Non Ticket holder at MNSSHP

[Quinn222]

I totally agree...one of our MK days will fall on the same night that they are having Nights of Joy and I hope that Disney will not allow the guests with Nights of Joy tickets to get into the park several hours early. That would cause increased crowds on our already short (9 - 6) MK day! I have no problems with leaving the park at 6:00pm and allowing the NOJers to enter the park at 7:00pm.

I have no problem with that either. Empty the park at 6 and let us in at 7. I'm a passholder anyway and can go in whenever I want to but I don't plan on being there at 4, Too long a night for us. 7-12 is fine.

 

[Lostgirlz]

We have bought tickets for the new party the Pirates and Princess party. It is also a hard ticketed event and I have mine already with all my other things disney has sent. I was told this was a limited engagement and only so many tickets would be sold, and if you did not have a ticket you would not be allowed into the party. My DFH got the tickets for me as a surprise for our arrival night. Now I wish he would have mentioned it first so I would have known all this ahead of time. I am not a rude or mean person in ANY WAY. I would give the shirt off my back to help someone, but I do feel that if we paid for a limited event that is like a concert with hard tickets then people who went out of their way to pay extra for this should be the only ones inside of the party. I don't mean disney should be ugly to people, but they do need to enforce it cause I hate to know he paid over 80 bucks for this and if you just hang around in the park you could have seen and done some of the things. We are coming for the first time there on our honeymoon neither of us have ever been and we are very excited, but this is kind of a put off knowing he went and paid extra and the general public might be able to stay inside. I know from being tld by a cm that emh the public is allowed to stay, but only resort guests get wristbands to ride. This is a bit upsetting though since we have paid our parkhoppers, plus this extra. I also would like to ask what if we wanted to head back to the resort to have dinner at 5 and get dressed for the party, do we have to wait until 4 pm to get the wristbands? We are staying at AKL and I have heard it can take a bit to get back to the lodge. Can we just come back before the party starts and they swipe our tickets then and let us in, or can they do it before 4 seeing we have dinner ressies at boma at 5? Sorry I am new to this and all the things I have read is starting to concern me. Thank you in advance

 

[4chitlins]

Dance, I completely agree with you! As long as *they* are the ones getting something for free (i.e using the park without having used a park admission ticket) the that is perfectly acceptable because "Disney Allows It". The fact that they will take advantage of going on rides that might not be open during the party, and lengthen lines for the "honest people" who are legally supposed to be there, is irrelevant. Heaven forbid if "Disney Allows" some other family to stand and watch the parade or fireworks, though. Those people are thieves!

The only problem I have with people staying during the party is if they don't have to pay extra for it then we shouldn't have to either. I don't think they are thieves but I don't want to pay extra for my 4 kids if others are getting the same thing for free.It just doesn't seem fair

 

[cocowum]

especially since I will not be there for these dates and do not have tickets anyways

No flames... But of course you're not worried. You are not going. I will be there on Sept 15th, so I am worried. I am not holier than thou, but if I pay for something (a hard ticket event), I expect to get it.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

We have bought tickets for the new party the Pirates and Princess party. It is also a hard ticketed event and I have mine already with all my other things disney has sent. I was told this was a limited engagement and only so many tickets would be sold, and if you did not have a ticket you would not be allowed into the party. My DFH got the tickets for me as a surprise for our arrival night. Now I wish he would have mentioned it first so I would have known all this ahead of time. I am not a rude or mean person in ANY WAY. I would give the shirt off my back to help someone, but I do feel that if we paid for a limited event that is like a concert with hard tickets then people who went out of their way to pay extra for this should be the only ones inside of the party. I don't mean disney should be ugly to people, but they do need to enforce it cause I hate to know he paid over 80 bucks for this and if you just hang around in the park you could have seen and done some of the things. We are coming for the first time there on our honeymoon neither of us have ever been and we are very excited, but this is kind of a put off knowing he went and paid extra and the general public might be able to stay inside. I know from being tld by a cm that emh the public is allowed to stay, but only resort guests get wristbands to ride. This is a bit upsetting though since we have paid our parkhoppers, plus this extra. I also would like to ask what if we wanted to head back to the resort to have dinner at 5 and get dressed for the party, do we have to wait until 4 pm to get the wristbands? We are staying at AKL and I have heard it can take a bit to get back to the lodge. Can we just come back before the party starts and they swipe our tickets then and let us in, or can they do it before 4 seeing we have dinner ressies at boma at 5? Sorry I am new to this and all the things I have read is starting to concern me. Thank you in advance

To answer one of your questions I don't think you'll be able to get your wristband before 4 p.m. It really all depends on when they have people set up there to give out wristbands. For MVMCP we're usually already at MK, leave around 4-5 to go to one of the close resorts for dinner, come back at 7 or a few minutes after, and grab a wristband. With all of the different wristband stations and with how efficient the CM's are at giving out wristbands, we've never waited more than 5 minutes (if at all) to get wristbands.

Have fun!! The first time is always the best, I'm sure you will have a magical time.

 

[mask_w03]

I am really hoping this isn't true and disney people are reading all of our posts and change their minds or they will have LOTS OF UNHAPPY PEOPLE!! I got our tickets for MVMCP a month ago and really am hoping this isn't the case for that. I will be very pissed off if I had to pay $85 for our tickets to be there and enjoy all the special things while others didn't have to pay anything extra to see and do everything.

If Disney has to be this greedy to want people to stay there to spend money, they will get the extra ticket or go to another park and spend the money or at the resorts!!

Disney if you read this please change your policy back to clearing the park, so only those who have paid for their extra tickets can stay and enjoy what they have paid dearly for!!

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

In thinking back over the last few times we have gone to MNSSHP, we never had to go over to Tomorrowland from 6pm - 7pm. I am beginning to think this has actually been Disney's policy for awhile now but because it wasn't brought to everyone's attention with the issue of the park hours, it went unnoticed. I've even read posts on here from people that admitted they stayed for MNSSHP without tickets and were never even questioned or asked to leave.

Can you imagine how much flack they get from families that go to MK completely uninformed (yes...they're out there!) and want to know why they only get to stay until 6pm but the ticket price is the same for the nights the park is open until 9pm (or later)?

Not trying to start any debates, but I really think MNSSHP should just be considered special entertainment to draw people during non-peak times and not be a separate ticket. Maybe they just do the fireworks and parades, but forget about the candy (only because of the long lines that would form). Why should it be any different than the special activities that are included for free during the Christmas season? (So yes, I feel the same way about MVMCP too!)

 

[madge]

Can you imagine how much flack they get from families that go to MK completely uninformed (yes...they're out there!) and want to know why they only get to stay until 6pm but the ticket price is the same for the nights the park is open until 9pm (or later)?

my husband & I had the same conversation 2 years ago, we saw a man get very angry with a CM in Tomorrowland who wouldn't let him ride the TTA without his wristband. The CM explained why.... but the guy didn't like it (and let everyone within earshot hear about it )

I know that last year there were several signs around the ticket area of the MK saying that the park was closing early for the Halloween party. I guess if you've chosen one day to go the MK and it's the only day you've got... you either make the best of it or go to Epcot. I don't know. I doubt there's an easy answer to that one.

 

[helenm29]

I feel the same way but they keep specifying that there will be no refunds given! I hope someone gets a definative answer soon! Helen

 

[mking624]

No flames... But of course you're not worried. You are not going. I will be there on Sept 15th, so I am worried. I am not holier than thou, but if I pay for something (a hard ticket event), I expect to get it.

ITA!!!

I don't have a problem with people having an opinion if they aren't going...however, those people cannot appreciate what we're concerned with if they are not going because they didn't shell out that extra money. Try spending about $40 per person and then tell us if you don't mind people doing the same thing you are for free. This isn't about being holier than thou.

 

[kvogel11202]

up until this post was started, everyone raved about how great these parties were (and although I'm not saying we shouldn't be upset about the freeloaders), I think everyone is focusing on the wrong thing. My theory is if at the end of the day, you and your family had a great time, and you followed the rules, that is all that matters. Throughout life, we will always be paying for some things that others are dishonestly getting for free unfortunately some people think they're exempt from the rules. It's not fair, but I refuse to let them take away from my good time. Yes it was pretty busy for the party we went to although it apparently wasn't sold out, but we were so excited to be there, I couldn't tell you if anyone had a bracelet on, I WASN'T LOOKING!! I knew we did, and that's all that matters. I will be going in October again(just have to figure out what dates!), and I still probably won't notice who had on bracelets or not. I know it's very expensive doing these trips and so we're all looking for the best values in everything but we shouldn't let that or what others do, take any of the magic away! This is just my opinion!

I agree that we should all follow the rules, and worry about ourselves and just enjoy it. I do however believe that it is Disney's responsability to make sure that they live up to the promise made to those who purchase tickets. I bought 11 tickets based on the fact that a limited number would be sold, and that only those with tickets can attend. They need to clear the park of non ticket holders, it's part of the contract made with the consumer.

 

[Brian Noble]

Try spending about $40 per person and then tell us if you don't mind people doing the same thing you are for free.

I'm going to P&P, and I really don't care that much. They won't be in attraction lines, and even with several thousand of them in the park, it will still be less crowded than most other days in MK. I'm trying to worry about having fun, and not about what other people are doing.

But, that's just me.

As for Disney's "responsibility", well, I have faith. Not because I believe they are inherently decent, but because I believe they are inherently greedy. The accountanteers would poke their own eyes out before letting significant numbers of guests attend a hard-ticket event for free.

We only have one fact: that MK will "close" at 7:00 on party nights, instead of 6:00. And, from this one fact, the entire online WDW community is now convinced that the world is literally imploding under our very feet. I suspect it won't be even half that bad.

Remember when MYW packages were announced, and everyone was convinced that it was the worst thing to ever happen to packages? Most people seem to like the new plans better than the old length-of-stay ultimate parkhopper system. Remember when the 180+10 policy was announced, and everyone was convinced that it would be impossible to book the popular restaurants? I often stay offsite, and can still get what I want when I want it 99% of the time.

I'm pretty sure that this change will be like all the others---just something new to get used to, not a disaster, and maybe an improvement.

 

[THESCHULTZFIVE]

Dear Tara,

Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World Resort.

You will be happy to know that all guests attending Mickey's Not So
Scary Halloween Party will be wearing a wristband. Any guest without
the wrist band will be asked to leave the park.

If you have questions or need further assistance, feel free to contact
us.

Please include your full name, E-Mail address, and reservation number if
applicable on all correspondence.

Thank you!

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Sincerely,

Debbie Grant
WDW Online Communications

 

[mking624]

I'm going to P&P, and I really don't care that much. They won't be in attraction lines, and even with several thousand of them in the park, it will still be less crowded than most other days in MK. I'm trying to worry about having fun, and not about what other people are doing.

But, that's just me.

But see most people don't usually enjoy just handing over all that money if people have the opportunity to do it for free. You say they won't be in attraction lines...you don't know that. My experiences with EMH begs to differ...and many others have reported that CMs simply avoid confrontation and many times allow guests to go in and out of attractions regardless of wristbands or no wristbands. If I knew that I could have the same experience for free, why would I give Disney $80 to see it? And the thing is, I don't come close to what people have spent on their tickets. That's a good chunk of change to just give someone out of the kindness of our hearts. But that's just me.

As for Disney's "responsibility", well, I have faith. Not because I believe they are inherently decent, but because I believe they are inherently greedy. The accountanteers would poke their own eyes out before letting significant numbers of guests attend a hard-ticket event for free.

That depends on whether or not they're willing to face confrontation if they have the party start the same time as closing. Many people can tell you that many CMs do anything they can to avoid confrontation.

We only have one fact: that MK will "close" at 7:00 on party nights, instead of 6:00. And, from this one fact, the entire online WDW community is now convinced that the world is literally imploding under our very feet. I suspect it won't be even half that bad.

It's better to speak up and voice our concerns than to stay quiet with mere suspicions. If we're wrong, we're wrong. But I'd rather be wrong then to stay quiet and then discover that something could have been changed had I spoken up. In fact, one person was told that "due to an overwhelming negative response, we're closing at 6pm." Was th supervisor telling the truth? I don't know. But what if it IS true? And what if we had stayed quiet?

Remember when MYW packages were announced, and everyone was convinced that it was the worst thing to ever happen to packages? Most people seem to like the new plans better than the old length-of-stay ultimate parkhopper system. Remember when the 180+10 policy was announced, and everyone was convinced that it would be impossible to book the popular restaurants? I often stay offsite, and can still get what I want when I want it 99% of the time.

Changing the packages or the time frame for ADRs isn't quite the same as changing park hours where people know it's going to be a struggle to clear out people, decorate the park, AND start a party for ticket holders all at the exact same time.

I'm pretty sure that this change will be like all the others---just something new to get used to, not a disaster, and maybe an improvement.

Hmm, I'll wait to see before I say it's a possible improvement.

 

[Lostgirlz]

I don't mean to sound like a rude person, but if my dfh went to the trouble for me to surprise me with hard ticketed party tickets and paid extra on top of what we paid for the honeymoon package, parkhoppers all that good stuff and this is supposed to be a limited engagement with only a limited number of tickets sold just like a concert then I kind of expect him to get just that a booked event for those who have paid the extra amount.We are doing the P&P party on our arrival night this is a new party and the cm really pushed it when we were calling to see when we could book the rest of our package with our basic package. Just like others going to MNSSHP, and MVMCP we are paying extra on top of the tickets if you include that mnsshp, and P&P party are both costume partys that you also pay oop for costumes if you choose to dress up as we have chosen to do. Yeah it's not required, but would you really want to just go and not participate in the magic of it all. When he told me we were really excited that we would get to view this new parade, stage show, and fireworks along with dance party, and also get to do the rides without worrying about people being crammed in and fighting for viewing spots, but if Disney is going to lax on escorting people out then they shouldnt even charge for this event. Why make others pay oop for the tickets then let general public in and they do not have to pay. I understand others and children want to see and do these parties, but just like all of us those people should buy the tickets like we all have done. Some of us bought these tickets way in advance. We got ours about 2-3 weeks ago in the mail and we are coming in feb. I would love to hear from others who are fixing to attend MNSSHP if they enforced these things. We have dinner resies at boma where we are staying at 5 pm and our party starts at 7:30. I am hopping we have no issues getting back into the park if we do not stay til 4 to get the bands but come back before the party starts to get them. CM told us we could book dinner in the MK the evening of our party, but we already decided to go to boma which I really want to try plus the need to get changed and dressed in our costumes we need to be back in the hotel at a timely manner so there is no need to rush really bad. This just frosts my cookies a bit that he was led to believe this was a tickets only event now just anyone might be able to go and not have to pay. Just how I feel.

 

[dbk1029]

I think the old expression "Give 'em an inch and they'll take a mile" applies here.

Say Disney lets those non-MNSSHP ticket holders stay in the park. Some of those people WILL attempt to get on the rides. As others have stated CM's seem to avoid confrontation. So a non-ticket holder gets on a ride that they really should not have.

I do think as a society we need to speak up when we see people bending/breaking the rules. If people know others won't let them get away with something they most likely will not do it. Now if someone does something against the rules and not one person says a thing why wouldn't they keep right on doing what they are doing?

Even something as small as this says A LOT to me about our values as a society.

 

[salmoneous]

I would love to hear from others who are fixing to attend MNSSHP if they enforced these things.

In the past, Disney has always enforced the rules and shooed most non-ticket holders out of the park. I'm sure a few were able to sneak past them, but nobody has ever complained out this in the past.

Disney hasn't announced any change in plan this year. The only thing Disney changed was they would start shooing people out at 7 rather than at 6. Some people speculated they CM's wouldn't be able to do it. I have faith in them. In any case, this isn't anything I'd go stressing over.

 

[ssleblanc]

I agree with just about everything said here (both sides of the fence). It never ever occurs to me to even attempt to break a rule. To me, it isn't about whether one can get away with it, it is about what is right. And that is the #1 value I try to teach my kids (ok, so there are a lot of #1 values - treat others as you would want to be treated/respect, follow the rules, etc etc). I think it is very wrong that others could possibly be getting in to the party that I paid a lot of money to attend as a "special" party.

However, I am there to have a wonderful time. And (another one of those values that I stress to my kids) is that happiness comes from within - not from those around you. So for me to get really upset and let the fact that others are being allowed to break rules ruin my happiness/good time ... then that is my problem and not theirs. It IS their problem that they are breaking the rules - and it should NOT be allowed. But how I let it affect me is my own internal problem. It is about attitude. (ugh - I sound like one of those "feel good" motivational tapes we sometimes have to listen to at work).

Maybe it is because I have an ADHD son who sometimes has huge breakdowns if he perceives something as "not fair" (he uses those words a lot). I HATE the "life is not fair" statement and don't use that with him. But when he sees someone else getting something he is supposed to get, or if someone cuts in front of him in line (the sort of thing that could send him over the edge), I stress that the person WAS WRONG. But for him to have a huge tantrum over it, and let it ruin the rest of his day, is his problem. He has control over how it makes him feel, even if he doesn't have control over the unruly jerks who are breaking the rules.

I am going to chose to treat this the same way. NOW - if I encounter huge crowd problems and have people without wrist bands trampling me while they fight for better views of the parade that I paid good money for, I'll be irritated. Don't get me wrong. But for me to choose to get really upset about a "what if" right now

As far as someone getting something for free when I paid for it ... or getting something for less than I paid for it - THAT I refuse to let bother me. Some people have free dining and I couldn't. I couldn't even get paid dining because I'll be there on a convention and had to buy room seperate (not that much cheaper than rack - not much cheaper AT ALL) from tickets. So while I spend $60 in a day for the same exact food (counter service meal, appetizer/entree/desert/non-alcoholic drink, and a snack) that someone on (paid) dining plan paid $35 for (a single day cost of dining plan), or paid nothing (free dining and only $10 more a night for the hotel at rack rate) than I did ... well that just doesn't seem fair, does it? Of course it is. They had a discount code, or are going under a special offer. That doesn't make my food any less enjoyable, even though I'm paying more for the same meal. And I can't let the fact that I paid more ruin a good meal and a good day for me. Again, it is an internal problem and I choose to be happy and not let it bother me.

I hope that no one reads this as me condeming anyone for their feelings. Everyone is justified in what they are saying (and I am going to send an email as well - the concern about how they will handle a sweep and decorating does concern me ... I don't think there is anything wrong with the email campaigns letting Disney know how their customers feel about the policy change). But I won't let Disney's decision ruin my fun. How I let their decision affect me is my choice, and I have to choose not to let it ruin the fun that I paid for.

 

[mking624]

In the past, Disney has always enforced the rules and shooed most non-ticket holders out of the park. I'm sure a few were able to sneak past them, but nobody has ever complained out this in the past.

No one has complained about it because in the past there was an hour in between period. That is not the case this year. So while a few stragglers might be able to sneak by when there's an hour break in between closing and the party start time, there's going to be a much bigger chance of non-party guests staying if there isn't that in between period.

Disney hasn't announced any change in plan this year. The only thing Disney changed was they would start shooing people out at 7 rather than at 6. Some people speculated they CM's wouldn't be able to do it. I have faith in them. In any case, this isn't anything I'd go stressing over.

Shooing people out at 7pm is going to be very difficult to do when you have to decorate the park and start the party and close the park to the public and do a sweep all at the exact same time.

I'm glad you're not stressed about it. But $40 per person isn't taken lightly by many of us, so we're trying to make sure everything will be ok...and we're doing that by contacting them. I applaud those of us who are being proactive and doing something about their concerns. At least Disney will know for the future that this isn't desirable.

 

[mking624]

As far as someone getting something for free when I paid for it ... or getting something for less than I paid for it - THAT I refuse to let bother me. Some people have free dining and I couldn't. I couldn't even get paid dining because I'll be there on a convention and had to buy room seperate (not that much cheaper than rack - not much cheaper AT ALL) from tickets. So while I spend $60 in a day for the same exact food (counter service meal, appetizer/entree/desert/non-alcoholic drink, and a snack) that someone on (paid) dining plan paid $35 for (a single day cost of dining plan), or paid nothing (free dining and only $10 more a night for the hotel at rack rate) than I did ... well that just doesn't seem fair, does it? Of course it is. They had a discount code, or are going under a special offer. That doesn't make my food any less enjoyable, even though I'm paying more for the same meal. And I can't let the fact that I paid more ruin a good meal and a good day for me. Again, it is an internal problem and I choose to be happy and not let it bother me.

Here's the difference. Free dining was a promotion. It was offered by Disney and anyone who was interested could take them up on that offer. They even extended the offer so more people could sign up. MNSSHP is not free at all...there is no such thing as a discount code. The only discount you get is advanced purchase which saves you a few dollars. Comparing a required payment for a hard ticket to a promotion is not a good comparison.

No one here is complaining that they won't have fun. What people are complaining about is the huge potential for people to be able to do this all for free...when the event is required to be paid for.