24 Hours Of Disney

[Raineman]

Seeing as we are a month away from this years 24 Hours Of Disney at WDW, having never been, I would love to hear about other people's experiences that have been. I've seen a few videos on YouTube of people who did all 24 hours, and I can imagine that sleep deprivation+WDW=some pretty memorable experiences. I think I would definitely be using multiple spins on the CoP to catch a power nap or two.

 

[wdwmagic]

Here is a report from the first 24 hour event
http://www.wdwmagic.com/events/one-...sney-day'---24-hours-in-the-magic-kingdom.htm

And here is more from the second.
http://www.wdwmagic.com/events/rock-your-disney-side/news.htm

 

[bethymouse]

Man. I wish I could do the 24 hour event!

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I went once. It was the only time I've been to a Disney park and had a legitimately terrible experience.

 

[grim-grinning_toast]

I went once. It was the only time I've been to a Disney park and had a legitimately terrible experience.

Go on!! I've been sitting here wishing I could go, maybe your experience will deter me from envy!

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Go on!! I've been sitting here wishing I could go, maybe your experience will deter me from envy!

I wasn't there for the full 24 hours and from what I've heard, the wee hours of the morning can be quite fun. But the crowds starting around dinner time (when DAK closes) and continuing to at least midnight are an absolute nightmare. Think about the rush to leave the park after Wishes on a normal night. Then think about the rush to enter the park every morning. Then imagine being on Main Street while both of those things are happening at the same time. It was legitimately dangerous. Further, the park wasn't staffed to support the crowds that showed up. Maybe things have improved in that regard, but this was two years ago and there weren't nearly enough F&B, attractions, or custodial CMs on duty.

 

[Scor1pion]

While we haven't done 24 hours straight in WDW We drive from the Binghamton NY area straight through the night (20 hour drive with stops only for gas, food and bathroom) and we time it so we can go straight to park on arrival and at open and stay at park till close. So we're usually up for anywhere from 34 - 40 hours. Non of us sleep to well in the vehicle, 6 people crammed in to a minivan plus luggage....quite comical watching us all get in and out of it. 6 trips doing it that way...hopefully another coming up this August.

 

[seahawk7]

Man. I wish I could do the 24 hour event!

I'll be there. It's my third party in a row. I will think of you.

 

[seahawk7]

I wasn't there for the full 24 hours and from what I've heard, the wee hours of the morning can be quite fun. But the crowds starting around dinner time (when DAK closes) and continuing to at least midnight are an absolute nightmare. Think about the rush to leave the park after Wishes on a normal night. Then think about the rush to enter the park every morning. Then imagine being on Main Street while both of those things are happening at the same time. It was legitimately dangerous. Further, the park wasn't staffed to support the crowds that showed up. Maybe things have improved in that regard, but this was two years ago and there weren't nearly enough F&B, attractions, or custodial CMs on duty.

Yeah I've never experienced the huge crowds the two times I've been there. I mean there are crowds but nothing too extreme IMO. I work graveyard so I have over 12 years experience dealing with fatigue and working through it. It might make me see things differently. And yes I stay from opening to closing.

 

[raven]

My roommate plans on going the full 24 hours this year. No thanks.

 

[grim-grinning_toast]

Then imagine being on Main Street while both of those things are happening at the same time. It was legitimately dangerous.

YIKES! You have successfully deterred the envy.

 

[jengrey]

I've never done it and never even heard about it until a few months ago. Not sure if I would go or not...it seems like a fun idea to be in the park at unorthodox hours, but the crowds that CaptainAmerica speaks of sound scary. Plus, in my old(er) age I'm usually turning in at around 10PM. Being out at those wee hours in the morning surrounded by sensory overload would definitely screw with my internal clock.

 

[mergatroid]

I've done Disney quiet, busy, late, early, hot and cold (once) so have probably experienced similar things without actually ever attending the 24hr event. It's not for me really, though I can see it being exciting and unique for some. Once the tiredness hits though I'd imagine it's the same as most things and the fun gradually wears off.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Ehhhhhh its highly overrated. I did it (well, 18 hours of one) and it was nothing I'd like to repeat.

 

[LAKid53]

Went last year. Lasted until 3:00am (actually was my daughter who ran out of gas). Agree with Captain, until the wee hours, it's pretty crowded. And the crowd in the wee hours? Think high school/college kids pulling an all nighter to study for finals - and they've consumed numerous Monster drinks in order to do so.

If I was in my 20s again, I'd go for it. But I've got a 9:30 breakfast at Sci-Fi for SWW that's more important to me, along with sleep.

Plus, the theme this year is Frozen. Meh.

 

[Csmith041177]

Have never done this, but I would love to try it! Now, I am 38...so I'm sure I might 1) regret my decision to try it and/or 2) crash and burn and not be able to do all 24 hours. However, would still love the opportunity. I need to get that scheduled the next time it happens!

 

[fireworksandfairytales]

I did the Monstrous Summer Event and the Rock Your Disney Side Event. Monstrous Summer was AMAZING (then again, I'm a huge fan of both Monsters Inc. and Monsters University). My friends and I got there at opening and there was just so much excitement in the air. The tram driver was pumped, all the attractions cast were pumped. It was honestly one of my favorite days ever at a Disney park. Our first ride was Thunder Mountain and since there wasn't much of a line, they let a bunch of us stay on for three rides. It was impossible for us to stay up all 24 hours and we knew it, so we went back and took a nap for a few hours in the afternoon and then headed back to MK around 6PM to finish off the event. It got extremely crowded after fireworks & it was hard to get on most of the rides at that point or meet the characters, but it was still worth it.

The Rock Your Disney Side event was not as great in my opinion. There didn't seem to be the same excitement in the air as the year before. The waits to meet the villains were ungodly long (which is obviously to be expected). I didn't enjoy it quite as much overall.

 

[RonAnnArbor]

I went last year, and the absolute best time for us earlier risers is to head over from 4 am to closing at 6 am...the park is virtually empty -- the kiddees have done all the rides all night long and are just dragging (or leaving) at that point, and us "old" i.e. middle-age folks who tend to get up early anyway can basically have the park to ourselves for a few hours and do EVERYTHING without a wait

 

[SyracuseDisneyFan]

I did it with my family last year. It was very crowded and at times, I felt claustrophobic. I only stayed until about 11:00 or so.