Kicked Out of MK for the Christmas Party

[jimsanfilippo]

The party starts at 7:00pm. Yet, as a bonus/courtesy, they let party-goers into the park at 4:00pm. I learned firsthand that this does, in fact, impact the experience of daytime park-goers, as the park got much more crowded at that point and lines and crowds throughout the park increased. I paid to be there during the day, those paty-goers did not, but they got to stay for 3 "bonus" hours.

So, to say that it's fair to start ushering day guests out at 6:45 since it can take 15 minutes to get to the exit is kind of absurd. Day guests should get a courtesy similar to the part guests who get to enter early, and be allowed to enter any ride/store/area they want until 7:00pm. And if it happens to be 7:30 by the time they finish that last ride (or whatever) and make it to the exits, so be it.

I agree 100%. To allow one group of guests to arrive 3 hours early while making another group of guests to feel as though they are not welcome any longer 15-30 minutes before they are actually supposed to leave is just simply horrible customer relations. I expect more from Disney.

By the way, two nights prior to the problem I started this thread about we had the exact same castle issue you had. We weren't allowed to be in front of it at 6:40pm because it was all roped off and guarded by CMs. Not cool.

 

[jimsanfilippo]

Why so they can have guest lingering in gift shops at the back of the park well the party is beginning? I get yes it can make for a bad experience for non party guests but it's the same thing they do for EMH when they check for resort Id cards during the first hour, no card no entry. The parties are the same way no wrist band no entry.

Why would it be a problem to have a few "day guests" wandering at the back of the park when the party begins? They aren't allowed to do anything like ride rides or enter shops, so what would be the big deal? Would exiting the park at 7:20pm really be a bigger problem than exiting at 7:00pm?

And why isn't it a problem to allow party-goers entry to the park 3 hours early? Crowd sizes increase for three hours for day guests but that's a non-issue for some reason? Longer waits in lines for rides and food for day guests starting at 4pm doesn't bother you but allowing me to have full access to the park until it actually closes does? I don't see how that makes any sense.

 

[mom2rtk]

By the way, two nights prior to the problem I started this thread about we had the exact same castle issue you had. We weren't allowed to be in front of it at 6:40pm because it was all roped off and guarded by CMs. Not cool.

Just curiuos, was that a party night or a non-party night?

 

[WILDERNESS FAN 55]

Why would it be a problem to have a few "day guests" wandering at the back of the park when the party begins? They aren't allowed to do anything like ride rides or enter shops, so what would be the big deal? Would exiting the park at 7:20pm really be a bigger problem than exiting at 7:00pm?

And why isn't it a problem to allow party-goers entry to the park 3 hours early? Crowd sizes increase for three hours for day guests but that's a non-issue for some reason? Longer waits in lines for rides and food for day guests starting at 4pm doesn't bother you but allowing me to have full access to the park until it actually closes does? I don't see how that makes any sense.

So it's just "a few" day guests but when they let party goers in it's sooo many that the crowds get so large ? Perception seems a little off there. Besides those party goers weren't allowed in at 9 am like you . Whether you chose to take advantage of that is up to you. Otherwise I suggest planning your MK day on standard admission days .Seems like a simple solution.

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

Why would it be a problem to have a few "day guests" wandering at the back of the park when the party begins? They aren't allowed to do anything like ride rides or enter shops, so what would be the big deal? Would exiting the park at 7:20pm really be a bigger problem than exiting at 7:00pm?

The problem is they need to clear the park by 7 pm not 7:20 Pm as the party starts at 7 and that is what they advertise to the party guests they have access to the MK from 7 until midnight.

And why isn't it a problem to allow party-goers entry to the park 3 hours early? Crowd sizes increase for three hours for day guests but that's a non-issue for some reason? Longer waits in lines for rides and food for day guests starting at 4pm doesn't bother you but allowing me to have full access to the park until it actually closes does? I don't see how that makes any sense.

The extra people coming in at 4:00 isn't really much of a factor when you look at it the average guest that goes to one of the parties doesn't know they can get in later unless they are on a message board like the dis or here about it somewhere else.

 

[jimsanfilippo]

So it's just "a few" day guests but when they let party goers in it's sooo many that the crowds get so large ? Perception seems a little off there. Besides those party goers weren't allowed in at 9 am like you . Whether you chose to take advantage of that is up to you. Otherwise I suggest planning your MK day on standard admission days .Seems like a simple solution.

They get three hours of getting in early. Yes, that does affect the crowd for much longer than having non-partygoers exiting at 7:20pm.

 

[jimsanfilippo]

The problem is they need to clear the park by 7 pm not 7:20 Pm as the party starts at 7 and that is what they advertise to the party guests they have access to the MK from 7 until midnight.

Wow, that logic seems incredibly one-sided. They "advertise" to every day guest that the park is open until 7pm, not 6:40pm or 6:45pm. The problem is they need to not give preference to one at the expense of the other. If you can't see that I'm not sure what else to say.

 

[jimsanfilippo]

Just curiuos, was that a party night or a non-party night?

That was a party night also, on 12/07. The other problem was on 12/09.

 

[smidgy]

I too cannot undersatnd comparing 3 extra hours before the party, which were NOT payed for, with 15 mintues for a day guest to walk to the exit AFTER the 7PM time, which they paid for.

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

Wow, that logic seems incredibly one-sided. They "advertise" to every day guest that the park is open until 7pm, not 6:40pm or 6:45pm. The problem is they need to not give preference to one at the expense of the other. If you can't see that I'm not sure what else to say.

Yes but keep in mind they start with the back of the park around 6:40 to 6:45 Pm as they figure most day guest at that point will be heading to main street and int the gift shops there rather then the ones at the back of the park. Plus it also gives them time to set things up that they don't want day guests to see or stop and take pictures of.

 

[mesaboy2]

As I said in Post 2, I completely agree you should be allowed to do anything, anywhere until park close at 7:00p on a party night.

However, I think allowing party guests in at 4:00p is also completely fine and fair. Park guests pay a higher cost (in terms of dollars per hour) than day guests do, and have a scant five hours of time to enjoy the festivities, some exclusive. There is nothing exclusive about the normal operating hours that day. Additionally, having everyone go through the gates--in both directions as day guests leave and party guests arrive--at the same time is a logistical headache. This is why entry is allowed at 4:00p, to ease the flow of traffic as the changeover begins. There was a time when the park closed completely for an hour or two to execute the switch, and everybody got fewer hours.

 

[mom2rtk]

As I said in Post 2, I completely agree you should be allowed to do anything, anywhere until park close at 7:00p on a party night.

However, I think allowing party guests in at 4:00p is also completely fine and fair. Park guests pay a higher cost (in terms of dollars per hour) than day guests do, and have a scant five hours of time to enjoy the festivities, some exclusive. There is nothing exclusive about the normal operating hours that day. Additionally, having everyone go through the gates--in both directions as day guests leave and party guests arrive--at the same time is a logistical headache. This is why entry is allowed at 4:00p, to ease the flow of traffic as the changeover begins. There was a time when the park closed completely for an hour or two to execute the switch, and everybody got fewer hours.

I don't think anybody here wants to be entering OR leaving the park at 7 PM with 20K or so partygoers all bottling up traffic outside the gates.

You would soon learn that you had to leave the parks by 5 just to avoid the mess.

 

[Luvchefmic]

I posted on page 1 I think & still agree you shouldn't have to leave until 7,
however I keep reading party goers are getting in at 4 pm they're gettig 3 free hours... Really ? How do you know ? I've gone many times to MNSSH and MVMCP some years attended last of one and first of the other great planning as an AP holder so how wou»d you know I had an AP, a length of stay, or just a party ticket ?

You wouldn't so don't assume those 'extra' 3 hours haven't been paid for just like yours

It's all a moot point now anyway partys over same arguments next year


sorry abt spelling fat fingers & cellphone

 

[jimsanfilippo]

I posted on page 1 I think & still agree you shouldn't have to leave until 7,
however I keep reading party goers are getting in at 4 pm they're gettig 3 free hours... Really ? How do you know ? I've gone many times to MNSSH and MVMCP some years attended last of one and first of the other great planning as an AP holder so how wou»d you know I had an AP, a length of stay, or just a party ticket ?

You wouldn't so don't assume those 'extra' 3 hours haven't been paid for just like yours

It's all a moot point now anyway partys over same arguments next year


sorry abt spelling fat fingers & cellphone

I have paid for regular admission and for the party admission on the same day in the past and understand those assumptions are not always fair. But we all know there are many who do not pay for both and come only for the evening party and show up early because they're allowed to.

Let me be very clear here, it doesn't bother me in the slightest that they are allowed in 3 hours early. It bothers me that day guests are ushered out (sorry, strongly encouraged by CMs who tell them to head towards Main Street and don't let them access all areas of the park) 15-30 minutes before the park actually closes. Let's have some fairness here.

 

[jimsanfilippo]

Yes but keep in mind they start with the back of the park around 6:40 to 6:45 Pm as they figure most day guest at that point will be heading to main street and int the gift shops there rather then the ones at the back of the park. Plus it also gives them time to set things up that they don't want day guests to see or stop and take pictures of.

My reply to that is simply, who cares what their reasons are? It is wrong to have someone pay full price to enter a park that is open until 7pm and then close off parts of the park to those people 15-30 minutes early, NO MATTER WHAT THE REASON.

If they are truly concerned about bottlenecks or stragglers or whatever else problem they perceive, then maybe they should start the party 30 minutes AFTER the park officially closes. Close the park at 7pm and start the party at 7:30pm, or close the park at 6:30pm and start the party at 7pm, I don't care which. But to tell me I can't do certain things BEFORE the park closes is 100% wrong, period.

This is a Disney planning problem, not a guest being unreasonable problem, and everyone that this happened to should complain to Disney as I did. Maybe they'll actually fix it next year.

But don't give me excuses as to why I can't experience the park fully until it officially closes when I paid to do so.

 

[Tigger's ally]

this doesn't seem like a trip report to me

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

My reply to that is simply, who cares what their reasons are? It is wrong to have someone pay full price to enter a park that is open until 7pm and then close off parts of the park to those people 15-30 minutes early, NO MATTER WHAT THE REASON.

If they are truly concerned about bottlenecks or stragglers or whatever else problem they perceive, then maybe they should start the party 30 minutes AFTER the park officially closes. Close the park at 7pm and start the party at 7:30pm, or close the park at 6:30pm and start the party at 7pm, I don't care which. But to tell me I can't do certain things BEFORE the park closes is 100% wrong, period.

This is a Disney planning problem, not a guest being unreasonable problem, and everyone that this happened to should complain to Disney as I did. Maybe they'll actually fix it next year.

But don't give me excuses as to why I can't experience the park fully until it officially closes when I paid to do so.

Sorry I don't agree with you I see no problem with them closing parts of the park early for crowd control. If something like that is a problem for you don't go to the Mk on a party night.

Sent from my Samsung Galexy Ace using the DISBoards app

 

[jimsanfilippo]

this doesn't seem like a trip report to me

Did you read my original post? I reported what I experienced at a park during my trip. No one if forcing you to read these posts so I don't get your complaint.

 

[mesaboy2]

Did you read my original post? I reported what I experienced at a park during my trip. No one if forcing you to read these posts so I don't get your complaint.

I believe Tigger's ally doesn't realize this thread was moved to this board by a mod. I don't understand the reasoning behind that myself.

 

[Tinker1972]

We've been to the Halloween party both at WDW and at DL...and we've been to the parks during the day when we didn't have party tickets. We knew the park closed at a certain time, and made sure we rode our last ride at least 15 minutes before the park closed. It never occured to us that we were getting "ripped off" by starting our exit 15 minutes early. I always thought if the park closed at 7...it meant we had to be OUT at 7...not 730. Kind of like when I'm shopping at a store, and they make an announcement overhead telling shoppers the store is closing in 10 minutes and to please take your final purchases to the checkout. I know its not the same thing, but thats how I always thought of it. There are thousands of people in the park, I certainly wouldn't want to be a CM trying to make sure people leave at the appropriate time. I understand that they do not start herding people to the exit early during regular nights...but there is also not another event going on on regular nights, so the 2 cannot be compared. They have to do the best they can with what they have, to me it makes sense to have areas blocked off 15 minutes before the party starts. They do it for fantasmic and the fireworks nightly. You can't access Fantasyland or the Matterhorn in Disneyland during the fireworks.We've also witnessed people hiding in bathrooms and refusing to leave at the appropriate times when we have been there for the party. I agree with the poster who said if 15 minutes matters that much to people, perhaps going on a party night is not the best idea.
We are not local, so we always have a regular park ticket plus the additional party ticket when we go.So we are "allowed" into the park during the day as well as the night. We go during the day, then leave for a few hours and then return around dinner time.I imagine there are a TON of people just like us, althought I am curious as to what the ratio would be for people who are on vacation and already have regular passes, or APs vs those who are there ONLY for the party(i assume mostly locals?).
I can see both sides..but for me, I'd want to be at the front gates at 7pm, when the park closes. Just my humble opinion though