MVMCP Closed rides / areas during and after fireworks

[DisneyMom93]

Hi,

During MVMCP in November 2023 we headed towards 7 Dwarfs Mine Train and got there at 10pm. We were the first ones waiting to get in because it was closed during the fireworks show (safety reasons). We had no idea they closed rides during the fireworks. It seemed like that would be the best time to ride rides because others would be standing around watching the shows, fireworks, parades, etc.

The cast members standing at the ride entrance wouldn't update us on the time it would actually open again but kept saying it would just be a few minutes more when anyone asked. They also had a rope up and were preventing anyone from walking past the ride toward other rides. You couldn't even enter the standby line entrance.

We ended up waiting 52 minutes. We missed the opportunity to ride other rides that were open because they wouldn't let us walk through the area. Not only that, they didn't have an official line! It was just people standing outside the ride waiting to get in. People were cutting in front of others to get in first. Fortunately the one cast member remembered our family was the first one there and made sure we got in first.

It was actually pretty upsetting because we paid so much money for four tickets and it was very frustrating the way they handled it. After about 45 minutes of waiting we heard the cast members laughing and joking about how sometimes it takes an hour for them to reopen the area and the rides. They knew that was a possibility and didn't tell anyone asking. They never actually announced anything to everyone waiting. If we had known it takes that long to open after fireworks we would not have waited. And it's not like we could have continued on because the area was roped off. We didn't know where we could go at that point so we just waited.

This was not our first party but this had never happened to us before.

Does anyone know what the standard is for rides and walkways being closed during and after the fireworks? Is there a list of rides / areas that close during that time? We would like to avoid this situation this year.

I actually swore I would never do the party again after that experience, but I was outvoted this year. lol.

Thanks.

 

[OKW Lover]

As you probably recognize this is a safety issue. Because of fallout from the show they don't want people on those outside attractions, or even in the area, while the show is going off. Once the show is done there is probably some delay while they inspect for hazardous debris.

 

[Genie+]

It’s reasonable they don’t want to state a definitive re-opening time but it’s also reasonable to expect they have good operational procedures in place for something that happens every single party.

We used to wave stuff like this off, figuring it was just a one off and wasn’t worth our or their time to mention. Next trip I’m taking a new tactic: Let it be known. I’m not going to shake things off anymore without at least putting on record what I’m shaking off. If it takes 75 minutes to be seated for an ADR, if the room that wasn’t available until 6pm which is hours after check-in is also not even habitable, if we pay for a service that barely worked not due to anything on our end, etc… they need to know so they can prioritize the most common or disruptive stuff to fix.

 

[DisneyMom93]

It’s reasonable they don’t want to state a definitive re-opening time but it’s also reasonable to expect they have good operational procedures in place for something that happens every single party.

We used to wave stuff like this off, figuring it was just a one off and wasn’t worth our or their time to mention. Next trip I’m taking a new tactic: Let it be known. I’m not going to shake things off anymore without at least putting on record what I’m shaking off. If it takes 75 minutes to be seated for an ADR, if the room that wasn’t available until 6pm which is hours after check-in is also not even habitable, if we pay for a service that barely worked not due to anything on our end, etc… they need to know so they can prioritize the most common or disruptive stuff to fix.

Agreed! 75 minute wait for anything during a separate paid event seems unreasonable to me.

I was all set to complain. Not even to get anything out of it, just so they maybe do something about how the wait was handled for next time. I mean it was chaos for those waiting when it was time to go in. I had kept notes in my phone to contact them after we got back home, but by then I was over it.

So now I just want to know what rides and areas to avoid during those times.

 

[juxtapose]

Is that closed during party fireworks only? We were at MK in April and rode 7DMT during fireworks, it was pretty amazing to see them going off while riding but maybe the MVMCP fireworks are different so have to close it?

 

[DisneyMom93]

Is that closed during party fireworks only? We were at MK in April and rode 7DMT during fireworks, it was pretty amazing to see them going off while riding but maybe the MVMCP fireworks are different so have to close it?

No clue. It was a surprise to us during the party. Hopefully someone else knows....

 

[2010dvcfan]

I had a similar complaint about MNSSHP last year, the parades did not start on time, no where close to on time, the first parade we waited over 45 minutes then finally decided we paid too much money to stand around waiting on a parade that was so late. We tried to watch the second parade that evening before leaving and again after waiting 30 minutes for it to start we decided our feet hurt too bad to keep standing in one place waiting. We walked back to BLT feeling like we hadn't really gotten what we paid for at all.

It does seem that Disney is not offering as quality of after hour paid events as they once did. Guests time is very valuable at the rate per hour we pay to get into these events.

 

[bethy]

I'd like to hear what a good strategy for rides might be during the MVMCP fireworks and parades. We are DLR vets and not very experienced with WDW and have never been to an after hours ticketed party at either location before.

Our kids will definitely want to ride the rides during the MVMCP fireworks and parades and I'm wondering where I should direct them.

 

[lanejudy]

Is that closed during party fireworks only? We were at MK in April and rode 7DMT during fireworks, it was pretty amazing to see them going off while riding but maybe the MVMCP fireworks are different so have to close it?

Could it have been the direction of the wind that particular night?