Magic Kingdom Days

[Frozen2014]

Hi,

Trying to figure out the best days to come to Magic Kingdom (no park hopper).

Our park days available will be Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri. (one day offside which will probably be Wednesday)

The Electrical Parade looks really cool...but if crowds are that much less on non parade days then maybe we should skip it?

Also, we'll be coming mid October so there will be the Halloween stuff (would be fun but not a must for us). Would the Electrical Parade run on different nights than the Halloween stuff? What about the fireworks? It may be a nice way to end our trip (i.e. come to MK on Friday?)

Any suggestions?

 

[tndisney5]

I've always heard/read that MK should be avoided on Mondays. However, we were there last Monday and crowds were not too bad.

Electrical Parade is great, but days with night time entertainment tend to have heavier crowds.

You can check disneyworld.com for calendar info, parade schedules for each park etc. The halloween party runs on certain nights and tickets separate for that event.

 

[ucfknight]

Out of those days, Mondays tend to be more crowded for the Magic Kingdom as a lot of guests vacationing for the week like to start at the Magic Kingdom.

Thursdays and Fridays in October always have the Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. That means unless you pay more money to go to this separately ticketed event, the park hours for the Magic Kingdom those days will be 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM. It also means the Main Street Electrical Parade and the Wishes fireworks show will not happen.

Tuesday would likely be your best bet if you are going on a week when the Halloween party is not on that day (you would have to check the full schedule to find out). The park will be less crowded on that day if there is no Halloween party, should have longer hours, and you should at least get to see the Wishes fireworks (and possibly the Electrical Parade as well).

 

[Frozen2014]

Oh...good to know that the park closes early if you are not attending the Halloween event. Didn't realize that.

So looks like our best bet is to plan for Magic Kingdom on:
Tuesday (hopefully Electrical Parade) and Friday (attend Halloween bash)

Guess we won't get fireworks on our last night - or at MK at all (unless Tues is Wishes and not EP), but we'll try to catch them at HS or Epcot.

 

[999DoomBuggies]

I always have good luck on Tuesdays...but with the new system in place I am not sure if times are a changin.

 

[GoMegGo]

If you are planning on buying tickets for the Halloween party, you probably don't need a park ticket for that day (unless you really want to be on MK all day or want to see another park). They will let you in to the park with a MNSSHP ticket in the early afternoon, which still gives plenty of time for rides, dinner and all of the special Halloween fun. The Halloween fireworks are awesome, so don't leave early. Personally, I would take it easy that morning, hang by the pool, enjoy the resort and take a little nap before heading in to the Halloween party.

Also, Wishes is EVERY night (except for the halloween nights), so you won't miss fireworks in MK.

 

[Frozen2014]

What are the changes for the "new system"?

Ok cool...so we would still get fireworks to end our trip if we went on Friday for Halloween party. As for taking it easy...that's why we're planning for an offsite day...to do something out of Disney. Otherwise we want to fill our days as this is our only Disney World planned trip with our kids. So we would pick a MK day + Halloween party and the resort pool is not a biggy (or maybe mixed in with our day offsite).

 

[wiigirl]

I always have good luck on Tuesdays...but with the new system in place I am not sure if times are a changin.

Me too....

 

[ucfknight]

Oh...good to know that the park closes early if you are not attending the Halloween event. Didn't realize that.

So looks like our best bet is to plan for Magic Kingdom on:
Tuesday (hopefully Electrical Parade) and Friday (attend Halloween bash)

Guess we won't get fireworks on our last night - or at MK at all (unless Tues is Wishes and not EP), but we'll try to catch them at HS or Epcot.

If Tuesday isn't a Halloween Party night, you would see fireworks then. Also, if you are planning to attend the Halloween Party on Friday night, you'll see fireworks. They have a special HalloWishes version of the Wishes fireworks show for the Halloween Party guests. Basically the way it works in October is:

Days with Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party:
Park will close at 7:00 PM for day guest. Guests without wristbands for the Halloween party will be asked to leave at this time.
There will not be a Wishes fireworks show for day guests.
There will be no Main Street Electrical Parade for anyone.
Guests with Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party tickets will be allowed into the park starting at 4:00 PM and will get wristbands to show they are allowed to stay past 7:00 PM.
There will be a special Halloween parade (twice) and Halloween fireworks show for people attending the party.


Days without the Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party:
Park will close later than 7:00 PM (typically at least 9:00 PM).
Wishes will be seen every night.
The Main Street Electrical Parade will be run some, but not all, nights.

 

[GoMegGo]

Great breakdown, ufcknight!

 

[Frozen2014]

Great. Thanks for laying it out.

I almost wish we were coming at a non Halloween time as we are limited, but this is the week we've selected.

Question...When do they formally list the Halloween days for 2014? I've seen the estimated forecast the it's not for sure. I need to know so can plan which days will be which park...which affects ADRs.

Also, I just noticed from the forecast, they have listed Tues, Thurs, and Fri for the Halloween party. So we may be forced to go Mon to MK if we want one day without the event.

 

[ucfknight]

Question...When do they formally list the Halloween days for 2014? I've seen the estimated forecast the it's not for sure. I need to know so can plan which days will be which park...which affects ADRs.

Last year they announced the dates and prices on May 1.

 

[Frozen2014]

Last year they announced the dates and prices on May 1.

Well that sucks....as our ADR opens up Apr 22nd.

 

[Frozen2014]

Sorry, one more question....On a Halloween night, do they let you book an ADR at Magic Kingdom restaurnat for say 7pm if we didn't have the Halloween tickets?

i.e. day at Magic Kingdom...dinner...then leave

 

[aaarcher86]

Well that sucks....as our ADR opens up Apr 22nd.

Yes, but The park hours will be out so you'll be able to see which days close at 7p

 

[aaarcher86]

Sorry, one more question....On a Halloween night, do they let you book an ADR at Magic Kingdom restaurnat for say 7pm if we didn't have the Halloween tickets? i.e. day at Magic Kingdom...dinner...then leave

You could book before 7p... So 6:45p

 

[Frozen2014]

Thanks so much. Good to know we could maximize our MK day with rides, etc until 6:45pm or so and then end with the day with dinner at say Be Our Guest.