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

[sorchamac]

If Oct 31st MNSSHP is sold out, then try to find out how many tickets they sold for that day. That might give you an idea if they are capping sales and what the number is. It of course might be different than MVMCP but it might give you an idea.

If you are landing at 5:15 in December (coming from a cold place that might have snow delays, de-icing delays, or delays caused by your plane's previous destination having these problems) I would just skip it. WHY make yourself in a crazy rush worrying about whether you'll be able to get to the party. Won't all the same parades and shows be playing that week before christmas??

Sorcha

 

[Safari Steve]

This is alot of fuss over something that is, in reality, all a matter of perception. If you are looking for an excuse to not attend, please by all means find an alternative that you will be less likely to upset yourself about.
If you arrive at 7pm, get your photo on the west side of the park during the first parade (8pm), circle the park clockwise for attractions, trick-or treat after the second parade (10pm, when most people leave) and stay until the end of the event, I think you will find yourself pleasantly surprised with how much you can get done. My opinions are based on actual first-hand experience over the last 5 years. The estimates presented in the unofficial guide are not provided by Disney, they are the same or similar to the estimates used by Amusement Business Weekly magazine, and while they are a reasonable estimate, they are abstract numbers if you have not seen conditions in the park compared with actual attendance numbers (those estimates are the number that have passed through the turnstiles, btw, not the number actually in the park at a given time). The difference between 20,000 and 25,000 (niether number has been given, btw... the company advertises "a limited number of tickets sold,") is inconsequencial. If this is your biggest worry, you should have a wonderful visit because you must have everything else taken care of.
Have fun.

*Edit* I have the halloween party on my brain because that is what I am currently dealing with. With regards to crowds during the Christmas event, my statements stand. View the second parade, get your photo/cookies and cocoa during the first parade, avoid the normal flow of traffic, and have fun. If you are going primarily for the special entertainment and your visit will last beyond Dec 18, I agree with previous posters that you would be fine just to skip MVMCP, as the entertainment becomes available during normal operating hours after the last party event is over.
No one who has the actual ticket sales information will be reachable by phone, and no one who you will be able to speak with over the phone will be able to give you actual ticket sales/attendance information. You would serve yourself better to spend time and energy on other things.
Again, have fun!

 

[dolphindan1]

I agree with the earlier post...it has to be capped to be sold out...like the halloween party already is....Can that number be found out and you will have a good idea of the cap....regardless it is less crowded than a typical day at Disney and if you go the opposite way you should be ok even with what crowd may be there....if you are planning to ride rides you should walk on no problem....if you are there to see the special shows and events as the mass will be expect to run into some people....just my 2 cents

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by 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

My goodness. Why all the brouhaha over a party? I have not read in years about Disney giving a figure on how many they sell. If you are so worried about the crowds then don't go.

 

[OLT2004]

The bottom line question is....

Is MVMCP worth the extra dollars?

If I am paying $40(whatever) EXTRA on top of my other admission media - I want VALUE for my money.

Value =
*An uncrowded easy to move around park
*Short Ride Lines
*Short Photo Lines
*Short Cookie lines
*Parade & Wishes viewing spots that I do not have to stake out and defend for 60 to 75 minutes

I fully understand the original OP's question.

I chose to buy these tickets because we are fortunate enough to attend on a Monday night - which I hope will be slow.

If I find conditions to be the opposite of my expectations I will request a full refund.

 

[helenk]

I've been the MVMCP twice, once in 2001 and crowds were very light due to 9/11 and then again in 2002 and I did not think it was that bad.
Our stay in 2002 was from 12/14-12/19 I believe that we went on 12/17, which was a Tuesday. We got there after 7:00, we were able to do all the rides, saw the shows we wanted see. We then saw the fireworks and the second parade, we got our spot for the parade about a half of an hour before the parade started. We were near the Jamboree Bears and were right up front! We then got hot chocolate and cookies and then left the park before 12:00. We did not get our pictures taken so I do not know how the lines were for that.
We had a great time! When you first enter the park it seems as though it is really crowded, but that is because everyone is taking there time going up main street, and enjoying the "snow" and alot of people are getting their spot already for the first parade. Once you get out of that area its fine, the lines for the rides were not bad at all. I really feel as though it is worth the extra money to go to the party.
Obsessing over the amount of tickets Disney sells is really not worth it. Go and have a great time!

 

[lentesta]

Hey Steve,

For the record, Disney has given us actual attendence numbers when we've asked questions about specific dates. And I don't think we're alone in this - I've spoken with a reporter who got a specific attendance number on a particular date from them earlier this year.

As you note, Disney does not provide annual attendance numbers to anyone, but several other organizations do provide estimates. As these numbers are used by analysts to set stock prices, I'd be surprised if they were substantially off. Disney's got a vested interest in them being fairly accurate, no?

Also there are a variety of other metrics (e.g., hotel room occupancy in the Lake Buena Vista area, car rental rates, tax revenue, etc.) that provide good indications of how many folks are visiting Orlando. Those numbers can be had (for a fee) through various organizations, and we use them. Looking at all of the numbers holistically, I think it's possible to get a good idea of attendance. And if anyone's got suggestions on how to make that better, feel free to drop me a line.

Thanks to everyone who's reading the Unofficial Guide.

Sincerely,

Len Testa

 

[disneymom3]

Arriving into the Orlando airport at 5:15 now way would I spend the money. You still have to get your luggage, get the rental car or find your transportation and get to the resort. If you have a rental car, you can leave the bags in the car and go straight to the resort, but if you don't you would really be in trouble. I went to the party in 2002 on a Tuesday and it was great. Low crowds easy wait if any for pics and cookies and we saw the fireworks from the Adventureland bridge with no one around us. Loved it. However, if my lonly choice was the last night of the party, or any Friday for that matter, I wouldn't spend the money no matter what time my flight was coming in!

 

[zurgswife]

If I was arriving at 5:15 I surely wouldn't shell out the money...to many variables for something to go wrong and not get to spend enough time....

I'd skip it...

We did Halloween night 2 years ago and it was awesome..while the crowds were heavy we didn't find it unbearable to do anything....I'm not sure what the exact comparison of numbers are between Oct 31 and the last MVMCP but they must be similar...

 

[RaySharpton]

I agree with zurgswife and many others. If your airplane arrives at 6:15 P.M., I personally wouldn't go. I also would worry about delays, rushing, etc..

On my first night, I will arrive before MVMCP starts, but I plan to relax at the Contemporary Resort's California Grille at around 2115 and watch the marvalous Special MVMCP Wishes fireworks and then go back to my room and sleep...lol.


And I agree with my friend Safari Steve, who has always given good advice. And his advice to go clockwise into Adventureland is a great idea. Especially if you have planned a 6:00 P.M. Priority Seating at the Crystal Palace. At 7:00 P.M., you simply walk across the Adventureland bridge and have your family photos taken, and pick up your cookies and cocoa and see a few Disney Characters on your way to one of my favorite night rides, the "Jungle Cruise".

But everyone has their favorite ride or place to visit first. The main thing is to have fun.

OLT2004, you crack me up. What MVMCP date are you going to? I would like to set up a DIS meet for whoever would like to attend where ever you will be when request a refund of your MVMCP tickets.

We could call it the "OLT2004's MVMCP Ticket Refund Request Because One Of The Following Happened: No Short Cookie Lines, No Short Cocoa Lines, No Short Family Photo Lines, No Unusually Large Crowds To Walk Around or No Waiting Times Longer Than 65-Minutes To Save A Space To Watch The MVMCP Parade And Wishes Fireworks."

I would be happy to host the OLT2004 DIS Meet. Maybe?

Nah...I want to have fun instead with my DIS friends on a Magical MVMCP night.

Since you can not hear my voice, and you cannnot see my face through these words on the internet page, I just want you and all the other serious-type people that I am just laughing and having some fun.

I haven't laughted so hard in a long time.

Ray

 

[Safari Steve]

Len, I beg your pardon. While attendance figures are neat information to have, and estimates can be fairly accurate, setting 20,000 as some kind of magic number is a bit odd to me. It seems like many folks get hung up on the numbers they are presented and even though 20,000 is very low for MK, folks anticipate being crowded, percieve that they are more crowded (especially when they see the scene described by HelenK) and spend so much time and energy stressing over that magic number (that only reflects the total through the turnstiles, not the much smaller number of guests who are actually inside the park at a given moment) that they do not enjoy themselves. In general planning situations, average attendance estimates are useful tools (January is less crowded than July, for example). However, in other situations, if these numbers are viewed as absolute guarantees, they primarily serve to add confusion.

 

[Judy from Boise]

Hey Ray my buddy....I'll join you at that meet !
Actually I will be there on 12/7, and expect to have a magical time.....which is totally within MY power no matter what circumstances I encounter.

PS Safari Steve.....do you still post your work schedule ? I would love to bump into you

 

[erinz]

OK.....all these number/statistics are hurting my brain.......ofcourse, helping my daughter with her math homework hurts my brain...

I'm thinking that this can really be simpler than we are making it:

If you don't like crowds, don't go on a Friday. Go on a Sunday or a Tuesday.

There will never be a way to know how crowded Sunday or Tuesday will be, so just take a chance, and know that the odds are really good that you will have a great time

 

[disneymom3]

Steve--I totally agree about perception! We have always gone off season--early Dec. late Feb, and May. At times we have been a bit disapointed with crowd levels. Especially in Dec. We expected empty and our first trip it didn't feel to us like it was empty. We were really bummed the first couple of days about crowd levels. This last year we went in March. As we were trying to make our way through Fantasyland and there was literally wall to wall people, I said to DH, "So, how are you feeling about Dec?" Gave us a good bit of perspective! And the parking lots were still nowhere near full! I have determined that I cannot even imagine what peak crowds are like. No concept at all. If FL weren't so far away, I would even consider going down in July just to have a point of comparison.

Of course, I have been at DL for July 4th and that was no picnic!

 

[zurgswife]

Much ado about nothing...IMHO

 

[debloco]

Posted by Safari Steve

This is alot of fuss over something that is, in reality, all a matter of perception. If you are looking for an excuse to not attend, please by all means find an alternative that you will be less likely to upset yourself about.

I am not "looking for an excuse not to attend". I very much would like to go, and it is not a perception issue for me. I have been to the MK at all times of the year and at all crowd levels and know how to move on to another area if one part of the park is jammed. The reality is that I know it will be a great time if ticket sales are capped around 20,000. And while the entertainment is available after the 17th, it won't be in a much less crowded park that has had attendance limited by a ticket sales cap. I don't care about cocoa or cookies or a photo. I want short ride lines, snow on Main Street (which I don't think they do after these parties), and being able to see the parade w/o staking out a spot 60-75 min early. It is about value for my money.

Posted by OLT2004

The bottom line question is....

Is MVMCP worth the extra dollars?

If I am paying $40(whatever) EXTRA on top of my other admission media - I want VALUE for my money.

Value =
*An uncrowded easy to move around park
*Short Ride Lines
*Short Photo Lines
*Short Cookie lines
*Parade & Wishes viewing spots that I do not have to stake out and defend for 60 to 75 minutes

ITA! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Posted by Ray

OLT2004, you crack me up. What MVMCP date are you going to? I would like to set up a DIS meet for whoever would like to attend where ever you will be when request a refund of your MVMCP tickets.

Ray, thanks for the laugh! Although after speaking with someone in Disney's "Executive Offices", I was promised a refund if it is a mob scene by a CM who claims to have the power to do so.

erinz, We cannot go on a Sun or Tues as our arrival day is Friday Dec. 17 and that is the last day MVMCP is held.

Posted by zurgswife

Much ado about nothing...IMH

Great! If this is much ado about nothing for you, then please send me the $100 so I can purchase my tickets! If the event is uncrowded enough for me, I'll refund your money!

And finally,
Len, Thank you, thank you, thank you!
You guys at the Unoffical Guide are the best!

CLC Tiger Pom Mom

 

[daisy112878]

Last Dec, we went to the last MVMCP offered. It was sold-out. There was a decent amout of people but it was nothing like the last day we were at MK which was closer to christmas. We got there right when it started and got a wristband as we entered. The CMs on Main Street were checking wristbands. Main Street was busy but it was b/c people were coming and leaving the park. Plus the snow falling was awesome. My 4 year old niece thought it was the best thing all night. Once we got to the main stage in front of the castle to watch the show you couldn't tell there was that many people in the park. We took the advice of others and decided to go to the second parade. During the first parade we walked right up to get our picture done at the Hall of President and then walked right up to get cookies and cocoa. We pretty much walked onto every ride. The longest we waited was five minutes for a ride. We sat down about thirty minutes before the parade and that was just b/c we were tired and needed to rest. We got great seats on main street and never had to fight for them or defend people off. It seemed alot of people left between the first and second parade. Also right before the second parade we got our pics with Mickey and Minnie in christmas outfits. That only took about 10 minutes too.

My whole family felt it was definitly worth the money. It was so much fun. My only concern for you would be your flight. That's alot of money to be out if something happens to your flight. We stayed from the time it started until the time it ended.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by RaySharpton
........(snip)...............OLT2004, you crack me up. What MVMCP date are you going to? I would like to set up a DIS meet for whoever would like to attend where ever you will be when request a refund of your MVMCP tickets.

We could call it the "OLT2004's MVMCP Ticket Refund Request Because One Of The Following Happened: No Short Cookie Lines, No Short Cocoa Lines, No Short Family Photo Lines, No Unusually Large Crowds To Walk Around or No Waiting Times Longer Than 65-Minutes To Save A Space To Watch The MVMCP Parade And Wishes Fireworks."

I would be happy to host the OLT2004 DIS Meet. ...(snip).....I haven't laughted so hard in a long time.

Ray

Ray - I got a good laugh out of this, too, mostly because there aren't any MVMCP events on Mondays this year!!!!! Good luck to anyone requesting a refund for that MVMCP event!

Originally posted by OLT2004

The bottom line question is....

Is MVMCP worth the extra dollars?....(snip)...............I chose to buy these tickets because we are fortunate enough to attend on a Monday night - which I hope will be slow.

If I find conditions to be the opposite of my expectations I will request a full refund.

OLT2004 - It will be VERY slow on your Monday night MVMCP - so slow that Disney won'teven have anyone at the turnstiles to let you in! LOL!

Sorry, but I just I couldn't resist.

Maybe you meant to type Sunday or Tuesday. If not, better check the date on the back of your tickets!

Best wishes -

Carol

 

[OLT2004]

Correction - Tuesday 11/30/04

I stand corrected.

But - My points stand. ..

Thanks

 

[OLT2004]

OH - By the way - I am looking forward to meeting both of you @ the DIS meet on 30 November - We can continue this discussion then.