Crowds better or worse on MNSSHP days

[MoragL]

We are planning a trip for September 2020 and will probably do a full day in MK as well as maybe a partial day in the afternoon/evening. Originally I was going to avoid going for our full day on a day that there is a party but now I've been reading that crowds are worse on non-party days. I realize we would have to leave the park early but if lines are shorter on a party day then that might be a better plan. Any thoughts?

 

[networkpro]

Your mileage may vary, but there are a few items to consider:

1. Some guests will choose to go to another park those days to maximize their available hours, others wont as Magic Kingdom is the only thing they want.
2. You wont have to depart MK until 6pm, but then again guests attending the party gain admission starting at 4pm so they can get fast passes for the 4-6pm timeframe which you will be contending for time slots with.
3. Starting around 6pm there will be a flood at the other parks of guests originating from Magic Kingdom so expect rides and dining to be packed.

 

[Weather_Lady]

It's been a few years since we've done it, but in our experience, MK is a ghost town (comparatively) from morning until mid-afternoon on "party days," so they present a wonderful opportunity to get a lot done. If you have parkhopper tickets and can head elsewhere after, so much the better.

However, be sure to leave the park well before it "closes" to regular guests if you're planning to use Disney transportation to head elsewhere -- at least 2 hours before, if you can. Since everybody else who isn't staying for the party is going to be trying to hop elsewhere around that same time, there can be huge transportation snarl-ups and long waits for the monorail (for people hopping to Epcot) and the buses to HS and AK if you cut it too close.

 

[MoragL]

It's been a few years since we've done it, but in our experience, MK is a ghost town from morning until mid-afternoon on "party days," so they present a wonderful opportunity to get a lot done. If you have parkhopper tickets and can head elsewhere after, so much the better.

However, be sure to leave the park well before it "closes" to regular guests if you're planning to use Disney transportation to head elsewhere -- at least 2 hours before, if you can. Since everybody else who isn't staying for the party is going to be trying to hop elsewhere around that same time, there can be huge transportation snarl-ups and long waits for the monorail (for people hopping to Epcot) and the buses to HS and AK if you cut it too close.

We don't have park hoppers so will be there till we have to leave and then just go for supper or something in the evening.

 

[Zipadeelady]

My daughter and I went to MK on a party night last October and this was our experience. (I had to read my last trip report to get some of the info, feel free to read it if you want more detail. https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/riffraff-street-rat-no-one-appreciates-im-broke.961379/) Our MK day starts on page 3 post #49.

We arrived at opening and went to Frontier Land first, we did 7 rides and had a snack/breakfast all by 11am. We then had #1 FP at PP then had lunch. #2 FP at SM. Rode Buzz, posted time was 25, we were on in 10 min. Next was Monsters Laugh Floor. #3 FP on SDMT, teacups, pooh (wait time said 25 but again 10min wait) #4 FP is IASW. After this is when we noticed lines were getting long. It was around 3pm and we had yet to stand in much of a line. We had a snack, Liberty Bell boat ride, back to People mover, COP, round 2 Pirates. It was between 5-6 and we were tired. Did some people watching and waited until our 6:15 ADR for dinner to open. After dinner the party had started. We headed out, exhausted but happy with our day.

I don't know if it was because it was a MNSSHP day, if we were lucky, used our FP smart or a combination of all three.

 

[iMax]

Crowds on party days aren't terrible, its the crowds on NON party days that's bad. I would try booking a trip around the first set of parties in August, those ones have been the least busiest in recent years, the September ones could be hit or miss as far as crowds go.

 

[Chicagoshannon2]

We were there Halloween week in 2019. Went on a party day and the first 2 hours of the day were empty. We walked right on 7dmt at rope drop and the fantasyland pathways were clear. It was sooooo nice! The whole day was really good until around 4pm.

 

[Greenlawler]

We have done the MNSSHP every year for the last 12 years. From our experience the crowds increase every year.

It depends on the day and when in September

The weekend parties are more crowded, so in return the park will not be as crowded before MNNSP.

The later in the month the more chance of busier crowds due to "Fall Breaks" early September tends to be calmer.

From what I remember the crowds are manageable during the day

 

[Tom 55]

I feel that those days are less crowded. If you have a NON park hopper ticket. You dont want just the short hours available on those days.

 

[JIMINYCR]

Yes the crowds will be lessened but I dont remember them as being ghost town less. I have gone the entire day when I had MNSSHP tickets twice but dont think I'd want to use a days ticket up for the limited hours.