Don't like the way they run the MNSSH

[maggiew]

Hmmm, well this makes me concerned being a non-ticket holder hoping to hit MK on two party nights. Am I going to be uncomfortable going on rides or walking around during that 6-7 pm time? We had hoped to stay til closing but if we are going to be made to feel like we are trespassing after 6, I will definitely rethink our plan.

We went to MK on a MVMCP night (we did not have tickets). Around 6:50 pm we were walking down Main Street nearing the flag pole. I wanted to stop at the Firehouse place to see if they had the fire fighter Mickey ornament that we had been looking for. (Well, the firehouse was closed down and made into a Sorcerer of Magic Kingdom shop - but that is a different story). Anyway, I was heading into the shop and a CM stopped me and said the park was closed to non-party guests and I had to leave. I mentioned it was only 6:50 pm and the park closed at 7 pm so I didn't have to leave yet. She argued with me a little but let me look at the shop. But as I said, it didn't matter because the Firehouse store wasn't there anymore and we left right away. And this was in the very front of the park with the exit in sight. I don't think they should stop people until the clock strikes 7 pm. I do understand if you are back in the far reaches of the park to maybe mention to guests you see without bands that the park closes at 7 pm as a reminder. But don't tell people they have to leave before the park actually closes.

Even with all that, we had a decent day at MK in terms of crowds. I wouldn't let this keep me from visiting MK on a party day. It is usually a recommended park on those days. The only issue is if you ONLY go to MK on a party day, you miss out on the night time parade and fireworks.

Maggie

 

[rajak73]

We went to the Xmas party last year, first week of December, they were checking wristbands. Going to SM line of CMs coming and had to show wristbands to get through. Getting hot chocolate and cookies early in the party, had to show wristband to CM standing at door to even get in. Other than that, we never really looked at everyone else to see it they had wristbands on, was having a great time ourselves and not worrying about other people.

 

[CinderElsa]

We bought tickets and went for the first time to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween last October and were very dissapointed in regards to how the cast members just let the people who had not bought tickets stay in the park. We spent a lot of money for the event and expected that only those who paid would be allowed but that was not the case. Now we did notice later on in the night that CMs were checking to see if we had bracelets to get on rides but that did not happen right away and the worse part was the huge crowds trying to watch the stage shows in front of the castle. I looked around and noticed tons of people with no bracelet. I dont understand why Disney doesnt close the park and have all of the people leave then line up to come back in with a bracelet. This is what Knott's Berry Farm and Six Flaggs do for their Halloween events and it works just fine. Needless to say, because of this experience we have decided not to waste the money for MNSSH again. What's the point? Yeah sure, you cant get on the rides later in the night but that's fine with us. We can watch the parade and shows for free like everyone else then can just go to another park later in the evening. It's really a shame. We would be happy to buy tickets if we felt like it was a special deal....

I wonder if OP will come back to complain that they weren't allowed to watch the parade for free "like everyone else!!!"

 

[BugsDaddy]

For me, personally, I don't really care or monitor what other people are doing on my vacation. I do feel sorry for the CMs whose job it is to try to herd out the non-party goers. I am sure there are people who are well aware that the park closes for regular guests at 7 but will try to stretch it out past that time as far as they can. If you are planning to go into a shop at 6:50, odds are you will not be out of the park at 7 and most people know that. I am sure there are still people that will try to argue the point with CMs in order to stretch 7 to 7:30 or 8:00.

 

[ariane37]

Just adding we've been to both parties a number of times and our experience has been that the CM's are checking more often the last couple years. Last year we were at the 1st MNSSHP on 9/1. We got on line for Jack & Sally about 6:10. At approx. 6:50 a CM came over and asked everyone on line to show her our bracelets and a couple people w/o were told they needed to exit the line as they would have to exit the park in 10 minutes or purchase a ticket. Between 6:50 & 7:30 (when we finished the M&G) CM's checked bracelets about 6x. We were also asked to show our bracelets a few more times throughout the night.

 

[cakebaker]

We've done MNSSHP a couple of times and I have to say, I've never noticed CM's escorting people out of the park or checking bands. Then again, I've never noticed people without bands being there after the event starts.

What that means is I just pay no attention to what other people are doing at....all. I suppose if sirens went off and alarms starting ringing anytime an "unauthorized" guest was discovered I might take note.

That said, our last MNSSHP was oversold badly. It was beyond crowded and we got very little accomplished. We won't do another one, but I don't think the crowds were affected in the least by non-ticketed guests. I think they over sell- or at least they did at this one.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

I think the CMs do a great job getting the party crashes to the gate. I never understand the ones who try to squeeze out a few more minutes. I've seen quite a few scenes over the years as people turn combative...in front of their kids.

 

[Turn the Page]

I think the CMs do a great job getting the party crashes to the gate. I never understand the ones who try to squeeze out a few more minutes. I've seen quite a few scenes over the years as people turn combative...in front of their kids.

I was talking to my parents about the party a few weeks ago and they were genuinely angry that the park is closed early for the party. They went on and on about how it's not right that people paid for their ticket and are being kicked out because they didn't pay more money for the party.

I never thought about it like that. I always just thought "hey, the park closes early today, let's go to EPCOT instead." It wouldn't have occurred to me to be angry, a little disappointed maybe but not angry.

 

[cincystamper]

Some people try to be sneaky about staying during the party and book ADR's for 6:30-6:50 and then get to be in the party atmosphere, even though, I'm pretty sure that when they check in for their meal, they get told they're being met and escorted out (if anyone has experience with this, please, by all means, tell us how that went!).

On our last trip, we had an ADR at 6:30 on a party MVMCP night. We weren't being sneaky at all. The park was open 'til 7 for non-party guests like us and we enjoyed our dinner. When we were done, they asked us (nicely) at the door if we were staying for the party and we said no. So they asked us to wait for a few minutes because another family was almost ready to leave as well and we could all walk out together. There was a CM from the restaurant with a snowman sign he held up high in the air so we could follow him. (To people in the park who didn't know any different, we probably looked like a small tour group, so it definitely wasn't a "shaming" kind of thing at all.) He'd stop and look back as we walked to be sure we were all still there. (We had told him that one person in our party couldn't walk fast, so while we knew the goal was to get us out of the park, we had to go at a slower pace than he probably wanted. He was fine with that and appreciated the information.) He did stop the other family from taking pictures of the parade as we walked by. He walked us to just under the train station and bid us good night. All very friendly, all very easy. I think we were lucky....when we stepped to the outside of the train station, we saw other families from another restaurant being escorted all the way to the bag check tables. ALL the way out! So I guess technically we could have tried to sneak back into the party. And I admit, we did get one last shot in front of the park with the photopass guy.....but it was the last night of our trip, we had attended a party earlier in the week, and there was literally no one waiting (the poor photographer looked so bored!) so I didn't feel guilty about that all.

So please don't insinuate that people who make late ADRs on a party night are trying to be sneaky. Some may be. But I'd like to think they're the minority.

 

[smitch425]

I was talking to my parents about the party a few weeks ago and they were genuinely angry that the park is closed early for the party. They went on and on about how it's not right that people paid for their ticket and are being kicked out because they didn't pay more money for the party.

I never thought about it like that. I always just thought "hey, the park closes early today, let's go to EPCOT instead." It wouldn't have occurred to me to be angry, a little disappointed maybe but not angry.

I've seen people complain about this as well, and honestly, I have no sympathy. The dates are published months in advance. I don't know anyone who goes to a place like WDW (Six Flags, Universal, etc.) without checking the hours first. Lol

 

[DonaldDuck77]

First few years Disney used to line up party goers, clear out the park and then let party goers in the park. Talk about long lines! It works much better to have staggered arrival for party goers. I think they way they do it is fine!

So glad they don't do this now. We went to MK on a party day (besides the day we actually went to the party) last year. We jumped into 7DMT line at about 6:45. We got to the gates at about 7:30 or so, and there was a line almost back to the bus stop for the poor people who must not have known you could get in at 4:00. Imagine if they added to that line all of us who knew to get there at 4:00.

 

[mousehockey37]

So please don't insinuate that people who make late ADRs on a party night are trying to be sneaky. Some may be. But I'd like to think they're the minority.

Well, in the spirit of the thread and how they could possibly look at making changes, that could be one. That if you aren't attending the party, after a certain time (avg meal time for whatever restaurant), you wouldn't have the availability to book the ADR. Then that would solve that problem.

In an overall sense, anyone in eyesight of the Magic Kingdom is going to see the fireworks, whether you're at the party or not. The atmosphere of the party as well as the parade and M&G's is what people are paying for. I don't see where anyone who isn't paying for that should be in the park. I mean, come on, it's like (with last year) trying to hang around after a meal at CRT to leave during the Villain's Soiree...

Honestly, if you are in the park long enough to see the first parade, you should be charged for the event, like it or not.

 

[Turn the Page]

I've seen people complain about this as well, and honestly, I have no sympathy. The dates are published months in advance. I don't know anyone who goes to a place like WDW (Six Flags, Universal, etc.) without checking the hours first. Lol

Exactly. I almost told my mother that the day we are going to MNSSHP Universal is open from 8 AM to 5 PM and IOA is open 9 AM to 7 PM. Meanwhile, the MK is open the same hours as IOA so I'm not really sure why she is complaining. I mean geeze, it's Disney World, it's not like you can't find anything to occupy your time.

 

[Disneyliscious]

I agree, if the party starts at 7:00, they should not advertise that they are opened until 7:00 to day guests because I would assume that we can ride at 6:45 without feeling like criminals.

Would you go into any other business, minutes before closing time, and expect them to stay open for you? If they close at 7pm then that means they close at 7pm. Guests should have their itinerary completed and have exited the part by or before 7pm.

 

[Turn the Page]

Would you go into any other business, minutes before closing time, and expect them to stay open for you? If they close at 7pm then that means they close at 7pm. Guests should have their itinerary completed and have exited the part by or before 7pm.

You would not believe how many people think as long as they get there before a business closes then said business should remain open for as long as they want just for them.

I worked at an upscale restaurant in high school. The kitchen closed at 11 and three people walked in at 10:45 and wanted a table. We sat them and explained that the kitchen closed at 11 so we had to get their order in immediately. They agreed and ordered, ate their meal, paid the check....and proceeded to sit there until at least 1 AM. Who does that? The server had left long before. I was the busser but I finally said forget it and left around 1 AM because I had to be back to work at 7 AM to pull a double shift.

I truly cannot fathom being that inconsiderate of other people.

 

[vrajewski10513]

I've been to three MNSSHP and never ran into this issue. The park has never felt overly crowded, aside from the crowding in front of Cinerella's castle to see the shows and fireworks. But that can be expected same as any other night you see Wishes. Even on slower nights you still need to set up early to get curb side seating for the Boo to You parade. Just because the later parade is LESS busy, doesnt mean its EMPTY and you can just wander up and expect to get prime seating. As far as the CM's not checking for bands, all three parties we've been to I felt the CM's were being more than diligent with checking bands of all guests and escorting the ones without bands immediately.

 

[DonaldDuck77]

Would you go into any other business, minutes before closing time, and expect them to stay open for you? If they close at 7pm then that means they close at 7pm. Guests should have their itinerary completed and have exited the part by or before 7pm.

This isn't true of any other park closing. Why should it be true on a party night?

 

[wdw4rfam]

Would you go into any other business, minutes before closing time, and expect them to stay open for you? If they close at 7pm then that means they close at 7pm. Guests should have their itinerary completed and have exited the part by or before 7pm.

And I'm sure all those party guest were out the exit at 12:00how many nights does park advertise that they close at the exact time the fireworks start? So everyone should be out by the time the fireworks start? I had fast passes good till 6:45, so we were using them, and if they didn't want me to then cut off fast passes earlier. I didn't say we headed in line at 7:00, I said we were heading out at 7:05, probably reasonably like most guests at closing time of any other park, it was closed to us and we would have been heading to the exit. Every other day of our trip we noticed the parks still full at closing time and as we waited for the buses 25 minutes later people were still filing out, so I guess nobody got your message that everyone should be out the exit at closing time.

 

[wdw4rfam]

This isn't true of any other park closing. Why should it be true on a party night?

Exactly. Disney does not require you be out the exit by closing time any other day. Or they wouldn't let you book ADRS until an hour before closing because most people won't be done and out of the park in an hour. But I guess all those who book that last ADR slot are a bunch of inconsiderate jerks that expect the place to stay open for them.

 

[nkereina]

First few years Disney used to line up party goers, clear out the park and then let party goers in the park. Talk about long lines! It works much better to have staggered arrival for party goers. I think they way they do it is fine!

That was even before bag checks. It would be impossible now to have everyone wait until 7:00 to get in and have to process everyone through bag check.

I don't have a problem with the current process now either, but Universal manages to clear out a whole park and let long lines of people in rather quickly. I'd reckon it's a similar number of people too, based on the popularity of HHN. Universal bag check is done at various entry points rather than the main gate - all walking paths, boat launches, entrance from the parking lot. It helps disperse the lines. There are very big lines at the Universal entry gate come 7pm, but it's just the way it is. But I think that also entices people to buy day passes, since they can avoid the long lines as they are already in the park. Universal has a ticket/HHN combo pass for a few bucks cheaper as well.

Honestly just playing devil's advocate. I'm sure there's behind the scenes factors none of us are privy to that drive Disney to keep the process the same.