Do you avoid MK on MNSSHP days?

[3Minnies1Mickey]

One website says its the best day to go to MK because they close early and people will pick somewhere else to go with longer hours. Another site says to avoid MK on party days.....

What do you think and why?

 

[Robo]

My theory is that there is not likely much direct connection between the daytime attendance
and the night-time parties.

Guests would have to actually be AWARE that the park may be closing earlier
(or see that it doesn't offer fireworks and/or
parades) so they could choose to go to another park that day.

But, many guests don't even know to look for
such things in advance.
I'd guess that maybe 70-80% of guests in the parks
just "wing" their trips and DON'T know anything in
advance about the parties.

There are usually signs posted out in front of TTC and
the MK gates explaining that the park will be closing
early (and at what time) on the day of these events.

 

[TheCastleBluff]

We will be attending the first night's party on Sept 14. We are actually planning to spend the day at Magic Kingdom. We know it will be a long day; with an early dinner reservation at the Crystal Palace, we are considering taking a break back at the Poly for an hour or two to rest up (or enjoy the pool) as it will be a long yet enjoyable night.

Like you, we've heard both strategies regarding special parties. I guess we'll find out

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Guests would have to actually be AWARE that the park may be closing earlier
(or see that it doesn't offer fireworks and/or
parades) so they could choose to go to another park that day.

But, many guests don't even know to look for
such things in advance.
I'd guess that maybe 70-80% of guests in the parks
just "wing" their trips and DON'T know anything in
advance about the parties.

Very true. I forget that not everyone are fanatical planners like us Dis-ers!!! Heck, I'm not going for 14 months and are already thinking about this stuff! I guess I'll ask this Halloween season from those that are there.

 

[dolphindan1]

I know you asked about the Halloween party but we always attend MK at RD on Christmas party days...Like Robo said most people will not plan in advance and when they do wil notice the shorter hours for MK and go somewhere else....Its always been a good day for us to tour MK...plus we stay for the party...long day but so worth it

 

[Bradsdadg]

I've been to MK on nights they had MNSSHP. For us, we could tell they were having a party, and it always seemed more busy. I would avoid it if you can.

 

[goin3d]

TheCastleBluff,
we were planning on the exact same thing! (we're going to be at the poly the same time)

 

[mom2rtk]

My own theory is that party days are good days to go. We have been to parties 4 times where we spend the entire day in the park and stay through until the party.

I do think enough people avoid the park on early closing days to make it worthwhile. People who want to see Wishes or the night parade check the schedule, and soon find out they can't see it on those days. Otherwise how do SO MANY people end up in the park on the days those things ARE offered? During that time of year, the parties can close the MK as many as 4 nights a week. The 3 nights you can see Wishes or the night parade are PACKED. So I like to avoid those nights.

We did MVMCP twice in 08 after being in the park all day both days. Both had very reasonable to low crowds. But then it was December, so it might have been that way anyway!

We did MNSSHP twice in 09. That Tuesday we got there close to park opening and it was CRAZY BUSY packed to the gills. I never did figure it out. Since they were setting record temps that week, it make the park much less than "magical" and we opted to leave and come back later for the party.

Two days later on Thursday, we were there for AM EMH opening and stayed all the way through. It is the quietest day I have ever spent at the MK (well.... up until the party, and even that wasn't horrible). I had always heard about walk-on rides but had never seen it. MTMRR and Splash had 5-10 miute waits at 1 PM. I had never seen anything like it.

When we stay straight through, we take a slower pace, and plan 1, maybe even 2 sit down table service meals. Then we start the party by picking our favorite "must do" and starting the line at 6:00 or so. We sit down, rest, chat, and end up first in line for something that generally requires a long wait.

There are lots of restful things you can do in the park. See the parade, ride TTA a few times through, find a bench. If we go back to the hotel, my daughter is too old to nap anyway, and I just toss and turn TRYING to nap, so we might as well just stay in the park.

It works for us. And it will be much easier this year since we'll be there in December. If it's hot when you're there, it's WAY harder to stay all day.

 

[DebbieB]

I know you asked about the Halloween party but we always attend MK at RD on Christmas party days...Like Robo said most people will not plan in advance and when they do wil notice the shorter hours for MK and go somewhere else....Its always been a good day for us to tour MK...plus we stay for the party...long day but so worth it

That's been my experience for both MNSSHP and MVMCP. People without park hoppers and not going to the party will avoid MK that day. In my experience, the days without a party are very crowded because those are the days with the night parade and fireworks. The worst is the day with evening EMH.

 

[avgeek81]

.

Two days later on Thursday, we were there for AM EMH opening and stayed all the way through. It is the quietest day I have ever spent at the MK (well.... up until the party, and even that wasn't horrible). I had always heard about walk-on rides but had never seen it. MTMRR and Splash had 5-10 miute waits at 1 PM. I had never seen anything like it.

This must have been the day i went last year. I was visiting my friend and it was the only day i could go to MK. I didnt know it was a EMH AM or party day til i got there. I took the KTTK tour so i didnt start going on rides til 1:30. I walked on to almost everything. WTP and snow white had 10 min wait. PP was the longest at 45min(i didnt go on so the actual wait may have been shorter) Splash had a 15 min wait(this was during the parade tho and i think the actual wait was longer i didnt time it) Everything else i literly walked on. I didnt know if this was a fluke or noramal

 

[mom2rtk]

This must have been the day i went last year. I was visiting my friend and it was the only day i could go to MK. I didnt know it was a EMH AM or party day til i got there. I took the KTTK tour so i didnt start going on rides til 1:30. I walked on to almost everything. WTP and snow white had 10 min wait. PP was the longest at 45min(i didnt go on so the actual wait may have been shorter) Splash had a 15 min wait(this was during the parade tho and i think the actual wait was longer i didnt time it) Everything else i literly walked on. I didnt know if this was a fluke or noramal

When were you there? Tuesday 9/29 was the crazy busy day and Thursday 10/1 was the slow day. I LOVED it! We were in the park from 7:45 AM until 11:45 that night. Of course, by then my feet were YELLING at me to leave, but it was grand. We had a nice lunch at CP, then dinner at CRT for nice breaks during the day.