First MNSSHP - Oversold?

[DearDonald]

I'm going to the party this year. In years past, the crowds were low, but WDW never has low crowds anymore. There is no way to get around the fact that the parks are crowded almost all of the time! The Disney After Hours Party costs 50% more and guarantees lower crowds. Maybe people should try that. Its in February and March, I believe.

 

[sjs314]

First of all, if you go in to something thinking you will have a bad time , then you most likely will. It's all about tempering your expectations. Go to the party realizing you may have to wait for some things and may not get everything done you want. Prioritize the things you want to do and if you don't get to the bottom of your list, then you wont be disappointed. Go in with the attitude that you are going to have a great time, no matter what. And you will. It's Disney - the happiest place on earth.

My issue is if it is so crowded since I have to use an ECV to get around and I can not move then my time will be wasted if I cannot get from the castle show to a spot for the parade and then to find a spot to watch the fireworks.
You have no idea how much easier it was when I could walk to maneuver amongst the crowds.
If I had even realized the crowds are now so much worse than years ago I’d never would have bought tickets for the party.
I will get to the gates happy with anticipation as I am looking forward to my first MNSSHP, I just hope I am not upset by the end of the night.

 

[Tk0021]

We had the same experience last year the Friday before Labor Day. It was packed and it even rained most of the party. That made it worse since it closed rides and sent characters inside so the things that were still opened were had crazy long lines. They didn’t do the second parade till almost midnight so it did thin out for that and we got a good spot on main street.

 

[Dug720]

We had the same experience last year the Friday before Labor Day. It was packed and it even rained most of the party. That made it worse since it closed rides and sent characters inside so the things that were still opened were had crazy long lines. They didn’t do the second parade till almost midnight so it did thin out for that and we got a good spot on main street.

At least it seems like they've moved several of the characters inside - or at least under cover - this year, so hopefully that will help when it does rain.

 

[ffdmom]

Apologies if the question has already been asked but, we have MNSSHP tix for Halloween night. Should I be worried? We've done 2 in the past, the 1st was fabulous I believe it was a Friday in late Oct 2016, the 2nd was late Sept 2017 and it rained the whole time so many rides were down and the fireworks and parades were cancelled. I was hoping that the weather would be a bit better this year on Oct. 31st but now I'm concerned about the crowd. Of course I've already paid a pretty penny for the party on Halloween so we'll be going regardless but I'd like to know what we're up against in order to be prepared. Thoughts?

 

[StacyStrong]

Apologies if the question has already been asked but, we have MNSSHP tix for Halloween night. Should I be worried? We've done 2 in the past, the 1st was fabulous I believe it was a Friday in late Oct 2016, the 2nd was late Sept 2017 and it rained the whole time so many rides were down and the fireworks and parades were cancelled. I was hoping that the weather would be a bit better this year on Oct. 31st but now I'm concerned about the crowd. Of course I've already paid a pretty penny for the party on Halloween so we'll be going regardless but I'd like to know what we're up against in order to be prepared. Thoughts?

In my mind, that will be one of the busiest nights simply because it is Halloween.

 

[billyjobobb]

Well......

Star Wars will be opening soon and the land will only hold so many.....

People will plan a 7 day vacation and want to be in there all 7 days......

Disney will have to figure something out. I wouldn't be shocked to see alot of hard ticket nights in that land.

 

[Davey Jones II]

We skipped the party last year...looks like we`ll be doing the same this year. The party used to be a tremendous value, because of short waits for rides.

What about the mid-week parties? Anyone do one of those yet?

 

[Dug720]

We skipped the party last year...looks like we`ll be doing the same this year. The party used to be a tremendous value, because of short waits for rides.

What about the mid-week parties? Anyone do one of those yet?

There hasn't been one yet.

 

[Davey Jones II]

Sadly, this has been going on for a while. We have been lucky enough to attend a Halloween party every since 2001. We could not believe how crowded the late September party was that we attended Last year.

The lines for candy were the largest we had ever seen. The line for the candy trail behind space mountain was out by the goofy roller coaster. We just gave up.

It was hard to get a good place for the second parade, which in prior years was so easy.

We came to the conclusion that Disney must be selling more tickets to the parties than they used to.

We are officially done with the parties, which is so disappointing for our family.

When it comes to the parks, the parties seem to have become one of Disney`s favorite cash cows. So the guest experience goes downhill at those events, too. Sad.

 

[SarahC97]

Apologies if the question has already been asked but, we have MNSSHP tix for Halloween night. Should I be worried? We've done 2 in the past, the 1st was fabulous I believe it was a Friday in late Oct 2016, the 2nd was late Sept 2017 and it rained the whole time so many rides were down and the fireworks and parades were cancelled. I was hoping that the weather would be a bit better this year on Oct. 31st but now I'm concerned about the crowd. Of course I've already paid a pretty penny for the party on Halloween so we'll be going regardless but I'd like to know what we're up against in order to be prepared. Thoughts?

I've been to two sold out parties on Halloween and truthfully - they weren't that bad. But we don't meet characters, we like to do the rides and collect candy. We've always had a good time.

 

[Love Tink]

I'm going to the party this year. In years past, the crowds were low, but WDW never has low crowds anymore. There is no way to get around the fact that the parks are crowded almost all of the time! The Disney After Hours Party costs 50% more and guarantees lower crowds. Maybe people should try that. Its in February and March, I believe.

Oh, are they offering the Halloween shows, treats and characters at those now?

 

[whiporee]

I'm just curious for those who are dissatisfied:

Would you rather a hard cap at say 60 percent of current levels, pretty much assuring every party night is an early sell out, so getting in requires long-term advanced purchase?
or
More parties, so there are fewer "regular" days with longer hours?
or
Ticket prices increased to the point where the crowds diminish because of value?
or
WDW abandon the idea altogether?

Or if you've got another idea, please share it. Not trying to be snarky, but I can see how many people are frustrated with the event, and I'm wondering what their solution might be.

 

[epcotty]

Something I think might really help would be to do a party or two at the start of the season that is "media exclusive." Invite all of the vloggers/bloggers/media, etc., to those nights so that the first few 'real' parties (open to the public), aren't so crowded. Sort of like they have done when opening a new land or attraction.

Yeah, I've read on here in years past that's the reason for the first one especially being so crowded, with the vloggers/bloggers/media. Bad idea to go to the first one. If the other ones are a lot more crowded than before, then they're selling more tickets than they used to

 

[Jimmy Mouse]

From what I have read on UT, A sold out party is equal to a crowd level 7. Last year we attended on a Tuesday with little to no wait on every ride including 7DMT. We decided to stay an extra day and did another party on Sunday. Huge mistake! We stayed until about 10:00. I complained at City Hall on our way out and told them we were leaving due to it being so crazy and the CM said they allowed everyone that missed their party due to Irma to join another party. It showed! It was twice as crowded as MVMCP we attended in 2016.

 

[rastuso]

But most parties that sell out (Halloween being the lone exception) sell out the day of, so are you just going to wait until 6:59 to buy your ticket?

Ahhh, remember the year like half the Partys sold out ahead of time. Was it like 2012 or 2013?

I'd love to know the max ticket numbers then and now.

 

[rastuso]

Well......

Star Wars will be opening soon and the land will only hold so many.....

People will plan a 7 day vacation and want to be in there all 7 days......

Disney will have to figure something out. I wouldn't be shocked to see alot of hard ticket nights in that land.

No doubt. I think there will be hard ticket events right from the gate for SWL. They could sell 2 or 3 hour parties every night, after park close, and probably make a fortune. Throw in a free drink, lanyard, pin, and photo and they could easily charge $150 each if crowds were light enough to ensure multiple rides on both rides. Maybe more.

 

[Disneylover99]

I'm just curious for those who are dissatisfied:

Would you rather a hard cap at say 60 percent of current levels, pretty much assuring every party night is an early sell out, so getting in requires long-term advanced purchase?
or
More parties, so there are fewer "regular" days with longer hours?
or
Ticket prices increased to the point where the crowds diminish because of value?
or
WDW abandon the idea altogether?

Or if you've got another idea, please share it. Not trying to be snarky, but I can see how many people are frustrated with the event, and I'm wondering what their solution might be.

I've been to sold out and not sold out parties all in the rain. Lol. I don't mind the crowds and the only times I notice them is during the parades and Fireworks. I find we need to stake out a good spot earlier when the parties are sold out. Otherwise, it always feels crowded and congested at the Halloween parties I've been to because many people go there and skip the rides altogether, so there are more people walking around, clogging up pathways.

I'm not dissatisfied, or I wouldn't go, but I'd be happy with a hardcap at 60 percent of the current levels. I wouldn't mind the early sell outs. I don't think increasing the ticket prices would diminish the crowds. It would just make more people irate when they think about how much they paid for a ticket

 

[KELLY]

I go Tuesday night so I will let you know how that one goes. We went twice last year once on a Tuesday and the other on a Friday. Friday was more crowded for sure. But we mostly just do the rides and trick or treat. We may do characters only if the line is short. We hit the late parade and if we see the fireworks ok but not a deal breaker for us. Ithink mine train was a re longest wait for 20 minutes once was 5 minutes.

 

[alliecat523]

I've been to two sold out parties on Halloween and truthfully - they weren't that bad. But we don't meet characters, we like to do the rides and collect candy. We've always had a good time.

We’ve always done weekend parties. I honestly can’t even tell you if they were sold out or not. We just go and don’t pay attention to that. We’ve had rain and no rain. We’ve always had a great time and never felt like the lines were insane. I think the expectation that rides will be a walk on at any point in time these days is not reasonable.