Another Magic Kingdom Rumor

[lrodk]

Screamscape has a nice rumor surrounding a possible new exit procedure for guests at closing. Here's the quote:

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The park has been testing a new way to close up for the night on days when they don’t have any fireworks or Spectromagic shows to offer. Continuing with the theme set forth in the morning when the characters ride the first train into the Main Street Station to open the park, the new test shows closes up the park in a similar way with Mickey and Minnie runing onto the Firehouse truck after the last Castle show inviting the guests to join them in the Main Street Square for a party. Once there anywhere from 20-40 characters join the crowd and start a little “dance party” all over the square. No stopping for photos and autographs here... this is all about fun time with as many people as possible. The Mayor of Main Street then comes out to decree everyone as honorary citizens as the characters all enter the train station, followed by a group singing of the Mickey Mouse Club Farewel song. The train then departs to take the characters back home to ToonTown. So far the test has been positive to the cute idea, the only downside is it can create quite a nasty bottleneck as people are trying to get out. Pefect time to spend time in the Emporium while people clear out I guess.
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[treesinger]

I already see the insidious side of this. Guests trapped in the Main Street stores!
Seriously, it is a cute idea. But perhaps a logistical nightmare.

 

[hopemax]

My parents got to experience the Character Cavalcade while at WDW last week. They said that most people weren't shopping after it finished. They simply left. Which was difficult because of the mass of humanity. But if you were in the Town Square section, it made no sense to try and turn around go to the shops up the street.

 

[connor69]

Something to think about. I was at MNSSHP on the 11th. the Characters came out into Tomorrow land and started to participate with us people dancing to a DJ. They had a great DJ playing all kinds of dance music and adults and kids were just booging along. When the characters came out, they started to dance with us. It was spontaneous and alot of fun. What ruined it was parents walking by the dance party saw the characters and began to RUN up to the dancing characters and SHOVE their kid up to the character for autographs and photographs. They RUINED a fun spontaneous moment.
The rumor above said that the Characters would invite park guests to a little dance party "all over the square with no stopping for pictures or autographs". From what I saw it ain't goin' to happen .

 

[Dznefreek]

What a way to hold up people who really just want to get out after a long day. I think this is a negative not a positive.

 

[pjd02176]

I agree with Conner69 who wrote: "What ruined it was parents walking by the dance party saw the characters and began to RUN up to the dancing characters and SHOVE their kid up to the character for autographs and photographs. They RUINED a fun spontaneous moment. "

Sounds like this idea would cause more problems at the end of the day...

1) For guests looking to just go home
2) For pushy parents who won't understand why Mickey can't take 1 minute to pose with little Suzy and sign her autograph!

A lot of people will leave the park angry at Tigger instead of happy! Also - if they have 20-40 characters that means there will be many characters that folks haven't seen elsewhere throughout the day.... a lot of people try to get pictures with as many characters as they can find.

 

[luvdisnee]

I've been reading quite a few threads today and seeing a common theme -- Disney trying out new avenues or ways of doing things and the customers are the ones being part of the trainwreck--not Disney ?!
I know there will be many that disagree with me but come on--history shows that Disney is one of the most creative and imaginative organizations in the world--decades ahead of the pack on issues like customer service and employee friendly infrastructure--and how did they get there?? by TRYING NEW WAYS.
But yet a different twist to ending a day in the Magic Kingdom has to come down to misbehaving adults !!
Reminds me of some (most) of the sports games I've been to over the years--if the kids were left to play it would be excellent because it's the parents that ruin it !!
Let's be part of allowing Disney to give us new memories that will add to the Magic over the next 50 years !--

 

[dmfuru]

I might be way off base here, but it sounds like a way to move people towards Main Street (and the exit). If there is no night parade or fireworks, guests who normally would be over towards Main Street/parade route will be all over the park--takes longer to get them out if they're scattered than if they are in a big herd.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Cheap substitute for fireworks, IMHO.