Mickey's Christmas Party- Do they really kick you out?

[Tink2Day]

I've only ever been to Disneyworld at New Year's, when all the Christmas activities are included in ticket price. I was a bit miffed to discover that if you go in November, you have to pay extra for the fireworks. And not just $10 extra. $67 extra! Not worth it (yeah, I know other stuff is included, but not $67 worth).

My question... do they really kick all of the potential shoppers off Mainstreet come 7:00?? I find that unbelievable. I can see them not letting people into the hub or back into other areas of the park. But can you just stay on Mainstreet and shop and at least experience the snow and maybe see the fireworks from a distance? How strict are they?

THANKS ALL!

There are the decorations etc to see regardless. But we paid extra to see the parade, the lighting of the castle and the Holiday Wishes at the first MVMCP. The reason for the extra cost is the very fact that it's a ticketed event and therefore less crowded. Figure it as an 8 hour park ticket for $67 and go just for the party??? I think you said you were taking just a one day trip to the park?
And YES they will 'kick you out'. We watched them tell a gentleman without a wrist band that he would have to leave at 7. They let him know 4 times and then finally told him they could escort him out....

 

[LBIJim]

I know they do check wristbands in the park and won't let you in the stores after 7pm on party nights. The closer it gets to 7pm the more active the CM's are about checking wristbands - including asking people on main street to see them.
I've been to a couple of Christmas parties in the past and that is what happened.

You're saying the CMs start checking wristbands BEFORE 7pm?

 

[jcjen519]

I've seen them do it to many many people during both mnsshp and mvmcp. We've been stopped to show our wristbands many times as well and they have even required us to pull up the sleeves on our sons costume to make sure he had one as well. they're serious and i think they get more serious as the night progresses. They'd probably let you finish up your purchases in a shop but that would be about it. if you were on the sidewalk outside the shops or anywhere in the park including right by the exit attempting to see the parade or something they'd kick you out.

 

[KimBean]

Whoa whoa whoa... calm down there. Sorry I'm not rich... I just wanted my husband to be able to experience some Disney Christmas magic and didn't realize it was going to cost so much extra, which we cannot afford. We were just tacking this day on to the end of his work trip as it's the only way we could afford it, and I was a bit disappointed. So I was trying to see if he could at least experience a small piece of it. I think your rudeness was a bit uncalled for and not in the Disney spirit at all.

That being said, thanks everyone else! Sounds like it probably won't be worth the trip for us, which is unfortunate wince we're moving to Idaho at the end of the year and who knows when we'll be able to come back. So sad. :-( Wish it was included the whole holiday season! I saw it once years ago at New Years and it's pretty fun. But we just can't pay an extra $130 for it (nor would it be worth it for a free cookie. ;-)

There are Christmas decorations and such during the regular business hours at this time as well. So you don't have to go to the extra party to enjoy the 'Disney Christmas Magic.'

 

[KimBean]

You're saying the CMs start checking wristbands BEFORE 7pm?

Curious about this too. I will be there on 2 party days but not going to party this December. I do not plan on walking out until 6:59 though...

 

[Ametista]

Whoa whoa whoa... calm down there. Sorry I'm not rich... I just wanted my husband to be able to experience some Disney Christmas magic and didn't realize it was going to cost so much extra, which we cannot afford. We were just tacking this day on to the end of his work trip as it's the only way we could afford it, and I was a bit disappointed. So I was trying to see if he could at least experience a small piece of it. I think your rudeness was a bit uncalled for and not in the Disney spirit at all.

That being said, thanks everyone else! Sounds like it probably won't be worth the trip for us, which is unfortunate wince we're moving to Idaho at the end of the year and who knows when we'll be able to come back. So sad. :-( Wish it was included the whole holiday season! I saw it once years ago at New Years and it's pretty fun. But we just can't pay an extra $130 for it (nor would it be worth it for a free cookie. ;-)

The party is cheaper than a day ticket. Its less crowded, free cookies, etc. plus all the extra stuff like Elsa lighting the castle and Holiday Wishes. I would choose the party over a one day ticket any day.

 

[jcjen519]

If the Christmas activities are what is most important to you, you could also consider just buying the party ticket. They allow you into the park at 4 with a party ticket even though the party doesn't start until 7. I think the price is a good value for 8 hours in the park.

good idea. I would do this as well. also...the party won't be as crowded as the regular park day, especially the rides. you could get a lot of rides in and experience the holiday stuff as well.

 

[cakebaker]

Curious about this too. I will be there on 2 party days but not going to party this December. I do not plan on walking out until 6:59 though...

You're fully entitled to stay right up to the last second. There's nothing going on at that time that you'd be seeing and not paying for anyway.

I've noticed them quietly checking for bands before 7, I think it just gives them a heads up as to how many non party people there are around. They don't attempt to make you leave until after 7 when you have no right to be there.

We avoid party days, even on the day we are going. They tend to be more crowded and since it closes early, a waste of time and ticket.

 

[Poohsmommi]

I've only ever been to Disneyworld at New Year's, when all the Christmas activities are included in ticket price. I was a bit miffed to discover that if you go in November, you have to pay extra for the fireworks. And not just $10 extra. $67 extra! Not worth it (yeah, I know other stuff is included, but not $67 worth).

My question... do they really kick all of the potential shoppers off Mainstreet come 7:00?? I find that unbelievable. I can see them not letting people into the hub or back into other areas of the park. But can you just stay on Mainstreet and shop and at least experience the snow and maybe see the fireworks from a distance? How strict are they?

THANKS ALL!

Absolutely yes. We've been hundreds of times, if not more ... and yes. We always see people "escorted" out.

 

[DebbieB]

I remember one time we were eating at Cosmic Rays and a manager came around at 7:00 to check our bands.

 

[cakebaker]

I remember one time we were eating at Cosmic Rays and a manager came around at 7:00 to check our bands.

I know people schedule their meals to run right up to 7, but I dunno- the thought of trying to eat while someone stands there tapping their foot waiting to take me to the exit is a little off putting. I get this visual image of someone grabbing bites off their plates as they're being drug away at 7.

I don't know why people want to push the limits on this, but they always do. Me? I don't like going on party days and have to leave right before the real fun begins. We avoid them on those days!

 

[Robo]

I remember one time we were eating at Cosmic Rays and a manager came around at 7:00 to check our bands.

My question is…

Did they check for a party wristband on Sonny?

 

[KimBean]

You're fully entitled to stay right up to the last second. There's nothing going on at that time that you'd be seeing and not paying for anyway.

I've noticed them quietly checking for bands before 7, I think it just gives them a heads up as to how many non party people there are around. They don't attempt to make you leave until after 7 when you have no right to be there.

We avoid party days, even on the day we are going. They tend to be more crowded and since it closes early, a waste of time and ticket.

Great to know thanks. I have no interest in staying but think I should get to stay until 7. We have 7:30 ressies at CM one night so we will be off to that. LOL! I guess I'll see first hand about it, easywdw claims it is slower during the day of a party day because a lot of people want to see parade and fireworks, etc and go on those days. We will be in MK over 4 days (12 potential FP+) so not too concerned with seeing everything we want to, but still despise lines and crowds.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Great to know thanks. I have no interest in staying but think I should get to stay until 7. We have 7:30 ressies at CM one night so we will be off to that. LOL! I guess I'll see first hand about it, easywdw claims it is slower during the day of a party day because a lot of people want to see parade and fireworks, etc and go on those days. We will be in MK over 4 days (12 potential FP+) so not too concerned with seeing everything we want to, but still despise lines and crowds.

We have found it to be slower on party days...at least before 4. Once party guests can enter at 4, it does start getting busier, but earlier in the day we found it to be less crowded.

 

[mom2rtk]

OP, you can get far more done in less time on a party day because the shorter hours scare people away. Think of it as Disney oh so nicely splitting the days into "busy" and "non-busy" days. It's the easiest time of year to find a low crowd day in the MK. I hate going any other time of year for that very reason.

OP, you're only cutting your nose off to spite your face if you don't go. That time of year, the park wasn't going to be open that late anyway. You lose an hour, maybe 2. The park is open longer on non-party nights just to make up for it, not because it would be open that late every night in the off season in the absence of the parties.

 

[larryz]

...and not in the Disney spirit at all.

As you can see from the answers, the new "Disney spirit" is spelled "Di$ney $pirit."

 

[itchin2go]

Don't worry, there is plenty of christmas Magic, as the park will be decorated! Even just walking down Main Street on your way out is christmas magical.

THIS.

I have been to a party and after the fact, I wished I hadn't spent the money for it. Do the park during the day and find something else to do at night. There are SO many special things to be done at night in the resorts, other parks and DTD.

I feel like, sometimes, people are very narrow in their scope of what there is to do and what they want to do and they end up disappointed. There are a world of things to do at Disney. Think outside the box, and you could be surprised.

As a PP said, party days are the BEST days to go to MK because you can get so much done before the party.

 

[bumbershoot]

$67 extra! Not worth it (yeah, I know other stuff is included, but not $67 worth).

.... But can you just stay on Mainstreet and shop and at least experience the snow and maybe see the fireworks from a distance? How strict are they?

It's not worth it to you. But it is worth the cost to others. And for those others who are paying the extra money, it's not OK for people to get them for free.

If you want free Christmas-time activities, change your trip from WDW to DLR. At least for now, Disneyland's Christmas-time stuff is all included. Could change in time! But this year at least, as far as anyone knows, it's still included. Even snow.

 

[Marthasor]

OP - if this is your one and only chance to see MK at Christmas time, as others have suggested, I would either buy a regular ticket and go to MK during the day (up until 7 pm) or buy party tickets and enter at 4 pm and stay as long as you'd like (party ends at midnight and will include the fireworks and parade).

So in essence, depending on the day you are going, you can either go from 9 am - 7 pm (10 hours) for the regular ticket price OR pay less and go from 4 pm - midnight (8 hours with fireworks, etc.) Buying the party tickets is actually cheaper than buying the regular park tickets and you get the party perks!

No matter what you decide, the park will still be decorated for Christmas.

I would encourage you to go, just don't buy both sets of tickets!

 

[Sparkly]

Party tickets are actually a great value considering you get 8 hours of park admission plus special fireworks/parades. The one and only time we've been to one was the P&P party back in 2008 and it was fantastic. For a long time I thought those fireworks were better then Wishes.