Visit MK on MVMCP day-but not attending event

[mom25kiddos]

We were planning on visiting MK on the 18th-using our regular ticket, and not purchasing/attending the MVMCP. Recognizing we will have to leave the park early, I am wondering if the park will be really busy that day, or not as bad? Should we change our park that day? Already have fast passes booked.

 

[subtchr]

Although this year it seems every park is busier than past years, this is generally considered a good strategy, to visit MK on a party day. The reason is that party-goers cannot enter the park using their party tickets until 4:00, and many other guests who are NOT attending the party -- especially those without park hopper tickets -- will choose another park that day because of the early closing at MK.

We are arriving next week, with park days December 8-11. The ONLY non-party day is December 9. Our plan is to visit the MK on December 8, from open until 4:00, then go to DHS to see the Osborne Lights and Fantasmic! We will visit the MK on the evening of the 9th, to see Wishes and MSEP. We do expect heavy crowds that night, both because it is the only non-party night during the stretch, and because DHS closes at 6 that night for the Pop Warner private party.

 

[mom2rtk]

While the park won't be empty by any stretch of the imagination, it will be far better than attending on a non-party day. Crowd levels are as good as they get on party days. Most avoid the park on those days because they don't want to leave early.

 

[jpeden]

You will get more done on a party day being there from rope drop at 9:00AM until 4:00PM in seven hours than you could get done on a normal day being there from say 9:00AM-10:00PM. Although I do advise leaving around 4:00 to 5:00PM as the crowds start to pick up as the party guests come in. We used this strategy during our September trip - Night of Joy was happening the first night of our trip and we got so much done, we really could have cut a day off our park tickets.

 

[mom25kiddos]

You guys are awesome thank you! We will make other plans for the evening.

 

[kathy884]

I love rope drop to 4 on party days for the lighter than average crowds for that time of the year. Do note that between 4 and 7 when the party people can get in it gets quite crowded. Enjoy. If you aren't concerned about evening things, this is an excellent choice of a day!

 

[tmoo]

You will get more done on a party day being there from rope drop at 9:00AM until 4:00PM in seven hours than you could get done on a normal day being there from say 9:00AM-10:00PM. Although I do advise leaving around 4:00 to 5:00PM as the crowds start to pick up as the party guests come in. We used this strategy during our September trip - Night of Joy was happening the first night of our trip and we got so much done, we really could have cut a day off our park tickets.

Ditto: We did this and it worked great. Get there well before 9. We stepped into the mine train ride car at 9:02 this morning. The park was almost empty until 10:30 or so. Space Mountain was walk on after mine train. It will get busier through the day with a very noticeable increase at 4. Be prepared to leave at this time even though you can stay until 7. By 4 you will have done a tremendous amount of things and be ready to crash.

 

[peacefulmama]

Our last day at MK was a party day. It was also the only day we went without a plan other than the 3 FP+ that we had; the only "plan" was for my daughter to ride any repeats that she wanted before we left. I was a bit worried about going without a plan but the crowds were so low that we really weren't hurt by having no plan and got a ton of rides in before our 4:45 dinner at BOG. When we got out of dinner at 6 the park was packed!

 

[Nancyg56]

We will be there from the 9th to the 13th and have planned a party night for our first MK day. WE figure if we get to the park for our pre park opening breakfast at BOG, and get the heck out of Dodge after the afternoon parade, we will have gotten to enjoy plenty of attractions.

We will also be in the park on Saturday...a non party night....and are prepared to miss a lot. I normally do not book FP for parades but after having been in the MK during October on a non party Saturday, I did not make that mistake again. It was impossible to see any of the MSEP unless you staked out your spot far in advance, and so this time I have a FP booked. WE will see.

 

[serene56]

It will be better crowd wise compared to the non party day-- which is only 2 days on our visit. Those two days will be super crowded.
I am going to MK on a party day and leaving at 7 and on a non party day where I got FP for wishes and parade because of the crowds

 

[lorenae]

Ditto: We did this and it worked great. Get there well before 9. We stepped into the mine train ride car at 9:02 this morning. The park was almost empty until 10:30 or so. Space Mountain was walk on after mine train. It will get busier through the day with a very noticeable increase at 4. Be prepared to leave at this time even though you can stay until 7. By 4 you will have done a tremendous amount of things and be ready to crash.

That is exactly what we did yesterday. Watched the opening show, and went right to mine train. The wait time was about 20 minutes but within the next 10 minutes, the wait time jumped took like 45 minutes, and then shortly after that an hour. But the other rides had little to no wait and we rode a lot in the first hour and a half.

It did start getting very crowded feeling around 5 PM.

When I was talking to the concierge earlier in the week, I heard someone buying their party tickets and the cast member did inform them that they could be admitted at 4PM. I don't know if all of the party goers are informed of that, but it seems like an awful lot of them do know that!

We left the MK at about 5:15 and went to the 7 o'clock fantasmic! And then to the Osborne lights, and then toy story mania with a 25 minute wait.

 

[subtchr]

It will be better crowd wise compared to the non party day-- which is only 2 days on our visit. Those two days will be super crowded.
I am going to MK on a party day and leaving at 7 and on a non party day where I got FP for wishes and parade because of the crowds

We are doing the same, but planning to leave before 5. I have read that the crowds REALLY build starting at 4, when party-goers are allowed into the park.

 

[serene56]

I AM ARRIVING WITH the masses about 3:30 and only to use my 3 FP- Tinker Bell. Peter Pan and riding People mover then to see talking mickey.

 

[Planogirl]

We are doing this one day. We have ADR's at AKL that evening so we wanted to leave early anyway.

 

[toni nicole]

I went this year on a party day and it was great, very low crowds, did not wait much more than 25 minutes for anything. We took a couple hour break at the hotel and still had time to do everything and space mountain four times also they don't kick you out right away, we got in line about 30 seconds before close and was able to ride and we hung around to take some photos for about 30 minutes. Not sure what time they start trying to check everyone's wristbands