Clearing the park for Mickey's Halloween Party...

[Candee13]

Hello everyone! I have been a longtime reader of this message board/forum. I love this site and all of it's posters!

Just curious if anyone knows how they will clear the park of non-ticketed daytime guests? Will they coral all ticketed guests in an area and then clear the park? Will they give us wristbands and TRY to herd out non-ticketed guests? I can not really see the wristband thing working. Ya sure, they may not be able to ride any rides but what is gonna stop them from camping out and waiting for the "exclusive" fireworks show which will make it harder for the ticketed guests to have a good spot. If a CM see's a non ticketed guest will they walk them all the way through the park to the exit? Doubtful. Will wristbands be checked at every hand out station? I dont know... it just seams like an impossible task to weed out the non-ticketed guests. I think that DWR does something simular to the wristbands for their private parties. Does anyone have experience with that?

My family and I are going to the first party on October 1st. I am thinking it is going to be pure chaos. Kind of like a trial and error type thing. I sure hope I am wrong. In any case we will have fun without a doubt but it would be nice to see a smaller crowd. Thats what we have always loved about the past Mickey's Trick or Treat party at DCA.

Any thoughts or inside scoop on how they will handle this?

 

[Sherry E]

Lots of discussion has occurred on this subject over in our Halloween at DL super thread. Come on over and ask a question!!

 

[CrazyDuck]

I think they clear the entire park (send everyone to the esplanade)... then admit just the people with passes for the event!

 

[Disney Dreams]

Non-wristbanded guests will be asked to leave. It's that simple.

It is done at WDW - and has been for years. It works. We were at the MK in WDW on the night of a Halloween party. We exited from our dinner at Cinderella's Castle. We actually HAD wristbands, but had yet to put them on. We were out meandering around for all of about 3 minutes before a CM very politely came over and informed us that the Park was open for private party guests only and that we needed to exit the Park. We poked fun at our own forgetfulness, showed our bracelets, and put them on.

It works.

- Dreams

 

[disneyfaninaz]

I think they clear the entire park (send everyone to the esplanade)... then admit just the people with passes for the event!

Since ticket holders to the Halloween Party are allowed into the park at 3:00 PM (or 4:00 PM, depending on the day), they will not clear the park. If you have a ticket, you will get a wristband. CMs will check you after the park closes. If you don't have a wrist band, they will ask if you would like to buy a ticket or send you out of the park. They do this all the time at WDW so they know how to do it.

I would hope that people would be honest enough to leave the park at closing if they haven't purchased a ticket to the party.

 

[mvf-m11c]

I was curious of the same thing on how the DL CMs clear out the non-MHP ticket holders. But what I have read from two PPs, I would assume the CMs will check out every guests in the park when it gets to closing time and see if they have a wristband or not. This experience at DL will help me understand MVMCP at WDW when I go in mid December.

 

[fhtpdw20]

The day of the party there will be sandwich boards set up to announce the party and closing times. They basically start at the back of the park and "sweep" looking for bracelets. You won't be able to purchase anything or do any rides without the bracelet. If you are in a restaurant right before the party, they will ask if you have tickets and issues bracelets there as well. If you don't they have extra host/hostess to escort you to Main Street. The people cleaning the restrooms are on the lookout too. They just keeping sweeping from the back of the park forward to Main Street until they clear the parks. They know the nooks and crannies of the park so they will be on the look out in those places too. Now will a few manage to avoid the sweeps, probably, but most honest people will leave.

 

[dizneedoll]

I don't know why people think just because something works at WDW it will automatically work at DL. The parks are run by totally different management. WDW has years of practice with herding non-ticket holding people out of the park on party nights, DL does not. I would not want to be at the first few parties, I think it will be a mess. You guys have way more confidence then I do. But I've seen what a mess DL can make of crowd control situations and this is going to a big one. I hope it all works out just fine. We are going Oct 19 so hopefully by that time they won't have any issues. I will be very interested to hear folks report back on the first few parties and see how it all worked out. Again, I really hope they have their plan in place.

 

[CrazyDuck]

Yea I can't forsee any problems with this approach

I wonder if instead of throwing people out, they'll let em go to city hall and buy wrist bands there... I'm sure they are not going to turn down $$$!

 

[Disney Dreams]

I don't know why people think just because something works at WDW it will automatically work at DL.

Oh, I completely agree with you. Just because something works at one does NOT mean it will work at the other. In fact, many things that work at one, do NOT work at the other.

However, that is not to say that Disney does not have experience to pull from and the ability to extrapolate based upon knowledge of the various Parks.

would not want to be at the first few parties, I think it will be a mess. You guys have way more confidence then I do. But I've seen what a mess DL can make of crowd control situations and this is going to a big one.

What I don't understand though is the negativity. Why assume that it's going to be a mess? Disney is not new in the Guest Control business. If they did not have a plan for clearing guests who do not belong in the Park, then they would most likely make the option to empty the Park and then admit guests for the private party. They have chosen, instead, to let party guests enjoy extra time and to sort out non-guests when the time comes. That indicates to me that they have thought through a plan that they believe will work. Why everyone takes the Doubting Thomas view is something I will never understand. Go to the party, enjoy yourself, and have faith in the company that you are choosing to give your business to that they will deliver. That's my view on the world anyhoo....

- Dreams
[/QUOTE]

 

[wendypooh22]

I have been to a few private events at Disneyland and it was just like the previous poster explained. We were checked for a wristband and kept in a certain area until the park was cleared. It was done smoothly, and we didn't see any big issues others than those that were trying to sneak into the event. I would assume that it will work the same way for the Halloween party

 

[jaydoe]

We did the WDW halloween party last year. It seemed to work fine. I could see if EVERYONE had to hang out on Main Steet while they try to clear people out.....but that isn't how it is. I think as long as you aren't on Main Steet when the "offical" closing time happens, you won't really even feel the effects of it.

 

[funatdisney]

We did the WDW halloween party last year. It seemed to work fine. I could see if EVERYONE had to hang out on Main Steet while they try to clear people out.....but that isn't how it is. I think as long as you aren't on Main Steet when the "offical" closing time happens, you won't really even feel the effects of it.

That is good advice- to not be on Main Street when the party begins. I have done the WDW party and know it is well handled there, but I am aware that DL will be trying to do this for the first time for an advertised event (not a private party). It just so happens that we are going the Oct. 26 since my kids have that week off from school. I am hoping, as a PP stated, that it all the kinks for clearing non-ticketed guests will be ironed out.

 

[disneychrista]

Honestly I think MOST people will leave the park on their own when they announce park closing.

 

[skiingfast]

Honestly I think MOST people will leave the park on their own when they announce park closing.

It pretty true. 99% will leave and 1% will try to be sneaky and stick around.

 

[Funball]

Honestly I think MOST people will leave the park on their own when they announce park closing.

uhh yah i think that is true also

 

[KBelle5]

I'm going to DL's HP on the 19th...will they let us in early? I have class until 6, so I'm wondering if I should skip it (even though that's a terrible thing to do, just for a Halloween party, but my friends and I are so excited for this). It would be nice to have some time to get my costume on, rather than rushing to DL from class.

Thanks!

 

[disneychrista]

I believe they are letting party guests in 3 hours before the party starts.

 

[skiingfast]

I'm going to DL's HP on the 19th...will they let us in early? I have class until 6, so I'm wondering if I should skip it (even though that's a terrible thing to do, just for a Halloween party, but my friends and I are so excited for this). It would be nice to have some time to get my costume on, rather than rushing to DL from class.

Thanks!

Yes what PP said. Disney announced they would let HP guest in starting at 3. This should make things flow much better at the gates. and give non attending guest a little treat of seeing the costumed guests as well.