Visiting During Halloween or Xmas Parties Advice

[jrt1176]

Trying to decide when to take my niece for her 2nd visit.

I had loosely decided on the week of Oct 18, Saturday to Saturday. Crowd-wise it seems perfect, but I didn't realize that the Halloween party would cause MK to close early 4 of our days...

Is this an issue with others? I'm sure I could figure out a schedule to limit the inconvenience as much as possible, but should I just choose a different time to visit to avoid the situation?

We may attend the party, but I'm not sure as of yet. I'd like to end the vacation at MK and Friday has the party, etc. If we do attend, I would rather avoid Friday because I am sure it's more crowded.

I'm also looking at other dates, but Nov and early to mid-Dec has the same issue with the Xmas party at MK.

Just curious how others handle visiting during these parties.

Thanks

 

[MelanieRI]

Trying to decide when to take my niece for her 2nd visit.

I had loosely decided on the week of Oct 18, Saturday to Saturday. Crowd-wise it seems perfect, but I didn't realize that the Halloween party would cause MK to close early 4 of our days...

Just curious how others handle visiting during these parties.

Thanks

I have found that on the days where the park closes early, people avoid them like the plague especially if they don't have park hoppers. Yes, the people for the party can start coming in a 4pm but most arrive later especially if they aren't staying on site. So, I have found in the past that these days can be lighter in crowds.

 

[JZCubed]

As previous post mentions, MK crowds are typically lower on days with MVMXP & MNSHP.

Unless visiting Disney World is only about visiting MK, then the schedule should not detract from a good time.

 

[KNovacovschi]

We were there Nov 17-23 last year & it was great. All our ride lines were pretty much walk ons, except a couple that were at the most 15 min waits. The decorations for both Halloween and Christmas are beautiful. I would recommend going during whichever holiday is really your & your nieces favorite. Also the way you can avoid the party days at MK is to go to another park that day. Either way you will have lots of fun.

 

[juliehoey]

Trying to decide when to take my niece for her 2nd visit.

I had loosely decided on the week of Oct 18, Saturday to Saturday. Crowd-wise it seems perfect, but I didn't realize that the Halloween party would cause MK to close early 4 of our days...

Is this an issue with others? I'm sure I could figure out a schedule to limit the inconvenience as much as possible, but should I just choose a different time to visit to avoid the situation?

We may attend the party, but I'm not sure as of yet. I'd like to end the vacation at MK and Friday has the party, etc. If we do attend, I would rather avoid Friday because I am sure it's more crowded.

I'm also looking at other dates, but Nov and early to mid-Dec has the same issue with the Xmas party at MK.

Just curious how others handle visiting during these parties.

Thanks

Josh can help with his crowd calendars. He also has tips on both parties.
http://www.easywdw.com/category/worth-2/halloweenparty/

http://www.easywdw.com/category/worth-2/christmasparty/

 

[LoveToTravel2001]

We've gone several times during the first week of December. We attend the party one night, whichever has been best for my planning. We've always had a good time especially since dD is big on characters and there were plenty and lines were very short. (I don't use crowd guides or calendars. We utilize EMH in the am and that's how I pick my parks, then my ADRs.)
It's beautiful at Christmas. The resorts are all decked out and there's Osborne lights at HS. We've never had excessive lines. Pop Warner football and cheerleading traditionally is there the same time period. We've never had an issue with them but we stay at CBR not the All Stars. There is generally one night when HS closes early for their celebration party.
Again, we've never had an issue with crowds except the year we went to MK not realizing that they were taping the Christmas parade. Wall to wall people, being detoured around Main Street through the back lots behind Main Street dumping everyone into tomorrow land - not a good impression and we left after an hour.
Decide which holiday you enjoy more and go with it.

 

[dachsie]

So is your ticket to the party your ticket into the park or do you have to have both?

 

[JZCubed]

So is your ticket to the party your ticket into the park or do you have to have both?

You do not need to have two tickets.

A 'Typical' My Way ticket gets you into Magic Kingdom from opening until the 'Party' starts at 7pm.

A 'Hard' ticket is required to be in the Magic Kingdom for the 'Party' starting at 7pm.

But be advised, if you are planning to be in the Magic Kingdom prior to the start of the 'Party', you may enter no sooner than 4pm. You may not enter the Park with a 'Hard' ticket prior to 4pm.

 

[jrt1176]

Thanks for all the replies!

My initial thought was that I was disappointed MK would be closed early over half the days we are there...

But, after thinking on it today and looking it over, I think the party days could in our favor with our Park Hopper tickets.

Our last night will be Friday, but I will probably choose to attend the party on Thursday as I think it will be less crowded. I would like to end the vacation at MK Friday night, as we usually have done this, but I think I will spend the day there and leave when the party starts.

Are both the Halloween and Xmas parties crowded on Fridays?

 

[RachaelA]

That's our week this year. We did that week in October 2012 as well. It was a nice time to go. Crowds were not crazy. MNSSHP is a lot of fun. ANd the fireworks for it are AWESOME! So even if you aren't going to be at the party watch them from somewhere outside the park

 

[LoveToTravel2001]

Thanks for all the replies! My initial thought was that I was disappointed MK would be closed early over half the days we are there... But, after thinking on it today and looking it over, I think the party days could in our favor with our Park Hopper tickets. Our last night will be Friday, but I will probably choose to attend the party on Thursday as I think it will be less crowded. I would like to end the vacation at MK Friday night, as we usually have done this, but I think I will spend the day there and leave when the party starts. Are both the Halloween and Xmas parties crowded on Fridays?

I can't really say if it's busy on Friday for Xmas party. We never found it very busy during the first week of December. I don't pay much attention to expected crowd level days on touring plans. I just plan what's important to my family and when. We've never had a bad trip and only one bad isolated incident in all of our trips.

 

[jrt1176]

I certainly understand that and I agree!

I've been numerous times since I was a kid and the crowd level isn't a big factor to me... But, it will be my niece's 2nd trip, and first with her dad, so I want it to be similar to her first trip and do as much as we can with minimal crowds, etc.

After this trip I won't be planning as much in the future as she will have seen everything a couple of times! Honestly, I want to go for Xmas, but the crowds are always crazy. That doesn't bother me, but I want her dad to experience everything with her and it's much easier with a smaller crowd level!

I can't really say if it's busy on Friday for Xmas party. We never found it very busy during the first week of December. I don't pay much attention to expected crowd level days on touring plans. I just plan what's important to my family and when. We've never had a bad trip and only one bad isolated incident in all of our trips.

 

[agavegirl1]

I will be there at the same time using Hoppers. I don't want to attend MNSSHP, but my plans are to go to MK on three of the days from RD to lunch and one other day (a party day) in the afternoon from noon through dinner time, leaving before 7. I plan to use FP+ one of the mornings and for the afternoon visit, with my FP+ for the other days in my afternoon park.

My preliminary touring plans have me seeing everything I want to and some favorites two or three times. I am arriving Friday and leaving Sunday however so I do have an extra day in there.

 

[mom2rtk]

We love visiting during party season. It makes crowd prediction so easy. Go on a party day........ lovely low crowds. Go on a non-party day? Crazy busy. It just doesn't get any easier.