Do you get the boot on Halloween party nights?

[lustergirl]

I am continually amazed at how many parents teach their kids that stuff like this is 'ok'.
On a similar note- I live about 15 minutes from a canadian border bridge. Our local malls have had to put in rows and rows of garbage cans for old clothing and hangers/tags because Canadians come over the boarder, buy clothing and literally WEAR it all back over the boarder. When asked if they bought anything on their trip- every child in the car says 'NO'....THIS so they can avoid paying the taxes.
I could NEVER EVER support or push my children to lie to a federal official- or anyone for that matter.

Do you live in Western New York. Our biggest mall here, the Walden Galleria, has more Canadian shoppers than local. They do stuff there old clothing in garbage cans or I have even seen them throw them in the parking lot next to their cars

 

[JanaDee]

I know others have answered but I honestly, it bears repeating. You will not be seated for dinner, you will not be allowed to buy a soda, you will not be able to enter a CS restaurant, you will not have access to anything, without a hard ticket to the party. If you get an ADR earlier than the party, and check in you should be fine. 7PM and beyond, you are out of luck. CRT is an expensive meal, and one to be enjoyed, so I would really try for an earlier ADR on a party night.

Aren't the bathrooms off limits, too?

 

[mom2rtk]

Aren't the bathrooms off limits, too?

There have been reports of CMs manning the doors to the bathrooms checking wristbands. Makes sense because if you were trying to hide out, the restroom would be one of the obvious choices.

 

[HopperFan]

Aren't the bathrooms off limits, too?

Yes. I have seen them in front of bathrooms. One group in Tomorrowland was arguing they had to go in the bathroom. The CM was very firm that there were bathrooms outside the front gate and they would have to go there. They were still arguing when I came out. They could have already been to the other bathroom - making their need less credible.

I highly suggest if you are there and not staying - get your kiddos in the bathroom around 6:30 because Main Street can be congested and take a while to exit, which means your kids might suddenly need to go and the only option is outside the gates which might have lines.

At 7 you also see them "guard" the entrances to lands. You may leave but you may not enter one that is not a gateway out. Saw a family pitching a fit by Columbia Harbour trying to enter Fantasyland claiming they left the other half of their family there and had to get them. CMs told them they could just meet them outside the front gate.

I have seen them tell children in the candy line they could not have any because they did not have a wristband. They handle it well and tell them they need to go get their wristband before they can get candy.

Kudos to all the CMs that put up with the guests trying to find a way to stay. All I've ever seen is professional calm firm responses - even when the guests get really ugly.

 

[nkereina]

Do you live in Western New York. Our biggest mall here, the Walden Galleria, has more Canadian shoppers than local. They do stuff there old clothing in garbage cans or I have even seen them throw them in the parking lot next to their cars

hahaha Buffalo represent! Canadian frustration is abound in this city. I live 5 minutes from the outlet mall in Niagara Falls, where this may be even worse. Add to it the U-turns and slamming of breaks in the middle of the road because no one knows where they are going. But I digress

 

[jtowntoflorida]

As for those asking whether the MK is "worth it" to go to on a party day when you're not going to attend the party...absolutely without a doubt. Yes, the hours are shorters, but the crowds are much lighter as well. We always go on party days (even when not attending a party that night) because the park is so easy to navigate. The non-party days are so limited that the crowds are packed into the park. This is where you see the complaints about October being "SO BUSY" and "SEEMS LIKE SUMMER." It's because on non-party days, the MK definitely seems like summer.

If you absolutely want to see Wishes from inside the park during your trip, I highly recommend getting park hoppers and spending your day someplace else, only hopping over to watch Wishes. The flip side of the MK being so packed on non-party days is that the rest of the parks have light crowds. If you're going to the MK on non-party days for longer hours, you're inadvertently shooting yourself in the foot as far as crowds go, both at the MK and at other parks.

Oh, and while party guests can enter the MK at 4:00, in my experience most of them tend to congregate on Main Street, waiting for the party to start. The rides aren't any busier from 4-7 than they are the rest of the day, even though the park feels crowded when you cut through Main Street.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Wow, some strong opinions here. My plan was to go to MK on Sunday, 10-5 but have since changed because of the party. I think the party is great, never been, but I'm sure with it being Disney. But, I believe there is one on 10-2, 10-3 and 10-5. That's a Thursday, Friday and Sunday. That is limiting people's options quite a bit. A lot of people are coming in for the Tower of Terror race which is on Saturday, 10-4. So while they are in Disney they won't have a chance to go to MK without being kicked out at 7 or paying basically 165 for a park ticket (100 + 65). Just saying.

One a better note. Does anyone know of a good spot with cool outdoor seating, adult beverages that would have a great view of the MK firework display, outside of the park????

So true. The parties are very annoying in that sense. The parties really limit the number of days that you get a full day at MK and then on top of it, the non-party days are more crowded.

 

[CFioren317]

I've read through this whole thread and some things crack me up.

First, if Disney really cared so much about clearing the park for all their pass-holders for the nightly parties, they should have MK be open until 6, clear out the park for an hour, and then have the party start at 7. But they know that more people buy the outrageously over-priced tickets to the parties because they can go at 4 and if they couldn't get into the park until 7, half the people probably wouldn't be as willing to pay the $60+ to go.

Second, they aren't as concerned with getting everybody out exactly at closing time on a regular night. I guess that's because they don't have that other revenue stream coming into the park.

To me, the MK parties are probably the single biggest scam of anything Disney does. They basically get the same use of the park for $100 + $60 for nothing more than a couple more parades and some fancy decorations. LOL.

 

[mom2rtk]

So true. The parties are very annoying in that sense. The parties really limit the number of days that you get a full day at MK and then on top of it, the non-party days are more crowded.

I actually LOVE party days. At no other time of the year is it easier to choose a low crowd day. It's a benefit in my book.

 

[smitch425]

I've read through this whole thread and some things crack me up.

First, if Disney really cared so much about clearing the park for all their pass-holders for the nightly parties, they should have MK be open until 6, clear out the park for an hour, and then have the party start at 7. But they know that more people buy the outrageously over-priced tickets to the parties because they can go at 4 and if they couldn't get into the park until 7, half the people probably wouldn't be as willing to pay the $60+ to go.

Second, they aren't as concerned with getting everybody out exactly at closing time on a regular night. I guess that's because they don't have that other revenue stream coming into the park.

To me, the MK parties are probably the single biggest scam of anything Disney does. They basically get the same use of the park for $100 + $60 for nothing more than a couple more parades and some fancy decorations. LOL.

Letting party guests in at 4pm is partially due to crowd control, but it is also a huge marketing move. Having day guests see people coming into the park dressed up and ready for fun will assist in selling more same day tickets. The hard midnight close is needed to get the park ready for the next day. They have to clear all of the party stuff and replace anything that was removed prior to the event. MNSSHP is SOOOO much more than fancy decorations and a parade. It is worth every penny for us.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

I actually LOVE party days. At no other time of the year is it easier to choose a low crowd day. It's a benefit in my book.

I'm not so married to Wishes or MSEP that I feel like I HAVE to see them on each trip (especially since we do go to at least one party and so we get the holiday version of each instead) so I love attending the MK on party days. Going to the MK on a party day is really a no brainer, IMO.

 

[RunDisney Crazy]

Don't get me wrong, if I ponied up the extra $65 bucks, I would be ticked to have someone who didn't right along side of me, especially those who hide out to avoid being removed. I think it's cool, I just don't want to spend the extra $130.

But... I do think it's a little overboard, maybe too much worried about the $$$$s, since they are having it on 3 of 4 nights and the one night they aren't, Saturday, they have the Tower of Terror event going on. So those people there for this are handcuffed when it comes to MK.

I've never been, but have to smile when people say it's the best firework or parade ever. Sure the parade can be different, but the fireworks are still on and above the castle, they are pretty much the same. Terrific but the same.

But, to each his own.

 

[FLchick415]

I've read through this whole thread and some things crack me up.

First, if Disney really cared so much about clearing the park for all their pass-holders for the nightly parties, they should have MK be open until 6, clear out the park for an hour, and then have the party start at 7. But they know that more people buy the outrageously over-priced tickets to the parties because they can go at 4 and if they couldn't get into the park until 7, half the people probably wouldn't be as willing to pay the $60+ to go.

Second, they aren't as concerned with getting everybody out exactly at closing time on a regular night. I guess that's because they don't have that other revenue stream coming into the park.

To me, the MK parties are probably the single biggest scam of anything Disney does. They basically get the same use of the park for $100 + $60 for nothing more than a couple more parades and some fancy decorations. LOL.

I think it's possible for the opposite to be argued here as well. Especially for people that don't go to MK EXCEPT to do the party. If they go at 4pm, they're getting 8 hours of park time for only $65. That doesn't sound like too bad of a deal to me. YMMV

 

[smitch425]

Don't get me wrong, if I ponied up the extra $65 bucks, I would be ticked to have someone who didn't right along side of me, especially those who hide out to avoid being removed. I think it's cool, I just don't want to spend the extra $130.

But... I do think it's a little overboard, maybe too much worried about the $$$$s, since they are having it on 3 of 4 nights and the one night they aren't, Saturday, they have the Tower of Terror event going on. So those people there for this are handcuffed when it comes to MK.

I've never been, but have to smile when people say it's the best firework or parade ever. Sure the parade can be different, but the fireworks are still on and above the castle, they are pretty much the same. Terrific but the same.

But, to each his own.

The shows are not even remotely similar. Different music, different types of fireworks (color and design), and a much larger show. Aside from Thunder Over Louisville, Hallowishes is the best fireworks production I've ever seen.

 

[CFioren317]

I think it's possible for the opposite to be argued here as well. Especially for people that don't go to MK EXCEPT to do the party. If they go at 4pm, they're getting 8 hours of park time for only $65. That doesn't sound like too bad of a deal to me. YMMV

Oh I agree with this 100%. It's a great deal for those people who pay the $65 to be at the park from 4-12. No question. But to be doing it at the expense of having people walked out of the park like they are criminals at 7pm, to me, is simply absurd. When I go to MK, I enjoy that time after the park technically "closes" because you get some time to leisurely stroll from wherever you are to the front, usually Main Street is still happening, and it's part of the ambiance to me.

I would never ever go to MK on a night where there is a party unless I was going to the party. I'd be offended to be "walked out" like I am some type of criminal.

And as far as going...I haven't been to the Christmas one, but I went to the Halloween party, and it was just people dressing up and a couple parades and some decorations. Wasn't worth the extra $60 in my opinion. If I were a resident, then I would gladly do it for the one day, as, like you said, 4-12 for $60 is a great deal. However, if you are there for a week, there really is no advantage to getting it, other than you are now paying $300+ for passes....plus another $60+ to go to the party. Cutting a day off from 7 to 6 really only saves you $10.

 

[asmit4]

hahaha Buffalo represent! Canadian frustration is abound in this city. I live 5 minutes from the outlet mall in Niagara Falls, where this may be even worse. Add to it the U-turns and slamming of breaks in the middle of the road because no one knows where they are going. But I digress

YES! YES I DO! I Also avoid the galleria and outlets like the plague!

 

[ArwenMarie]

I actually LOVE party days. At no other time of the year is it easier to choose a low crowd day. It's a benefit in my book.

That is true. It's very predictable.

Don't get me wrong, if I ponied up the extra $65 bucks, I would be ticked to have someone who didn't right along side of me, especially those who hide out to avoid being removed. I think it's cool, I just don't want to spend the extra $130.

But... I do think it's a little overboard, maybe too much worried about the $$$$s, since they are having it on 3 of 4 nights and the one night they aren't, Saturday, they have the Tower of Terror event going on. So those people there for this are handcuffed when it comes to MK.

I've never been, but have to smile when people say it's the best firework or parade ever. Sure the parade can be different, but the fireworks are still on and above the castle, they are pretty much the same. Terrific but the same.

But, to each his own.

I agree! It can really mess a trip up depending on your dates. And I think they have too many of them too. But they are in the business of making $ I guess, not pleasing me

 

[Jennasis]

I've never been, but have to smile when people say it's the best firework or parade ever. Sure the parade can be different, but the fireworks are still on and above the castle, they are pretty much the same. Terrific but the same..

Clearly you've never been.

They're nothing alike. And watching the fireworks from outside the park is nothing like watching it from inside.

 

[MarineVet]

Now all of this has me curious. My family has attended two Halloween party nights and one Christmas party night. We entered about 4 pm each time, and got our wristbands early. When 7 pm came, we did see alot of CMs looking for our bands and everyone else's but by 8 pm they had stopped. Reading some of these stories about people slipping away or trying to get in and the CMs being firm......how firm are they allowed to get? I don't imagine they can touch a guest, and if someone is determined to go their own way, does the CM have to call security who can probably put a hand on their arm? I saw a drunk guy once at the MK plowing up a sidewalk just bumping people out of his way, yelling "Comin' through!". I didn't stick around to see how they handled getting him out of there, so I wonder what CAN a CM do if they need to?

 

[mom2rtk]

Now all of this has me curious. My family has attended two Halloween party nights and one Christmas party night. We entered about 4 pm each time, and got our wristbands early. When 7 pm came, we did see alot of CMs looking for our bands and everyone else's but by 8 pm they had stopped. Reading some of these stories about people slipping away or trying to get in and the CMs being firm......how firm are they allowed to get? I don't imagine they can touch a guest, and if someone is determined to go their own way, does the CM have to call security who can probably put a hand on their arm? I saw a drunk guy once at the MK plowing up a sidewalk just bumping people out of his way, yelling "Comin' through!". I didn't stick around to see how they handled getting him out of there, so I wonder what CAN a CM do if they need to?

I'm sure some get through. But in the 14 times we have been, I have never felt like they were lax about wristband enforcement. It was almost parade time (so near 8:15) when they did wristband check upstairs in the train station that night.