MVMCP:Ticket # May Not Be Capped at 20,000

[debloco]

As I have been going round and round with Disney the past few weeks, I thought I should let everyone know that Disney will NOT say where ticket sales have been capped for this year. I read in the Unofficial Guide 2004:

"you should have a pleasant visit if Disney really caps ticket sales at 20,000. Our advice is to nail Disney down on the max-attendance number before you plunk down your cash."

After trying to get this info out of Disney, I contacted the Unofficial Guide regarding my frustration with this issue. I received a response that stated:

Disney.."used to cite their crowd cap as part of the MCP promotion". "...if Disney won't come clean it's a pretty clear indication that they are not capping at 20,000."

Please note that I am not saying that the event isn't worthwhile or fun. I am just trying to let people know that the "20,000 tickets" number floating around on other threads is from past years and not this year. The crowds could be minimal, or it could be a mob scene. Personally, I would like to know the max-attendance number before I spend over $100 on tickets for the three of us. We can only go on Friday, Dec. 17th. We fly in that afternoon and it's the first day of our vacation.

Any thoughts?

CLC Tiger Pom Mom

 

[erinz]

I'm not sure when you will be there, but no matter when, go on either Sunday or Tuesday night. The earlier in the month the lower the crowds.

I would be surprised if, during the first two weeks of December, Sun or Tues even made it to 20,000.

Have a GREAT time!

 

[Chuck S]

I agree, I go early enough in the month, and on an "off" night, so I don't think there were 20K people there.

But I also haven't seen them advertising a maximum number this year, so you can't expect a CM to commit to a number on the phone. Nor would I expect a CM to make that kind of verbal commitment.

 

[OLT2004]

This is your typical Disney Non Answer!

I have been dealing with Disney since 1985 and every year they offer less and less specific information on ANY topic.

I also went back and forth with them over this number.

I feel your frustration!

 

[Ilovestitch]

I think Disney has to cap it at some point- don't certain nights sell out. Oct. 31st is sold out for MNSSHP.

You could wait for MVMCP to start and see how people say the crowds are on Friday nights are in Nov/Dec.

But, what if you wait and the last MVMCP is sold out? Then you'll know for sure that they do cap how many tickets are sold, but you won't be able to go.

 

[DebbieB]

I wouldn't wait too much longer, the last Friday night usually sells out first. If you do go, get there as early as you can, they will admit you with just your MVMCP tickets after 4:00pm. Go to the back of the park after 7:00, everything is empty back there. The first parade is more crowded.

 

[DebbieB]

duplicate

 

[tarheelmjfan]

The first time we went to MVMCP in "97", there was a cap, and we had a great time. We weren't interested in the rides, so we were able to see the parade and all of the shows. We went again in "2000" and it was a nightmare. Again, we weren't interested in riding any rides, but we were only able to see the parade and 2 shows. Forget the hot cocoa and cookies. The wait was at least 45 min. everytime we tried. Needless to say, that will be our last MVMCP. We are going Christmas week this year, and while I know the crowds will be crazy, we will have all day to see the shows. Paying for a seperate ticketed event and only seeing 3 things, isn't exactly my idea of money well spent. JMO

 

[zulaya]

Dec 17 is probably going to be very busy. It's a Friday night so the locals will come out. Plus, anyone who has the week before Xmas off will probably come down that way.

 

[zurgswife]

The last night of MVMCP which is Dec 17th should be very very crowded....

 

[Safari Steve]

The number of tickets sold is considerably less than a normal day. Most MK attractions will be operating, and there is additional entertainment. WDW does not release attendance figures and has not for many many years (more than a decade). The numbers quoted by various "unofficial" sources are sheer speculation and, in my experience, tend to have a placebo effect. Most people have no concept of what 20,000 guests in a 107-acre park looks like, and some will think that is a large number (it's not) and will feel crowded, convinced that either a) there are exactly 19,999 other people there with them and that is alot of people or b) there are so many more than 20,000 other people there with them.
Another thing that tends to skew peoples' perceptions is the fact that during these events more people are out in the common areas of the park, which makes it look congested even if the longest wait is 15 minutes.

Even the busiest, sold-out event will not come close to park capacity. If you are spending any significant amount of time or energy trying to nail down a specific number, you are wasting both and causing yourself undue stress.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Boy, if they aren't advertising a cap, I'd be pretty hesitant to do a Friday.

I had no idea a Friday would be so different than a Sunday, so I bought both last year early in December. I would never go again on a Friday. It was packed. The line for the pictures took forever and the hot cocoa and cookies was unbelievable. The contrast between the two days was unbelievable!

So if they aren't capping Friday nights, I wouldn't waste my money. We were in the park the entire day and the daytime crowd was light but it started to really get crowded after 5pm.

I noticed on the local television stations when we were there, several TV ads for the party, while up north I never would have known about it if it wasn't for the disboard. My feeling is this is heavily advertised to local residents who would be more likely to go on a weekend. Just my opinion.

 

[CarolA]

I saw that in the Unofficial guide and wondered just how they thought we were going to "pin Disney down". Disney has never released attendance info at any time. All of the reports you see are "educated guesses"

I always go and the crowds have never been an issue for me (even on nights when others seem to have an issue) I think if you expect to use the party to ride rides without lines your are probably missing the point. I do the shows etc. and it works out great. (I also skip the photo)

 

[DebbieB]

There has to be some kind of cap. They do sellout nights which means no more ticket sales for that date.

 

[Suzanne033]

Debloco, If I were you I would skip the VMCP on the 17th. The reason is because all of the same shows and parades are also held the week of Christmas. I believe the Christmas themed shows and parades start on December 18th. (At least they were started on the Saturday before Christmas when I was there at Christmas 2001.)

 

[Safari Steve]

Try the photo location in Adventureland during the first parade or after 9pm when many people start heading out. The line for photos is not indicative of a "crowd" so much as it is indicative of many people trying to do the same thing at the same location at the same time.

MNSSHP and MVMCP are also times when it really pays to go clockwise and steer clear of the herd.

I guarantee that any percieved crowding is more the result of common traffic patterns than it is of the number of people in the park.

 

[debloco]

Posted by ChuckS

so you can't expect a CM to commit to a number on the phone. Nor would I expect a CM to make that kind of verbal commitment.

I expected to be able to get this info because of the advice given in the 2004 Unofficial Guide. On this point my frustration was with them and not Disney.

Posted by Ilove stitch

I think Disney has to cap it at some point-

Of course they do, the park is only so big, but where is the cap?

Posted by DebbieB

If you do go, get there as early as you can, they will admit you with just your MVMCP tickets after 4:00pm.

Our flight lands at 5:15 pm, so I am just hoping to get there by 7 pm!

Posted by tarheelmjfan

Paying for a seperate ticketed event and only seeing 3 things, isn't exactly my idea of money well spent. JMO

ITA!

zulaya & zurgswife
If ticket sales are capped the same for all nights, the only difference is how far under the cap the ticket sales are. Even if Dec. 17th sold out, 20,000 is not that many people for the MK.

Posted by SafariSteve

The number of tickets sold is considerably less than a normal day.

How do you know this?

WDW does not release attendance figures and has not for many many years (more than a decade). The numbers quoted by various "unofficial" sources are sheer speculation

Attendance figures are not the same as a ticket sales cap and the ticket cap was advertised by Disney themselves so I do not believe that was "sheer speculation".

Most people have no concept of what 20,000 guests in a 107-acre park looks like, and some will think that is a large number (it's not)

Well, on the busiest days, more than 92,000 people have toured the MK! Average daily attendance at the MK is just over 40,000, and average attendance on an off-season day is a few thousand less than 20,000. We normally tour during the off-season, so I do know what that level of people in the park is like. And I would definitely go if it was capped somewhere around there. Last, I don't feel I am wasting my time or energy trying to find out. For me, I'd rather spend time and energy trying to get this info than spend over $100 for tickets and go and find out it's an overcrowded nightmare and wasted the money and time that evening.

CLC Tiger Pom Mom

 

[Chuck S]

Originally posted by debloco

Well, on the busiest days, more than 92,000 people have toured the MK! Average daily attendance at the MK is just over 40,000, and average attendance on an off-season day is a few thousand less than 20,000. We normally tour during the off-season, so I do know what that level of people in the park is like. And I would definitely go if it was capped somewhere around there. Last, I don't feel I am wasting my time or energy trying to find out. For me, I'd rather spend time and energy trying to get this info than spend over $100 for tickets and go and find out it's an overcrowded nightmare and wasted the money and time that evening.

Since Disney does not, and never has, released attendance figures, I'd be interested how you "know" this.

quote:
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The number of tickets sold is considerably less than a normal day.
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How do you know this?

Perhaps because Safari Steve is a long time WDW CM, and has worked in many areas of the resort.

 

[debloco]

All of these figures were from the Unofficial Guide to WDW 2004 edition. Given their reputation, I am sure they could back up how they came to those figures if asked. However, that still misses the point that this is not about "attendance figures", it is about a ticket sales limit which HAS been used by Disney in promotional literature for this event in the recent past.
It's great that Safari Steve is a longtime CM, and I value his response. But knowing that ticket sales are considerably less than a "normal day" doesn't give me a good enough idea about what the park will be like that night. Does he mean a normal "off-season day" or a normal "average day" or a normal "peak day"? Other posters on this thread, and on other threads (as well as on the allearsnet site) have related their experiences about the crowd levels and this gives me pause when trying to decide on going the last Friday the event is held.

CLC Tiger Pom Mom

 

[DebbieB]

Our flight lands at 5:15 pm, so I am just hoping to get there by 7 pm!

In that case, I would not buy tickets. If your plane is delayed, you will be out of luck.