Changes coming to Night of Joy in 2016

[Iowamomof4]

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2015/09/disneys-night-of-joy-expands-in-2016/

So... what will this mean for NoJ ticket holders? Will they have access to MK all day? I assume this means MK won't close at 7 for NoJ anymore, right?

 

[Dr.Mickey]

Hmm. That all sounds kind of odd. It seems completely impractical to try to go back and forth between the concert portion and the MK. Sounds like at least a 45 min park hop kind of thing. Do that more than once and your day is shot.

 

[Iowamomof4]

I wonder if they will change it to an all-day festival instead of just a night thing? That's about the only way I can imagine a person hopping between MK and WWoS.

 

[HopperFan]

Hmm. That all sounds kind of odd. It seems completely impractical to try to go back and forth between the concert portion and the MK. Sounds like at least a 45 min park hop kind of thing. Do that more than once and your day is shot.

- I interpret it to mean that the entire NoJ event will be at WWoS.
- The NoJ ticket includes one day at the Magic Kingdom.
- Ticket holders can go to the MK all day and then go to NoJ for the evening.
- I read the "transportation" meaning buses will go direct to WWoS from MK so no bus transferring has to happen, not so much that it is a back and forth kind of thing.
- MK is likely to stay open as usual for all those nights now.
- I imagine guests who are traveling to Disney will be happier to have the park stay open.
- I know the MK CMs will be happier to have the event move.

 

[momof2n2]

- I know the MK CMs will be happier to have the event move.

Why this?

 

[disnut8]

- I interpret it to mean that the entire NoJ event will be at WWoS.
- The NoJ ticket includes one day at the Magic Kingdom.
- Ticket holders can go to the MK all day and then go to NoJ for the evening.
- I read the "transportation" meaning buses will go direct to WWoS from MK so no bus transferring has to happen, not so much that it is a back and forth kind of thing.
- MK is likely to stay open as usual for all those nights now.
- I imagine guests who are traveling to Disney will be happier to have the park stay open.
- I know the MK CMs will be happier to have the event move.

Except for the last one, I agree with all this and that's just because I don't know any Disney Cast members.

Night of Joy has really increased in popularity and moving it to a bigger location where indoor places are available makes sense. Also, in the future, should this move prove successful, the event could increase in time so maybe not just two days but three days or even more.

 

[Lehuaann]

- I know the MK CMs will be happier to have the event move.

Why this?

Exactly...

 

[HopperFan]

Night of Joy is attended by a LARGE number of teenage youth groups with minimal supervision. Without sharing the stories that were shared with me, as some aren't even appropriate to share, they create a large amount of work for CMs who have to work it. CMs have stated they have to close some attractions for safety and remove some things from the park altogether. One CM said his full time job was to delete ride photos. There are plenty of posts (and I have also had them tell direct to me) that NoJ is the worst nights all year they have to work. There were even some blogs last year from attendees complaining about the teenagers behavior, the crowds and tempers lost.

Remember Magic Kingdom used to host Grad Nights and after 2011, Disney gave no real reason .... but am sure they had enough. Turning the park over to that many teens leads to behaviors, especially in attractions, where they think they are out of sight.

The true spirit of Night of Joy (Christian Music Concert) can be better achieved in a location such as WWoS where they can create a better concert environment with multiple stages, some under cover, food offerings that can be better managed and more control of behavior. The attendees will still get their MK ticket, but we'll have to wait and see if that is just for them to attend on the day of their choice that weekend - with other guests and if MK will have normal hours those nights.

The Disney Blog reads "Plus, dedicated transportation will be provided so that guests can easily move from Magic Kingdom Park to the Sports Complex." so I read that as if they go to the MK on the day of the concert, then there will be buses direct to WWoS to start the concert portion so they get there quickly without transfers. I don't read it that there will be buses going back and forth.

 

[3CW]

Turning the park over to that many teens leads to behaviors, especially in attractions, where they think they are out of sight.

Exactly this - I've heard stories that you don't really want to look too closely in any of the bushes during a NoJ event for fear of what (whom) you will find.

 

[Accident]

With everything going on, I think this is a crowd capacity situation. If the school holidays fall right, they might have a 4 day weekend to do next years. My biggest fear is as all these new, non-disney things start to happen, we're going to see mk more and more crowded as they open. Pandora, I have a lot of pandora fanatics friends but they aren't disney fans. They all are asking me questions about visiting disney to see this park and they have never been and would never have gone. Isn't pandora opening next fall?

They are saying buses to/from mk exclusively for this. To me this reads as they are planning people to move back and forth so my guess is some new all day things. It's pretty easy to divide up a day where a specific style of music that is more family friendly during the days and keep the concert series at night. Different people will be going back and forth...

I wish they weren't so vague, it's amazing they gave a years notice but it's too vague as for what to not expect to be at MK and why someone would want to bus between venues.

 

[kydisneyfans]

These types of concerts are growing in popularity among the young adult crowd. Winter Jam is a similar concert, albeit a 1 night per city thing, that continues to have capacity crowds. Very few have heard of it, but Winter Jam was the 5th highest attended tour in 2014, and they only tour 3 months. Outdoor Christian music fests are at capacity(or frankly above) throughout the country. With sellouts year after year, Disney is doing the smart thing by moving the concerts out of the MK and into a larger location to grow. It's amazing that Disney continues to sell this out, while on the same exact Weekend Universal is doing the same exact thing with different groups. Kudos to the larger location.

 

[Belle & Ariel]

I will miss the backdrop of Cinderella's castle during the main acts.

 

[MermaidMommy]

Night of Joy is attended by a LARGE number of teenage youth groups with minimal supervision. Without sharing the stories that were shared with me, as some aren't even appropriate to share, they create a large amount of work for CMs who have to work it. CMs have stated they have to close some attractions for safety and remove some things from the park altogether. One CM said his full time job was to delete ride photos. There are plenty of posts (and I have also had them tell direct to me) that NoJ is the worst nights all year they have to work. There were even some blogs last year from attendees complaining about the teenagers behavior, the crowds and tempers lost.

Remember Magic Kingdom used to host Grad Nights and after 2011, Disney gave no real reason .... but am sure they had enough. Turning the park over to that many teens leads to behaviors, especially in attractions, where they think they are out of sight.

The true spirit of Night of Joy (Christian Music Concert) can be better achieved in a location such as WWoS where they can create a better concert environment with multiple stages, some under cover, food offerings that can be better managed and more control of behavior. The attendees will still get their MK ticket, but we'll have to wait and see if that is just for them to attend on the day of their choice that weekend - with other guests and if MK will have normal hours those nights.

The Disney Blog reads "Plus, dedicated transportation will be provided so that guests can easily move from Magic Kingdom Park to the Sports Complex." so I read that as if they go to the MK on the day of the concert, then there will be buses direct to WWoS to start the concert portion so they get there quickly without transfers. I don't read it that there will be buses going back and forth.

I've seen some real hair-raising stories about sex and drugs during NoJ from CM's. I think Reddit had a number of them.

Isn't pandora opening next fall?

Pandora is scheduled to open in 2017. Rivers of Light should open sometime next spring.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

It rained so hard this noj Saturday in September that the teens got soaked.... Oh well such tragedy.

 

[fla4fun]

I used to attend NOJ regularly, but like most of the after hours events at MK, they kept squeezing in more people and more people, until it felt like you were just being herded around by crowd control. I used to be able to just drop by a group, catch a couple numbers, go on a ride, catch a few numbers by a different group, etc., and I miss that kind of experience. I'm not sure how I feel about this move. On the one hand, it will give them more capacity, but on the other hand, now you will lose the ride/listen spontaneity and you will either be listening to concerts OR going through attractions (since they are in two totally separate places). I probably would be less likely to attend than I am now because if there is a half hour or so when no one is performing that I like, I won't have anything to do while I wait for someone I do like to start their set. I don't typically go to concerts in general (never have) so the new type of set up probably won't be my cup of tea. But I will be interested in hearing more about it, just the same.

 

[chicagogrl]

So sad to hear of the teens behaviors with the Christian concerts!

 

[gzmtlock]

It is sad. . . but not surprising. Teens are teens. As a previous non-pastoral youth leader, I can share that youth activities attract all kinds of kids. Some are fairly developed in their faith, and do their best to "walk the walk." Others have parents who limit their activities in attempts to control their behavior (not necessarily a bad idea), and they act out however they can, wherever they can. Most fall somewhere inbetween. One of the challenges for adult leaders is dealing with that mix.

Which is why I believe moving NoJ to WWoS could be a very positive thing. Fewer bushes, and dark rides, and, well, you know.

 

[BadgerGirl84]

I went to NOJ in 2011 during my honeymoon. My husband and I had a great time. We didn't experience any rude or rowdy behavior by teens, but of course, I would believe that some kids do get in trouble if they are allowed to tour the park unattended.

It was amazing seeing the main acts perform in front of the castle--the backdrop alone was amazing but add in some firework/pyro effects and WOW. Very memorable.

We would not return to NOJ at WWOS. We can easily see Christian concerts here at home at "blah" venues, much as WWOS would be. I would not pay a premium just to see a show on Disney grounds.

I think this will also solve the overcrowding problem--I'm sure others will agree that a non-MK or DHS NOJ doesn't have that much appeal.

 

[momof2halls]

Thu, March 17, 2016
MercyMe, Casting Crowns, newsboys Among 15 Top Christian Music Performers at Disney’s Night of Joy Sept. 9-10, 2016

by Charles Stovall, Public Relations Manager

It’s only March, but Disney’s Night of Joy 2016 will be here before we know it; and we wanted to give you an update, including the exciting lineup of talent coming to this year’s event.

As we told you last year, Disney’s Night of Joy 2016 will expand, with the concerts being held for the first time ever at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. This year’s artists represent one of the best lineups in all of Christian Music with 15 top performers and groups including 2015 Grammy® Award Winner Francesca Battistelli.

• Friday, September 9 – MercyMe, Casting Crowns, Chris Tomlin, Francesca Battistelli, Crowder, Matthew West, Stars Go Dim, Zealand Worship
• Saturday, September 10 –newsboys, for King & Country, Young & Free, Switchfoot, Red, Thousand Foot Krutch, Tim Timmons

This year, we’re expanding Disney’s Night of Joy in many ways. Guests will have more options than ever with two nights of Contemporary Christian music, ample seating at indoor and outdoor venues, amazing performances on multiple stages, including Champion Stadium, and opportunities for fellowship and fun. We also have ticket options that allow you to maximize the park time doing rides and then maximize your concerts and fellowship time at night – plus you pick your park!

We caught up with Night of Joy artist Matthew West and his family checking out ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex earlier this year.


Fans will have more ticket options for this year’s event than ever before. They will be able to purchase:

• A single-night ticket for Friday’s concerts – $39 plus tax (in advance); $45 the day of the show (if available).
• A ticket which would include a day at one of the four Walt Disney World Resort theme parks and the concerts for Saturday night – $99 plus tax (in advance); $114 plus tax the day of the show (if available).
• A 2-Day ticket which includes both nights’ concerts, a day at one of the four Walt Disney World Resort theme parks – $119 plus tax (in advance).

And, if that weren’t enough, guests who purchase the 2-Day ticket before August 9, 2016 will also receive one (1) admission to their choice of Disney’s Blizzard Beach or Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon from September 6 – September 12, 2016. Group discounts also are available.

Tickets will go on sale in mid-April.

For more information, check out nightofjoy.com and stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog for updates on entertainment and events.

 

[Bluegrrl]

I do not at all blame Disney. I also have heard thenoj is the absolute worst event for security and cms to work. The security folks hate it b/c it's hard to maintain control - kids are into everything, and it's just a free for all. Cms have told me that between Christmas, New Years, the old grad nights, and all the other events, noj is the worst. Kinda funny, considering the idea that it's a concert for Christian teens. I would hope they would be better behaved. Teens are teens, but still.