Procedures for special events (MVMCP and MNSSHP)

[justhat]

We attended a MNSSHP in 10/03 and thought it was lots of fun and were thinking about making a quick December trip this year to take our daughter to MVMCP (she'll be 21 months). When we went to the MNSSHP we went to Epcot that day and got to the MK around 4ish and they were starting to hand out bracelets and while we were eating dinner they sectioned off the lands and non-bracelet people had to leave.

I assumed all the parties worked like this, but then last night I read a review somewhere and someone said that they went to a MVMCP a few months ago and non-bracelet guests were allowed to remain in the park during the party. Not sure if they were allowed the perks of the party or not, but the person said it was packed that night and seemed to imply that anyone was allowed on rides, bracelet or not. They complained to several CMs but they didn't seem to think it was an issue and then they went to guest services and complained and eventually got a refund and they went home. They had been to various parties before and non-party guests had to leave the park so they were surprised.

Is this a new policy or was it just a fluke thing? It will really affect whether or not we take a trip down there with our daughter. She's so young that if they let anyone stay then what's the point in going with her? We'd probably leave by 10pm since she doesn't usually last too much longer than that, so if it's packed with non-party people we wouldn't really get to do anything. We're not really taking her with the intent on her enjoying everything offered, as we know that at that age she won't get most of it (which is why we skipped the party on our trip last December when she was 9 months old), we just want a chance for her to see the parades, snow, characters, and go on some rides. But if it's like this person described, we might as well stay home, or just plan a trip for whenever since the party won't be so essential. Anyone go this past year and know if this is true?

 

[WDSearcher]

No ... that's incorrect. You need a separate ticket to be in the parks for MNSSHP or MVMCP -- you cannot stay in the parks without it. What's more likely is that the party in question was very busy, and the poster assumed that the reason it was so busy was that other people were allowed to stay. But they're not. People without party tickets are ushered out of the park.

Think about it ... if people could just stay and see the special shows and parades and do all the other stuff ... how could Disney make any money at it?

 

[justhat]

I did think of that, but the poster was so adament that they saw people without bracelets, many of them. I was hoping they were wrong cause we really want to go, but that sorta scared us off.

 

[DebbieB]

There was a problem a couple years ago where they stopped giving bracelets to those entering after 7:00, assuming that all of the non partygoers were already out of the park. People assumed because they didn't have bracelets that they were "crashers" but they weren't. I haven't heard of that happening the past year or two.

 

[ms.ojo]

If you go to purchase any of the special party pins you must show your bracelet and they write on it how many pins you are buying! (You are limited to 4 or 5, I can't remember now). No bracelet...no rides...no pins...no fun!

 

[IluvXU]

The Christmas Party was great fun and everyone we saw had bracelets. We took our 15 month old daughter, she loved the parade. It was a great time of year to visit, because she was not hurried with the characters... they had time for her to warm up to them. She actually liked to back up to them, maybe that made them less scary to her!

 

[WDSearcher]

I did think of that, but the poster was so adament that they saw people without bracelets, many of them. I was hoping they were wrong cause we really want to go, but that sorta scared us off.

It's just not possible that there would be that many people without bracelets. If it was very very early in the evening, it's possible that there were still a lot of people being "ushered out," or it's possible that the bracelets that party-goers were wearing were somehow pushed up their arm or hidden behind the sleeve of a sweater or something. But Disney is very strict about who gets in and who doesn't. It's pretty hard to crash a "hard ticket" event. Chances are, the party was more crowded than your friend was expecting it to be -- just because it's a "ticket only" event doesn't mean there won't be crowds -- and so she started to try and find a reason why. And if it's a cool night and everyone is wearing long sleeves, it can be hard to see bracelets unless you're really looking. At a glance, you might miss them.

 

[Sunkissed]

Just a quick note: We attended MVMCP on 12/5/04 and pins were not given out. We still received the photo, hot cocoa and cookies, but no pin. Not sure if that is a new policy or was a fluke on the night we were there.