Magic Kingdoms's 45th Anniversay 10/1/2016 will it be worth the fighting the crowds?

[RealRickButler]

I will happen to be in Orlando on October 1 when Magic Kingdom celebrates it's 45th Anniversary. I already planned to be there to go to MNSSHP on September 29th & Hollywood Horror Nights on October 2nd when I made this discovery. I'm wondering if it will be worth fighting the large crowds just to say I was at Magic Kingdom on it's 45th Anniversary on October 1st. What compounds this is that October 1st falls on a Saturday which typically has bigger crowds not factoring in this event. Is the potential of special events, merchandise, and general bragging rights worth the anticipated large crowds?

 

[Accident]

d23 mentioned early this year that something would be going on that day but more details would come out closer.. I'm going to head in because it's a weekend and i'm in town... if it's stupid crowded I can leave just as easy

In reality maybe the first people coming in will get a cupcake or somethign but I don't expect much to happen and it's just being there on the anniversary day for me.

 

[DVC Stacy]

I was lucky enough to be at MK for the 40th Anniversary and it was a truly magical day! We were definitely up and at MK very early and it was extremely crowded but to be there up front and centre for the presentations, speakers, etc was an awesome experience! There was special anniversary merchandise and food available that day, as well as pins handed out to the fist guests in line (I can't remember how many exactly), and commemorative vintage-looking park maps. The park was very very crowded all day but we just wandered around and did rides/shows that weren't overwhelmingly busy (i.e Hall of Presidents, Peoplemover, Carousel Of Progress) and just took it all in! The fireworks that night were the 360 degree ones (the kind they do on July 4th, etc.) and were incredible! We did wait around extra extra extra early for parade and firework viewing spots but took turns going to walk around and get snacks so it wasn't bad at all. For me, it was a day full of amazing experiences and I would rush to do it again if I get the chance (which I hope to for the 50th!)

 

[scrapquitler]

I will happen to be in Orlando on October 1 when Magic Kingdom celebrates it's 45th Anniversary. I already planned to be there to go to MNSSHP on September 29th & Hollywood Horror Nights on October 2nd when I made this discovery. I'm wondering if it will be worth fighting the large crowds just to say I was at Magic Kingdom on it's 45th Anniversary on October 1st. What compounds this is that October 1st falls on a Saturday which typically has bigger crowds not factoring in this event. Is the potential of special events, merchandise, and general bragging rights worth the anticipated large crowds?

If I were in Orlando, I would go for sure. Of course, I would plan to get there early and park hop somewhere else if it got too crazy for me.

We were at Epcot for the 25th anniversary. I think we got anniversary buttons when we entered the park. I don't remember if there were other special things going on or not.

 

[JerseyJanice]

No! We were there on 10/1/2011 for the 40th, and I don't think the crowds were worth it. The pin and maps were cool, but I don't recall any special merchandise or food. What I do recall is being packed like a sardine into Main Street to watch "special extra fireworks" that turned out to be a regular showing of Wishes.

I will be in WDW this year on 10/1, and I'm not going anywhere near the MK that day. I actually got claustrophobic in the crowds 5 years ago when we trying to exit. I was this close to having a panic attack, and I'm not doing it again.

Epcot is open till 10:00 that night so we're going there.

 

[Mickey's Best Girl]

No! We were there on 10/1/2011 for the 40th, and I don't think the crowds were worth it. The pin and maps were cool, but I don't recall any special merchandise or food. What I do recall is being packed like a sardine into Main Street to watch "special extra fireworks" that turned out to be a regular showing of Wishes.

I will be in WDW this year on 10/1, and I'm not going anywhere near the MK that day. I actually got claustrophobic in the crowds 5 years ago when we trying to exit. I was this close to having a panic attack, and I'm not doing it again.

Epcot is open till 10:00 that night so we're going there.

Agree 100%

I was there in the 40th. It was an absolute gong show.

In my opinion there was nothing magical about it. Folks pushing and shoving for merchandise, grabbing whatever they could. I didn't even manage to get a tshirt.

Headed to the hub for the 40th anniversary show - more unmagical pushing and shoving.

None of this was helped by the fact that Disney just didn't seem prepared for the insane influx of people that day.

I was over it by 11am and headed to EPCOT.


Maybe the 45th will be better executed. It couldn't be worse IMO.

My .02

 

[JerseyJanice]

Agree 100%

I was there in the 40th. It was an absolute gong show.

In my opinion there was nothing magical about it. Folks pushing and shoving for merchandise, grabbing whatever they could. I didn't even manage to get a tshirt.

Headed to the hub for the 40th anniversary show - more unmagical pushing and shoving.

None of this was helped by the fact that Disney just didn't seem prepared for the insane influx of people that day.

I was over it by 11am and headed to EPCOT.


Maybe the 45th will be better executed. It couldn't be worse IMO.

My .02

You got that right, girlfriend. It couldn't be worse. LOL!

I'm kinda bumming that MSEP will be down to its final MK performances during my trip. Don't get me wrong--I am happy to be able to see it before it's gone. But between the MNSSHP, the 45th, and the finale of MSEP, the MK is likely to be extra busy a lot of the time that we are there.

 

[mom2rtk]

I was lucky enough to be at MK for the 40th Anniversary and it was a truly magical day! We were definitely up and at MK very early and it was extremely crowded but to be there up front and centre for the presentations, speakers, etc was an awesome experience! There was special anniversary merchandise and food available that day, as well as pins handed out to the fist guests in line (I can't remember how many exactly), and commemorative vintage-looking park maps. The park was very very crowded all day but we just wandered around and did rides/shows that weren't overwhelmingly busy (i.e Hall of Presidents, Peoplemover, Carousel Of Progress) and just took it all in! The fireworks that night were the 360 degree ones (the kind they do on July 4th, etc.) and were incredible! We did wait around extra extra extra early for parade and firework viewing spots but took turns going to walk around and get snacks so it wasn't bad at all. For me, it was a day full of amazing experiences and I would rush to do it again if I get the chance (which I hope to for the 50th!)

Just curious, how early were you there that you were up front and center for the presentations and speakers?

 

[Selket]

Oh...I didn't even realize this was happening during the trip I booked. Are the other parks extra crowded?

I hadn't planned to go to the MK that Saturday but I might be tempted to go early if there are some special items handed out or to buy.

 

[gatorlisa]

Interesting to see the responses. We decided last week, when they announced the end of the MSEP, to take a quick long weekend trip to see it one last time. The weekend of Oct. 1 is the one that worked best schedule-wise. I didn't even realize we would be there for anniversary day until several hours after booking the room. With Halloween parties on Friday and Sunday, the 1st is the only chance to see the parade, so that's when we will be in the park. However, we do have hoppers and plan to spend Friday morning, including an extra magic hour, at the MK so we should be able to enjoy some rides with lower crowds then. We plan to hop back to MK late Saturday afternoon, use fast passes, do what we can, and watch the parade. If Main Street and the hub are a zoo, I have no issue with watching the parade back in Frontierland. At least there are two parades scheduled for that night.

 

[DVC Stacy]

Just curious, how early were you there that you were up front and center for the presentations and speakers?

Oh I don't remember exactly but I want to say 6am-ish? I remember getting up at 4 or 5am that morning...Let me just clarify that we were not at the very front! We were a few rows back, but up much closer than I expected to be!

 

[EagleG17]

I just asked a cast member about the 45th anniversary and he said something will be planned extra at the magic kingdom, but it hasn't been announced yet.

 

[Accident]

I just asked a cast member about the 45th anniversary and he said something will be planned extra at the magic kingdom, but it hasn't been announced yet.

That may just be cupcakes for the rope droppers and turning the castle into a plastic birthday cake.. MAYBE a special fireworks show.. it's not going to be some major thing or they would have announced it before going to extreme discounts to draw people in.

 

[SureAsLiz]

I just asked a cast member about the 45th anniversary and he said something will be planned extra at the magic kingdom, but it hasn't been announced yet.

I don't expect there to be much. Like Accident said, maybe some cupcakes, the special merchandise, photopass signs, possibly a special pre-parade.

Cast aren't blocked out from the park that day, and neither are their guests (for comparison, guests are blocked out the next weekend when MSEP closes). If they are still going to allow free entry on a Saturday anniversary, then they can't be planning something that will be bringing in a massive crowd

 

[TXHauntedMansionFan]

Not sure if the experience will be the same but we just happened to be at EPCOT for the 30th anniversary in 2012. We got commemorative buttons and got to see the best firework show I've ever seen that night. I know that there is a whole lot more room around the WS vs MK, but it really didn't start getting crowded until around 6 pm that night. It was definitely 3-4 rows deep of people that evening though for fireworks.

 

[Bete]

I wouldn't get too excited until more details are released. I really don't think the 45th anniversary is that big of a thing honestly. Think about it.

We've been to the 25th and that was something else.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

What time is MSEP? I tried to look it up without success. I want to go that day. I was also born on 1st October 1971!

 

[yulilin3]

What time is MSEP? I tried to look it up without success. I want to go that day. I was also born on 1st October 1971!

9 and 11

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

9 and 11

Oh 2 lots? Cool! Thank you for your reply. I want to catch it before it goes west bound on its merry way.

 

[2DisPrincesses]

I SO don't want to be in MK on the 1st, but now that it's the only day my daughter will be able to go on Stitch, we may have to.