hour party last year. We arrived at 6 a.m. for gate opening, and had literally ridden all but 2 rides by noon. If you can, might be worth it to hop out during the busy afternoon, then return for all night.

 

[MarknTara]

We usually don't get the hoppers and didn't this time around. Do they do anything special in the parks that day?

 

[maccagerl]

How about Epcot in the morning as planned, back to the resort and sleep in the afternoon and early eve, then head out to the 24 hr MK event around midnight and stay until it closes at 6 am?

 

[kaybird]

We saw lots of characters out and about. There were lots of guests "Disney Bounding", and there was a special character parade with Villians, which was not as incredible as I had thought it might be. For us, the big bonus was a special early opening of 7DMT. But being in the parks at 6 am, MAGIC!!!

 

[MarknTara]

How about Epcot in the morning as planned, back to the resort and sleep in the afternoon and early eve, then head out to the 24 hr MK event around midnight and stay until it closes at 6 am?

We don't have the park hopper passes though We usually do not use them at all so we stopped getting them.

We saw lots of characters out and about. There were lots of guests "Disney Bounding", and there was a special character parade with Villians, which was not as incredible as I had thought it might be. For us, the big bonus was a special early opening of 7DMT. But being in the parks at 6 am, MAGIC!!!

Oh that is awesome. Yeah definitely, 6 AM!! We won't be able to attend that early but can that late (6 AM SAT)!

 

[wareagle57]

When does your flight get in? Check in at the hotel and take a nap and head to the park late, and stay til 6 am and sleep in late the next day.

 

[MarknTara]

When does your flight get in? Check in at the hotel and take a nap and head to the park late, and stay til 6 am and sleep in late the next day.

We will likely arrive around 10 AM. That is a good idea actually!

 

[jrjankowski8]

I would go with the late night visit. Lines for the extra special characters were crazy though. Last year we only had time to me 3 of the villains from 11pm-5am. Yikes.

So I think it depends on your plans for the park. If you are ride people, I think the really late hours are good. But since you're not hopping and you have only a specific amount of days on your ticket, I'm not sure that 11pm-6am is best. Especially since if you leave at 6am, you're going to be shot the next day for doing anything else.

But honestly, it all depends on what they release in regards to details prior to your arrival. If they have a great line-up of activities and whatnot then I would go for it. If it's marginal and the character thing isn't for you, I'd skip.

 

[jrjankowski8]

Because in the middle of the day and the morning (aside from the opening of SDMT), there wasn't anything special. Maybe a featured dessert or two and some souveniers

 

[MarknTara]

Thanks. If not much is happening that day aside from little things, we may do as suggested.
I wonder if they will add EMH for Saturday the 23rd?

 

[bumbershoot]

I was looking forward to doing the 24 hours of MK and my Wife had booked it specifically for this week so we could attend. Any advice?

If your wife booked it to attend the 24 hour thing and you want to attend the 24 hour thing, my advice is to attend the 24 hour thing.

Sounds miserable to me, but I'm not you.

 

[Minniekins]

Hi Everyone!

My Wife surprised me with a trip to Disney trip for my 30th Birthday! It was an awesome surprise since we weren't planning on going this year. We always talked about how great going to 24 hours of Magic Kingdom would be and now it has become a possibility.
My Wife booked May 22nd to May 29th. We will land super early on May 22nd. We already have plans for Epcot on that day, however we really wanted to do the 24 hours of Magic Kingdom. Ever since it has been officially announced, we have been trying to figure out whether it will be worth it or not since we are going to likely be dead tired and won't last since we have a super early flight in that day.

Would it be worth it to cancel all plans already made at Epcot that day and attend the 24 hours of Magic Kingdom instead? Do they do any special events worth going for? The Magic Kingdom is supposed to be open until 2 AM the following day (23rd) so we were debating just doing Epcot, getting rest then going to MK on the 23rd. UPDATE: I just went to the park hours and now no magic hours even show on the day of May 23rd. Would they have removed the EMH on that day due to the 24 hours the day before? That would make sense.. This may make this decision even easier if that is the case.

I'm not sure what to do here. I was looking forward to doing the 24 hours of MK and my Wife had booked it specifically for this week so we could attend. Any advice? Thanks guys.

That's awesome that your wife booked that as a special bday surprise! Happy Birthday! You said you guys have always wanted to go to this 24 hr event and now you'll be there on that day! But, as someone else said, if you can get in your room, you can nap and head out later in the afternoon and go til 6 a.m.! And, if you can the night before try to get to sleep earlier, which I know will be hard. But, yeah I think it'll be worth it. I think if you are there that day, then go to Epcot and hear about the MK event later, you'll regret missing it knowing you were right there and could have gone! I haven't been yet, but am also going this year, I think it'll be great! I don't know how many special events there are but will be following to see what info is released! They do have a special opening, and then closing with the characters in their pj costumes and a special song! And, I read something about a special parade. So, my thoughts are why would you go to Epcot, lol! You've talked about going to this event sometime, and now your "Wife had booked it specifically for this week so we could attend", so my advice is to go! Maybe not right when you get to your resort, maybe a good long nap first, unless events show up to be during that time, and then just go for it! You'll probably get energized with excitement once you get there and will be able to make it till close! And, hey you are young, almost half my age and I plan to go till close, lol! You can sleep all saturday and go out in the evening!
Also, here is a link to a thread on here that is sharing info on the 24 hr MK event as it will get release, just in case you haven't found it!

http://www.disboards.com/threads/24-hour-day-2015-tips.3389826/

 

[Minniekins]

Oh, about the EMH hours that are usually Sat night at 12:00 a.m. - 2 a.m. I saw on Josh's EasyWdw site he heard they'd cancel the EMH hours, and I checked the Disney park hours and EMH that night is not listed anymore, presumably because of the 24 hour day before. I was hoping they'd be open late that Sat as well, so we could do Illuminations at 9 p.m. in Epcot, then try to get to MK for Wishes at 10 p.m. and then have some ride time after for a while, but I guess that won't work so well for many rides. Anyway, meant to give you the heads up on that in my above post.

 

[PiperGirlInWondrland]

I would sleep once you arrive at your resort in the AM. When you are rested head to MK for the party. Nothing special happened at all during the day last year but it was super fun late night. My husband left the park last year during the day for a nap. I stayed the whole time. Have a great trip!