After Hours Events - Ask Questions and Share Experiences Here

[Lsdolphin]

Attended HS AH tonite. As mentioned above just as event began there was torrential rain and flooding. It was pretty bad. Toy Story was packed probably due to fact that outside rides couldn’t operate. Several times the rain seemed to be letting up and than come down harder. It was definitely not an enjoyable evening. When the rain did finally stop it was flooded and we soaked through and walking around in shoes full of water. The wait for Toy Story Mania was 30 min most of evening. I did see some CMs checking for wristbands at one of the drink/ice cream stations but didn’t see them checking at all at Toy Story Mania or at entrances to different areas I was never checked once. However unlike previous events I didn’t see many without wristbands.
I do think they are selling more tickets for the AH events than last year. Finally left at 10:45 wet and miserable. Did get a few waters and ice cream on way out.
I wouldnt base my decision to attend the AH based on weather tonite…

 

[pangyal]

I am here now as well. Those wait times are very odd as my MDE showed completely different ones. At 11:15, Rise showed at 15 minutes (was walk on), Aliens showed 5 all night in my MDE, Railway was 15 (was walk on). The rain stopped around 10:20 but the ground was definitely holding the water! I’m in line now for Slinky with many of my closest friends who all had the same idea to get in line at 12:25 lol. We will see how much longer it takes. I’m at the sorting station now.

ETA- I’ve done enough of these to know to start with Sunset Blvd. I looped Tower and RNRC five times each before heading into the rest of the park around 11:15. I did Midway Mania at 9pm right when the rain started (was also kicked out of the Slinky line at that time) and it was a walk on, but for some reason, that one is always a crazy wait during any of these events.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

ETA- I’ve done enough of these to know to start with Sunset Blvd. I looped Tower and RNRC five times each before heading into the rest of the park around 11:15. I did Midway Mania at 9pm right when the rain started (was also kicked out of the Slinky line at that time) and it was a walk on, but for some reason, that one is always a crazy wait during any of these events.

Trying to do the math on how you started at Sunset Blvd and did 10 rides there before making it to ToyStory land by 9– did the event start at 8 and you managed to do 10 rides in the first hour? I would think even with no wait, the pre-show and elevator load would take at least 10m per ride on tower.

Not doubting you, just trying to math the math and learn your secrets.

 

[pangyal]

Trying to do the math on how you started at Sunset Blvd and did 10 rides there before making it to ToyStory land by 9– did the event start at 8 and you managed to do 10 rides in the first hour? I would think even with no wait, the pre-show and elevator load would take at least 10m per ride on tower.

Not doubting you, just trying to math the math and learn your secrets.

Oh no, I’m sorry for being unclear! I meant that I started with Midway at 9 and then went straight to Sunset Blvd for when the event technically started at 9:30.

They were letting people skip the pre show for both rides more than half of the time so that saved a lot!

 

[pangyal]

I also don’t want to negate or minimize anyone’s poor experiences tonight. We have done a lot of these and well over half have been an unmitigated disaster, including being trapped on Runaway Railway for two out of three hours of the event. So, I totally understand that everyone has their own good or bad experience, which is unfortunately too inconsistent for the price paid, IMHO. I happened to luck out and was by myself so it was easier to execute my plans.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

I found all of these perspectives helpful—I am on the fence about doing an After Hours later this summer and weighing how upset I’ll be if we end up bailing early because the rain won’t quit.

 

[jods]

Thanks for all the replies. Sorry the night was a washout for you guys. Being soaked is the worst. I attended one of the Halloween events a few years back that was like that. Flooding everywhere and they actually gave everyone a free park ticket or new boo to you ticket (the one during covid). We bailed and it was so disappointing. Sorry it was a bust.

 

[mala55]

I also don’t want to negate or minimize anyone’s poor experiences tonight. We have done a lot of these and well over half have been an unmitigated disaster, including being trapped on Runaway Railway for two out of three hours of the event. So, I totally understand that everyone has their own good or bad experience, which is unfortunately too inconsistent for the price paid, IMHO. I happened to luck out and was by myself so it was easier to execute my plans.

Personally, I think Disney should offered a refund to those that wanted to leave, or maybe just closed the event and offer a refund to everyone. I know they have staff and operations all set to go, but it’s an unpleasant experience for guests and makes you feel ripped off. Most rides were not working for most of the time, no characters as promised, no photo pass Photographers and not widely available free snacks and drinks. Only thing to do was to shop. Seems Disney makes out on the deal when the weather is bad. You pay them to go intotheir very crowded shops and to buy their merchandise. Poor little kids all hyped up for their big night out and ended drenched and sad. Shame on Disney for not making it right with a refund.

 

[brockash]

Personally, I think Disney should offer a refund to those that want to bail, or close the event and offer a refund to everyone. I know they have staff and operations all set to go, but it’s an unpleasant experience for guests and makes you feel ripped off. Most rides were not working for most of the time, no characters as promised, no photo pass
Photographers and not widely available free snacks and drinks. Only think to do was shop. Seems Disnwy makes out on the deal when the weather is bad. You pay them to go into
their very crowded shops and to buy their merchandise. .Shame on Disney.

I will say that while I typically tout about vacationing at Disney because of the fact that if/when things go wrong I feel pretty confident they will make it right; the AHs event at DHS is the only time I've left feeling really taken advantage of and Disney couldn't have cared less. This was a few yrs ago now, but it was when the didn't have a buffer between the regular closing time and the party stary time (lots of day guests in the lines at start of party.) It was the first after hours that yr that RnR was not open (had gone down for refurbishment) and in my opinion they way oversold it. The only short wait we had was. ToT...everything else wad MUCH longer than what we experience in the 1st hour or so of rope dropping.

I did send an email and just got back a generic response as if they didn't even read my concerns. We've never been back and have no plans to ever attend one of these events again. I know others have loved them, but it was a huge disappointment for us and Disney left us feeling like they "tricked" us into spending a bunch of money for a pretty crappy experience.

 

[pangyal]

Personally, I think Disney should offered a refund to those that wanted to leave, or maybe just closed the event and offer a refund to everyone. I know they have staff and operations all set to go, but it’s an unpleasant experience for guests and makes you feel ripped off. Most rides were not working for most of the time, no characters as promised, no photo pass Photographers and not widely available free snacks and drinks. Only thing to do was to shop. Seems Disney makes out on the deal when the weather is bad. You pay them to go intotheir very crowded shops and to buy their merchandise. Poor little kids all hyped up for their big night out and ended drenched and sad. Shame on Disney for not making it right with a refund.

In this particular case, the rain stopped just over 35 minutes into the event and did not start again, leaving almost two and a half of three hours rain-free. They had the snacks and drinks all under cover and readily available. There were photographers and characters. All rides were working except for Slinky for the first 35 minutes due to weather. I’m not a Disney apologist by any means, but in this specific circumstance, closing the event would have been completely unwarranted and extremely unfair to people who were happily doing all of the covered rides for that 40-45 minute rainy stretch.