Avoiding Mickey's Not so Scary Party?

[Nana2Callie]

It looks like we may plan a trip to WDW in October and not planning to include the party - so what do we expect on the off days at MK? Crowds, experience, etc - we usually go in May so this is a different season for us. Also, how are the parks impacted by the event - thanks.

 

[dreamer17555]

How many days are you traveling to WDW for? Can you do Magic Kingdom for multiple days or add on hoppers?

In my opinion, the best days to go to Magic Kingdom are party days because they have lower crowds in the daytime but get much more crowded after 4pm which is a good time to either hop to another park or maybe call it an early night or hit Disney Springs. I would only recommend the strategy if you’re going to Magic Kingdom more than one day so that you can still see the fireworks on a different day. On a non-party day it is going to be very crowded.

 

[Nana2Callie]

I was wondering about that crowd level aspect. We should be able to do MK two days, but not sure we will be park hopping. It may just be one park per day.

 

[Traveling on cc points]

It looks like we may plan a trip to WDW in October and not planning to include the party - so what do we expect on the off days at MK? Crowds, experience, etc - we usually go in May so this is a different season for us. Also, how are the parks impacted by the event - thanks.

Off days are definitely busier, especially for fireworks.

Do you plan on getting park hoppers? We have always found that the crowds at MK are much less busy on party days because people who don’t have hoppers don’t want to waste a ticket in on early day.

If you are, my suggestion would so your mornings at MK, then take a mid day break then go to a different park at night.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

How many days are you traveling to WDW for? Can you do Magic Kingdom for multiple days or add on hoppers?

In my opinion, the best days to go to Magic Kingdom, our party days because they didn’t have lower crowds in the daytime but get much more crowded after 4pm which is a good time to either hop to another park or maybe Colin an early night or hit Disney Springs. I would only recommend the strategy if you’re going to Magic Kingdom more than one day so that you can still see the fireworks on a different day. On a non-party day it is going to be very crowded.

Agree with this assessment 100%. Enjoy MK during the day on party days, because crowds do tend to be lower.

 

[dreamer17555]

I was wondering about that crowd level aspect. We should be able to do MK two days, but not sure we will be park hopping. It may just be one park per day.

On a non party day it’s going to be rather crowded at MK. Most of the parks are kind of crowded all the time nowadays. I don’t want to predict for sure how crowded it will be because things could impact it like weather, especially because that is still hurricane season. But Magic Kingdom will be far less crowded on a party day versus a non-party day during the daytime hours.

 

[scrappinginontario]

It looks like we may plan a trip to WDW in October and not planning to include the party - so what do we expect on the off days at MK? Crowds, experience, etc - we usually go in May so this is a different season for us. Also, how are the parks impacted by the event - thanks.

I was wondering about that crowd level aspect. We should be able to do MK two days, but not sure we will be park hopping. It may just be one park per day.

This question gets asked often. Historically, non-party days are (much) busier than party days. If you have park hoppers I would recommend MK on party days then hop back one non-party day if you wish to see fireworks, etc.

This is a sample of 2022 data. This picture clearly shows that crowds are much higher on party days. This scenario played out throughout the entire party season from Aug- Dec. This is just a snapshot of random dates.



I will say when we were there in 2019 we went to MK the evening of a non-party day and the crowds were unbearable for us. After the fireworks we left after trying to ride small world (line stretched back to almost HM) and People Mover where the line was heading towards Space Mountain.

I was thankful we hadn't been in the park all day but it confirmed that when it's party season we go to MK on party days as we get so much more accomplished, even with the shorter operating hours for non-party guests.

We have a trip this coming Aug and the very first thing I did when they announced the party dates was to go in and book those dates as our MK dates.

 

[gharter]

Party days, MK crowds are low until about 4 pm. Non Party days are very crowded especially in the evenings when the crowds enter to watch the evening show.

 

[Claire-Bear]

I will say when we were there in 2019 we went to MK the evening of a non-party day and the crowds were unbearable for us. After the fireworks we left after trying to ride small world (line stretched back to almost HM) and People Mover where the line was heading towards Space Mountain.

I was thankful we hadn't been in the park all day but it confirmed that when it's party season we go to MK on party days as we get so much more accomplished, even with the shorter operating hours for non-party guests.

How long before fireworks would you recommend we scope out a viewing area on a non-party day in late August? We have young children if that makes a difference. It's our only opportunity to see the fireworks.

 

[scrappinginontario]

How long before fireworks would you recommend we scope out a viewing area on a non-party day in late August? We have young children if that makes a difference. It's our only opportunity to see the fireworks.

Honestly a minimum of 60 mins in advance and probably 90, at least based on our experience. But, your experience may be different.