How do they do these Magic Kingdom parties?

[DSNY4ever]

So for those of you that have been to the Halloween, Christmas or Pirate and Princess party how do they set these up? I know Pete mentioned that it closes at 7:00 and then you get a wristband- so does everyone have to exit the park at 7:00 and then get in line for a wristband? And when do they set up all of the special stuff for the party if there really is no time when the park is empty?

Just curious since we'll be going to the MVMCP this year for the first time!

 

[burberryplaid]

If you have a ticket, you can enter as early as 4 PM. You show your ticket and they give you your wristband as you enter. If you're already in the park, I believe you can go to Town Hall and get your wristband, and I think I recall cast members standing around giving the wristbands at the bridgeway going to Tomorrowland.

 

[exwdwcm]

I know at the MVMCP we went to a few years ago- we arrived around 5pm. We got our wristbands and had dinner at cosmic ray's. I think it was at 6pm, they were no longer allowing folks into the restaurant. As we were exiting the dining room, there were families wanting to go eat or use the restrooms inside and were turned away if they did not have a wristband on. IF they are doing away with wristbands and using your ticket instead, I assume they will want to see your ticket before you get on a ride etc. or probably do the same thing with restaurants (not allowing more folks in past 6). If you have not paid to go the party, you can still wander around and shop on your way out, but you shouldn't be attempting to get on rides etc- as they can or will ask for your party ticket or wristband. there is no way to effectively clear out all 'non' party goers at once, so they do their best to monitor and ensure those without wristbands are aware the park is closing to them and they should begin heading towards the exit. We were checked on almost every ride or attraction beyond 6pm for our wristband. I saw CMs directing those without them to exit.

 

[SamIAm21]

As you move through the park after the party begins, if you don't have a wristband, you are nicely asked to finish up your shopping and then please leave the park. But please, don't forget to finish up your shopping first!

 

[disneym2m]

The Party decor is basically already up. The cast members do put up a few new signs for the party. If you are already in the park before 7:00 pm and have a party ticket, you get the ticket swiped and you receive your wristband. I believe they start around 4:00 pm. If you are not already in the park, then when you go through the ticket entrance you have your party ticket swiped and when you walk in, cast members are waiting to give you a wristband.

When I was in Magic Kingdom for the Christmas Party (Dec. 2007), around 4:00 pm you could already see cast members in their party outfits walking around.

 

[exwdwcm]

oh and btw- I don't think the 'party' requires a lot of 'setting up'. There are some shows which are usually in theatres, so they have time and a closed area to prepare. The decorations are already up. They simply distribute the cookies and hot chocolate from existing quick service type locations, so really there isn't a lot to put together last minute. This was for the MVMCP. I assume on the PPP or other parties that they utilize existing locations to hand out candy or do the treasure hunt etc.

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

The 2 Christmas parties we attended we got our wristbands on our way in to dinner. They were handing them out on mainstreet near city hall. The CM's kept asking everyone for their wristband or ticket and if you did not have one they asked that you leave. I did actually see them not sell Christmas items to a women who did not have a ticket or wristband. I dont know how she managed to stay in the park that long without being asked to leave. It was close to 10 pm.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Without a wristband, there's no easy way to clear the parks of non-partygoers. I expect you're going to see a lot of people hanging around in the park when these ticketed events are going on (more so than usual), because there is no visible sign of whether you belong in the park or not. You won't be able to ride rides, for sure, and you won't get a snack, and you might not get into some of the shows, but you can still see the parade, and you can still see the fireworks without a ticket.

I found the parties to be even more crowded than a normal park day. I can't imagine that's going to get any better under the new system.

 

[exwdwcm]

Without a wristband, there's no easy way to clear the parks of non-partygoers. I expect you're going to see a lot of people hanging around in the park when these ticketed events are going on (more so than usual), because there is no visible sign of whether you belong in the park or not. You won't be able to ride rides, for sure, and you won't get a snack, and you might not get into some of the shows, but you can still see the parade, and you can still see the fireworks without a ticket.

I found the parties to be even more crowded than a normal park day. I can't imagine that's going to get any better under the new system.

Mindy- do you know if they are starting this new no wristband thing with the halloween parties? when is the first one? I am curious to get a report of how it goes.

 

[LovesThumper]

Mindy- do you know if they are starting this new no wristband thing with the halloween parties? when is the first one? I am curious to get a report of how it goes.

We were at the Halloween Party last Friday and they did put wrist bands on when we entered the park. By the way perhaps this was posted previously- we just got back- but we did not get any ghiradelli candy ( I know I did not spell that correctly) Just little foiled covered chocolates and lolllipops. Saw a post before we left that the rumor was Ghiradelli candy and/or full sized candy bars.. Not on Friday anyway. The parade was great and so were the fireworks.

 

[disneyholic family]

DD was at the party two days ago (on tuesday)..
they got their wristbands deeper in the park (not by city hall)...
at another location...i think they have several locations in the park for wristbands (for the xmas party in november we got our wristbands in tomorrowland)..

DD said the halloween party was outstanding....
very much as they described it in the podcast review this week...
she said pretty much everything that pete and the gang said...
including that at the beginning, when they trick or treated, the CMs only gave out one piece of candy, but by the end they were giving out whole handfuls of candy...

DD said the parade was fantastic, the fireworks were fantastic and that the CMs were even more fun than normal....

and they really lucked out with the weather...the forecast was for rain and wind all evening....it did rain, but only at midnight...she said the sky opened right at midnight....how lucky that it waited until then!!

 

[UrsulasShadow]

I don't know when they intend to remove the wristbands from the parties.

 

[DSNY4ever]

Aww, I hope for us it is not so crowded! I guess I thought for some reason that these parties took a lot more set up so I was wondering how they cleared out the park, but it sounds like there is not much set up from what you guys explained. Do you guys think a Sunday will be crowded for the MVMCP? I guess I should assume it will since it is not one of the cheaper nights, it is a "premium price" night. Well I am sure we will have fun regardless! I am assuming we are limited to one free hot chocolate... If not, they will lose money on me!

 

[burberryplaid]

I don't know when they intend to remove the wristbands from the parties.

I thought they were only getting rid of wristbands for EMH, not parties. Can anyone confirm if they heard otherwise?

 

[BriarRosie]

I thought they were only getting rid of wristbands for EMH, not parties. Can anyone confirm if they heard otherwise?

I can't see them removing the wristbands from the parties vs. the EMH simply because the EMH nights are really a loss leader for them. The parks still benefit from those wanting to shop on EMH nights. The shoppers just can't go on attractions, which still allows the "perk" for resort guests.

However, when people are shilling out $50 per person to go to the parties, it would be a nightmare for PR if partygoers see non-ticketed guests enjoying the parade, fireworks, and other stuff.

I don't see them eliminating the wristbands for parties.

 

[disneyholic family]

Aww, I hope for us it is not so crowded! I guess I thought for some reason that these parties took a lot more set up so I was wondering how they cleared out the park, but it sounds like there is not much set up from what you guys explained. Do you guys think a Sunday will be crowded for the MVMCP? I guess I should assume it will since it is not one of the cheaper nights, it is a "premium price" night. Well I am sure we will have fun regardless! I am assuming we are limited to one free hot chocolate... If not, they will lose money on me!

no, you're not limited....you can drink as much hot chocolate as your little heart desires....and have as many cookies and apple slices too...

at least that's how they did it in november when we were there....
i also thought we would be limited, but we weren't....
and there were a few locations where the hot chocolate was available....

DD and i only took hot chocolate and cookies once, but i took lots of the bags of apple slices....i think there was also apple cider, but i can't remember....actually now that i think about it, i think DD took the hot chocolate twice....

the only problem with the xmas party is there's so much to do, there isn't really time to do everything....

holiday wishes, the holiday parade (our favorite parade), the night before xmas performance (in tomorrowland), the performance by the castle...
and there were also street performers in other places..
our favorites were the guys dressed up as pirates singing xmas carols in front of pirates of the caribbean...

there was just soooooooooooooo much to do.....and not enough time to do it....we were at the very first xmas party last year....we left the next day...had we had the opportunity, we would have gone again to see what we missed the first time...

 

[DSNY4ever]

Wow Disneyholic family- you sold me! I am super excited now. I think we'll have to go in with a plan. I remember the podcast made some suggestions for the shows back in their Christmas in July segments so I'll have to listen again, because I want to see as much as I can...and now I know that I can fill up on cocoa so I know I'll make it till midnight! My husband will be quite excited about the cookies

 

[WaltD4Me]

I called Disney just for the heck of it and asked about MNSSHP and the CM
who seemed pretty knowledgeable said they will not be removing the wristbands from any of the hard ticket events through at the very least the end of this year. She said they may come up with another system for 2009 P&P Parties, but MNSSHP and MVMCP this year will still be using wristbands. She knew about the PM EMH's, but said hard ticket events will still issue wristbands.

 

[disneyholic family]

Wow Disneyholic family- you sold me! I am super excited now. I think we'll have to go in with a plan. I remember the podcast made some suggestions for the shows back in their Christmas in July segments so I'll have to listen again, because I want to see as much as I can...and now I know that I can fill up on cocoa so I know I'll make it till midnight! My husband will be quite excited about the cookies

i forgot to mention the toy soldiers in the holiday parade...they are so cool looking....
we loved them..
and all the CMs seemed really into the parade...not that they aren't always, but there just seemed to be something special about it..

one suggestion if you do the parade...

if you're planning on staying through the whole party, go to the 2nd parade, not the first....
there are fewer people at the 2nd parade...
a CM made that suggestion to us, and he seemed to be right...

DD did the same thing at the halloween party on tuesday...
they went to hallowishes at 9:30....then watched the evil characters show at the castle and then just stayed where they were for the 2nd parade....