After Hour Events - what do you do from entry to start time?

[Thomasboys]

I am looking at the MK and AK after hour events and noticed you can get into the parks at 7p, but the event doesn't start until 9p. What do you do in between 7p and 9p? Do they let you on attractions even though the event doesn't start until 7p?

 

[Remy is Up]

Do rides that have long preshows or are timeaters. Get JC, POC, Astro Orbiter, splash mountain,and HM out of the way so you can focus on other things during the actual AH time period.

 

[siren0119]

Ride rides! Once you're in the park you can ride anything (and even make a FP or two) until the "official" start time of the event. We have done this the last few years for the Halloween party - it starts at 7 but we are allowed into the parks at 4, so we book one or two fastpasses, and try to hit the rides that are closed during the event or that have low lines. Then we use the event time to hit the rides that are normally much harder to get on during a regular day.

 

[Thomasboys]

Ride rides! Once you're in the park you can ride anything (and even make a FP or two) until the "official" start time of the event. We have done this the last few years for the Halloween party - it starts at 7 but we are allowed into the parks at 4, so we book one or two fastpasses, and try to hit the rides that are closed during the event or that have low lines. Then we use the event time to hit the rides that are normally much harder to get on during a regular day.

Nice! We will have 9 park days but my boys LOVE Expedition Everest and I can see them wanting to do this just to ride this one over and over. I'm going to look at my schedule and make sure we wouldn't have an early start the next day. We book Fast Passes next Sunday, so I may see how these play out too. Thanks!

 

[BobbyDukes]

Do as much as you can, you may see a sudden drop in park attendance around you and ease of foot traffic, quite unique inside the parks to see a mass exodus.

 

[cgattis]

So do I understand correctly....you can make FP ahead of time with that ticket for just that window? But only if you don’t have FP on another ticket already that day?

 

[GADisneyDad14]

So do I understand correctly....you can make FP ahead of time with that ticket for just that window? But only if you don’t have FP on another ticket already that day?

That is correct. The DAH ticket will technically let you book FPs anytime that day (it’s not smart enough to know your DAH doesn’t allow park entry until 7pm).

 

[cgattis]

That is correct. The DAH ticket will technically let you book FPs anytime that day (it’s not smart enough to know your DAH doesn’t allow park entry until 7pm).

Gotcha. So that’s essentially why you can’t make them with your regular ticket too—it just sees there are three and won’t let you make more. Thanks!!

 

[NiceOneSimba]

What everyone else said. Make a fastpass or two--especially if there are rides that won't be open during the event. Get a light dinner-type snack so you have some protein, as not all of the food places are open later (yes, you get snacks, but it's popcorn and ice cream). See a show if any of them are running. Knock out one area of the park so you don't have to do it during the event. Basically, make the most of the time before the event starts so you can maximize the time DURING the event.

 

[Tomh]

If there is a super popular meet and greet ( like Jack and Sally at MNSSHP ) you absolutely must do, it might not be a bad idea to line up for that before the actual event starts.

Otherwise, rides, and maybe something for supper if you haven't eaten already, that way you are wasting a bunch of party time eating.