2nd MK Day on a Party Day?

[shaycamp21]

Based on the fact that last year's first MNSSHP was on Aug 9 I am assuming this year's will be Aug 8 which we're planning on doing our 2nd MK day (on our 1st Day in MK we are hoping to do the fireworks and parade if it has started by our trip dates). We are not attending the MNSSHP party but was wondering if it would be a good day to still go to MK and if there would be lighter crowds overall since the park closes at 6 (we have hoppers so can do another park in the evening). Does anyone have first hand experience going on a party day and if infact crowds were lighter? Not sure whether to keep this as our 2nd MK day or do another day?

 

[WinterSolider]

Yes, party days are often much lighter than non-party days, especially early in the season like August for Halloween.

Just plan to leave the park before the party guests are admitted because there will be an hour or two where the day guests and party guests will overlap, and it's a bit chaotic.

I wouldn't do it for my ONLY Magic Kingdom day on a trip because I like Magic Kingdom at night, but for a second day it's a great idea.

 

[CaroM8]

We did that last year! Went to MK on a party day and it was super quiet! We purposely booked a dinner res at CRT at 5:45PM, when we were done around 7 they walked us out of the park as the party had already started. It wasn't like they pushed us out though, a cast member walked with us super casually all the way to the exit (even let us stop a couple of times for pictures).
The whole day, most rides were walk ons - 7DMT was a 25mins wait, which is great! We had hopper as well so in the evening popped over to HS for Fantasmic. Awesome day!
Super recommend going on a party day.

 

[MsNewsradio]

We're doing that for our second MK date so that we can take advantage of the lower crowds. Crowd levels drop significantly on party dates because folks not doing the parties don't want to be kicked out of MK at 6pm, miss fireworks, etc.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

Going on a party day is always a good idea especially if you have park hoppers.
I do it all the time and leave the park by 2pm.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Absolutely go on a party day! Rope drop if you can, the first couple hours are great. Crowds slowly build but you will still get a lot done by lunch. I’m not a crowd fan so I would consider leaving around mid afternoon or so when they let the party crowds start coming in. That is when it gets crowded as day and party mix.

If you want to stretch your time in the park you can book a dining reservation up until right before park close, that is completely within the rules. When you finish, you exit the park.

 

[HeiHei2018]

They usually open early (8 am) on party days (7:30 EE). If you can be there at opening, the first few hours are amazing! We go on a party day every visit.

 

[scrappinginontario]

We choose to go to MK on party days due to lower crowds. We accomplish as much in the shorter hours than we would on a full day without a party!

 

[kylenne]

They usually open early (8 am) on party days (7:30 EE). If you can be there at opening, the first few hours are amazing! We go on a party day every visit.

I can’t second this point enough. Even if you’re not typically rope drop people, absolutely take advantage of EE on party days at MK. EE is generally kind of iffy at MK because it opens so late but the difference between an 8:30 and a 7:30 EE is huge. Many people are willing to do 8:30, but 7:30 is a harder ask so more people arrive later.

We have knocked out the whole park by noon before when rope dropping party days, no LLs required. 20 minute posted waits for Mine Train at like 10am that were actually 5.

 

[Mle8308]

Party days at the MK are the way to go if you have another non-party day planned. Just be prepared to leave when they start to let the MNSSHP guests in at 4pm. Especially if you are going to the MK on the day of the first party. Every vlogger/blogger and their extended family will be there! That night usually sells out in advance. It gets crowded at the MK once the mix in starts until the park closes to day guests. But if you like to people watch, those few hours are great!

 

[jcemom]

They usually open early (8 am) on party days (7:30 EE). If you can be there at opening, the first few hours are amazing! We go on a party day every visit.

Just a note: I think the 8am openings are usually more likely in October. Last year August and September each only had two or three dates with early openings.

 

[parasail_of_congress]

Based on the fact that last year's first MNSSHP was on Aug 9 I am assuming this year's will be Aug 8 which we're planning on doing our 2nd MK day (on our 1st Day in MK we are hoping to do the fireworks and parade if it has started by our trip dates). We are not attending the MNSSHP party but was wondering if it would be a good day to still go to MK and if there would be lighter crowds overall since the park closes at 6 (we have hoppers so can do another park in the evening). Does anyone have first hand experience going on a party day and if infact crowds were lighter? Not sure whether to keep this as our 2nd MK day or do another day?

Yes, party days are good days to go to MK.

I don't entirely understand the recommendations to leave early just because crowds start building. There is usually an overlap of a few hours, so you can ride an extra ride or two or just eat before you need to be out of the park.

 

[kylenne]

I don't entirely understand the recommendations to leave early just because crowds start building. There is usually an overlap of a few hours, so you can ride an extra ride or two or just eat before you need to be out of the park.

Because wait times spike significantly during that mix in between 4p and 6p. Like doubling and tripling “significantly”. It will take you twice as long to get anything done in those last couple of hours barring shows or “filler” attractions, and just walking around will be far less pleasant than earlier in the day when the park is dead.

Getting in early on just a party ticket used to be a thing that mostly only savvy guests were aware of. But for the past couple of years Disney has been aggressively marketing this perk (when Facebook normies know about it, the word is out!) and combined with the higher regular ticket prices it means many people are using party tickets as a substitute for one of their regular park days. All of this translates to much higher crowds than previously. Massive, rope drop level crowds start lining up at 3 to get in, even.

 

[stinkpickle]

The best days are when MK closes at 4:30 for private events. I've actually planned a trip around it.

 

[shaycamp21]

Thank you for all the input. We definitely will be rope droping the party day. Should we still get LLMP?

 

[scrappinginontario]

We don't find we need LLMP, especially on a party day but, it's personal choice.

 

[Tatebeck]

Thank you for all the input. We definitely will be rope droping the party day. Should we still get LLMP?

You shouldn't need it if you are leaving before the party guests come in at 4. Alternatively you could get it and make sure you end up having 3 last reservations between 4 and 6 to get a few more rides in with short waits even when the standby times go up from 4-6. That is what we did last year.