Lower Crowds or Longer Hours

[aprylann28]

Hi,

We are going to Disney World for the first time in December 2018. It is a short trip with only one day in each park. Our park days will be a Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. All of these days except Saturday are MVMCP days for the Magic Kingdom. Originally we were going to go to the Magic Kingdom on Saturday in order to get the most hours in the park. But now, I’m wondering if it would be more efficient to give up the extra two hours and go to the MK on a party day to take advantage of lower crowds. We are staying off site so we won’t be able to take advantage of EMH, and we can’t afford MVMCP tickets. Touring Plans has the estimated crowd levels at 3 for Friday and 8 for Saturday. So here are my questions:

1. Are the crowds really that much lower just because the park closes earlier?
   
   
2. Would we really get more done on a day when the park closes earlier just because the crowd levels are lower, or would it be more beneficial to have the longer time in the park, even if we are dealing with bigger crowds?
   
   
3. What time do we actually have to leave MK on a party day? I have read conflicting information that says that non-party guests will start being escorted out at 6 pm sharp, but other sites say we will be allowed to hang around until 7 pm, but just won’t be able to ride anything. We were planning on eating dinner at Columbia Harbour House. Would we be able to eat here around 6 pm and then leave as soon as we are done eating, or will they not let us eat there that late since we won’t have party tickets?
   

Thank you everyone for your help.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

Hi,

We are going to Disney World for the first time in December 2018. It is a short trip with only one day in each park. Our park days will be a Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. All of these days except Saturday are MVMCP days for the Magic Kingdom. Originally we were going to go to the Magic Kingdom on Saturday in order to get the most hours in the park. But now, I’m wondering if it would be more efficient to give up the extra two hours and go to the MK on a party day to take advantage of lower crowds. We are staying off site so we won’t be able to take advantage of EMH, and we can’t afford MVMCP tickets. Touring Plans has the estimated crowd levels at 3 for Friday and 8 for Saturday. So here are my questions:

1. Are the crowds really that much lower just because the park closes earlier?
   
   
2. Would we really get more done on a day when the park closes earlier just because the crowd levels are lower, or would it be more beneficial to have the longer time in the park, even if we are dealing with bigger crowds?
   
   
3. What time do we actually have to leave MK on a party day? I have read conflicting information that says that non-party guests will start being escorted out at 6 pm sharp, but other sites say we will be allowed to hang around until 7 pm, but just won’t be able to ride anything. We were planning on eating dinner at Columbia Harbour House. Would we be able to eat here around 6 pm and then leave as soon as we are done eating, or will they not let us eat there that late since we won’t have party tickets?

Thank you everyone for your help.

Go on the party days, crowds are much much lower. And they make you leave at 6 PM.but you will miss HEA. Trade offs.

 

[pitpat]

I would do a full party day, no question. Saturday between parties will be crazy.

 

[shanew21]

The crowds are very noticeably thinner on party days since the park closes at 6 and there are no fireworks without party tickets.

Conversely, the non party days are absolutely crazy since everybody decides to go that day.

 

[georgina]

Crowds will definitely be lighter on party days, however you will miss evening at the MK.

We are going to Disney World for the first time in December 2018. It is a short trip with only one day in each park. Our park days will be a Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. All of these days except Saturday are MVMCP days for the Magic Kingdom. Originally we were going to go to the Magic Kingdom on Saturday in order to get the most hours in the park. But now, I’m wondering if it would be more efficient to give up the extra two hours and go to the MK on a party day to take advantage of lower crowds. We are staying off site so we won’t be able to take advantage of EMH, and we can’t afford MVMCP tickets. Touring Plans has the estimated crowd levels at 3 for Friday and 8 for Saturday. So here are my questions:

Give up the extra 2 hours? If the MK is scheduled to close at 8:00 on Saturday, I would expect those hours to be extended well beyond that. It would be a tough call for me as I like nighttime at all the parks!

 

[MomOTwins]

1. Are the crowds really that much lower just because the park closes earlier? YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
   
   
2. Would we really get more done on a day when the park closes earlier just because the crowd levels are lower, YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! or would it be more beneficial to have the longer time in the park, even if we are dealing with bigger crowds NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?
   
   
3. What time do we actually have to leave MK on a party day? I have read conflicting information that says that non-party guests will start being escorted out at 6 pm sharp, but other sites say we will be allowed to hang around until 7 pm, but just won’t be able to ride anything. We were planning on eating dinner at Columbia Harbour House. Would we be able to eat here around 6 pm and then leave as soon as we are done eating, or will they not let us eat there that late since we won’t have party tickets? You will be able to eat dinner there if you arrive before 6pm. They only escort out people after they leave a restaurant.

I can't emphasize enough the difference in crowds between a non-party day (especially one in December, and on a weekend like yours) and a party day. We are talking about the difference between 5 hour waits for 7DMT and 1 hour waits. The difference between 2 hour waits for Buzz Lightyear and 5 minutes. The difference between not being able to walk AT ALL in the hub or main street because it is wall-to-wall people, and having a front row view the parade with room to spare. Why more people don't go on party days is beyond me....

 

[aprylann28]

Thank you everyone for the advice. It looks like a party day is the way to go. We had been thinking about watching Happily Ever After from somewhere outside the park on a different night anyway, so that’s probably what we’ll do. Thank you again.

 

[Chrislovesdisney]

If you can commit to getting to the park by rope drop in the am, you will accomplish so much more in a non-crowded park! And especially with little ones, they will be done by early evening anyways.

 

[MNDisneyMommy]

We visited last year in early December with our little kids (6 and 3), and MK during the morning of party days was fantastic. For example, Friday Dec 8th was our last full day and our second MK day, and we made a point to get there for early hours (opened at 8). After we did a Starbucks stop (which was the longest line we saw all morning), we did: Carousel, Teacups, Barnstormer 3 times, Dumbo, Astro Orbiter, Buzz 2 times, People Mover, Laugh Floor, Big Thunder, Splash, Pirates, and we rode the train all the way around before Pecos Bills for lunch. We had FP for Big Thunder and Splash but everything else was spontaneous.

We went back later around 4, saw Gaston, rode 7DMT, and ate dinner at BoG. Our ADR was at 5:05. We left around 6:30 and we walked directly toward the exit, but still got to see the "snow" falling on main street and got some great castle pics. We did get wristbands when we checked in at BoG that were colored to indicate we were allowed in for the ADR but were not party guests, and they reminded us that when we left we had to directly leave.

We're headed back this November and if it tells you anything, all my touring plans are all based on hitting MK on party mornings.

have fun!

 

[disneydreamer1980]

On my last trip (11/30) MK closed at 4 for a CM party. Initially when i found out about that I was upset, but then realized it would probably be a great day to visit MK and it sure was! Emptiest I’ve seen MK in years. So if they have one during your trip, take advantage.