Night of Joy

[cherokeemamma]

Hi Everyone...
I was wondering if anyone has ever been to Night of Joy? What is it like? How are the different bands set up and what about the crowd level? Are there any resturants open (TS)? Is there a schedule/web site available to investigate? Is it worth the money?
There will be 4 of us and since this falls under "free dining" time we thought we might like to do it. But I cannot find much info on this.

Thanks for any help!
Cherokeemamma

 

[cherokeemamma]

Can anyone out there help me?
Thanks

 

[maconMouse]

Hi! Yes, we were at last year's Night of Joy and loved it!! It was a wonderful weekend of worship and good times with friends. We will be returning this fall, and have already purchased tickets for both nights.

There are several stages set up around the park with the main stage & biggest acts being in front of Cinderella's castle. Hearing MercyMe here last year with the castle in the background was truly magical. They synchronize the lighting on the castle to many of the songs too. Here is more information from allearsnet.

http://allearsnet.com/tp/mk/noj.htm

The dining options are very limited that night (even smaller than you would see open at a MNSSHP or MVMCP). Last year, we ate at Peco's Bill and listened to several artists right there at the nearby Splash stage. Other places I remember being open were Casey's and Cosmic Ray's.

There are two other stages in Tomorrowland. The times & location the artists play is published about two weeks beforehand, and several play twice that evening.

The weather was perfect last year too and we didn't find the crowds to be bad at all. There is no FastPass available during NOJ though, so the more popular rides for young adults like Space Mountain and Splash Mountain did have long lines. So, I wouldn't recommend going to NOJ if you are only interested in the rides. The other parks are basically empty that weekend, and we were able to walk right on to everything that Saturday at MGM and Epcot.

If you enjoy Contemporary Christian music, I would definitely say you should go!! Casting Crowns and MercyMe are back this year, and I can't wait to hear them again. It's well worth every penny.

 

[cherokeemamma]

Thanks maconMouse!!! I appreciate the info.

Cherokeemamma

 

[zen1]

I went to Night of Joy last year, September 2005 and I loved it!!!!!! If you love Christian Music, then this is a must to do! My fav. was Steven Curtis Champman, he was in front of Cinderella's Castle( he was awesome)! I also loved the Newsboys & MercyMe!

When you enter the Magic Kingdom you will get a wrist band, so they know that you are there for Night of Joy( and by the way you can get into the park at 4:00p.m. with just your Night of Joy tickets)! You will also get a map and a list of where everyone is playing and the times. And at the end of the night you will get a free Night of Joy CD! They also do sell T-shirts, but if you want one~be sure to get one right away.

 

[lundve]

I have been researching NOJ becasue we might attend since we will be there anyway. But I also found out that Universal is having a CCM festival called Rock the Universe on the same two nights. Has it always been like this? And how do I chose between the two??? ANYONE???

 

[FlyingBelle]

Sorry I'm going to miss it... sounds like it's worth going to

 

[lundve]

bump

 

[maconMouse]

I have not been to Rock the Universe, only Night of Joy. I find it strange that they would compete with each other for the same weekend. They both could offer more headliner acts if they were on separate weekends, and could most likely sell tickets to a core audience twice. Night of Joy has been around for close to 25 years on this same weekend, so I guess this is just a way for Universal to try to lure away folks by forcing them to choose.

I'm not sure whether different groups are first invited by Disney or Universal, and how much money is used to lure them to one park over the other. Groups like Newsboys and Audio Adrenaline were at Night of Joy last year, but are at Rock the Universe this year.

I'm just happy MercyMe and Casting Crowns are at the Magic Kingdom. Those are my favorites, and getting to see them with the castle in the background is so truly magical. It's a very special night in the park. This will be the last weekend the 50th Anniversary gold ornaments will be seen on the castle this year too. I heard they will start taking them down the following week.

If anyone sees the exact times & lineups of the various stages on each night of the event at the Magic Kingdom, please post. It should be released soon. I can't wait to get back!

 

[rlovew]

I have been to both Rock the Universe and Night of Joy. Rock the Universe generally has the harder rock styles and since it has started has always been the same weekend as Night of Joy. Some youthgroups go up to one on Friday night, stay overnight in Orlando, and go to the other Saturday night. As far as how bands are asked I have no idea.

At Night of Joy Disney has a number of stages each with 2 bands playing 2 times each. The rides while some have long lines are not horrible and many of the smaller rides that are beautiful have almost no wait (Peter Pan, Pooh, Small World). The counter service restraunts are open (not Columbia Harbor House).

At Universal they had less stages and only the most popular bands had 2 shows in the evening. All of the rides were so backed up we could hardly get on them. One of the stages was actually a main street through the park and you couldn't move around it. Overall we decided even though our youth enjoyed the bands more at Universall the chaperones couldn't handle things and didn't like the set-up so we would do Night of Joy instead.

 

[lundve]

thanks for the replys

We probably will do Night of Joy b/c we are staying at a Disney resort. Although, Audio Adrenaline is going to be at Rock the Universe on Saturday and I really hope me DH and I get to see them before the year ends and they retire. They are coming to NYC in the fall - we'll see.

From my oberseravtion Disney's groups are all different types while Universal's are mostly a few headliners (newsboys, third day - our faves) with a bunch of louder bands I have no desire to see.

We are going to be in Orlando two weeks and I really wish the two festivals were not on competing weekends.

 

[maconMouse]

The schedule is out!

Friday, September 8
BarlowGirl - Cinderella Castle Stage - 7:30 p.m.
Rebecca St. James - Galaxy Palace Theater - 7:30 p.m. & 9 p.m.
Todd Agnew - stage location TBA - 7:30 p.m. & 8:45 p.m.
Vicky Beeching - Cosmic Ray's Starlight Café - 8:30 p.m.
Casting Crowns - Cinderella Castle Stage - 9:10 p.m.
Matthew West - Cosmic Ray's Starlight Café - 9:45 p.m. & 11 p.m.
Building 429 - stage location TBA - 10:20 p.m. & 11:35 p.m.
David Crowder Band - Galaxy Palace Theater - 10:30 p.m. & 11:45 p.m.
MercyMe - Cinderella Castle Stage - 11:20 p.m.



Saturday, September 9
BarlowGirl - Cinderella Castle Stage - 7:30 p.m.
Smokie Norful - Galaxy Palace Theater - 7:30 p.m. & 9 p.m.
ZOEgirl -stage location TBA - 7:30 p.m. & 8:45 p.m.
Winner of the "GMA Music in the Rockies" competition - Cosmic Ray's Starlight Café - 8:30 p.m.
tobyMac - Cinderella Castle Stage - 9:10 p.m.
The Afters - Cosmic Ray's Starlight Café - 9:45 p.m. & 11 p.m.
Hawk Nelson - stage location TBA - 10:20 p.m. & 11:35 p.m.
Jeremy Camp - Galaxy Palace Theater - 10:30 p.m. & 11:45 p.m.
Kirk Franklin - Cinderella Castle Stage - 11:20 p.m.

 

[johde]

Has anyone seen the Rock the Universe schedule? I decided to go there this year.

 

[notnothin]

Has anyone seen the Rock the Universe schedule? I decided to go there this year.

Check this site:

http://www.rocktheuniverse.com/bands.html

 

[Makua]

Rock the Universe is geared more to the teens. Lots of the loud screaming kind of music that they like. I've gone twice as a chaperone and it was very crowded. The kids loved it and I thought it was pretty awesome myself! Of course I was way way way back from the speakers!!! Night of Joy is a little more laid back. More of a combination of worship and music. Both of these events are well worth the money, you could pay that much for just one concert. I also wish they wouldn't compete. I'm sure many people, especially the locals would go to both if they had the chance.

 

[lundve]

does anyone know when the gates re-open for night of joy?

 

[mrzrich]

does anyone know when the gates re-open for night of joy?

In the past we've always been allowed in at 4 for NOJ and given a wristband. Don't know if its still the same.

 

[rlovew]

You get a wristband anytime after 4. The gates don't officially close- just like for the Halloween and Christmas Parties.

 

[lundve]

Just checking... Becasue when the calendar says that MK closes at 6pm on those days, does that mean that all the non-wrist banded people are required to leave?