how long can you stay at MK on an After Hours party day?

[mandis77]

Our MK day is also an After Hours party day. This is our first time doing this. I'm hoping we can just hang out for a little bit after HEA and wait for the crowds to die down on Main Street before we leave. Question: how long can we hang out before we will get kicked out? Not riding rides or anything, just probably looking at stores, etc.

 

[scrappinginontario]

I’m not sure how it works for AH parties but I know with some other parties, access to stores is restricted to those with party wristbands once the party begins. AH guests have paid for the event so it’s best to make your way out of the park to allow them the party access they paid for.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Don't expect to be able to stay long, if at all, after closing time. I remember going to MK one time on an AH party day, and at closing we were "herded" out by security down Main Street. I remember one man near me saying "Boy, talk about getting the bum's rush!" Maybe things have changed, but don't count on it.

 

[Dave006]

Question: how long can we hang out before we will get kicked out? Not riding rides or anything, just probably looking at stores, etc.

Not very long at all.

Since you will not have a After Hours wrist band on CMs will actively seek you out and you will be directed toward the exit, and don't try the bathroom excuse as they will direct you to the restrooms just outside of the main gate.

And no you can't shop in the Stores on Main Street or even grab a snack without a wrist band.

Dave

 

[mandis77]

Don't expect to be able to stay long, if at all, after closing time. I remember going to MK one time on an AH party day, and at closing we were "herded" out by security down Main Street. I remember one man near me saying "Boy, talk about getting the bum's rush!" Maybe things have changed, but don't count on it.

Yikes! Okay. DD has bad sensory issues, especially crowds. The herding down Main St at close has always been an issue.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Yikes! Okay. DD has bad sensory issues, especially crowds. The herding down Main St at close has always been an issue.

I would recommend leaving earlier rather than trying to stay during the party. An option may be to visit a resort on the monorail loop while crowds thin out (there are walking paths to avoid the monorail surge) but honestly, any day you stay until park close will involve many people leaving at the same time. Other days you can visit stores or sit and wait while some leave but that’s not an option during AH parties.

 

[fbarker]

Yikes! Okay. DD has bad sensory issues, especially crowds. The herding down Main St at close has always been an issue.

I guess the best options are to change your Magic Kingdom day, if that is possible, or to leave the park early to avoid the rush at the end of the general public day to avoid those sensory issues.

 

[mandis77]

I would recommend leaving earlier rather than trying to stay during the party. An option may be to visit a resort on the monorail loop while crowds thin out (there are walking paths to avoid the monorail surge) but honestly, any day you stay until park close will involve many people leaving at the same time. Other days you can visit stores or sit and wait while some leave but that’s not an option during AH parties.

That's what we have done in the past at MK - visit stores until the crowds got a little thinner. I was figuring on a party night we might not have that option. DH and DD are already planning on riding rides while I watch HEA with our other daughter. I'll just tell them they might need to head out earlier than planned and we will meet up back at resort. Trying to give DD the most magical grad trip possible while trying to foresee what could be a problem. Thanks!

 

[BrianL]

That's what we have done in the past at MK - visit stores until the crowds got a little thinner. I was figuring on a party night we might not have that option. DH and DD are already planning on riding rides while I watch HEA with our other daughter. I'll just tell them they might need to head out earlier than planned and we will meet up back at resort. Trying to give DD the most magical grad trip possible while trying to foresee what could be a problem. Thanks!

I don't know what day you are planning to attend, but it seems that the typical schedule for After Hours is a 9:00 PM close (HEA at 9) and a 10:00 PM start to the event. I would think you have that time to make your way to the exit. If you are planning to watch HEA, you might try to get a spot toward the back of Main Street so you can exit more easily. I think though that you are okay until 10, which is the official event start time, at which point you do need to have exited the park.

On another note, have you considred attending the event? I know they are expensive, but if crowds are a problem, there are virtually no crowds and it may be very enjoyable. I know it goes pretty late for the young ones, though I have seen plenty of kids at them.

 

[mandis77]

I don't know what day you are planning to attend, but it seems that the typical schedule for After Hours is a 9:00 PM close (HEA at 9) and a 10:00 PM start to the event. I would think you have that time to make your way to the exit. If you are planning to watch HEA, you might try to get a spot toward the back of Main Street so you can exit more easily. I think though that you are okay until 10, which is the official event start time, at which point you do need to have exited the park.

On another note, have you considred attending the event? I know they are expensive, but if crowds are a problem, there are virtually no crowds and it may be very enjoyable. I know it goes pretty late for the young ones, though I have seen plenty of kids at them.

We are planning Feb 2 - so it does look like the hours are what you stated.

I proposed doing the AH party for MK instead of during the day but was vetoed by the family. In hindsight I'm wishing I would have pushed for it more but we've already bought our tickets. Oh well - I think we have a decent workaround. I appreciate everyone's input!

 

[focusondisney]

We are planning Feb 2 - so it does look like the hours are what you stated.

Just FYI… the regular park hours are very likely to change. The 9 pm close is the generic closing time. At MK, it always gets extended to whatever time the After Hours event is scheduled to start. There isn’t a break between park close & AH like there is for holiday parties.

 

[georgina]

That has been my experience in the past - that the park hours will be extended to 10 PM. The hours for both the January AH dates are closing at 10 PM. I will be there on Feb 2 for AH. It makes no sense to let us in at 7 PM and then have nothing officially going on from 9-10.

 

[scrappinginontario]

That has been my experience in the past - that the park hours will be extended to 10 PM. The hours for both the January AH dates are closing at 10 PM. I will be there on Feb 2 for AH. It makes no sense to let us in at 7 PM and then have nothing officially going on from 9-10.

Hours may be extended until 10PM but even if not, it’s common for there to be an hour between regular park hours and AH parties. It happens each night of a MNSSHP and MVMCP. Attractions and shopping are still available for AH guests but not daytime guests unless they joined the attraction line prior to official park closing.

 

[georgina]

OK. I am aware they do it for the parties, but in all the AH I have been to it has never happened.

 

[focusondisney]

Hours may be extended until 10PM but even if not, it’s common for there to be an hour between regular park hours and AH parties. It happens each night of a MNSSHP and MVMCP. Attractions and shopping are still available for AH guests but not daytime guests unless they joined the attraction line prior to official park closing.

Those are holiday parties. There is a gap for those, because some rides need to be cleared for change over & aspects, like trick or treat trails, lighting etc need to be set up. There is not a gap with After Hours Events, which are different. Those are ride centered & need no extra set up. We’ve been to AH events every year except the very first year. They always start right at park close.