Moonlight Magic Jan 2025!

[mistysue]

I feel your pain! The same thing happened to us. We were in the queue at 10:45 and made it to 4 minutes remaining before it closed. Seeing multiple posts of people who opened browsers after 11 and still got tickets. It's very disappointing and frustrating.

I really wish they would find a way to improve the system. People are joining AFTER 11 and getting to the front before people who were waiting before. This is the same system they have been using for limited edition merch since 2020, it was broken then and it's still broken. You have vendors getting 20 of a "2 per customer" item, and people just wanting one walking away empty handed. They've known it isn't working.

With this one I don't understand having limited capacity events and holding back tickets for people who don't have reservations that night - because apparently it's important to make sure locals not staying there get in, while people on a trip who only get one or two chances every couple years are less deserving or something?

 

[bruhl1j]

No luck getting selected. I think the whole process sticks a bit. 1. I rarely go on dates when moonlight occurs. 2. Since it was my first time trying, it was hard to understand the process and know if I was doing it correctly. 3. I understand it is random, chance, luck, but it still make you feel like a denial of perks in some ways. 4. No offense to locals but locals get to try again if not selected. 5. We live in a database world. Shouldn't it be easier to get a ticket!

 

[Mouse511]

We joined the night before and was able to obtain 2 tickets for 1/26 at 11:31pm.

 

[3 DD love princesses]

I really wish they would find a way to improve the system. People are joining AFTER 11 and getting to the front before people who were waiting before. This is the same system they have been using for limited edition merch since 2020, it was broken then and it's still broken. You have vendors getting 20 of a "2 per customer" item, and people just wanting one walking away empty handed. They've known it isn't working.

With this one I don't understand having limited capacity events and holding back tickets for people who don't have reservations that night - because apparently it's important to make sure locals not staying there get in, while people on a trip who only get one or two chances every couple years are less deserving or something?

Not everyone could get a reservation with Dvc. My waitlist to add a night never came through. Once the dates were announced and I knew we could go I put in a waitlist to add a night. Didn’t get a hs and now have to change flights unless we find someone with extras.

 

[mistysue]

Not everyone could get a reservation with Dvc. My waitlist to add a night never came through. Once the dates were announced and I knew we could go I put in a waitlist to add a night. Didn’t get a hs and now have to change flights unless we find someone with extras.

I feel like this misses my point. I thought the purpose of events like this was to sprinkle extra magic for people on a trip. Not to create more reasons to have random impossible to book nights. So not being able to book with DVC would be irrelevant, as the event is for people who happened to be there. It should work so that naturally everyone eventually ends up there on the right date for an event, so that is the event they go to. IMO making all of these things competitive to get to isn't making them better.

 

[Moonspinner]

Did anyone else not get a reservation confirmation email? We got a confirmation and I printed it out but I didn’t get a follow up email.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

Did anyone else not get a reservation confirmation email? We got a confirmation and I printed it out but I didn’t get a follow up email.

Did you check your spam folder?

 

[DisneyBB]

Did anyone else not get a reservation confirmation email? We got a confirmation and I printed it out but I didn’t get a follow up email.

We haven’t had a follow up email either. Do we need one?

 

[Nabas]

We haven’t had a follow up email either. Do we need one?

Yes, we'll get an email with details, including when we are allowed in.

For the last Moonlight Magic I attended, I received the email 3 days before.

 

[DisTravels]

We haven’t had a follow up email either. Do we need one?

If you are registered, the Characters will have you on a list. You are supposed to receive a confirmation email the day you register, then another is supposed to be received 1-3 days prior to the event with start times, etc.

Receiving the emails are a nice-to-have, but not something to worry about if you can't find them (check SPAM or JUNK) - it seems they are inconsistently received.

 

[Moonspinner]

Did you check your spam folder?

Yes, unfortunately nothing. I’m going to call them tomorrow just so I don’t keep worrying about it.

 

[3 DD love princesses]

I feel like this misses my point. I thought the purpose of events like this was to sprinkle extra magic for people on a trip. Not to create more reasons to have random impossible to book nights. So not being able to book with DVC would be irrelevant, as the event is for people who happened to be there. It should work so that naturally everyone eventually ends up there on the right date for an event, so that is the event they go to. IMO making all of these things competitive to get to isn't making them better.

When you have a 5 night stay and then dates are announced and you can add a night why wouldn’t you try? So offering a general registration is nice for those that weren’t able to get a Dvc room the night of the event so they have a chance to attend as well.

 

[mistysue]

When you have a 5 night stay and then dates are announced and you can add a night why wouldn’t you try? So offering a general registration is nice for those that weren’t able to get a Dvc room the night of the event so they have a chance to attend as well.

But then it boots more people who would have simply had magic on the dates they were already going which defeats that entire purpose of something nice everyone can get a turn at. If you had a 5 night stay and more points, there was another stay coming up that you could try for.
People who can pop in for a night at any time don't need extra magic events, they go to everything they want already. Try to book the night, and if it's not available go another time. The way it's working now people already there can't go while others are booking the event instead. Just go when it's happening during your trip.

 

[3 DD love princesses]

But then it boots more people who would have simply had magic on the dates they were already going which defeats that entire purpose of something nice everyone can get a turn at. If you had a 5 night stay and more points, there was another stay coming up that you could try for.
People who can pop in for a night at any time don't need extra magic events, they go to everything they want already. Try to book the night, and if it's not available go another time. The way it's working now people already there can't go while others are booking the event instead. Just go when it's happening during your trip.

I get what you are saying but disagree. Yes I might still have points available but doesn’t mean another date works especially when buying flights. So no popping in just for a night at a time. Magic is for everyone so being able to go to the event would be nice. Many of us plan our trips 11 months out. These dates aren’t announced 11 months out for everyone.

 

[mistysue]

I get what you are saying but disagree. Yes I might still have points available but doesn’t mean another date works especially when buying flights. So no popping in just for a night at a time. Magic is for everyone so being able to go to the event would be nice. Many of us plan our trips 11 months out. These dates aren’t announced 11 months out for everyone.

See I don't think you are seeing what I'm saying because your response is why it makes sense to restrict them - we have to plan 11 months out and if they reserved these events for people staying on-site, it would take some of the competition out of it. More spaces for the guests who are there vs people who are going to come ONLY because they got in and nudged someone else out. There are enough events that they should come up once every few trips for anyone regardless of your normal dates. By not letting those who are on-site go, now there's more pressure for people to try for every single one, and it snowballs into what's going on now where it's impossible to get in.
If we compare the crowds at the evening extra magic hours - there seem to be MORE people getting into these DVC events even though there are far fewer people eligible. I bet if these events were open to DVC blue on-site it would be about the same as it is minus all the stress.

 

[Nabas]

I received the email containing additional information. The text includes:

“While the event begins at 9:30 p.m., you may check in as early as 7 p.m.and as late as 11:30 p.m. at the Main Entrance of Disney’s Hollywood Studios® (look for event signage.) Entry prior to the 6 p.m. mix-in time requires a separate paid theme park admission and park reservation.”

What is a “mix-in time”?

Edit:

I should have Googled first. This looks to be the time we can get into the park.

Since they list a separate check-in time, presumably we have to check-in separately if we enter the park before 7 pm.

 

[Liquidice]

I received the email containing additional information. The text includes:

“While the event begins at 9:30 p.m., you may check in as early as 7 p.m.and as late as 11:30 p.m. at the Main Entrance of Disney’s Hollywood Studios® (look for event signage.) Entry prior to the 6 p.m. mix-in time requires a separate paid theme park admission and park reservation.”

What is a “mix-in time”?

Edit:

I should have Googled first. This looks to be the time we can get into the park.

Since they list a separate check-in time, presumably we have to check-in separately if we enter the park before 7 pm.

It is definitely confusing and I think they made a typo somewhere, either 6pm or 7pm. I've been to a few Moonlight Magic events and they won't let you into the park without checking in first unless you already have a day-ticket or annual pass. So mix-in time and check-in time are one in the same. Whether they start letting people in at 6pm or 7pm is where I'm not sure.

 

[Sandisw]

See I don't think you are seeing what I'm saying because your response is why it makes sense to restrict them - we have to plan 11 months out and if they reserved these events for people staying on-site, it would take some of the competition out of it. More spaces for the guests who are there vs people who are going to come ONLY because they got in and nudged someone else out. There are enough events that they should come up once every few trips for anyone regardless of your normal dates. By not letting those who are on-site go, now there's more pressure for people to try for every single one, and it snowballs into what's going on now where it's impossible to get in.
If we compare the crowds at the evening extra magic hours - there seem to be MORE people getting into these DVC events even though there are far fewer people eligible. I bet if these events were open to DVC blue on-site it would be about the same as it is minus all the stress.

I understand you think having it for those who luck into them by pre planning at 11 months, but not all DVC owners do that

Some may still be deciding and have flexibility to make to work once dates are decided. I have a lot of flexibility to adjust my trips and am glad we get to do it this way.

Regardless of how it works, whether it’s for those already booked before dates are announced or those who book trips specifically for it, there are not enough spots for all owners to go.

I personally think it should be limited to one event a year, regardless of season to give the highest number of owners a chance.

Or, maybe they will keep adding more of them!

 

[mistysue]

I understand you think having it for those who luck into them by pre planning at 11 months, but not all DVC owners do that

Some may still be deciding and have flexibility to make to work once dates are decided. I have a lot of flexibility to adjust my trips and am glad we get to do it this way.

Regardless of how it works, whether it’s for those already booked before dates are announced or those who book trips specifically for it, there are not enough spots for all owners to go.

I personally think it should be limited to one event a year, regardless of season to give the highest number of owners a chance.

Or, maybe they will keep adding more of them!

One per year would fix it too. It's not even that I think people should need to book at 11 months. I simply find it irritating that they are available for those not staying there. IMO, it's the opening these up for locals or "few hours drive" people to pop in for just the night that really messes up availability. It means I could easily be competing with 2-3x as many people (especially because not everyone even wants to go) vs if it was simply whoever is "already going to be there" - acknowledging of course some people will change dates. The issue is once it's opened to people without a reservation, it gets more difficult and the whole things snowballs to where we are now. (it not much different from the whole "where's the line where too many rentals are happening and DVC should get involved" discussion, in both cases, that line is there somewhere) If it weren't open to off-site guests I don't think it would be getting as coveted which would make it easier in the first place, making it so people didn't need to shift dates, and it could be a random extra fun thing similar to EMH.

Truly, if they can open EMH to everyone at all deluxes with no restrictions and it's not feeling crowded, it's a good question why "DVC-Y AND staying in a DVC room" would be too many people.

 

[DisTravels]

I received the email containing additional information. The text includes:

“While the event begins at 9:30 p.m., you may check in as early as 7 p.m.and as late as 11:30 p.m. at the Main Entrance of Disney’s Hollywood Studios® (look for event signage.) Entry prior to the 6 p.m. mix-in time requires a separate paid theme park admission and park reservation.”

I think entry prior to 7pm (not 6pm) would require a separate paid admission. If you're already inside the park they typically have a location you can checkin within the park so you don't need to exit and re-enter.