Arriving Early to MNSSHP?

[PrincessPaisley]

In 2008, I had tickets to MNSSHP for Halloween night. A few days prior to the event, a Cast Member recommended to a member of my group that we arrive early. We followed the advice and entered the Magic Kingdom around 2 pm without incident. It was great as it allowed us a lot of time to enjoy the rides before the party started. Since that time however, I have read other posts suggesting that the 4 pm entry time is strictly enforced. I'm attending MNSSHP again this year, and like last time, my group is planning on arriving early. Were we lucky back in 2008, or have things changed since then?

 

[Robo]

In 2008, I had tickets to MNSSHP for Halloween night. A few days prior to the event, a Cast Member recommended to a member of my group that we arrive early. We followed the advice and entered the Magic Kingdom around 2 pm without incident. It was great as it allowed us a lot of time to enjoy the rides before the party started. Since that time however, I have read other posts suggesting that the 4 pm entry time is strictly enforced. I'm attending MNSSHP again this year, and like last time, my group is planning on arriving early. Were we lucky back in 2008, or have things changed since then?

Guests will be admitted to MK as early as 4PM using only their "party tickets."

That was also the case in 2008, so I'm thinking that you may have actually used your "regular" park tickets to
enter MK at 2PM.

 

[purple figment]

You can get in at 4 PM with just your MNSSHP tickets. If you want to enter earlier you'll need regular park tickets. The turnstiles have to be "unlocked" to allow admission with party tickets and that is done at 4:00 or possibly a few minutes earlier. As far as I know 4:00 has been the earliest for a number of years.

 

[PrincessPaisley]

Thanks for the responses.

Guests will be admitted to MK as early as 4PM using only their "party tickets."

That was also the case in 2008, so I'm thinking that you may have actually used your "regular" park tickets to
enter MK at 2PM.

We purchased tickets to the event well in advance, and had them mailed to our home prior to leaving on our trip. As a result the MNSSHP tickets were separate from our regular tickets, and were the only tickets we used that day.

 

[Robo]

Thanks for the responses.



We purchased tickets to the event well in advance, and had them mailed to our home prior to leaving on our trip. As a result the MNSSHP tickets were separate from our regular tickets, and were the only tickets we used that day.

Either you caught a break from a helpful CM, or a mistake was made.

Regardless, 4PM is the time.

 

[RMulieri]

You got lucky and had a nice CM that pixie dusted you..4pm is the earliest and is pretty strictly enforced

 

[11290]

You got lucky and had a nice CM that pixie dusted you..4pm is the earliest and is pretty strictly enforced

In 2008 and up to now, a "nice CM" could not and still can't, over-ride the turnstile to allow a "party ticket" in prior to the time that the computer system changes over (normally between 3:50 and 3:55) to allow party tickets to be validated for entry. In addition to that, wristband CM's do not show up at the turnstiles until 3:45 or so.

You CAN enter the parks prior to that time with a regular park ticket and then at 4:00 until about 6:45, have your party ticket scanned at several locations in the park. In '08 thru '10, we did scanning at the Rose Garden and back at the wristband stations at the turnstiles. Since '11 we do in-park scanning at the west end of Stitch (Tomorrowland) and Tortuga Tavern (Adventureland). I would assume it will be the same this year although I haven't heard yet.

 

[phillymummer]

Last year, we were at the gates at 3:30 and let in at 3:45. So you can still get in "early", just not 2pm early.

 

[AndreaA]

In 2008 and up to now, a "nice CM" could not and still can't, over-ride the turnstile to allow a "party ticket" in prior to the time that the computer system changes over (normally between 3:50 and 3:55) to allow party tickets to be validated for entry. In addition to that, wristband CM's do not show up at the turnstiles until 3:45 or so.

You CAN enter the parks prior to that time with a regular park ticket and then at 4:00 until about 6:45, have your party ticket scanned at several locations in the park. In '08 thru '10, we did scanning at the Rose Garden and back at the wristband stations at the turnstiles. Since '11 we do in-park scanning at the west end of Stitch (Tomorrowland) and Tortuga Tavern (Adventureland). I would assume it will be the same this year although I haven't heard yet.

I don't understand the point of this post. The OP clearly stated that they DID in fact get in before 4pm and DID NOT use regular tickets. I'm pretty sure she'd remember having to go back and get a separate ticket scanned and I certainly see no reason for her to lie about either of those things since she's merely asking if the same thing can still happen this year.

Sheesh.

 

[juliebug1997]

I don't understand the point of this post. The OP clearly stated that they DID in fact get in before 4pm and DID NOT use regular tickets. I'm pretty sure she'd remember having to go back and get a separate ticket scanned and I certainly see no reason for her to lie about either of those things since she's merely asking if the same thing can still happen this year.

Sheesh.

Either way, OP now knows that 4PMish is about as early as they can get in this year.

 

[Belleandtinker]

If you get in early with your regular ticket, where do you go for your wristband after 4 pm?

Another wristband, how fashionable.

 

[mesaboy2]

If you get in early with your regular ticket, where do you go for your wristband after 4 pm?

Another wristband, how fashionable.

There will be one or two stations inside the park for this. One of them in recent years has been near Stitch's Great Escape.

 

[juliebug1997]

There will be one or two stations inside the park for this. One of them in recent years has been near Stitch's Great Escape.

We went to one in Adventureland a couple of years ago.

 

[mesaboy2]

We went to one in Adventureland a couple of years ago.

I have heard of a second one near Pirates, but from what I understand that location may or may not be there on any night based on anticipated crowds. The one by Stitch--and more to the point near the Hub--is consistently there.

 

[Dreamport]

Can you get in earlier than 4pm if you use your regular ticket, planning on activating your party ticket while inside the park, if you're already in costume? Or can you bring your costume elements in with you if they can easily just be added to your outfit?

 

[11290]

I have heard of a second one near Pirates, but from what I understand that location may or may not be there on any night based on anticipated crowds. The one by Stitch--and more to the point near the Hub--is consistently there.

Since '11 we do in-park scanning at the west end of Stitch (Tomorrowland), just past the bridge and Tortuga Tavern (Adventureland). I would assume it will be the same locations this year although I haven't heard yet.

We always open Tortuga also but sometimes close it early depending on the amount of guests coming to that location in the first hour or so.

 

[Robo]

1- Can you get in earlier than 4pm if you use your regular ticket, planning on activating your party ticket while inside the park, if you're already in costume?

2- Or can you bring your costume elements in with you if they can easily just be added to your outfit?

1- Yes, within reason.

2- You can certainly do that, if you like.
Guests lockers can come in handy, too.

 

[purple figment]

Can you get in earlier than 4pm if you use your regular ticket, planning on activating your party ticket while inside the park, if you're already in costume? Or can you bring your costume elements in with you if they can easily just be added to your outfit?

We've seen people in costume during the afternoon, but not at rope drop or early morning.

You can always bring your costumes and put them in a locker. It can be pretty hot/humid in September and October so I think a lot of people with elaborate costumes wait until closer to 4:00 to put them on.

 

[Dreamport]

1- Yes, within reason.

2- You can certainly do that, if you like.
Guests lockers can come in handy, too.

We've seen people in costume during the afternoon, but not at rope drop or early morning.

You can always bring your costumes and put them in a locker. It can be pretty hot/humid in September and October so I think a lot of people with elaborate costumes wait until closer to 4:00 to put them on.

Thanks for answering, guys! We're likely planning on going to AK in the morning then taking a short break so we wouldn't be headed up any earlier than 2pm. Mine is just a dress with a vest/jacket/some accessories and DSis' will hopefully be as simple so it's good to know there's room for possibilities. Why do we always forget about the lockers?

 

[smitch425]

Thanks for answering, guys! We're likely planning on going to AK in the morning then taking a short break so we wouldn't be headed up any earlier than 2pm. Mine is just a dress with a vest/jacket/some accessories and DSis' will hopefully be as simple so it's good to know there's room for possibilities. Why do we always forget about the lockers?

We arrived in full costume at 2pm last year with our hopper ticket and had no trouble at all getting in. We got our bags and wristbands at Tortuga around 4pm.