Magic Kingdom in the Morning vs. Night

[NicholeC]

More of just an interest piece...

Do you guys prefer going to Magic Kingdom first thing in the AM or staying really late at night?

Which one do you find more enjoyable, more magical, etc.?

Just wondering, this will be my first trip not seeing MK opening show and hitting MK at the crack of dawn but it's also the first time to spend late night (2am) at MK.

Can't wait to compare the 2 but would love to hear others take

 

[Parker Clan]

It's all so magical it's hard to choose..but I'll pick nighttime! I love riding HM, BTMR at night. We rode BTMR during Wishes and that was really awesome!
During the day its so fun to go on Splash and eat lunch at BOG
The first view of the castle and strolling down Main Street is magical

 

[Disneylover99]

Night
But maybe it's because we usually go in August.
It's too hot at 9am to truly enjoy the MK that time of year.

 

[minnie mum]

They aren't mutually exclusive. I like them both for different reasons.

Love running around in the early morning and getting a lot of attractions done while we're still full of energy, it hasn't gotten hot yet, and the crowds haven't gotten on my very last nerve.

But I also like going back to the park in the evening, taking things at a much more leisurely pace, enjoying how beautiful the park looks at night, seeing the shows, and just being there.

 

[MouseMum]

What Minnie mum said

Why say it again when it's already been said

 

[Loopster]

Exactly what Minnie mum said!

There's just something so magical about late nights in MK. We do rope drop, take a long mid-day break and then go back and close out the park to get the best of both worlds.

 

[BigAlsGal]

Morning for me!!! Seeing every detail in the morning light. Having some coffee and the whole day ahead of you. So full of excitement!

I like the nights but its so dimly lit and I'm so tired. I think it's beautiful but I'm too exhausted to enjoy. Also the "boo another Disney day has come to an end" feeling washes over me. :/

I will say. When it's hot during the day and the sun eases up its pretty magical.

 

[SirMickey]

Both are great times to enjoy, but, if I have to choose, I go with morning. It just gives me a great feeling inside! Can't wait to see it again now that I'm visualizing it! Lol

 

[Accident]

Do you guys prefer going to Magic Kingdom first thing in the AM or staying really late at night?

In my normal life I work from home and start at 10am. I rarely wake up before 9:30 and early morning is not a vacation for me. On the other hand, 8 hours of sleep getting up at 9:30 and we're talking being up normally that late so I love the night...

Which one do you find more enjoyable, more magical, etc.?

The last couple weeks there has been some interesting new things going on late at night. Main street vehicles have been out, marching bands walking the parade route before electric parade starts.. It's been different in a good way...

It can really go either way though.. some parts of the park will get really empty almost every night. jungle cruise is interesting at night, pirates will be semi-quiet. BTMR I think is a better ride at night. splash is more of a surprise since you can't see daylight before you plunge. If you can time it, you might get lucky and ride BTMR while the fireworks are happening, that's an interesting perspective of them.. I find there is more things walk on late at night then during rope drop but there is some really interesting just opened things happening that you will not find at night like the trolley show, certain main street performers, etc etc etc..

Some nights it's so damn crowded there will be lines for space mountain as far back as stitch.. you just never know..

There is a 10-15 minute kiss goodnight that happens at the castle. you'll know it's about to start because it starts to shimmer and then the music will come on.. it's disney's goodbye show.. My guess is you've never seen that if your always seeing the opening show.

Just wondering, this will be my first trip not seeing MK opening show and hitting MK at the crack of dawn but it's also the first time to spend late night (2am) at MK.

Are you going to the after party event? that's a whole different beast and your going to love it!!!!!

 

[quhawk]

More of just an interest piece...

Do you guys prefer going to Magic Kingdom first thing in the AM or staying really late at night?

Which one do you find more enjoyable, more magical, etc.?

Just wondering, this will be my first trip not seeing MK opening show and hitting MK at the crack of dawn but it's also the first time to spend late night (2am) at MK.

Can't wait to compare the 2 but would love to hear others take

 

[quhawk]

There is no advantage anymore to hitting rope drop, due to new FP+. I think you'll hit more rides at night, depending on the season. Someone mentioned the late night party events. Those are excellent to not only see the park at night, but have a leisurely time hitting the entire park

 

[pezaddict231]

I love going at night, love all the lights and how the park is much cooler, we go in the summer lol.

 

[Canuck16]

We always love hitting the park as soon as it opens and gets busy as we are all morning people so getting up early isn't a problem for us.

But let me tell you we did the EMH until 2 am when we were there 2 years ago and we all absolutely LOVED it!! It is a totally different experience that late at night for sure.

I think you will enjoy being at the MK until 2 am......have a great time!!!

 

[Neesy228]

I am not a morning person -- even when Mickey is involved.

Nights are my absolute favorite time in Magic Kingdom. I love the lights and the sounds. I love how Main Street glows. I love to watch Wishes and then sit while the park clears out and gets quiet. Everything about nighttime in MK just makes me happy.

 

[MolonLabe]

Different worlds...

I am a night owl (check the post time) but I get up early for a few things, like work, my daughters and the mouse. Combine my daughters and the mouse and I can do rope drop even after being at MK till 1am the night before.

It's a completely different experience IMO. Main street is more like a town on a holiday in the AM, the CM's walking around as citizens of main street and what not. It's very unique.

After 11 and definitely after midnight it's serene. The park is nearly dead and it's just cool to walk around and "have it to yourself". It's like being in MK pre opening when you have a first thing ADR and no one else is around yet.. except you can go anywhere.

Sure the near walk on times for virtually any ride are nice but seeing MK without so many bodies is just... awesome. Doesn't matter how many times I do it, I love it.
I was in FLA for business earlier this month, I flew out Saturday evening instead of Friday night so I could do MK for a few hours Friday night. Magical. I got into Orlando late and barely made it to the water to see Wishes (walk from TTC to Poly beach). Then I hoped a boat over to MK and was there from 9:20-12:30. Rode a few rides but mostly just walked around. Sort of weird not being there with my girls.

Anyway, very fun and I would have been there till 1:30 like normal but I was exhausted from my marathon event and knew I had to be up and check out of the hotel by 8:15 if I was going to make opening at EP the next morning (shopping for my wife), so I didn't do the usual popcorn sit and relax ritual I normally would have.

What's really nice is walking to France for breakfast before WS opens. Love seeing it dead back there too.

Honestly the best times for EP and MK IMO are first and last thing. I could completely skip 11:30-5 on any given day at this point, lol

 

[tinkerbella16]

BOTH! I love all of the parks at night though - it feels like a whole different experience at night. Everything is lit up, certain rides are more fun at night (BTMR, ToT and Mine Train), lower crowds, everything is just beautiful.

On each trip, we do both. Rope drop, then break in the afternoon and then back out at night. So we enjoy both, but I love nighttime in the parks.

 

[Nancyg56]

Well if I had to make a choice, I would need to say mornings for me. I love walking down Main Street first thing in the morning. The entire experience is magical for me, CM's waving, the Mayor glad handing, everything sparkling clean. It is lovely.


But nighttime? I love it too. I try to manage both experiences whenever possible. If I could manage to stay awake that late, I would love that after hours Magic kingdom, Just once, I think. I like the evening entertainment, the lights, the whole experience of walking through in the darkness, with the lights from buildings, twinkling. Rapunzel's tower lit up, Oh my! But that LATE NIGHT????? That would be an experience that I woudl want now that I have read teh reports.

 

[Shellyb84]

They aren't mutually exclusive. I like them both for different reasons.

Love running around in the early morning and getting a lot of attractions done while we're still full of energy, it hasn't gotten hot yet, and the crowds haven't gotten on my very last nerve.

But I also like going back to the park in the evening, taking things at a much more leisurely pace, enjoying how beautiful the park looks at night, seeing the shows, and just being there.

I also enjoy both, but I the opening show is so magical and it's easier to get things done in the morning. The park is beautiful at night also and there's nothing like a Dole Whip at 1am

 

[NicholeC]

Are you going to the after party event? that's a whole different beast and your going to love it!!!!!

Yes we are going to after hours next Sunday. Super pumped about it but because of that we are going to sleep in Monday. I think to get my fix though I'm going to YouTube the morning show hahahah

thank you everyone else for your great opinions! I'm super excited to see more night time stuff, my first kiss goodnight. My family and I are morning people (hence my brother 650am tee time). But I think the excitement (and ice cream) will carry us through to 2am without thinking twice!

The park is beautiful at night also and there's nothing like a Dole Whip at 1am

You basically read my mother's mind and her only to-do list item for the whole trip

 

[richmo]

Although not really a night person, I'll pick night.

I spend 49 weeks a year getting up early. I'm not about to force that on vacation. I enjoy the nighttime parades, fireworks and the light show on the castle and the quieter times after Wishes is over. I certainly don't stay out late every night, but usually I will at MK once a trip.