P & P Party Rant.

[dpuck1998]

 

[lclark0621]

Ok, so on "normal" nights Main Street is open after the "park closes".

However, nights of the Pirate & Princess party are NOT normal nights, so the park closes, even the shops at 7pm for ALL non party guests.

FWIW there are many nights during the year this happens, including Grad Nights, MVMCP, & MNSSHP. So it is not unusual for Disney to close Main Street at park closing to anyone NOT attending a special event in the park.

And if Disney did close the MK at 5:00pm I can see a lot of people complaining about "Spending thousands of dollars at Disney & they only get to stay in the MK until 5:00pm".

This way, YES they let party guests in early, AND they let non party guests stay until 7pm instead of 5 or 6. So it should be a win win situation for EVERYONE.

BUT you need to follow the rules. If you DONT have a park pass that day & only have a party ticket, you have to wait to get into the park until 4pm (BTW, many party guests eat dinner in the park during their "3 free hours", they are not all riding rides), AND if you are NOT going to the party, you need to leave at 7pm.

 

[mking624]

No Mary, I do not have to assume that every person does not have to have a day ticket. It is a dual standard if Disney does not allow valid day tickets to stay late while allowing hard ticket holders to arrive early. As I mentioned in my 4 points, if you already have a day ticket then of course you have every right to be in the park. And it most definitely is a dual standard (sorry for the earlier sp but given this thread maybe I did spell it right) because the hours posted on the disney website regarding the event make no mention of early admission: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/parks/specialEvents?id=PiratesandPrincessPartySpecialEventPage
Technically, the park is always closed to the public, you require an admission ticket to gain access to this private property.

Yes we know we need admission to gain access. And you know full well what I mean by open to the public, so please don't start trying to analyze what I'm saying and turning it into something else. But anyway, just because it doesn't mention early admission doesn't mean Disney doesn't grant it and it doesn't mean the people don't have day tickets. By your posts, you made it clear that hard ticket holders don't have a right to be there early when you have no idea if they actually hold day tickets or APs. So you cannot claim dual standards if you don't know the type of ticket a person is holding. If you have a problem with early entry, take it up with Disney...not with the people who are actually following Disney policy.

That comment may have been directed at you as you made the same type of "I can tell you've never have attended a hard ticket event" comment to me earlier just because I entered this discussion on the opposite side. Not only have I attended hard ticket events, I have attended a private function where a park was rented.

It's honestly shocking that you would use the arguments you have if you've actually attended events like these. Because your arguments are the type generally used by people who have no clue about these events. If you've been to hard ticket events, then you would know that Disney allows early entry and Disney enforces hard closings. It's part of their policy. As I've stated earlier, it is nothing new. But you posted that the OP did nothing wrong. Surprising that you as a hard ticket event attendee would feel the OP did nothing wrong by disregarding Disney policy even after being told they couldn't be there anymore. It doesn't make my comment arrogant and I didn't appreciate that implication by you or anyone else.

Finally, the offending poster apologized for their language so I don't understand the piling on.

For my part, I didn't continue on anything with the offending poster. I simply addressed your continuation of "arrogant" comments.

 

[thunzor]

I would welcome you to the Dis but with this first post, I'm wondering if it isn't possible that you have been here before.

Yeah, that’s my wife. We have both been checking out DIS for a while (since we decided to get APs ) and I decided to join earlier this month so that I could participate here (I love Disney, her….not so much ) and now she really reads over my shoulders. So when I was reading this thread she wanted to post her opinion and I told here she would have to register like everyone else if she wanted to post here opinion (especially since we don’t totally agree on this subject).

 

[mking624]

Yeah, that’s my wife. We have both been checking out DIS for a while (since we decided to get APs ) and I decided to join earlier this month so that I could participate here (I love Disney, her….not so much ) and now she really reads over my shoulders. So when I was reading this thread she wanted to post her opinion and I told here she would have to register like everyone else if she wanted to post here opinion (especially since we don’t totally agree on this subject).

Just a warning...you may never see your computer again if she really gets into this place.

 

[StacyP9999]

As someone who will make their first trip to the world this spring, I can completely understand the OP's position. He knew the park was closing but he received mixed messages. He was allowed on ride 2 minutes before closing, allowed to purchase a snack and his wife was allowed in the shop to make purchases. It ended up being 45 minutes because she was stuck in a line behind 10 people. Who can blame them really? As far as the CM escorting them out, I don't blame her either. She is probably just as frustrated with the loose system as the ticket holders are.
Honestly, I am kind of bummed I stumbled on this thread. The venom has been disturbing. I typically don't study for my vacations but it seems at Disney this is an expectation?

 

[MichelleVW]

As someone who will make their first trip to the world this spring, I can completely understand the OP's position. He knew the park was closing but he received mixed messages. He was allowed on ride 2 minutes before closing, allowed to purchase a snack and his wife was allowed in the shop to make purchases. It ended up being 45 minutes because she was stuck in a line behind 10 people. Who can blame them really? As far as the CM escorting them out, I don't blame her either. She is probably just as frustrated with the loose system as the ticket holders are.
Honestly, I am kind of bummed I stumbled on this thread. The venom has been disturbing. I typically don't study for my vacations but it seems at Disney this is an expectation?

I like to be prepared for all of my vacations and do a lot of planning, but with a place as big as Disney you HAVE to plan or you will be lost.

 

[stargrazer]

Honestly, I am kind of bummed I stumbled on this thread. The venom has been disturbing. I typically don't study for my vacations but it seems at Disney this is an expectation?

As crazy as this sounds, this thread only got this way because people are really invested in Disney...and I don't mean just $$. Even though I may not agree with everyone here, I do enjoy listening to others point of view and really don't think any less of anyone for them expressing their opinion. It sounds harsh but for the most part I think it comes from a place of love...loving the Mouse!!

It's not an expectation for anyone to study for their vacations necessarily, but Disney does require a different approach than most vacations I think. That said, I study for my trips to the Great Smoky Mountains just as much...the history, hiking trails, cabins, activities, etc. I think any time you want maximum experience out of your vacation money, it's a prudent thing to do.

I think most DISers just get aggravated when people don't do some thinking ahead and a little research before the trip and then come back and bash Disney for their policies, or for parks being too crowded, not being able to get into table service restaurants or for not being able to take part in fastpass systems or EMH etc etc.

I went to Disney for many years without 'insider information' and had a fine time, but the info I have now is the difference between a good vacation and a great one.

Have fun, don't let us scare ya off!

 

[pigletforever]

I sure hope this hard line CM is at the parks when I'm there in May. Maybe he/she can take care of the Heelie problem!BTW,I'm with you too. The ticket says the party starts at 7 but these people are infringing on my time in the parks by arriving at 4. Disney needs to 'catch a grip'.

I have a regular ticket that entitles me to be there from open till 7 but I also have a hard ticket that entitles me to be there from 7 till close. How is taht infringing on your time? It is my time too.

 

[auntpolly]

Yeah but just wait until they wake him from his cryogentic chamber. Then he will straighten all of this out!

Oh, boy, now you're gonna start a whole new religion or something - a bunch of people waiting for Walt's second coming! And Armageddon when all the wrongs are put to right at WDW!

I'll never forget, a couple of years ago, when I got into a huge fight with people on the resorts board because I jumped into try to help out a lady who was getting her cyber butt kicked because - a CM let her have a refund that they usually don't give to people - there were people who were yelling at her that she was " rude to even ask for it!!!"

She asked - politely - and a kind CM took pity on her and gave her her deposit back (or something like that) and it was not only her "sin" somehow, but a really shameful thing on the CMs part who did something nice for someone!

In this case the business showed a heart, and people were mad because it wasn't "fair". (If everyone can't have something - no one should.)

 

[MichelleVW]

As crazy as this sounds, this thread only got this way because people are really invested in Disney...and I don't mean just $$. Even though I may not agree with everyone here, I do enjoy listening to others point of view and really don't think any less of anyone for them expressing their opinion. It sounds harsh but for the most part I think it comes from a place of love...loving the Mouse!!

It's not an expectation for anyone to study for their vacations necessarily, but Disney does require a different approach than most vacations I think. That said, I study for my trips to the Great Smoky Mountains just as much...the history, hiking trails, cabins, activities, etc. I think any time you want maximum experience out of your vacation money, it's a prudent thing to do.

I think most DISers just get aggravated when people don't do some thinking ahead and a little research before the trip and then come back and bash Disney for their policies, or for parks being too crowded, not being able to get into table service restaurants or for not being able to take part in fastpass systems or EMH etc etc.

I went to Disney for many years without 'insider information' and had a fine time, but the info I have now is the difference between a good vacation and a great one.

Have fun, don't let us scare ya off!

Yep....I think you hit the nail on the head!!

 

[rie'smom]

I sure hope this hard line CM is at the parks when I'm there in May. Maybe he/she can take care of the Heelie problem!BTW,I'm with you too. The ticket says the party starts at 7 but these people are infringing on my time in the parks by arriving at 4. Disney needs to 'catch a grip'.

I have a regular ticket that entitles me to be there from open till 7 but I also have a hard ticket that entitles me to be there from 7 till close. How is taht infringing on your time? It is my time too.

'Scuse me,I didn't say the day ticket. You're reading something that's not in my post. Don't believe I see anything here that refers to a hard ticket.

 

[goofy4tink]

I don't think there are really all that many people in MK using just their party tickets starting at 4:00. For the most part you will find that those entering early are those who also have alternative park passes...hoppers, APs. I don't think the non-pass holders who are entering the park at 4:30 are causing the attraction or shop lines to be long. As I said before, there were a ton of people leaving the park at 4:00 when we entered. We had an ADR for CP at 5:00 and wanted to just amble around beforehand...actually got to do the new Comedy Floor attraction before dinner (the name escapes me at the moment). There were hordes of people streaming out of the park at 5:45 when we left CP. And yes, at 7:30, there were CMs telling people they had to get a wristband or exit the park as it was now closed.
Disney has closed the park for an hour before a party starts, herding those party goers already in the park into one specific area of the park...TomorrowLand was used a lot. Then they could 'sweep' the park and could be sure there were no lingering day guests. But, this cut down on the sales in shops..so now they allow an overlap. They do need time to decorate for a particular party and to get the party specific merchandise on the shelves. Is this our problem? No, I guess not. But it does help explain the dynamics of what is going on and why.

When they made the announcements that MK was closing, and to please leave the park, it seemed pretty clear to me that they wanted you to leave. Not to stop off and buy some snacks or gifts. They were making announcements as early as 4:00, stating that the park was closing at 7:00 for the special Pirate and Princess Party...if you want to join the fun, stop at the ticket booths and buy your tickets to the party. At 7 the announcements started saying that the park was now closed, please exit the park if you were not staying for the special Pirate and Princess Party.

 

[88Keys]

The hard ticket events are kind of a bummer for non-party-going guests. I am going to my first one in two weeks, and these events really do infringe on the vacation time of non-party goers. It would not be so bad if they were isolated, but now with Princess and Pirates added and the fact that Halloween parties begin in min-September (!), they are getting harder and harder to avoid. Not only is park time lost, but the extra hour or so at the end of the day is lost as well and the gate price remains the same. And for those who say it's your fault for not researching it -- c'mon and lighten up. Yes, foreknowledge is good but unless you are a Disney nut like us, you probably do not know about Princess and Pirate parties (believe it or not, most people do not even know that this is the Year of a Million Dreams). Some people just, you know, go on vacation (though I agree the OP was pushing the envelope).

In my continued fear of added events like Monsters Inc. Memorial Day Madness or Pluto's President's Day Pandemonium, I suggest that Disney create a 5th park called Partyland, USA devoted to these hard-ticketed events.

 

[StacyP9999]

Thanks Diana.
I will of course have a basic plan, but didn't have any intention of studying if that makes any sense. There were some posters in this thread that sort of implied that everyone should know how this that and the other thing work and if they missed signs they were being deliberately obtuse. I doubt the OP had any idea that there were going to be people that would be mighty peeved if they bought a donut and some ears on the way out, especially since everyone gave them the greenlight until they encountered their escort.
My regular forums routinely fight about politics, circumcision, and whether or not it is OK to let kitty roam. Now those are some ugly discussions. You all aren't scary, just a bit, er obsessed and I mean that in the nicest way.

Stacy,
I'll be the one in the parks asking the CMs lots of questions.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I always go to the parks the day of the party. When I went to MVMCP on 12/12, I had been in the park since opening, (have an AP,) so I was "entitled" to be there at 4:00 anyway.

It's Disney's policy to allow party guests to arrive starting at 4:00, which I like, because even though I've always had an AP or MYW ticket I wouldn't like to see a mob scene if they had to clear out the park at 7:00, and then have 20,000+ guests enter at once. That would just be insane.

I had a phone call last night and didn't finish want I wanted to say, so I'll continue now;

I agree with the majority of people here, you were still in the park at 7:45. After the park had been closed for 45 minutes, and after the party had started. A CM had also already stopped you from going in a store, and instead of leaving, you went into another store. The CM who watched you, and then escorted you out, was just doing her job.

You have no reason, (in my opinion,) to be mad at anyone. You had already been told that the park was closed and you were unable to purchase anything, and instead of respecting the rules, you broke them.

Also, and this is pretty beside the point, they have special P & P Party merchandise, (or I'm assuming they do, since they do for MVMCP and MNSSHP,) that is exclusive to the parties. And if you, (and by you, I mean a day guest,) are shopping after the party starts, and purchase something exclusive, (which I know you didn't, I'm just saying,) it wouldn't be fair to the people who paid the extra $$$ to attend the party.

 

[CoPirate]

This is Mrs. Timkin......this is getting out of hand!!!! My husband was just trying to express his disappointment in the CM. We have been to Disney 5 times now and have always had a wonderful time. We have always ended the MK park with a stroll down Main Street looking one last time. Every trip we have ever taken has been researched completely before we have gone. This trip was a little different. We were in Tampa for the week visiting my parents and decided at the last minute to make a day trip to Disney. We went for the day without having researched any info going on at Disney. I can honestly say that we did see a sign at the entrance but did not pay much attention to it.

That is the same reason people with heart conditions get on Mission:space and end up in the hospital. There were signs but you didnt read them? Staying 'in the know' in the parks is your responsibility. Its common sense.

Yes, we knew the park closed at 7pm but did not realize that the P&P party was that night. Maybe they did announce it, as a previous post stated, but we never heard it. All I am trying to say is that we did what we do everytime we are leaving the park....stroll down Main Street on the way out. You can say over and over that we were doing wrong but we will disagree. You can say that it was not right for us to stay after 7:00 but all we were doing was shopping for a few extra minutes.

45 min is beyond a "few extra minutes"

It was our only day there and we were not coming back....my kids wanted Mickey Ears that you could only get at the front of the park and I had a family of 8-10 people in front of me buying ears so I had to wait!!

Again, personal responsibility. Why didnt you grab the ears on the way IN. Or better yet, ask that 'rude cm' if there was anywhere else on property you could buy Mickey Ears. Even if you didnt have park hoppers the christmas shop at DTD does embroider Mickey Ears. You could have gone there after exciting the MK so early.

I was not trying to watch a show, parade or go on a ride. I was just trying to keep the "Magic" with my kids who were so excited we surprised them with this day trip! It is no different than the people who got to get in at 4pm.....they DID get to go on rides for an extra three hours which is totally wrong if you want to make an issue!!!

Its not wrong. Its rules. DISNEY decided that people WITH P & P tickets would be allowed in at 4pm. They decided people without P&P tickets would need to leave by 7pm. You were there at 7:45. You broke the rules.

The main thing my husband was trying to say is that the CM did not have to be so rude with her attitude and tone of her voice. Disney is a Magical place and that CM is not making "dreams come true!" This post really needs to end...

Then dont come on a public message board looking for sympathy when you knowingly broke the rules. YOu didnt have to post your story, and now you're upset because people are being honest with you about what you did.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

P&P guests should NOT be permitted into the park until 7pm.

It's been stated a few times that some, (I'm not sure what percentage,) of the P&P guests have valid day admission, and would already be at the parks anyway.

I plan to be at MK the afternoon at the party around 2:00, with my AP, and then just get a wristband once they are available.

 

[Sleeping Becca]

I can relate to the OP. He was trying to follow the rules, he had no intention of staying for the party without a ticket. He was just following her regular park routine and was caught offguard.

I can also relate to those holding tickets for hard events. There were so many complaints regarding non ticket holders staying for events. I'm glad to see they are enforcing the hard tickets.

Bottom line the OP had a bad experience and is entitled to release a little frustration. I don't understand why some folks have too be so mean.

 

[CoPirate]

The hard ticket events are kind of a bummer for non-party-going guests. I am going to my first one in two weeks, and these events really do infringe on the vacation time of non-party goers. It would not be so bad if they were isolated, but now with Princess and Pirates added and the fact that Halloween parties begin in min-September (!), they are getting harder and harder to avoid. Not only is park time lost, but the extra hour or so at the end of the day is lost as well and the gate price remains the same. And for those who say it's your fault for not researching it -- c'mon and lighten up. Yes, foreknowledge is good but unless you are a Disney nut like us, you probably do not know about Princess and Pirate parties (believe it or not, most people do not even know that this is the Year of a Million Dreams). Some people just, you know, go on vacation (though I agree the OP was pushing the envelope).

In my continued fear of added events like Monsters Inc. Memorial Day Madness or Pluto's President's Day Pandemonium, I suggest that Disney create a 5th park called Partyland, USA devoted to these hard-ticketed events.

Oh give me a break!!! Infringing on your park time? Park time lost? They dont have these events every night of the week. So if you were planning your trip, and not just showing up, youd realize P&P or MVMCP or MNSSHP was going on on Friday and Monday of your trip and on those days you should visit other parks. Why is that difficult for people to understand? Even if you MUST visit MK on that day, you could plan on heading over to MGM or Epcot for the evening around 6 or 7 o'clock. If you dont have a hopper, PLAN on enjoying your hotel room.

Why do people expect Disney to hold their hand, and then when they dont, they hold Disney accountable for their 'bad trip'?

Next time I go to MK and it closes at 7pm on Thursday and 12am on Friday, im gonna demand my money back for Thursday. Its not fair that people on Friday get to enjoy MK for 5 hours more then I got to!!!!! :rofl