MK Closing at 6 pm for MVMCP???

[Robo]

They price MK differently for SINGLE day tickets, selling at a high premium cost in relation to the other parks.
Disney clearly still expects guests to pay a premium price at MK, even if they close that park early.

 

[jo-jo]

A few years ago, it was about 6:30, we decided go on one last ride on people mover before heading out. Well, the ride stopped several times, making the 10 min ride in a 25 min one. It was 7:03 when we got off. The building now had snowflakes on them and I think Christmas music was playing. So we are walking out. Someone else was being escorted. When we went by the castle a show had started, the other person stopped and lifted his camera. The CM says to him, "You're not allowed to look". Which struck me funny as a statement. Not you can't take pictures or not allowed to stop, but you can't look.

I also wonder, why they had an escort and we didn't . No one said a word to us.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I agree with what you and others have said about non-party guests getting the short end of the stick. It absolutely stinks to pay full price for a day ticket and be forced to leave by 7pm. However, if they ever decide to change it and not allow party guests to enter at 4pm, they will lose a TON of sales. No way I (and I assume the vast majority of others) would spend that kind of money on a party ticket for 5 hours in the park. A huge part of the value is entering at 4pm and doing rides and dinner prior to the official party starting. I realize there is no perfect solution and I'll be interested to see what they do with this new 6pm closing time. I also hope they make some sort of announcement in advance, since I'll be attending the second party of the year

They did it this way for years and the parties sold out. Until they go back to clearing the parks "no way I would spend that kind of money ".

 

[DonaldDuck77]

It's that time of year again. The time where everyone comes out to complain that party guests get in at 4 and "ruin" the experience of the day guest. I have been on a party day during the day (over a "busy" Columbus day weekend). I knew that the park closed for me at 7. I knew there would be extra guests starting at 4. My experience was in no way ruined.

 

[emilyrachael]

It wouldn't be that big of a deal if parties were only 1 or 2 days per week or only a few weeks of the year, but now they're up to 4 days a week from August - December.

We went a few weeks ago and it was so nice not to have to worry about parties - choosing between a day when MK's open late and will be crowded versus closing early.

 

[DaisyJ]

It's that time of year again. The time where everyone comes out to complain that party guests get in at 4 and "ruin" the experience of the day guest. I have been on a party day during the day (over a "busy" Columbus day weekend). I knew that the park closed for me at 7. I knew there would be extra guests starting at 4. My experience was in no way ruined.

So because your experience wasn't ruined, no one else's was?

 

[maxiesmom]

They did it this way for years and the parties sold out. Until they go back to clearing the parks "no way I would spend that kind of money ".

Funny, I hated that. They stopped everyone from roaming the parks. They herded you like cattle to a few points in the park, and you had to stand there. Plus the parties didn't start until 7, so even 20 years ago you were paying $10 an hour for the party.

 

[DonaldDuck77]

So because your experience wasn't ruined, no one else's was?

Let's just say that this board has a tendency to exaggerate. And these complaints happen every year around the time people start planning for fall trips. Sorry if your experience was ruined.

 

[boBQuincy]

If party guests get 3 extra hours in MK before the party starts then why don't day guests get three hours in the park *after* the party starts?

 

[wilkeliza]

I think they are doing this for MVMCP and not MNSSHP because of the start times of the events. I've done both and I know there is a bigger issue with people staying for MVMCP then MNSSHP or at least that is my experience. The Frozen stage show and lighting of the castle make people really feel like they don't have to leave until that is over and since it is a bigger show for the party then what happens on regular nights (or at least I thought it was) people want to stay and see it. Now will a 6pm posted closing they have more time to get people to leave. If it is still a problem I could see them going back to a hard close much earlier and doing a hard clear of the park before party goers are allowed in.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

It's that time of year again. The time where everyone comes out to complain that party guests get in at 4 and "ruin" the experience of the day guest. I have been on a party day during the day (over a "busy" Columbus day weekend). I knew that the park closed for me at 7. I knew there would be extra guests starting at 4. My experience was in no way ruined.

Agreed. I would actually say it's a better experience on party days due to the lower crowds. We get more done before 7pm on those days than we doing staying til 10 or 11 on a regular night.

 

[minniemous]

It's that time of year again. The time where everyone comes out to complain that party guests get in at 4 and "ruin" the experience of the day guest. I have been on a party day during the day (over a "busy" Columbus day weekend). I knew that the park closed for me at 7. I knew there would be extra guests starting at 4. My experience was in no way ruined.

I am definitely not saying the experience at MK is ruined but you have to admit certainly altered and not for the better for non-party guests. I am very careful to not be too critical about Parties because if you want to see crazy then really say something negative about parties....then stand back!

 

[minniemous]

Agreed. I would actually say it's a better experience on party days due to the lower crowds. We get more done before 7pm on those days than we doing staying til 10 or 11 on a regular night.

As far as getting more done...not really. You do miss out on fireworks and the nighttime castle show (which I enjoy) and you are forced to eat earlier in the park if you do want to eat at a restaurant in the park. I personally have not noticed such a crazy difference in lower crowds and getting more done and lastly at 4:30pm any benefit is gone because now you have day guests and party guests. If you are simply a go to the park during the day and then take off in the late afternoon sort of person then great. Then it does work out to your benefit.

If you actually want to see MK fireworks while you are on your trip you have to wait for a non-party night and then you are really dealing with major crowds. I have done parties...I am not really anti holiday party. Just telling it like I see it..having been on both sides.

 

[minniemous]

It wouldn't be that big of a deal if parties were only 1 or 2 days per week or only a few weeks of the year, but now they're up to 4 days a week from August - December.

We went a few weeks ago and it was so nice not to have to worry about parties - choosing between a day when MK's open late and will be crowded versus closing early.

Exactly.

 

[DaisyJ]

I am definitely not saying the experience at MK is ruined but you have to admit certainly altered and not for the better for non-party guests. I am very careful to not be too critical about Parties because if you want see crazy then really say something negative about parties....then stand back!

I have no problem being critical of all the parties.

 

[MamaBelle4]

I went for the first time in over a decade in Oct. 2014. I didn't know about these boards and was sadly uninformed. I chose to go on a party day.

Guess what? We had a great time. Rode all the rides we wanted to, left when the park closed to non party guests. And, we stopped to buy popcorn on our way out to snack on on the way home and got a special Halloween bucket (which we still have).

If everyone left on time instead of trying to hang back and cheat the system, this wouldn't be an issue. Disney wants you in the parks as long as possible. Making non party goers leave an hour earlier is an hour less of in park shopping, snacking and eating.

BUT they cannot charge the amount they charge (what is it now, $120/pp?) for special party access and NOT weed out the cheaters. It is unreasonable and people will stop paying and just do the same as others. Why should Joe Schmoo pay for special access when I stay behind for "free"?

This is not a loss to non party guests, nor is it a loss that party goers have access at 4pm. Really non party guests enjoyed how many hours of lower crowds because of the party later on.

 

[maltdizzy]

This whole situation seems weird. I would think they would have the ability to block out ADR's and FP+ regardless of park hours on the schedule (but I don't know). As is, guests should probably prepare for a 6PM park close let it be a pleasant surprise if they are still allowed to get in line at 6:59 like normal.

The extended party season at WDW does make it hard to schedule around (at DLR, it's only 6 weeks for Halloween; Christmas festivities are daily for all guests), but with everything at WDW, there are things you have to schedule for or around.

 

[HopperFan]

This whole situation seems weird.

I would think they would have the ability to block out ADR's and FP+ regardless of park hours on the schedule (but I don't know). I would think guests should probably prepare for a 6PM park close let it be a pleasant surprise if they are still allowed to get in line at 6:59 like normal.

The extened party season at WDW does make it hard to schedule around (at DLR, it's only 6 weeks for Halloween; Christmas festivities are daily for all guests), but with everything at WDW, there are things you have to schedule for or around..

Not sure what you mean about blocking. As of last year Disney does not allow FP+ after I think the 5:30-6:30 slot which means anyone should be done with their ride by 7 and on their way out. Disney had also changed most the TS restaurants to have two dinners, one normal and one for party guests only with about a 45 minute gap between. If you booked a party time the warning came up in the process and your email you needed a party ticket. If you still went forward and had no ticket, expect a phone call to tell you that you had to buy a ticket. These are basically blocks. What we might see with these hours is FP+ and ADRs ending at 6 pm instead.

If this 6 pm close is the next step in an attempt to clear the park I would think it's because their other attempts are still leaving a big loop.

I agree that the season has become full of parties and there is always something someone doesn't like - it's still up to the guest to select a time of year that works with their planning style. Just like many avoid the holiday weeks due to crowds, BTG season for the guests it brings, Peak season because of prices, winter days due to shorter hours, weather impacts etc.

If the hours during party season don't work for someone's planning style then pick a different time of year.

 

[maltdizzy]

If the hours during party season don't work for someone's planning style then pick a different time of year.

No argument there. I realize many people have limited vacation windows to pick from, so I sympathize if they can't go at an optimum time — we lost our favorite week (pre-Labor Day week) to go to the school calender next year.

But everyone should only expect and plan for more party growth in the future.

 

[PlainJane]

This is my point exactly. I feel the non-party goers are in a worse spot. I know it is understandable that people would be upset by the people taking advantage and trying to hang on to view something others have paid for but it is really getting tough to go to MK if you are going on a trip during party times of year.

I used to go October/ November which was nice with the decorations switching over. I went to the party and sometimes not. So many parties it was really getting tough to plan park days. Now in order for my family to join my cousin's family I am going in late August (also do not have to take daughter out if school)...guess what...PARTIES NOW!

If you go to MK on a party day but do not want to go the party you get a decent day in the park up until 4pm then everything proceeds to get crowded and you have to stress about getting your dining over with so you are not perceived as a scoundrel. Also you are now out of a park at 7pm and if you do not have park hopper.....you either go to downtown Disney or back to your hotel. If you do have park hopper you are running to another park that is now crowded with more guests.

If you go to MK on a non-party night crowds I find crowds to be very high and I think others would agree. I literally choose to go to the party because otherwise my one MK day on a certain trip would have been a 7pm closing.

It makes much more sense to make party people come in when non-party people are out. Why should party guests get 3 more hours of non-party peoples park time? Think about it there are complaints that non-party guests linger 1/2 hour to see a parade? They have paid to attend a party and should to be entitled to bog up rides and restaurants for non-party people for 3 hours! Make no mistake...the party guests come pouring in at 4pm.....well before 7pm. I have been often on both sides and I find in much more annoying as a non-party goer.

We tour differently now, so it really isn't an issue any more, but back in the day we would tend to take one of the last dinner reservations because why waste park time at a sit down dinner? With how many parties they have now I'm glad we've switched to a rope drop and home in the afternoon system. Who wants to end their day with people making accusations at them?