Dana_Buckley said:
Let me just make sure I have this right, we can enter the park at 4pm, but the "party" begins at 7pm, right? I guess you are allowed on all the attractions between 4 and 7, that's awesome!!
How do they clear the park of non-party goers?
Thank you!
The tickets are hard-coded to begin working at 4PM. This isn't so much to be nice to us, but to avoid a huge bottleneck at 7 (which still happens - better off to wait until 7:30 if you can't get there before 6PM when they close the turnstyles - you'll just be waiting in a huge line to get in).
The procedure works roughly like this - a sign is posted saying the MK closes at 6PM that night. At 6PM the rides are shut down (even the shops on Main Street close!), the turnstyles to get into the park are shut down, and people are directed out of the park. Those that have
MNSSHP tickets either already have the braclet (they start giving them at 4PM to those guests entering just for the party) or if you are already in the park you can get them from any number of cast members around soley for that purpose (usually around the Hub area there are several of them).
People with braclets are sent to Tomorrowland where some rides are open, supposedly until 7PM. However, I have found that CM's will let you cross over to Fantasyland as early as 6:25/6:30 depending on how fast they get everything set up. That's a magical time in Fantasyland - last MNSSHP I went to (did 3 last year) I got to literally sit on Pooh, Pan, and Snow White several times in a row because none of the other guests had made it over there yet. Between 6:30 and 7PM I made a total of like 8 rides between just those three!
By 7PM the whole park is opened, and CM's are actively looking at bracelets. If you don't have one you are directed out of the park. They are pretty effective at it - much more so than the reports I hear about current EMH nights. I suppose it is possible to stay in the park and just not ride any rides though - but I believe CM's would still ask you at some point.
It's really well done, and although the middle hours of the parties can get crowded (especially the Haunted Mansion, for obvious reasons) the first hour and the last two are great to hit rides! I did Splash 8 times one EMH between 10:30 and midnight! Plus, being in that area of the park at midnight means a nice leisurely stroll to Main Street, which remains open until 1am. I usually grab a snack at Casey's or the ice cream shop, sit on a bench in the park, and wait for the crowds at the exit/busses to disappate.
I can't recomend the parties enough - but I would suggest the Tuesday/Thursday parties, followed by Sundays, if at all possible. Friday nights tend to be the busiest with locals attending - but all were great fun!
My biggest tip is for those with families - do everything you can to discourage your kids from the "trick or treat" lines. They are the biggest lines of the night, and it's just mini-versions of store bought candies that everyone has at home. I understand doing one or two for the fun of trick or treating at the MK, but the candy is nothing unique and those lines are so long I couldn't believe it. I'd say, "Gee, we could wait for some candy for 15 minutes, or we could go ride Pirates!" My guess is, you can convince them of the latter.
N.E.D.
