P&P Dates Added

echoscot

New Member
Guys, I'm sorry for the confusion. I couldn't understand how my memory could be so far off, and I knew the girl at guest relations wasn't trying to scam me. I went with my mom (plus my aunt and grandma) on the trip, so I called her to ask her if she remembered asking about the tickets on our last night (which was Friday the 12th).

I am so embarrassed, but I remembered the quote being something like $170 or $180. I forgot that we were asking about three tickets (for my aunt too). I'm really sorry to have caused a stir, please know that wasn't my intent. I'm going to change my original post as to not mislead any more readers.

Sorry, guys...I'm so embarrassed :eek:

Awwww that's okay:eek: We all still love you :animwink:
 

disneypearl

Well-Known Member
I consider this to be really great news! I am heading to WDW in April and will add the P&P party to my plans. I have really wanted to see this and now I can! :D
 

ssidiouss@mac.c

Well-Known Member
I love the parties.. with them adding the additional ones its like a gift to me.. now i can do an extra pirate party for my march trip!!

One question tho.. do they still limit the sales of the pirate party tickets the way they say they used to? like do u think there will still be low crowd levels at the parties during the last week of feb/first week of march?
 

mkt

When a paradise is lost go straight to Disney™
Premium Member
Methinks me see people being tricked into think they're getting more but just being charged twice for park entry.
Methinks that as a private company, Disney is free to do as they please, even if it means annoying you :)
 

photomatt

Well-Known Member
I love the parties.. with them adding the additional ones its like a gift to me.. now i can do an extra pirate party for my march trip!!

One question tho.. do they still limit the sales of the pirate party tickets the way they say they used to? like do u think there will still be low crowd levels at the parties during the last week of feb/first week of march?

I have heard from several CM's that the capacity of the hard ticket parties is 25,000.

That is not official, it's just something I have been told numerous times.

I have been to sold out MNSSHP's and MVMCP's and it only feels busy during the parades and fireworks. The rides rarely have any wait more than 10 minutes and most rides are walk ons.

If you plan on attending a party try to arrive as close to 4 as possible. It can be a challenge arriving later since you have to fight the flow of the regular day guests leaving the park.

On December 13th I had a coworker and his family come to Orlando for a short weekend getaway. They paid full price for a one day ticket to AK. They arrived at opening and left after 4hours. I think the regular crowds and the fact that they had a 4 year old had something to do with that. Later that same day we arrived at the MK at 4pm so we could attend the MVMCP. I thought they would only last 4 hours or so based on their earlier visit to the AK. I was way wrong. We did not leave the park until 12:30 am. They LOVED the MK since the crowds were so light. They saw Wishes, Holiday Wishes, the Christmas parade, and they rode everything they wanted to at least once - all at a very casual and comfortable pace with NO lines. I completely support WDW's decision to offer these parties. It allows those willing to pay more the chance to experience the park comfortably. It is easily worth $50, even without cookies or a picture. I go to as many of these events as I can since I love to experience the park with lighter crowds. It's wonderful.

The hard ticket event is just a natural progression of WDW's desire to have a "value added" prodcut. This goes along the same lines as letting hotel guests make table service reservations so far in advance and offering EMH. It is also a prelude of things to come, such as allowing hotel guests to reserve Fast Passes days in advance (which has been discussed and could happen).
 

Castle Cake Apologist

Well-Known Member
Just an observation, but... we allow guests to enter the park with an event ticket at 4pm.

Events run until midnight.

So... for roughly $40-$50, you get eight hours in the park (with virtually no lines, even on sold out nights), special shows, special events, special parades (Disney's best, actually), special fireworks (PLUS Wishes at six), and usually a few bonuses thrown in (treats for MNSSHP, cookies and cocoa for MVMCP)

It honestly doesn't seem like such a horrible deal to me.

In fact, it seems like a pretty good one.

Why is that some people are able to find negativity in ANYTHING? It's horridly annoying.

And I have no sympathy for guests who try to play the "Well, nobody told us about this!" card upon being turned away from attractions for lack of wristband. It's sort of hard to ignore the 100,000+ signs and announcements that told you so. Not to mention that fact that planning a Walt Disney World vacation without even the slightest little bit of research is just, well... stupid.

*shrug*
 

Brian Noble

Well-Known Member
During slower seasons, I think the parties are a great idea---the park normally closes at 8 or maybe 9 during these times, so the parties don't cut into too much of the "normal" operating day, but provide guests a way to extend their visits, and provides Disney with the revenue they need to justify keeping the park open later.

During peak times, I'm less enthusiastic. During such periods, the park is already nominally open until 11PM. True, the party crowd is smaller than a regular operating day crowd, but that just means that there are guests who would have wanted to be in MK that evening who decided against it due to cost. For example, during Memorial Day weekend, it just looks like a money grab.

Of course, it's Disney's job to grab money, so I don't begrudge them. But, as these things continue to spread to more and more days---especially days that aren't also EMH days---it becomes harder to find a "good" time to visit MK as a day guest. For my family, it means we might be spending more time at Universal sooner rather than later.

I recognize that Disney is probably okay with that, as they continue to set attendance records. They don't really need little ol' me as much as I need them, apparently.
 
I just realized we will be on vacation in April, and will be at MK on the 10. Since we have know desire to see P&P and thats the only day we could go...

That was a close one.
 

Dwarful

Well-Known Member
I have been to two of these parties. The thing that gets me is the people who say "no wait times, no crowds". For us that hasn't been the case at all. WE went to The PP Party Aug. 11th and the crowds and the lines were not short. WE thought the rain might drive people away, but it didn't. The lines to see the characters were beyond crazy. We went to our first MVMCP Dec.13th. ( I am glad we weren't on the 14th as it was posted in the parks as being sold out) lines to see the characters again, were beyond crazy. Although for many of the rides it was similar to being in the parks during the first 2 hours, not much wait time. But honestly, we didn't go for the rides, we went for the special attractions and those all had crazy wait times.

The thing that got us was this: We planned our trip before WDW released party dates. My husband couldn't reschedule his vacation time. Once its set, its 'use it or lose it'. We had a short trip and MK, our favorite park closed early two nights in a row. Luckily on Friday we knew to get out of MK early to avoid the stampede of those being forced out and those trying to get in. (Thursday was crazy). We did go to Epcot, it was an evening extra magic hour and it seemed like every other person on property who didn't pay for the party went to Epcot. We are going back in July and I hope that they don't have too many of these parties scheduled.

It is a bit annoying to plan ahead ( I am not a big fan of park hop option even with our AP's) and then have to replan around parties. I am not in any way against these parties, but it does just seem like they are getting a bit much. The 'special' aspect of these parties won't seem so special if they are such a common event.
 

Brian Noble

Well-Known Member
July doesn't seem to have any. The last likely party is 6/4. There will probably be some in August as well. We'll know when hours come out.

I just called to buy a ticket for May 6 and they told me there is no party in May!
They are not yet "official". But, there are only so many reasons to close MK at 7PM...
 

surfsupdon

Well-Known Member
I was at the SOLD OUT Halloween Party on the 26th of October and had the place to ourselves. No waiting for any rides, saw the fireworks, and watched the 2nd parade. Did the Treat Trails as we stumbled upon them. Met characters as we wandered around.

The Christmas Party on Nov 30th was similar. But this event, not being sold out, had even less people milling around.

And on both nights, I have read posts complaining of crowds and lines. I have to be honest in that I did not see the hordes of people. Granted they were my first two parties ever so I don't have much experience, but both instances were fantastic entertainment with no lines for my favorite attractions.

I will admit, on both nights, we did not head into ToonTown. We met characters elsewhere. Maybe that place was nuts?

I'd like to try a Pirate and Princess Party. I heard they attract the fewest crowds!!
 

Skip

Well-Known Member
While I'm not really in favor or filling every month of the year with pay-to-play parties (because then the regular paying guest is just kind of ripped off), I did attend a Not-So-Scary Halloween Party this October to just see what all the fuss was about.

Well, at first it didn't look good. While the spooky music and decorations outside the station were great, inside it seemed very packed (it was almost time for the first parade, we had arrived a tad late). We found a nice spot despite the crowds and enjoyed the parade - probably the best I've seen from Disney. I figured these crowds were the same all around the park... well thankfully I was wrong.

Seriously, other then the first parade (the second parade is even more manageable) and to a lesser extent the fireworks, the crowds at these parties are not bad at all. We had absolute ZERO waiting times for any attraction in the park except for pooh, but even then it was a very brief 5 minute wait. Plus, I gathered quite a bit of candy as I came across one of the trick or treat stations.

So needless to say I loved the party. The special Fireworks and Parades at these things are spectacular. But I just kind of wonder, is there too much of a good thing? I mean, if I'm not mistaken before last year the only parties were around Halloween and Christmas, but now they seem to be here for every month of the year except July and late June. Is that really necessary? Will the "special-ness" of the parties wear off? Not to mention if you aren't paying for a party you're kind of screwed, because then you'll probably head to the next-latest closing time park (usually Epcot I think) where everyone ELSE will go, and I'm sure crowds will be crazy there.

Despite all this I would like to try out a Pirate and Princess Party, they look like good fun. When will the dates be official so we can book tickets?

-Skip
 

mousermerf

Account Suspended
Original Poster
The MK parade route is meant to accomodate about 22k people, which is just about the number of people they sell tickets to for the parties.
 

Mickey&Minnie

Active Member
I personally am really excited about the unofficial added dates. I have been wanting to attend the P&PP but it was never offered for dates that we atttended.
I don't mind spending the extra money b/c one way or the other that money would be spent at Disney.
Oh boy, I sure hope you are right about the dates. I am so excited, as soon as my DH called me at work today I began planning my costume.
 

ssidiouss@mac.c

Well-Known Member
So far we went to 2 christmas parties (1st week of december 2006) and 3 pirate parties (1st week march 2007) and they were all perfect!! No lines on any rides :)
 

Dwarful

Well-Known Member
The thing that gets me is everyone keeps saying 'no lines for any of the rides'. Less than 10 yrs ago we paid $10 for eride nights and had even fewer crowds than we personally saw at the two parties we went to. Again, I am not against having some of these parties. But on our recent 4 day trip, 2 days were parties (and when we originally booked our trip they hadn't released the dates). It just makes it hard to plan when you have to either spend another $200 each night just to stay in the parks or leave by 6pm (because leaving at 7pm was chaotic!).
 

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