How did you think the crowds were at MVMCP this year?

[dpic]

We went Dec 7th and 9th. I had hoped the crowds would be light, but the park was still very crowded. What was frustrating was that I didn't think there much of an effort to check for party bracelets. If fact, we didn't have to show our tickets to get bracelets on the 7th. After we went through the turnstiles with our regular tickets (around 3:45), they just came up to us and slapped bracelets on us without even asking to see our tickets (yes, we had them). The fireworks and parades were very busy, and I had to wonder how many day visitors had just stuck around?

What are some other thoughts about the party crowds this year?

Thanks.

 

[Marthasor]

We went on November 21. The night we went, there were designated turnstiles for party goers on the far-right side of the entrance. Only those with party tickets could enter at those turnstiles and only those who went through those turnstiles were getting bracelets. Those with regular tickets were directed to the turnstiles on the left-hand side and were not given bracelets. The two areas were cordoned off so there was no way a day-ticket holder could have gotten to the other side to get a bracelet. I have to believe this system was in effect the nights you went. And, yes, they checked your tickets. When you tap the tickets at the turnstile, they can see what type of ticket media you used.

I found the crowds to be quite heavy before the party as party ticket holders and day ticket holders were in the park at the same time. We had dinner at 6 pm and when we got out, the crowds had thinned significantly. Our bracelets were checked at a dance party, on our way into Space Mountain and when we went into CP to get hot chocolate and cookies. We had a great spot for the parade without waiting long and watched Wishes close to the candy shop with zero crowds and had a great view without any pushing or shoving to get out of the parks. I have zero complaints and had so much fun, we're planning to go back next year!

 

[mom2rtk]

We went Dec 7th and 9th. I had hoped the crowds would be light, but the park was still very crowded. What was frustrating was that I didn't think there much of an effort to check for party bracelets. If fact, we didn't have to show our tickets to get bracelets on the 7th. After we went through the turnstiles with our regular tickets (around 3:45), they just came up to us and slapped bracelets on us without even asking to see our tickets (yes, we had them). The fireworks and parades were very busy, and I had to wonder how many day visitors had just stuck around?

What are some other thoughts about the party crowds this year?

Thanks.

Are you sure the party tickets weren't on your magic bands and read by the turnstile as such?

The truth is that it's crowded not because Disney lets too many non-paying guests stick around for free, but because they sell too many tickets. They limit attendance, but they never said they limit it at a low level.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

We went on December 11 and we didnt think it was overly crowded. Just the normal crowd you would expect.

The 2nd parade also did seem to have lots of people on main street, like 3 to 4 lines back.

I did notice that there were alot less little kids than I expected to see (stroller wise).

 

[Airship Ariadne]

we went on the 18th and and heard someone say that by the start it was a sold out night and honestly, I found the crowd to be very managable.

we got there a little later than we planned, 6:00 pm through the gate, and headed back to meet Jack Skellington...we got there before 6:30 and even though it wasn't 7 pm "closing" yet, they were checking bands before letting people in line (guess cause Jack was a party perk, or they knew the line would be longer than the 7 pm close, not sure which one).

Space Mountain was 10-20 minutes until right after the first Christmas parade when it shut down for a bit...we had ridden it five times already so figured it was a sign to move on. so off to BTMR to 10 minute posted waits.

since we had 2 7DMT FP+'s for a couple days later we figured we didn't need to ride it, but the posted times were 50-60 minutes all night.

The worst line we had for frustration was trying to get one of the last party pins back in Frontierland...the Emporium was sending everyone back there for the last of the party merch, and so it was a bit slower than I wished.

I really don't think the crowd was too bad at all.

 

[whiporee]

We went on December 11 and we didnt think it was overly crowded. Just the normal crowd you would expect.

That was you??!!

Seriously, I was there that same night and thought it more crowded than previous years. A&E and 7DMT didn't clear out, but the other headliners weren't bad. We did the TT Desert party so I can't comment on the fireworks crowds, but we were able to get good parade spots in Frontierland and only wait 15 minutes.

Hard to find hot cocoa and gingerbread, though. And grumpy CM didn't want to give my wife three cocoas for three kids. Another one didn't want to sell her cocoa and sent her to the free stand, and then the free stand didn't want to give her three. Crazy.

The Disney cops were out in pretty full force -- we had a FP for SM that we had to sprint in the park, so two of the kids and I didn't wait for the bands and we were asked about them four or five times before we got to a place to get them.

Bummed there was no Mary Poppins this year, and the line for the Dwarves seemed too long to wait for. Saw Peter Pan but not Wendy, and we did get Santa as we were leaving (lucky, because that was the kids' last chance for the year)

Like most things, it would be better if they limited people, but since they don't, I'd be hard-pressed to recommend it.

 

[tsme]

We found it more crowded than the last party we went to, especially the parade area. The parade was late to start, which is weird, they're usually very prompt. There were alot of people milling about in the middle then trying to squeeze in once they started making them move. It was annoying. Also the ride lines were longer than previous parties we attended. Maybe we had become spoiled due to other parties, but I was a little disappointed.

 

[redsbe]

We found it more crowded than the last party we went to, especially the parade area. The parade was late to start, which is weird, they're usually very prompt. There were alot of people milling about in the middle then trying to squeeze in once they started making them move. It was annoying. Also the ride lines were longer than previous parties we attended. Maybe we had become spoiled due to other parties, but I was a little disappointed.

We went on 12/12 and found the park pretty busy (it was sold out event). Got into the park via party gate around 430p and were able to use our 3 FPs for rides before 7p. CM started checking for party bands around 645p and were pretty persistent and though so I doubt anyone stayed without one. Did not do any of the major rides but shopped, enjoyed decorations and all the special evening events, including the treats. And stayed right to the end. Since it was an arrival day for us we used the party to get several hours in MK that day. Was enjoyable and worth while for us (party of 2) but I could see how cost could be a turn off for larger groups and families.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

We went December 2nd and it wasn't bad. It did rain, which was a bummer because Tink didn't fly. We had CRT reservations at 5:30 and as soon as we were done we headed back to Jack Skellington and waited maybe 20 minutes. The wait for Scrooge McDuck was about the same, and my in-laws waited for the 7 Dwarfs maybe 30 - 35 minutes. We got to ride a lot of things we weren't able to during the days so we were very happy.
I had gotten tickets for the Dessert Party the same night which I will never do again. While it was great to sit down, the desserts were ok, but with the rain we missed Tink and the view wasn't great. I would have been happier just watching from wherever but that's something we had to experience for ourselves and now we know.

 

[Aurora0427]

We went to the party on 12/16. It was sold out. We felt like it was very crowded. The lines for food were super long, and the lines for the rides didn't clear out until after the fireworks. Luckily our daughter took a 3 hour late nap that day, so we stayed until 11:30 and walked on tons of rides. But if we'd had to leave right after the fireworks, we would've been disappointed. I was prepared for the crowds, but I just feel like for such a pricey event, there shouldn't be lines. But that's life! We won't go back to MVMCP, once was enough. However, we are going to try MNSSHP this October.

I personally think that a simply manageable crowd for a hard ticket event is unacceptable. It shouldn't be wall to wall people. That being said, I understand why Disney sells tons of tickets. However, I'd be willing to pay more if they truly made it an exclusive event.

 

[dawgsgirl]

Insane!

 

[wendow]

We went 12/14 which was also sold out. We found it very crowded but also very manageable since most of the crowds were around Main Street and the Hub.

Prior to 7pm, the park was crazy as many people must have stayed until the last possible moment (or even after...). We ate at Cosmic Rays at 6pm and I've never seen the place so busy. It took forever to get food, especially with a 'bay' closed.

There were dedicated lines entering the park and only those who entered the party line got a bracelet. We were only asked to show bracelets when entering the area for the castle lighting viewing and at character lines. Never once for hot chocolate & cookies, rides, holiday Wishes, etc. I had read here on the DIS that people were checked quite a bit. I would not say that was our experience.

Both parades seemed very busy.

 

[pigletto]

We definitely felt the party that we attended on the 9th was more crowded than the one we attended in 2013. However we really felt like doing rides that night and got an incredible amount done. We had a really nice time and I think at last count we did 14 rides (some of them were multiples) while still seeing the castle show, fireworks, and having curb side seats for the second parade. Overall it was the best night or day of the whole trip

 

[ethanwa]

More crowded than usual (I went to multiple parties) and more dates were completely sold out.

WDW is DEFINITELY more popular in the last 24 months... even "low crowd days" are no longer actually that low and crowd calendars are consistently incorrect.

 

[11290]

Never once for hot chocolate & cookies, rides, holiday Wishes, etc. I had read here on the DIS that people were checked quite a bit. I would not say that was our experience.

Just because you weren't "personally asked" to show your party wristband doesn't mean that a CM didn't see it. As someone who works the parties doing the wristband checkpoints that start at 7pm, I can tell you we can see a LOT of wristbands that people don't realize we see. We know what color the band is for that night and can visually check a lot of guests at the checkpoints without even asking just by looking for the colors. Generally the ones that get asked to show wristbands are the ones that are partially or fully hidden by clothing.

As far as attractions, once the "park sweep" has passed a particular attraction area, the non-wristband guests have been cleared from that point back and the sweep moves forward through the park toward Main St. and the exit points, with other CM's joining in the sweep to replace those going back to their work locations.

As far as not being asked for the fireworks, the park sweep has long since gone past that area. By the time of the first parade (fireworks are after), the entire park sweep has been completed except for those guests that had dinner reservations and they will be walked out by a CM from that dining area.

Can we get 100% of the guests without a wristband, probably not, but the amount of guests that do manage elude the sweep would have to be a VERY LOW number, probably less than 100 I would imagine, having the knowledge (6 years working almost all of the parties and working the sweeps) of how the sweep is conducted.

Just my $.02

 

[wendow]

Just because you weren't "personally asked" to show your party wristband doesn't mean that a CM didn't see it. As someone who works the parties doing the wristband checkpoints that start at 7pm, I can tell you we can see a LOT of wristbands that people don't realize we see. We know what color the band is for that night and can visually check a lot of guests at the checkpoints without even asking just by looking for the colors. Generally the ones that get asked to show wristbands are the ones that are partially or fully hidden by clothing.

As far as attractions, once the "park sweep" has passed a particular attraction area, the non-wristband guests have been cleared from that point back and the sweep moves forward through the park toward Main St. and the exit points, with other CM's joining in the sweep to replace those going back to their work locations.

As far as not being asked for the fireworks, the park sweep has long since gone past that area. By the time of the first parade (fireworks are after), the entire park sweep has been completed except for those guests that had dinner reservations and they will be walked out by a CM from that dining area.

Can we get 100% of the guests without a wristband, probably not, but the amount of guests that do manage elude the sweep would have to be a VERY LOW number, probably less than 100 I would imagine, having the knowledge (6 years working almost all of the parties and working the sweeps) of how the sweep is conducted.

Just my $.02

I wasn't trying to come down on the CM's. I love the CM's and met some wonderful ones on the party night!

It was quite chilly that night. Our entire party was wearing jackets as were most people at the party. Our bracelets were completely covered. A couple of times I tried to remember to pull mine out so CM's would be able to see it but the majority of the time, it was covered.

 

[DaisyNY]

We were at the 12/16 sold out party...worse of the crowds was during the lighting of the castle. Both party goers and regular ticket holders were still in the park at that time. Crazy to get anywhere near the castle. Found the rest of the night managable and I felt the CM's did a good job checking bracelets. I noticed at 7 pm as we were getting ready to ride POTC they were turning people away. Unfortunately we left after fireworks as my DD was not feeling well!

 

[lesabrowning]

We thought the crowds were more than manageable the second week of December.

 

[PlutosBone17]

We went on 11/30 and it was a little too busy for me.

We went to the Magic Kingdom that morning and the line for Anna and Elsa was only 20-30 minutes, so that tells you something!

We went back to the hotel for a nap and returned that night to huge crowds. Second busiest time at Magic Kingdom during this trip (12/3, our last day, was busiest). We went on Splash Mountain and The Goofy roller coaster with no lines which was awesome. We have two young kids so we really were there for the parade and characters. We had to put our kids on our shoulders for the parade which was fine, but the killer is we didn't end up meeting any characters. The lines were just too long to keep young kids occupied. The line for Scrooge McDuck had at least 100 people in it when we walked over there!

Overall it was nice to do it once, although knowing what I know now, I would have kept the $250. We will not pay extra to do it again until the kids are much older and into getting on a lot of rides while us parents are busy with the characters and parade!

 

[MaleficentRN]

I've been to MVMCP on 12/13/11 and 12/4/14, a sold out party, and I felt the crowds were about the same.
In 2011 we got there at 6-ish and all rides were walk on, got decent viewing for parade and fireworks.
In 2014 we got there at 4pm and the park felt crowded. We used a SDMT and Peter Pan fast pass, both five minute wait with FP, and got in line for Jack Skellington. At about 7pm the park still felt crowded and I saw people in line for Buzz without wristbands. But then it start to rain and after that the park was much less crowded and most rides walk on to 5 minutes wait and I didn't notice anyone without wristbands. Got great spots for parade and fireworks without people smashed up against us.