MK updated to an 8 on Saturday...advice please?

[Red1116]

Okay. We are going to WDW this Friday, leaving on Wednesday. The only place I could really fit in Wishes and the parade at MK was on Saturday. We are going to AK early and MK late. We are going back to MK on Sunday, but it is a party day. The crowd levels when I started booking FP and ADP were 5, then updated to 6, and now 8. I have people in my party who are not big fans of big crowds and tried to avoid this. A few questions and advice needed. When the crowd calendar shows an overall 6 for WDW, but an 8 for the park, is that 8 based on an overall level of 6 or does that mean it is nearing in on Christmas crowds? The main reason we would be going is for the fireworks and parade which I would love to watch from the Main Street area (I was thinking outside The Palace Restaurant)....if it is going to be a disaster, would we be better off just going to TTC or something? It is also a midnight closing so I was hoping to get a few rides in (our FP are at AK that day). Will this be ridiculous? When I booked for Friday, HS was the best choice and that is where I made all of my FP. Now that has been upgraded 2 levels as well. I fear that if I expose this group to awful crowds our 1st 2 nights there, it might give them a bad attitude for the entire trip. After Saturday night, we are still in line for the "most recommended" parks so I'm not too worried about the other days.

 

[Robo]

1. The only place I could really fit in Wishes and the parade at MK was on Saturday.
2. I have people in my party who are not big fans of big crowds and tried to avoid this.
3. When the crowd calendar shows an overall 6 for WDW, but an 8 for the park,
4. is that 8 based on an overall level of 6 or does that mean it is nearing in on Christmas crowds?
4. The main reason we would be going is for the fireworks and parade which I would love to watch from the Main Street area (I was thinking outside The Palace Restaurant)...
5. if it is going to be a disaster,
6. would we be better off just going to TTC or something?
7. It is also a midnight closing so I was hoping to get a few rides in (our FP are at AK that day). Will this be ridiculous?

1. Very often true.
2. Yup.
3. Adjusted for overall crowd level. But, it will be busy.
4. Not a very good spot.
5. I'm not thinking "disaster" is a good description.
"Busy" and "Crowded" come to mind.
6. TTC is great for fireworks. Zero view of the parades.
7. Depends on FP+, which attractions you choose, etc.
-AND- you want to see Celebrate the Magic, the castle projection show.
Many consider it more exciting and fun than parade or the fireworks.

 

[lugnut33]

Every Sat. at the MK is busy. Best advice, get there 40 min. before rope drop, have a plan on which rides you want to hit (the first two hours should include major headliners), schedule your FP+ for after 11, leave around 2-3 pm to take an afternoon break, return to MK around 8 for MSEP, Wishes, Castle projection show, and stay until the very end when wait times are at their least.

 

[SureAsLiz]

I wouldn't be too worried. I usually go on Saturday nights. Yes, they are more crowded during party season, but I haven't noticed a huge impact outside of the number of people waiting for the first parade. If your group really doesn't like crowds, then you will want to watch the fireworks from outside the hub because that will be the most crowded place.

It's still the standard story of every leaving after the fireworks, so wait times are shorter, the second parade is always wide open in Frontierland.

You should have no problem getting in a few rides, the parade, and fireworks.

 

[mom2rtk]

Saturdays this time of year have the unfortunate disadvantage of being the one night of the week that has night entertainment and is EMH. So no matter how they rate it, it's just going to be flat out busy.

You say you're going the next morning. I would plan on being there at rope drop to enjoy the "morning after" low crowds and get all your rides in then. I would probably also still go on Saturday night, but with adjusted expectations. If you have some prescheduled FPs, do those. But a couple hours before parade time, get some counter service then get a spot along the curb on Main Street where you'll be able to see the parade and fireworks. Enjoy the atmosphere, have a picnic. Let one or two members of your group at a time pop into a shop and look around while the others hold the spot. If you have the right expectations, you'll be fine.

Or abandon the park and watch from the TTC. You won't see the parade though.

 

[hsmamato2]

Saturdays are BUSY at MK...... personally I try to avoid the Main Street area at parade and fireworks times....it's been wall to wall unmoveable people when I got caught accidentally.... I don't mind finding other places in the park to see the night shows though...just that crush at fireworks is pretty impressive...(and so not for me!)

 

[Robo]

I don't mind finding other places in the park to see the night shows though...just that crush at fireworks is pretty impressive...(and so not for me!)

Disney has dug themselves into a hole.
They have added Celebrate the Magic, the castle projection show.
Many consider it more exciting and fun than parade or the fireworks.
And, unless you are on the northern half of Main Street or in the Hub, you can't
see that show to its fullest advantage.
And, due to CtM's start-time cradled between MSEP and Wishes...
that means that Disney is forcing guests into an already overcrowded area of the park
at the busiest possible time.

 

[hsmamato2]

Now that you mention it,I don;t think I've ever seen that..... maybe I should get brave and try to see it this next trip.....

 

[SureAsLiz]

Disney has dug themselves into a hole.
They have added Celebrate the Magic, the castle projection show.
Many consider it more exciting and fun than parade or the fireworks.
And, unless you are on the northern half of Main Street or in the Hub, you can't
see that show to its fullest advantage.
And, due to CtM's start-time cradled between MSEP and Wishes...
that means that Disney is forcing guests into an already overcrowded area of the park
at the busiest possible time.

A little OT, but I don't see CTM as forcing people into the hub, but rather filling the gap between MSEP and Wishes. If someone is in the hub to watch MSEP, they are most likely staying for Wishes. Of if they are going just to watch Wishes, they are probably showing up more than 15 minutes early anyways. Why not put on a quick light show to help pass the time?

It is always shown after fireworks as well, so it's not forcing people into the hub at an already busy time just to watch it (like A Frozen Holiday Wish does) since they can just watch it after when the hub has cleared out.

 

[Love Tink]

I personally loathe being in huge crowds. I actually don't really mind waiting in lines - but I hate being in a big press of people. On our last trip we had FP+ for the fireworks and both parades, and I disliked even that - we were packed in too tight.

So if you have people who know going in that they don't like crowds, I would consider changing your plans. You can still do Saturday night at MK, but maybe decide it is okay to watch the parade in Frontierland (if you do the second parade, you won't have any trouble getting a good spot) or watch the fireworks from one of the many "not so perfect" spots like behind the castle. In my opinion, the shows are still fun even if you are not front and center, and it is worth getting a less-than-perfect view to avoid the crush of humanity.

You will be able to get on rides after the parades and fireworks, even with crowds of 8 during the day. The main headliners might still have waits, but things like Pirates, Haunted Mansion, it's a small world, and Little Mermaid tend to become pretty wide open.

 

[Robo]

A little OT, but I don't see CTM as forcing people into the hub...
It is always shown after fireworks as well...

Sorry, but that is not true.
There are many nights when MK closes at the start-time of Wishes.

 

[Robo]

Likewise, there are countless nights at MK without a second parade performance.

And, choosing to watch Wishes from a spot without the view of the front of the castle goes directly
to my point that Disney has created a crowding situation by the close-timing of Celebrate the Magic to the fireworks.

If you are standing behind the castle in Fantasyland for the fireworks, you simply cannot be in a favorable place to watch the pre-fireworks CtM.

 

[dlavender]

The crowds for CtM and Wishes are insane. on 10/10 it was packed from the entrance of the park to the front of the castle. You couldn't move. FYI. We stood to the left of the castle, near the bridge to Frontierland. Out of the crowd, but not the best view. I still enjoyed the fireworks from there, but it was not ideal for CtM.

 

[Red1116]

I could be thinking of something totally different, but I was really thinking I saw somewhere on the boards that when they do a second parade and late close, they show CtM again at a later time. Any ideas?

 

[Robo]

I could be thinking of something totally different, but I was really thinking I saw somewhere on the boards that when they do a second parade and late close, they show CtM again at a later time. Any ideas?

Yes, that is generally the case (as mentioned above.)

But, the statement that I quoted above (and found fault with) said, "It [CtM] is always shown after fireworks as well..."
Again, there are many nights when MK closes as Wishes begins,
so there many nights when there is not a second CtM.