Other parks affected by Halloween parties?

[CaroM8]

Question for all you experts!

On a day where there is a Halloween party at MK - how are the other parks affected in your experience? From what I have read, a lot of people avoid MK on a party day since they have to leave early/can't see the fireworks etc. Which other park do people tend to go to instead? Or maybe they take a rest day? I know my question is a little vague.

Basically trying to decide if on a party day during our vacation, if we should go to HS or take a rest day? Does it really make a big difference?

I may be overthinking this...

 

[OurLaughingPlace]

Question for all you experts!

On a day where there is a Halloween party at MK - how are the other parks affected in your experience? From what I have read, a lot of people avoid MK on a party day since they have to leave early/can't see the fireworks etc. Which other park do people tend to go to instead? Or maybe they take a rest day? I know my question is a little vague.

Basically trying to decide if on a party day during our vacation, if we should go to HS or take a rest day? Does it really make a big difference?

I may be overthinking this...

We actually like to go to the MK at rope drop on party days. We have found the crowds to be relatively lighter when there is a party planned. We just leave before the party and have a break at resort. We are planning to do it this way on our upcoming late August trip. Then we will likely hop to Epcot in the evening (mainly because we are at Beach Club and like to do Epcot at night). Not sure about how other parks are affected though.

 

[CaroM8]

We actually like to go to the MK at rope drop on party days. We have found the crowds to be relatively lighter when there is a party planned. We just leave before the party and have a break at resort. We are planning to do it this way on our upcoming late August trip. Then we will likely hop to Epcot in the evening (mainly because we are at Beach Club and like to do Epcot at night). Not sure about how other parks are affected though.

Oh we are for sure going to MK on another party day to hopefully get lower crowds! There are 3 parties during our stay in September

 

[team bradfield]

We have been there many times in October, I've never noticed parties affecting other parks,

 

[gottalovepluto]

Trip around Labor day last year and AK was slammed on MNSSHP night so I'd lean towards a resort day- but my experience is limited and maybe it was a one-off.

 

[HopperFan]

If MK is less crowded obviously those people are somewhere. I imagine since they are split among parks you’ll see less impact than if they all went to one park. Probably the biggest hit will be from 3 pm on when folks leave MK as party crowd arrives and hop elsewhere.

 

[lovethattink]

Most people go to the parks that are opened later. Which makes the MK the perfect park to go to instead.

 

[gharter]

Our experience has been that MK is less crowded on party days until about 4 or 5 pm. That would seem to mean that more guests are at the other parks. However, I've never noticed the other parks being more crowded. But those excess guests distributed over 3 parks might not be enough to notice.

 

[ChristineNic]

MK is amazing on a party day. Everyone avoids it because of the party and you can get most everything done before the party guests start entering at 4:00 pm. It's also a great time to grab a CRT or BOG dinner reservation. Party guests don't want to waste time at a table service restaurant.

 

[scrappinginontario]

I guess they are affected but if they are, I can't say it's ever been noticeable.

We visit in August and are there often 3-4 MNSSHP parties during our trip. We normally head to MK at least 2 of those day but other parks other party days. I cannot say I've ever noticed a big change in crowd levels at the other parks.

 

[FastPasser.]

I guess they are affected but if they are, I can't say it's ever been noticeable.

I’d have to agree. I never noticed an increase in bus ridership to the other parks on a party night.

The only way I knew that it was a party night was whenever I did a MK run, lots of Guests boarding the bus were in costume.

 

[HeiHei2018]

I thought Epcot fireworks were busier on party nights, but we have only made it that late once. We go a little too hard and crash.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Crowds are down this summer overall, so it probably won't make much difference which way you decide. The headliner attractions still get long waits, but many of the tier-2 rides have short waits much of the day. Come late September/October crowds could pick up a little, so it depends a little if you are talking August, Sept, or October.

In the past, MK was slow on party days up until 5pm or so. These days, SO many people have read that advice, that it might no longer be true. The same will be true for HS on an after-hours day.

Probably the one thing that will be true is that MK will be a bit busier on the days it is open late to regular guests. If -on your week - say MK is only open late 1 night, expect that night to be a bit busier at MK.

Also look to see what days the AP's are blocked. Currently, the parks are not busy on days the AP's are blocked. They are also not busy on 'Good-to-Go days.

Mostly, I don't think it matters all that much given the current situation. You might see a small advantage if you can park-hop. Sundays appear to be slow at MK. Rotate parks from there. People tend to visit Universal Thurs/Fri/Sat, so avoid that pattern, but Universal has also been slow this summer. One park that has been very busy is Sea World.

Oh- one more thing I will mention- MK DOES have fireworks on Halloween party days as part of the party. If you happen to be at one of the monorail resorts, the TTC, WL, on a shuttle boat at the right time you should be able to see them, and maybe even hear the audio. Since you asked about what will be busy, some dining locations might see a small uptick in bookings. Though again, TS dining bookings have also been WAY down this summer.

 

[CaroM8]

Crowds are down this summer overall, so it probably won't make much difference which way you decide. The headliner attractions still get long waits, but many of the tier-2 rides have short waits much of the day. Come late September/October crowds could pick up a little, so it depends a little if you are talking August, Sept, or October.

In the past, MK was slow on party days up until 5pm or so. These days, SO many people have read that advice, that it might no longer be true. The same will be true for HS on an after-hours day.

Probably the one thing that will be true is that MK will be a bit busier on the days it is open late to regular guests. If -on your week - say MK is only open late 1 night, expect that night to be a bit busier at MK.

Also look to see what days the AP's are blocked. Currently, the parks are not busy on days the AP's are blocked. They are also not busy on 'Good-to-Go days.

Mostly, I don't think it matters all that much given the current situation. You might see a small advantage if you can park-hop. Sundays appear to be slow at MK. Rotate parks from there. People tend to visit Universal Thurs/Fri/Sat, so avoid that pattern, but Universal has also been slow this summer. One park that has been very busy is Sea World.

Oh- one more thing I will mention- MK DOES have fireworks on Halloween party days as part of the party. If you happen to be at one of the monorail resorts, the TTC, WL, on a shuttle boat at the right time you should be able to see them, and maybe even hear the audio. Since you asked about what will be busy, some dining locations might see a small uptick in bookings. Though again, TS dining bookings have also been WAY down this summer.

Thank you! I appreciate your response. We ended up booking a CRT dinner at the end of our MK day (on a party day)