MNSSHP - How much of a difference does it make during the day?

[frecklamy]

I'm currently planning our dining reservations etc and looking for some advice around how much MNSSHP affects MK on the surrounding days?

Our ideal would be to do Epcot on our first day as we'll be jetlagged and at the Dolphin, so being able to be pretty relaxed on day 1 about when we go back and do it quickly would be ideal. We'd then head to MK the next day. But would we just be following the crowds? Should we switch them around, or do a different park altogether on day 2?

We plan to do MK in the morning another party day so we will hopefully get to experience low wait times at some point - it's more whether it would be silly to make our first trip over the day after a party day.

Potentially other useful info: 2 young kids, planning midday breaks regardless, hoping to get by without Genie+ as it's supposed to be a quieter time of year!

 

[scrappinginontario]

Historically MK crowds are notably lighter on MNSSHP days and notably heavier on non-MNSSHP days.

 

[katyjeka]

Magic Kingdom mornings on MNSSHP days are Disney at its best!

 

[vinotinto]

A lot of people avoid MK on party days because they don't have park hoppers and will avoid the short hours (6pm closing time!) and lack of evening entertainment / fireworks. This makes non-party days (4 days/week) much more crowded and wait times longer.

 

[CoasterGT24]

This is analysis on it from last year: https://talk.thrill-data.com/blogs/...t-the-magic-kingdom-on-a-halloween-party-day/

 

[frecklamy]

Thank you all! Those graphs are really interesting, as the difference between party days ans non, is particularly big during our visit. I guess naturally quiet MK = busier other three parks too? Looks like we'll be switching our days anyway!

 

[neverlandsky]

Agreed MK morning on MNSSHP day was awesome. We went to MK Tuesday morning/party day in October. Got a lot done. Left the park a little after 11 am. Then returned to the park at 6:00 pm for MNSSHP. We also went to MK on a non-party day later that week, it was packed. We left around 1 pm hung out by the pool.

 

[lew4949]

Full agreement with what everyone is saying here about MK being great in the morning on party days. This is especially true when they do the 8am opening (7:30 for early entry). That extra hour can make a big difference, not only because it's an extra hour to put to good use, but even more because it's that many more people who aren't willing to get up even earlier on their vacation. It used to be that the 8am opening on party days was a virtual guarantee, but that may not always be the case anymore--and even if they do do it, you probably won't know until a few weeks before, as they release the boilerplate hours at first and usually won't adjust to the actual hours until late in the game (which is annoying for planners). We were there Labor Day weekend and the following week last year and they didn't do the 8am opening on the party days during that time (including on Labor Day). Granted, that's one of the deadest times of the year, but it was still a bit frustrating.