Magic Kingdom at closing on a Christmas Party night

[jenhelgren]

Do you get kicked out of the park right at 6 on party nights? I am not wanting to cheat the system and get any party perks just wondering how it works. We normally get in line for Mine Train minutes before park close and then take our time on the walk out sometimes stopping for snacks at the confectionery. We are debating pros and cons of visiting on a party day since crowds are supposed to be lower during the day but it is also our check in day so we wont have many hours in total to be in the park

 

[Genie+]

Yes you are fine getting in line for Mine Train at 5:59pm. The castle show at 6:15pm is meant for day guests. The party starts at 7pm. They expect day guests to clear out by 6:30pm and no later than 7pm.

 

[teawar]

We went to MK on a Halloween Party night and you could get in your last ride for 5:59. You will have an overlap of party guests who can get on rides, so lines aren’t usually any shorter at this time.

After 6:00/your last ride, they will start corralling those guests without party bands to the front and have roped off areas for you to avoid. We didn’t feel rushed or pushed out, but there was definitely a feel like “it’s time to leave”.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Party guests can enter Magic Kingdom beginning at 4pm. We tried to enter MK around 3:30pm as non-party guests, thinking it might be less crowded then, but we were wrong. There was a huge mob of party guests waiting to enter at 4pm.

 

[scrappinginontario]

You may get in line at 5:59 but as others have shared, the line will be long as party guests will be doing the same.

Once you finish your last ride, unless watching the castle lighting show that is for day and party guests, it will be time to leave. You will not be allowed to purchase snacks or enter any stores.

At 6PM the park is intended for party guests who have paid dearly for the experience. We love MK on a party day but at 6 it’s time to go once you either ride SDMT or watch the castle lighting.

 

[Kingoglow]

Just a word of caution on this. While the official website confirms what others are saying, being able to enter the queue up until 5:59, my experience at the Halloween party was different.

Mine Train was actually taken down at ~5:30 on a party night and they cleared the queue. They said it was a technical issue, but that ride was back open right when the party started, for those attending the party only.

What you will find is that by 6 PM you will start to see lines of cast members standing in front of different areas of the park; starting in the back of New Fantasyland. Only party attendees can go past them. The line of cast members will periodically move their group forward, reclaiming more and more of the park for party guests only. By the time the party starts, all nonparty guests will be corralled into the hub and main street. You can shop or eat there for a time but that dries up fast too. By the time the parades and fireworks start, they will have gotten non-party guests to exit.

 

[HopperFan]

Do you get kicked out of the park right at 6 on party nights? I am not wanting to cheat the system and get any party perks just wondering how it works. We normally get in line for Mine Train minutes before park close and then take our time on the walk out sometimes stopping for snacks at the confectionery. We are debating pros and cons of visiting on a party day since crowds are supposed to be lower during the day but it is also our check in day so we wont have many hours in total to be in the park

Lots of good advice above. Some things may happen or not but be prepared to follow CM instructions. On the ground CMs are the final word.

- We have gone to rides just before closing and the line was closed. This might happen on popular rides or rides with overlay. I wouldn't wait until 5:59 if important!
- Some food locations close by 5 pm to set up as treat/cookie locations.
- Some food locations will only serve party guests after closing.
- Stores are to close at 6 pm to all day guests.
- Bathrooms will be closed to day guests, there is one outside gates.
- CMs at every intersection that only allow progress towards hub/Main Street.

Just know that post closing offerings during a regular day are not in play during a party. If you are on a ride or in a TS location eating after party start, they expect you to go straight to exit afterwards. Some TS may even escort you.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Do you get kicked out of the park right at 6 on party nights? I am not wanting to cheat the system and get any party perks just wondering how it works. We normally get in line for Mine Train minutes before park close and then take our time on the walk out sometimes stopping for snacks at the confectionery. We are debating pros and cons of visiting on a party day since crowds are supposed to be lower during the day but it is also our check in day so we wont have many hours in total to be in the park

you may or may not get your ride but you will not be able to get a snack or shop on your way out. as you say this is your check in day and not there at opening and party people are allowed in at 4pm not sure it would be a good use of your ticket unless you have hoppers and can hop to another park when it gets crowded

 

[rdaky]

I love visiting on party days but by 4pm as the party guests begin entering, it becomes crowded. You may or may not be able to jump on Mine Train at the last minute. If the queue is too long, they might tell you no because 6:00 is a hard close and it's different than a regular night. If it's 6:30 by the time you get to the confectionary, they might not allow you to enter. Personally, I would not plan on this and would plan to leave on time. While you may not be trying to cheat the system, every single party, there are people who do try. And it's best to just plan to spend your morning there when crowds are light and to not try to squeeze in a few last things past closing when you might be told no.

I agree with the person above who said that the cast members on the ground have the final say. You would not believe the crazy things that people try to do on party nights.

 

[Genie+]

I’m surprised that MK is closing off rides before 6pm. That lack of consistency is not right when every other park ticket does NOT do that. We did it in 2019 MVMCP season but didn’t really try at the 2 MNSSHP we’ve done since. Guests already have MK disadvantage Sept-Dec between insane crowds on non-party days or the short hour ticket. I realize party guests are paying for tickets but so are day guests.

 

[HopperFan]

I’m surprised that MK is closing off rides before 6pm. That lack of consistency is not right when every other park ticket does NOT do that. We did it in 2019 MVMCP season but didn’t really try at the 2 MNSSHP we’ve done since. Guests already have MK disadvantage Sept-Dec between insane crowds on non-party days or the short hour ticket. I realize party guests are paying for tickets but so are day guests.

Tickets don't come with guaranteed number of hours. Day guests are paying for the posted hours which on party days end at 6 pm. And posted hours are not guaranteed for any attraction, restaurant or shop. It's always been that way with Disney.

I'm not surprised they are closing some rides because guests all flood into the lines just before closing to in essence extend park hours for themselves. Did you realize DAS holders can not get a return time for an attraction if the wait time extends past park closing time? It probably should be that way for all attractions operating hours.

 

[Genie+]

Tickets don't come with guaranteed number of hours….

This has nothing to do with lack of consistency on closing rides before the posted operational hours.

The only reason park hours were mentioned was because it’s happening on an already short day ticket.

 

[musicguy856]

This has nothing to do with lack of consistency on closing rides before the posted operational hours.

The only reason park hours were mentioned was because it’s happening on an already short day ticket.

If they want day guests out earlier just close the park at 5pm and let everyone get in line until 4:59 instead of pulling this crap. Barring a breakdown it’s near certain they’ll be done by 6pm with LL shutting down at 5.

If they close the park at 6 they need to let everyone in like until 5:59 and if they don’t Guest Relations will be hearing about it from me.

 

[HopperFan]

This has nothing to do with lack of consistency on closing rides before the posted operational hours.

The only reason park hours were mentioned was because it’s happening on an already short day ticket.

But rides are never guaranteed.

I've gotten there for EE and major rides were not open yet ... the main reason for my going early. During the day there are times lines are shut down to guests due to issues, not guaranteed. I've been in lines that they closed the ride and emptied the queue, not guaranteed. If you choose to go on a party day and there is a ride that is important then get in line earlier. Park closing on party nights don't have the same operation as non-party nights.

Disney has every right to close lines early as day guests try to extend their park time past closing. Normal night not an issue but when you are trying to clear park of day guests for private event, it becomes an issue.

 

[CarolynFH]

If they close the park at 6 they need to let everyone in like until 5:59 and if they don’t Guest Relations will be hearing about it from me.

When FoP was new and standby lines were routinely 2-3 hours long, it was common for the standby line to be closed 30-60 minutes before the rest of AK closed.

 

[Genie+]

Here Disney/WDW/planDisney does a good job trying to help guests understand operations.

 

[HopperFan]

Bottom line, Disney's Terms & Conditions back them up on just about every decision they make before, during and after in regards to tickets, park operations, resorts, services etc. Folks can argue what Disney usually does, what they want from Disney and more but bottom line we accept their terms. If Disney closes a ride early, they can.

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Here Disney/WDW/planDisney does a good job trying to help guests understand operations.

Except as is often the case, planDisney is not always accurate. Two same questions with two completely different answers both asked the 2023 season.

Your photo about dining is incorrect. Other than the designated party restaurants most are open to day guests prior to 7 pm. They accept reservations until 6:50 pm for day guests. I just pulled up Liberty Tree Tavern and it has an ADR day guests still available at 6:50 pm. Of course those guests are very likely to be escorted out of the party when they are done eating because it will be after the party starts.

 

[rdaky]

Except as is often the case, planDisney is not always accurate. Two same questions with two completely different answers both asked the 2023 season.

Your photo about dining is incorrect. Other than the designated party restaurants most are open to day guests prior to 7 pm. They accept reservations until 6:50 pm for day guests. I just pulled up Liberty Tree Tavern and it has an ADR day guests still available at 6:50 pm. Of course those guests are very likely to be escorted out of the party when they are done eating because it will be after the party starts.

View attachment 811829

I was just going to say something similar. Plan Disney is often incorrect. They're basically people working from home answering questions and I don't know why Disney allows some of them to continue, but there have been many times when I've noticed that they have inaccurate information. As far as I understand, they cannot be Disney Employees, they can't be travel agents, and they just have to like Disney, have traveled there ONCE in the last year, and be willing to volunteer their time to give their opinions in return for a free vacation. I really don't trust that site for any information and I go directly to Disney the company for clear info.

 

[rdaky]

If they want day guests out earlier just close the park at 5pm and let everyone get in line until 4:59 instead of pulling this crap. Barring a breakdown it’s near certain they’ll be done by 6pm with LL shutting down at 5.

If they close the park at 6 they need to let everyone in like until 5:59 and if they don’t Guest Relations will be hearing about it from me.

And you know what Guest Relations will do about this? Nothing. One of my friends works in GR at Magic Kingdom and she has shared stories about guests crying, screaming at her, threatening her, throwing all sorts of fits about this specific situation and in the end, the policy is that the park closes at 6 and there is nothing in writing anywhere within Disney policy that guarantees that you can hop on a ride after park close or at any other time.

 

[nw6675]

I was just going to say something similar. Plan Disney is often incorrect. They're basically people working from home answering questions and I don't know why Disney allows some of them to continue, but there have been many times when I've noticed that they have inaccurate information. As far as I understand, they cannot be Disney Employees, they can't be travel agents, and they just have to like Disney, have traveled there ONCE in the last year, and be willing to volunteer their time to give their opinions in return for a free vacation. I really don't trust that site for any information and I go directly to Disney the company for clear info.