Boy do they oversell this Halloween party!!!

[chelseabun76]

The main reason we are going to the party and I decided to splurge for the tickets, is because there are literally maybe 2 nights during our entire stay that the park does NOT have a party. In my eyes, it's excessive to have as many as they do and for that long... and so because of our scheduling, etc., the non-party nights just don't work for us (plus I know those nights get crazy busy because they are the only nights to see the fireworks, etc., without the party ticket). We aren't going for the hours long lines for M&G, my son really doesn't care about that, if we meet one character he'll be thrilled. But I wanted to be there one night past 6pm, so I am sucking it up and paying the price so to speak. lol

 

[DVCcurious]

I went to the party in October 2010 and it wasn’t crowded at all. There were a few long lines about 30 minutes for special characters but all rides were walk on. The parade route and hub were busy with people at parade and fireworks times but otherwise the paths were clear. I didn’t really have a problem with the crowd size.

 

[FCDub]

The difficult part is, DISNEY is the one setting “high expectations” based on their marketing of the event. So people are set up to be disappointed. They never outright say it is going to be low crowds. But read the marketing material and see what you come away with. I think they are intentionally vague, and this adds to the high expectations.

Just out of curiosity, I went to the website to see what sort of things were highlighted ... and I'm a bit puzzled by this comment.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/e...y-halloween-party/#/drawer=drawerWhenToAttend

I read the marketing materials and don't think they're intentionally vague. I think they've laid out everything you can experience during the party.

 

[Missyrose]

I went to the party in October 2010 and it wasn’t crowded at all. There were a few long lines about 30 minutes for special characters but all rides were walk on. The parade route and hub were busy with people at parade and fireworks times but otherwise the paths were clear. I didn’t really have a problem with the crowd size.

Well, yes, that's the point of this thread and the many others like it this year -- that Disney has exponentially expanded the number of tickets it sells to parties, a change that is visible to anyone who has attended a party in past years.

 

[heidijanesmith]

The last few years my only option was to go on a Friday night. Not the greatest night to attend, but Halloween is my favorite holiday.

Comparing last years party 9/22/17 VS this years party 9/21/18, both Friday nights, were quite different. This years party seemed very oversold compared to last years party.

This years party had longer lines for the rides, merchandise, food and candy trails than last year.

I wish the crowds were more like DAH crowds, wishful thinking I know. We really love DAH nights, it's well worth the price.

 

[ErinsMommy]

I went to the party in October 2010 and it wasn’t crowded at all. There were a few long lines about 30 minutes for special characters but all rides were walk on. The parade route and hub were busy with people at parade and fireworks times but otherwise the paths were clear. I didn’t really have a problem with the crowd size.

In 8 years alot has changed.

 

[kittyab]

After reading this I am thinking of cancelling my Xmas Party tickets.

 

[twodogs]

Just out of curiosity, I went to the website to see what sort of things were highlighted ... and I'm a bit puzzled by this comment.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/e...y-halloween-party/#/drawer=drawerWhenToAttend

I read the marketing materials and don't think they're intentionally vague. I think they've laid out everything you can experience during the party.

I copied these from the website. I underlined and put in RED the parts that could make one think it was somehow a "limited" event, in my opinion. Yes, they don't directly say it is limited, and then in reality it is not limited. They just use phrases, that along with reading about past party goers' experiences, would make at least me think there would be less crowds than a normal day. As well, the fact that it can "sell out" implies a limited number of tickets. Regular park tickets never "sell out," though parks can reach capacity and close for hours at a time. So the feature of a "sell out", to me, implies there are less tickets available to the party than a normal park day. Again, just my opinion.
Halloween Fun Awaits at an After-Dark Special Event in Magic Kingdom Park!
The witching hour’s almost here, so get your favorite costume ready for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, a separately ticketed event in Magic Kingdom park!
Enjoy access to dozens of beloved attractions during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, including:

 

[GADisneyDad14]

After reading this I am thinking of cancelling my Xmas Party tickets.

Just FYI, MNSSHP and MVMCP tickets are like park tickets, once purchased they are non-refundable.

 

[FCDub]

I copied these from the website. I underlined and put in RED the parts that could make one think it was somehow a "limited" event, in my opinion. Yes, they don't directly say it is limited, and then in reality it is not limited. They just use phrases, that along with reading about past party goers' experiences, would make at least me think there would be less crowds than a normal day. As well, the fact that it can "sell out" implies a limited number of tickets. Regular park tickets never "sell out," though parks can reach capacity and close for hours at a time. So the feature of a "sell out", to me, implies there are less tickets available to the party than a normal park day. Again, just my opinion.
Halloween Fun Awaits at an After-Dark Special Event in Magic Kingdom Park!
The witching hour’s almost here, so get your favorite costume ready for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, a separately ticketed event in Magic Kingdom park!
Enjoy access to dozens of beloved attractions during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, including:

1. It is a special event, yes. There's a special parade, trick-or-treat locations, special fireworks, rare characters, etc. No issues here.
2. Separately ticketed. Pretty straightforward.
3. You do have access to these attractions. It means they are open. That's it.

Ultimately, I've got no issues with how it's marketed. Most of the dissatisfied people are basing their experiences off of past reports, which I understand. But in my mind, there's nothing Disney has done that's more misleading than the commercials of a family skipping down Main Street hand-in-hand with Mickey.

 

[AnnaS]

Not only over crowded, but they have one every other night now (or just about ).

 

[maxiesmom]

Personally, WDW should have a HALLOWEEN theme with parades and Fireworks and a few "treat nights" for the kids and stay open like they would in JULY AUG SEPT and not charge an extra dime.

Same goes Christmas time- or to make everyone happy WINTER HOLIDAY TIME!

Why should they? Why should a business not make money and offer something there is a demand for?

 

[GeneralTso]

Fact of the matter is--this party (and the Christmas party) HAVE changed quite a bit. If they really wanted to be truthful and accurate in their advertising, it would read: Love crowds? Like standing in endless lines for a picture? Think you couldn't get any more frustrated in a Disney park? Guess what? We've got the party for you!!

 

[dlavender]

A big part of the problem is that so many things that they added for the party are slow or don't move very many people. It can easily take 2 or 3 minutes for a family or large group to clear 7 dwarfs..... they might have a capacity of 60 people an hour on that. Wanna see Jack and Sally? Again, maybe 600 can do it in a night? The parade is a highlight. Can we get 30,000 people lined up along the route?

They need to figure out a way to have 4 or 5 sets of Jack and Sally so that the line can move better. There are plenty of people who would see them if the wait was 20 minutes, but skip a 4 hour line.

HEA probably cost more that Halloween fireworks, the parade can't cost a whole lot more than any other parade and the stage show is nice, but so are all the others.....

It seems like a no brainer, doesn't it? To want to deliver a world class experience to those paying world class prices....

They do it *spoiler alert* all day at the Anna and Elsa meet, the Mickey meet, Tinker, etc....

Why not do it here, as well? Unless their data is showing that people are just as inclined to buy more than 1 event per season to get it all in?

 

[DisLiss]

There's no problem with creating high expectations if you're willing to meet them. Disney used to be willing to meet them. Now, not so much. WDW is gradually becoming "The Most Managed Expectations Place on Earth".

But we all keep on going...and apparently more and more of us all of the time. So we're sending a loud and clear message back to WDW that we are perfectly okay with all of this.

 

[js]

I went to the party in October 2010 and it wasn’t crowded at all. There were a few long lines about 30 minutes for special characters but all rides were walk on. The parade route and hub were busy with people at parade and fireworks times but otherwise the paths were clear. I didn’t really have a problem with the crowd size.

I'm thinking that is the reason of this thread is that Disney has been selling more and more tickets.
My family went in 2000 and I would bet there were even less tickets sold than when you went ten years later.

I remember in the early 80s my dh and I went to Disney, when it was three parks, without a plan in October and walked on everything. I have pictures
of us in empty parks. Those were the days!

 

[lvdis]

I wish the crowds were more like DAH crowds, wishful thinking I know. We really love DAH nights, it's well worth the price.

Shh! I'm hoping to experience this before it too gets overly crowded!

 

[bladiator]

so I am sucking it up and paying the price so to speak.

"So to speak" ? I think this is one of the few places where you can actually use the word "literally" in the correct fashion!

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

Why should they? Why should a business not make money and offer something there is a demand for?

I'm a shareholder, so I get it, but... just because you can doesn't mean you should. Visitors going in summer months get longer park hours at ONE entry price. There is usually a parade and fireworks. IMO closing the park early, throw a "party" to charge more is wrong. I did it once in 2000 and wasn't all that impressed then. I realize no one twists any ones arm to go but I CAN NOT stay in the park late and I've paid the same price as I would in AUG when some nights MK is open until 10 or 12pm. Maybe this changes with the new park entry certain day pricing.

 

[Dee McGee]

I've been saying all along that they have ruined the parties by overselling. People including current cast members continue to argue that 20,000 is NOT a large number of people. I beg to differ.