MNSSHP 2015 - Be Prepared For Chaos

[GoofyforDisney3]

I think there were/are a few factors in to the crowd levels. (1) the bloggers meet up and (2) this is the end of the fiscal year for Disney. They are going to be making that one last push to get revenues up. Some accountant (like me ) ran some analysis of the figures and determined that if they sold x number of tickets they would make x number of dollars and they may end up with a better profit margin for the year. I wouldn't be surprised if the number of tickets sold in October are lower than the number sold in September. Since they started rolling out the parties earlier and earlier, they are doing it for a reason and it isn't just to make the early fall crowds happier. It is to offset the cost of free dining, etc and still bring the profits they want to see.

 

[JOE DELL]

I highly doubt they have the MK staffed for 75K during MNSSHP. There are a lot of attractions and restaurants closed during the party.

Sorry had to edit what I ment, if there was no limit in how many party ticks they were selling.

 

[CinderElsa]

They consider bloggers "media" now?

LOL.

Walter Cronkite would be rolling in his grave.

I wonder if anyone will fess up if they were allowed to bring family. I know Kenny the Pirate often has his kids along, so maybe he'll say something. I thought that bloggers had to disclose any sponsorships they receive.

Yes, they can bring family. I don't know if it's unlimited extra tickets, but it's at least one guest per person. (https://twitter.com/FloridaPlunge/status/643885541092642816)

The media group is separate from the blog group. The blog group got MagicBands, treats, etc. I don't think the media did. (https://twitter.com/belle599/status/644161581329190912)

 

[5Hfan]

I just went to the Disney website to look at the advertising for it and no where do I see them say this is a limited ticket event. They used to promote that quite heavily in the past, but now they don't. Even the video ad says nothing about limiting ticket sales.

The only place I could find limited tickets referenced was in the fine print within a blurb about dining at BOG and CRT being open for the parties.

 

[scrapquitler]

Went to the first Hallowern party last night and was completely caught off guard. The crowds were completely insane, wall to wall in some cases. I completely did not expect the first party of the season to look like a U2 concert. I have followed the DISboards religiously to try and strategize and make plans to get the most out of the party. I can safely say, after last night's experience, that you can throw those plans out the window. If the first party of the season was an indication of what the crowd levels are going to be for the rest of the party season, then you are in for a surprise.

Every bit of advice I have seen before regarding the number of tickets sold, day of the week to go, go earlier in the season to avoid crowds, etc. will not matter if every party is sold out, like I believe last night's was.

Yes, some ride times were pretty good (5 min for Space Mtn at 930pm and 10 min for Big Thunder). However, I noticed that the mine train was not running around 9 PM. As I walked by the back entrance, a cast member was escorting people off of the ride. Character lines were HUGE, many spilling out of the ropes, and parade viewing was difficult as the crowd in many places were 6-7 people deep. Candy lines for the first two hours were at least 100 people long. Example: at 730 pm the candy station at COP wound around the ride's walkway and stretched all the way past where the Monsters Dance party was taking place. Quite the time commitment for a handful of Tootsie Rolls. I didn't bother waiting for the second parade because we got out of there just before the fireworks started.

I don't blame people for going. I totally blame Disney for selling way too many tickets for these events and turning what used to be a pleasurable experience into an utter mess. It doesn't help that the first party this year started two weeks later than the first party last year. I'm sure that has something to do with the sea of humanity at the Magic Kingdom last night.

I am not saying that you shouldn't go, but what I am saying is don't expect the Halloween parties this year to be as they have been in previous Septembers. I will not waste another penny on these "special events".

Maybe between the late start for the parties and the Jewish holiday that explains the crowd? Monday was crazy busy at the entrance to MK, so it wasn't just the party.

 

[JOE DELL]

So seems most of the consensus is 25-35k tickets per event, if that's the case then thats small potatoes and the problem is it's not organized worth a crap, so if your there for the event your gonna be hating life, but sounds like you could be hot lapping rides like a boss

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Yes, they can bring family. I don't know if it's unlimited extra tickets, but it's at least one guest per person. (https://twitter.com/FloridaPlunge/status/643885541092642816)

The media group is separate from the blog group. The blog group got MagicBands, treats, etc. I don't think the media did. (https://twitter.com/belle599/status/644161581329190912)

They also got a private M&G with Tiana.

And an exclusive MB.

https://instagram.com/p/7qziMoFJ4C/

 

[CatManDoo]

How can you find out if a date is sold out? We're scheduled for Oct. 4.

 

[GreatLakes]

MK park capacity is generally believed to be well above 75K, even before the Fantasyland Expansion. Most estimates of max number of party tickets sold in recent years land between 25K and 35K.

Interesting. I just figured they would sell until they reached capacity.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

How can you find out if a date is sold out? We're scheduled for Oct. 4.

The MNSSHP ticket page indicates sold out parties.

 

[lugnut33]

They also got a private M&G with Tiana.

And an exclusive MB.

https://instagram.com/p/7qziMoFJ4C/

Neither of those actually indicated how many free tickets to MNSSHP each blogger/media actually got.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

Would think they'd have learned from the disaster that was the Villains Unleashed party last year at HS. Talk about chaos!!!! So much so that they ended up refunding LOTS of tickets--both that night and in the weeks that followed. And they didn't try to repeat it this year, even though we all know how popular anything Villains would be!

Sounds like they're willing to just sell as many tickets as people will buy and not worry after the effect!

 

[prettypatchesmsu]

"but sounds like hot lapping rides like a boss" What?

 

[CinderElsa]

Neither of those actually indicated how many free tickets to MNSSHP each blogger/media actually got.

At least one? Unless you think those kids are some of the bloggers.

 

[ELSA711]

"but sounds like hot lapping rides like a boss" What?

**I cracked up out loud at work**
LMAO
I don't know what it means either.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

We didn't attend it because we assumed it would be packed since the first party was a week later than the first party last year. Sorry for those who had a bad experience, but happy that we didn't spend the $$$.

 

[godders]

I think judging from all the other posts about the crowds you are in the minority thinking the event wasn't over crowded.

It was crowded for a party definitely (compared to last year) but not unmanageable but then I wouldn't find it unmanageable until it got to 4th July/Christmas Day crowds. I'd also expected it to be a sold out party and therefore busy because of the new show/first one of the year. In fact I expected it to be sold out long before the night of. Perhaps that is why I'm in the positive camp? I avoided the hub because I knew it would be very crowded (although skipped across it during 2 of the shows). Anyone on the Dis who read the strategies for the Halloween party knew lines for Jack & Sally and the Dwarves would be long and you'd need to get in the lines early and after the fireworks it would've been easy to get in quite a few character meets and hit the candy trails with little to no wait. Fantasyland was the busiest part of the park (other than Main St). I think people were more shocked at the numbers than anything.

As a person going to 3 of the parties I believe your expectations are vastly different than most who are only going there once and want to get everything out of it that they can for the large amount of money they are spending.

I know I am very lucky to be able to attend multiple parties and I'm lucky because I have no interest in meeting Jack & Sally or 7 dwarfs. If I had only one party my personal priorities would've been the parade, fireworks and castle show so I would have planned my evening to get a good spot for all 3 without having to move too much (i.e. on Main Street/hub) which would definitely have taken up a good portion of my evening but I would expect it to. I would also expect it to be pretty crowded. Then I'd hit the candy trails and other m&gs after many people left following the fireworks. I think I might give this plan a go on Friday and see how it goes so I can give some feedback on that aspect of it.

 

[anniemae]

Facebook is full of people complaining about how crowded and crazy it was last night. It sounds like they over sold it. If the reason was all the bloggers and media folks, they should have been included in the head count, not sell it out to the max then add in the media people on top of that. I feel bad for the people who went to this, as one of the huge perks is having small crowds. I know it won't do anything, but is anyone who was there last night planning to let Disney know they were disappointed?

If anyone goes to another party, please report back to this thread. Hopefully it was just a fluke.

 

[BigMommaMouse]

We are attending October 29th, and I'm absolutely terrified now. This is our first trip to WDW overall and we opted for the party as a way to get a little extra out of the trip, since so many loved it. I hope I hear better things about future parties, and ours isn't as much of a nightmare as this OP's seemed to be.

Best plan is the read up on reports and come up with a plan. This will be our third party on Halloween night. We knew it would be sold out before buying tickets. I am
watching all the reports to come up with a 'game plan'. Unfortunate for all those that went last night, they were the first of thousands to go.
It was most likely was a first time work experience for some CM too. (at least that is what I am telling my self after that report on a t&t line giving just one piece of candy)
So I am hoping that the best it yet to come.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Neither of those actually indicated how many free tickets to MNSSHP each blogger/media actually got.

You're right. However, the Twitter accounts (whatever they're called? I don't Tweet) that I pulled the pictures from both indicated that each blogger was at least allowed to bring a +1. I think you're right that members of the media aren't allowed to bring extra people in, but these bloggers were given the VIP treatment, including bringing at least one extra person.

ETA: Also, I didn't post the pictures in response to your earlier comments. I posted them because I was interested in how much swag the bloggers got. I think that anyone who sees that can no longer seriously argue that Disney doesn't care about or follow social media.