What time do day guests need to leave on party nights?

[HopperFan]

Saw something new. We were at MK on Tuesday, Party Night. We got on Small World around 5:20 which is right across from Peter Pan. I noticed the ride had no one in any of the line, no wait time posted and CMs in front blocking it. When we got off SW I meandered over there and there was some guests speaking to them. They said the ride was closed until party time. That there is a list of rides that will close earlier than park closing and listed Pirates, Space Mountain .... makes sense since they do overlays and would need ride cleared. Only thing I could think of was wait times for Peter Pan is so long that they close it early to clear the line. SO if you want to ride do it earlier in day.

 

[rdaky]

Counterpoint: I work PT as an usher at a concert venue and it's generally pretty boring, but it gets fun when people try to break the rules and you get to (figuratively, of course) smack them down. I'm sure for some CMs, the drama is entertaining.

I doubt your assertion that hundreds of people are trying to crash every party. There's always some sneaky people but most people follow the rules.*

*The rules that, BTW, allow you to get in a ride line or start a dining reservation at 6:00.

Magic Kingdom is a whole other beast. There are definitely hundreds.

 

[Gentry2004]

Back in 2019, we had BOG reservations for 5:55 on a party night. Our service was so slow that we didn't get out of there until sometime after 7:30. Not a single CM asked to see our wrist bands from the moment we left the restaurant all the way through to the front gate.

We did MNSSHP this year and a family tried to get in line for the People Mover at 6:05 and were were told that the park was closed. As we were about ready to head up the ramp, we saw them trying to get into Buzz.

Interesting. We ate at Pecos Bill one night on a party night (I think this was 2018) and when we finished around 6:20 or so we were literally escorted to the hub by a cast member. She was friendly and polite about it but it was clear the escort was not optional.

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

I think we are going to hop out of there by 4. Might go to Epcot on the monorail and then make our way to WL.

 

[jo-jo]

Saw something new. We were at MK on Tuesday, Party Night. We got on Small World around 5:20 which is right across from Peter Pan. I noticed the ride had no one in any of the line, no wait time posted and CMs in front blocking it. When we got off SW I meandered over there and there was some guests speaking to them. They said the ride was closed until party time. That there is a list of rides that will close earlier than park closing and listed Pirates, Space Mountain .... makes sense since they do overlays and would need ride cleared. Only thing I could think of was wait times for Peter Pan is so long that they close it early to clear the line. SO if you want to ride do it earlier in day.

At what time are they closing these rides and how many? So day people get the extra influx of party people at 4 and then lose access to X amount of rides which will make available rides even more busy? Am I reading this correct?

 

[HopperFan]

At what time are they closing these rides and how many? So day people get the extra influx of party people at 4 and then lose access to X amount of rides which will make available rides even more busy? Am I reading this correct?

I did party day in Sept and it was awesome - felt very much like less folks than we’re at our party.

Tuesday and again today the park is very busy. I can’t now suggest you use a ticket to come if not going to party.

Pirates and Space get overlay so they close between. Mad Tea does but it’s only lights etc. My guess is that Peter Pan line is often long - right now at 2 hours. No way they can let folks in if they are going well in to party time. Given this moment it should close at 5 to get everyone out by 7. So consider what rides might close early based on current wait times of the day. It might be day of decisions as Disney knows folks jump in those lines at last minute.

And yes Tuesday at 4 the park obviously swelled.

When I noticed PP was closed it was 5:15 but the line was completely empty so it had to be before 5. Pirates in Sept was closed at 6 when I walked up with huge line waiting for it to open at 7. I didn’t go near Space. I don’t know what others closed.

 

[parasail_of_congress]

At what time are they closing these rides and how many? So day people get the extra influx of party people at 4 and then lose access to X amount of rides which will make available rides even more busy? Am I reading this correct?

I suspect that there was some actual issue with PP that they were fixing. Especially in this case, if the ride was completely closed, party guests couldn't ride, either. I'm not really sure why this example was mentioned in this thread because the ride was closed to everyone, not just day guests.

 

[jo-jo]

I did party day in Sept and it was awesome - felt very much like less folks than we’re at our party.

Tuesday and again today the park is very busy. I can’t now suggest you use a ticket to come if not going to party.

Pirates and Space get overlay so they close between. Mad Tea does but it’s only lights etc. My guess is that Peter Pan line is often long - right now at 2 hours. No way they can let folks in if they are going well in to party time. Given this moment it should close at 5 to get everyone out by 7. So consider what rides might close early based on current wait times of the day. It might be day of decisions as Disney knows folks jump in those lines at last minute.

And yes Tuesday at 4 the park obviously swelled.

When I noticed PP was closed it was 5:15 but the line was completely empty so it had to be before 5. Pirates in Sept was closed at 6 when I walked up with huge line waiting for it to open at 7. I didn’t go near Space. I don’t know what others closed.

Not going on party days really cuts into schedule. We are going 14 days (big trip for us) 8 of those are party days.

 

[HopperFan]

Not going on party days really cuts into schedule. We are going 14 days (big trip for us) 8 of those are party days.

Have a hopper and you are fine. I just think planning for park to be empty might be a risk.

 

[Davey Jones II]

I can understand why Disney is cracking down on non-party goers. The last time we did one of the parties (pre-pandemic) we were aware of non-party goers crowding the parade route.

 

[Davey Jones II]

In December we're in Disney for 3 nights before Universal, a Thursday, Friday and Saturday. My plan is for MK on the Thursday with a dining reservation at BOG at 4pm. Ughhh, I figured that they wouldn't start asking us to leave until 6pm. I really don't want to do MK on a Saturday that is sandwiched between three parties.... I guess I should just change things up.

You should be fine with your reservation on Thursday. And you definitely don't want to be at MK on a non-party day.

 

[emmabelle]

You should be fine with your reservation on Thursday. And you definitely don't want to be at MIK on a non-party day.

definitely don't want to do MK on that Saturday the week before Christmas!

 

[rdaky]

I think we are going to hop out of there by 4. Might go to Epcot on the monorail and then make our way to WL.

I think that's a really smart idea. The tough thing with a hard closing is that everyone is leaving at the same time and you get into larger than regular closing crowds at the monorail and boat. We made the mistake of leaving at closing on a cast party night and it took us well over an hour to get to our car.

 

[Gentry2004]

definitely don't want to do MK on that Saturday the week before Christmas!

I don't either but my DD really wants to see Enchantment since we haven't been to WDW in 4 years. So we are doing Sunday 12/18 (a party day) and Wednesday 12/21 (not a party day.) I would prefer two party days but I get where DD is coming from. We don't like to hop so won't have hoppers.

 

[Love Tink]

I can understand why Disney is cracking down on non-party goers. The last time we did one of the parties (pre-pandemic) we were aware of non-party goers crowding the parade route.

And you knew they weren't party goers because...?

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

I think that's a really smart idea. The tough thing with a hard closing is that everyone is leaving at the same time and you get into larger than regular closing crowds at the monorail and boat. We made the mistake of leaving at closing on a cast party night and it took us well over an hour to get to our car.

Ooooooh that is a fantastic point. Ok, I’m convinced now. Thanks! It will make me feel like we are being so clever lol.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

Perhaps my inclination to make party CMs' job a bit easier led me to speak imprecisely. So, ::: up on soapbox ::: If not staying for the party, leave MK before 6:00.

Why should day guests be expected to leave before closing time on a party night? They’re not expected to leave early on a regular night.

 

[parasail_of_congress]

Ooooooh that is a fantastic point. Ok, I’m convinced now. Thanks! It will make me feel like we are being so clever lol.

I understand that some people on here are recommending leaving early, but the park closes at 6 pm. for people who visit during the day. Every single day has a closing time, and there is not a flip that's switched a minute after park closing time to eject guests. The actual party doesn't even start until 7 anyway.

Anyway, don't be scared away by people who just want fewer people in the park. We all wish fewer people were in the park, but that's not an excuse to tell people that they need to leave before actual park close.

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

I understand that some people on here are recommending leaving early, but the park closes at 6 pm. for people who visit during the day. Every single day has a closing time, and there is not a flip that's switched a minute after park closing time to eject guests. The actual party doesn't even start until 7 anyway.

Anyway, don't be scared away by people who just want fewer people in the park. We all wish fewer people were in the park, but that's not an excuse to tell people that they need to leave before actual park close.

Good point. I think I will feel frustrated with the masses coming in at 4, so we will prob head out then anyway. We did MVMCP once and it was one and done for us. My DH thinks that all of the party “exclusives” should just be included every day for every one. I can’t say I disagree. But that’s a post for another day

 

[HopperFan]

Saw something new. We were at MK on Tuesday, Party Night. We got on Small World around 5:20 which is right across from Peter Pan. I noticed the ride had no one in any of the line, no wait time posted and CMs in front blocking it. When we got off SW I meandered over there and there was some guests speaking to them. They said the ride was closed until party time. That there is a list of rides that will close earlier than park closing and listed Pirates, Space Mountain .... makes sense since they do overlays and would need ride cleared. Only thing I could think of was wait times for Peter Pan is so long that they close it early to clear the line. SO if you want to ride do it earlier in day.

Was there again today. Went to Peter Pan about 5:25 and it was open. Guests were in regular line but it was well inside the building. Wait time was down to 70 minutes so perhaps that is why, those folks would be out before party time. I wasn't going to wait around to see if there was a point where they closed it to avoid carryover.