Magic Kingdom After Hours coming back (DAH); Reviews: Page 18 >>

[Dentam]

Overall a great night - we rode everything we wanted to (People Mover and Philharmagic after Wishes, then Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear, 7DMT, Peter Pan x 2, Haunted Mansion, Thunder Mountain, Pirates x 2, Jungle Cruise) and ate way too much! Longest line was Peter Pan which was about a 7 minute wait for us. Bigger crowd than we were expecting but we still had fun. We never got to stay on a ride since there were always more people waiting to get on. The only ride vehicle we had to ourselves was Space Mountain and the cast member took our picture before launching us which was awesome. That was at about 9:30. It got busier as we made our way around to Fantasy Land.

Had to search a bit for popcorn carts but cast members were helpful in pointing out where to go for them. Plenty of ice cream, water and soda. Brought back a Sprite, Diet Coke and a water for our fridge in the room. Got about $30 in snack and drink items each - we won't need breakfast in the morning!

We'd like to see them add another hour to this event in the future!

Will post a few pics once I've downloaded them onto my laptop.

Left the park at 12:40 - got back to Beach Club at 1:00 after a stop at the Swan and Dolphin. There were still people on our bus heading to other resorts but not too many, maybe 10 people or so.

 

[Dentam]

Our "line" for Space Mountain:






Tomorrowland "Crowds":



After Hours Dance Party at 9:40ish:


Line for Photopass Shots at the Tangled Bathrooms:



Line for popcorn in Liberty Square (most of the popcorn lines were about this length):






Walk on line for Pirates (rode it twice in a row before heading on to the Jungle Cruise for our last ride of the night):



Castle at 12:30:

 

[anomamatt]

I did it last night and was surprised at the crowds. Wasn't anything like the pictures with no one around. Still a ton of fun. Mine train was 5-7 min wait each time I rode it. Space was awesome until they closed one side. Before that I could get front car time after time. At the end space was a 3-5 min wait with each set of cars full.

I'd say there was way more than 5,000 people there last night. But still a ton of fun and well worth it.

My suggestion would be to get rid of the free food and drinks and lower the cost. I enjoyed a Mickey and Olaf bar, but I saw a lot of people hoarding water and sodas. Saw one guy with a plastic bag full of ~10-15 waters. Come on. That just makes the costs higher than they need to be. Disney should get rid of free snacks and lower the price.

 

[AngiTN]

Good size crowd tonight. Miniscule lines formed but not bad except for peter pan that got 5 to 7ish mins.

Fun time, lots of families with kids. Not enough ice cream carts, you had to travel a little once the night got half over.

That could be a good thing, to give you a chance to play in the queue

 

[melliemelo]

We had a fabulous night!!!

We arrived at MK right at 5:00 and got our lanyards. We spent a while walking around. We rode Ariel and the kids rode Dumbo. We grabbed a quick dinner at Pecos Bill's. I saw a few people with lanyards, but not many. We talked to a few other 'lanyard people' and it seemed a lot of us were from Louisiana (Mardi Gras.) We found a spot right in front the castle for Wishes and waited. My kids ( 12 & 9) were bursting with excitement. It cooled off a lot and was a bit chilly which was nice since it has been so hot all week.

At 9:00 we headed down the bridge to Fantasyland, and more people than I expected were going the same way. We got to Mine Train and my daughter was worried because the CM was turning people away!! I told her it was still open for us and she went right in through the FP line.

My husband and I split up here as each daughter wanted to do different things. Over the 3 hours the 4 of us combined did:

Mine Train
Haunted Mansion x 2
Peter Pan x 3
Big Thunder x 2
Splash
Jungle Cruise
Pirates
Magic Carpets
Buzz
Tea Cups
Both sides of Princess M&G
Winnie the Pooh
Space x 2

We stopped for drinks/ snacks a few times and photopass pics. The castle was open to walk through which was nice to see. The Main St photopass lines were a little long at the very end. We stayed until 'The kiss goodnight' and headed out to the ferry. It was waiting and was pretty full.

It did seem busier than reported as there were always a few people around. Still the crowd was nothing compared to a regular day. We didn't really wait for anything and the few times we did it was very short. I found myself rushing to get from point A to B because I knew those 3 hours would fly by - and they did. Four hours would have been better!

It was great overall and I would definitely do it again if it continues. It was like we crammed 2 full park days into a few hours. I took a few pics but I have to wait until I get home to pull them off the SD card.

 

[Dentam]

That could be a good thing, to give you a chance to play in the queue

They weren't lining people up in an area where there was any interactive stuff, although I'm sure we could have asked to see that part of the line.

I think the Mardi Gras crowds affected overall crowd levels more than we expected this week. I've lost all faith in any crowd calendars, as yesterday was supposed to be a 4/10 based on what we'd seen, but it was more like a 7 or 8/10 at MK during the day.

ETA: When we arrived, I asked the CM handing out lanyards if it was sold out, and she said she didn't think so and that even if it was, they limit tickets to 3,000. I'm not sure that she was right, because it felt like over 3,000 people were there last night. Still fun though!

 

[AngiTN]

They weren't lining people up in an area where there was any interactive stuff, although I'm sure we could have asked to see that part of the line.

I think the Mardi Gras crowds affected overall crowd levels more than we expected this week. I've lost all faith in any crowd calendars, as yesterday was supposed to be a 4/10 based on what we'd seen, but it was more like a 7 or 8/10 at MK during the day.

ETA: When we arrived, I asked the CM handing out lanyards if it was sold out, and she said she didn't think so and that even if it was, they limit tickets to 3,000. I'm not sure that she was right, because it felt like over 3,000 people were there last night. Still fun though!

That's a shame. They did on our nights that we've gone.

 

[Si C]

Really hoping for some extra after hours dates for the start of May! Something like this is definitely a "shut up and take my money" scenario!

 

[maryj11]

Our "line" for Space Mountain:

View attachment 223313


View attachment 223314

Tomorrowland "Crowds":

View attachment 223315

After Hours Dance Party at 9:40ish:
View attachment 223316

Line for Photopass Shots at the Tangled Bathrooms:

View attachment 223317

Line for popcorn in Liberty Square (most of the popcorn lines were about this length):

View attachment 223318


View attachment 223319

Walk on line for Pirates (rode it twice in a row before heading on to the Jungle Cruise for our last ride of the night):

View attachment 223320

Castle at 12:30:

View attachment 223321

Thank you for posting. Looks like a relaxed fun time.

 

[maryj11]

I did it last night and was surprised at the crowds. Wasn't anything like the pictures with no one around. Still a ton of fun. Mine train was 5-7 min wait each time I rode it. Space was awesome until they closed one side. Before that I could get front car time after time. At the end space was a 3-5 min wait with each set of cars full.

I'd say there was way more than 5,000 people there last night. But still a ton of fun and well worth it.

My suggestion would be to get rid of the free food and drinks and lower the cost. I enjoyed a Mickey and Olaf bar, but I saw a lot of people hoarding water and sodas. Saw one guy with a plastic bag full of ~10-15 waters. Come on. That just makes the costs higher than they need to be. Disney should get rid of free snacks and lower the price.

It is people like the water hoarder that ruin it for others They will probably stop giving out free drinks and make us pay for them because of that reason.

 

[Dentam]

It is people like the water hoarder that ruin it for others They will probably stop giving out free drinks and make us pay for them because of that reason.

We didn't see anyone hoarding drinks - hoping that isn't too common.

 

[Accident]

ETA: When we arrived, I asked the CM handing out lanyards if it was sold out, and she said she didn't think so and that even if it was, they limit tickets to 3,000. I'm not sure that she was right, because it felt like over 3,000 people were there last night. Still fun though!

That was right about 3000. I've noticed when it's more families doing the park together that you get less repeat rides and more people walking between rides. I think it has to do with the fact that you rarely get a chance to just stay on the ride and some rides the effort to exit and go back in sometimes makes it not worth a second ride.

 

[MommaBerd]

Regarding the "drink hoarders," when I've been to a paid event - and specifically I'm thinking about Pirates 'N Pals - we were told by CMs to take with us anything and everything that was there, especially towards the end. And, I thought I read earlier reports of CMs at this event telling guests something similar. Most of the foods/beverages are sealed, so you'd think they could use them again.

So, I'm curious how the unlimited food and drinks works on the back end, how it gets budgeted and adjusted. Do they inventory the "left-overs" and keep track of consumption vs. guests? It seems they obviously have more than enough. I am not necessarily trying to defend the hoarders, and I wasn't there to see the person with 10-15 waters. But if my husband got just two waters for each of us, he'd be loaded down with 12 bottles of water! I just don't believe that a few people "hoarding" will ruin it for the rest of us. I'm willing to bet Disney actually accounts for those people, because there are always going to be a few!

In my opinion, the snacks and drinks are a huge plus. If they took away the "cost" of providing free snacks, we MIGHT see the tickets reduced $5-10 (because they know we are willing to pay the current price). And let's face it, when you're out late and still walking/standing a lot, your kids (or at least MY kids) are going to get hungry and want a snack and you are going to end up paying back the difference in the cost of the no-snack ticket and current ticket.

 

[maryj11]

That was right about 3000. I've noticed when it's more families doing the park together that you get less repeat rides and more people walking between rides. I think it has to do with the fact that you rarely get a chance to just stay on the ride and some rides the effort to exit and go back in sometimes makes it not worth a second ride.

Did you get any good pictures last night?

 

[Accident]

Did you get any good pictures last night?

I just have a few pictures of my cameras doing their thing, an empty ferry getting to the event, people mover being evacuated and what appeared to be different shells in use for wishes that were much brighter and larger.

 

[maryj11]

Just sent another email to Disney asking if any more dates will be added to the After Hours event .

Go the email back and here is what they wrote
Dear Mary,

Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World® Resort.

Disney After Hours operating schedules for the period of your upcoming visit have not yet been determined or released. We encourage you to visit the following address on our website, closer to your actual arrival, to obtain updated operating hours information:
I know I'm a pest

 

[maryj11]

Go the email back and here is what they wrote
Dear Mary,

Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World® Resort.

Disney After Hours operating schedules for the period of your upcoming visit have not yet been determined or released. We encourage you to visit the following address on our website, closer to your actual arrival, to obtain updated operating hours information:
I know I'm a pest

At least they didn't say they would be discontinued.

 

[jknc]

After Hours is the greatest event I have ever attended. We did it 2 times last year. Will do it again if offered.

 

[magickingdomprincess]

Any thoughts if they will continue this event in September and October? Not sure how MNSSHP could affect it? Sounds like such an awesome event!

 

[phinz]

Any thoughts if they will continue this event in September and October? Not sure how MNSSHP could affect it? Sounds like such an awesome event!

I'd venture to guess that the chances are somewhere between slim and none.