Staying for Christmas party

[Schmoltz]

I'm traveling to WDW in December, and want to stick around for the Christmas parade and fireworks...don't really care about the rides at that point.

How hard is it to "hide" on Main Street until the parade? I figure we'll just be shop until we wait for the parade and then leave. Has anyone tried this?

 

[RonAnnArbor]

While it is doable, they very much enforce the Party bracelets. Party visitors start coming into the park at 4:00 and the regular day-visitors are asked to leave by 6:00 but they give you an extra hour to mingle around the stores or restaurants (Not the rides)...after that, they really do start checking the bracelets after 7:00, even to enter stores and restaurants. You can't get any holiday treats without showing the bracelet, and you won't get served in any of the restaurants or stand without showing your bracelet. You can't get into any of the holiday shows without showing your bracelet.

Yes, in theory you can hang out. In reality, you'll find next to nothing you will be able to do without the bracelet. I supposed you will be able to see the parade if you hang out at least two hours since I think those start only later in the evening.

Having done MVMCP many times, I can assure you that very little happens inside the park that is different from what a regular evening in the park looks like. They were originally created to bring local Floridians into the park at the holidays, not really geared so much to the folks already staying in the resorts. As a consequence, what you will see is much much more traffic, backups along the road heading toward the transportation center, and long lines at all the transportation hubs. You will also see lots of families with kids running from snack stand to snack stand, and shorter lines for all the rides -- in fact, it's a fantastic night to go on the rides (which you will be unable to do without showing a bracelet) because the locals are doing all the holiday parades, shows, and snacks, leaving mostly the vacationing resort guests going on the rides (for the most part)...

 

[tizzo]

While it is doable, they very much enforce the Party bracelets. Party visitors start coming into the park at 4:00 and the regular day-visitors are asked to leave by 6:00 but they give you an extra hour to mingle around the stores or restaurants (Not the rides)...after that, they really do start checking the bracelets after 7:00, even to enter stores and restaurants.

Actually, I was there once and had them start checking bracelets around 6:45. There was no "extra hour" to hang around, the park doesn't close for regular guests until 7PM, at least on the night of my experience.

Cast members were extremely aggressive (for Disney) about restricting movement. My wife had to practically force her way past a blockade of cast members to bring my then 2-year-old niece to the bathroom so that we could leave. And again, this was well before the park closed to regular guests.

However, all this appears to happen only around closing time. We were there a couple of nights later, this time for MVMCP, with bracelets. The blockades of cast members were nowhere to be found, and any checking for bracelets that was going on was quite unobtrusive.

My advice would be to just go to MK on a non-party night. You're not really missing anything with the party, IMHO. The snacks weren't anything special - hot cocoa like you can make at home from powered mix, and sugar cookies that had been frozen and (mostly) defrosted after they were baked. The parade was nice, but I'm not a parade guy and could have taken or left it. Fireworks were also nice, but I prefer plain old Wishes, and you can view them from outside the park anyway if you're really that interested.

By no means would I let myself get caught inside the park within a half hour before closing again. I've never been subjected to such un-Disney-like treatment anywhere on Disney property.

 

[zurgandfriend]

I posted this in another thread recently, we attended MVMCP one night, it was cool and we were wearing jackets which covered your wristbands. As we walked through Adventure Land from Pirates to the Jungle Cruise a cast member stopped us and very politely asked to see our wrist bands. When we presented them the cast member very politely thanked us, asked if we having a fun time, offered us hot cocoa and cookies etc. he then excused himself and went and asked someone else to see their wrist bands. The moral of the story is yes they check and you may very well get caught and escorted out.

 

[ladycameron]

This wouldn't be fair to the rest of us who purchase the tickets and spend the extra money to see the Christmas parade and fireworks.

 

[tcwickings]

This wouldn't be fair to the rest of us who purchase the tickets and spend the extra money to see the Christmas parade and fireworks.

So true :xmas:

 

[tampabrad]

If you hide long enough, you might be able to get the next day free too. Also, park at one of the hotels, then you wont even have to pay for parking. Then, when you are done sneaking into the event, you can go for a swim.

 

[zurgandfriend]

If you hide long enough, you might be able to get the next day free too. Also, park at one of the hotels, then you wont even have to pay for parking. Then, when you are done sneaking into the event, you can go for a swim.

ROFL:ROFLOL: Good one! For their exit they can have dinner and skip out on the check.

 

[wolf359]

Short answer is yes, they check for wristbands, even in the shops on Main Street. You might make it 5 or 10 minutes after closing, but two hours? No way.

 

[rlm919]

If you hide long enough, you might be able to get the next day free too. Also, park at one of the hotels, then you wont even have to pay for parking. Then, when you are done sneaking into the event, you can go for a swim.

don't forget to bring an old resort mug for free refills!

 

[geubux]

Let me translate for Schmoltz:

"Hi! I'm special! I paid SO MUCH for my WDW trip that it's beneath me to pay for a ticketed event, like you ignoramouses did! Besides, ALL I want to do is just see a little parade and a few fireworks. I'm only STEALING a little! Do you think the mean people at Disney will beat me up?" (flutters puppy like eyes)

It's called STEALING. You're getting a service you didn't pay for. Go to Universal....you'll fit in well.:xmas:

 

[StingraySam]

Let me translate for Schmoltz:

"Hi! I'm special! I paid SO MUCH for my WDW trip that it's beneath me to pay for a ticketed event, like you ignoramouses did! Besides, ALL I want to do is just see a little parade and a few fireworks. I'm only STEALING a little! Do you think the mean people at Disney will beat me up?" (flutters puppy like eyes)

It's called STEALING. You're getting a service you didn't pay for. Go to Universal....you'll fit in well.:xmas:

Was this portion of your comment really called for?

 

[mtomkins]

They checked rigorously at MNSSHP, and quite frankly, rightfully so. If you are that interested in the party, then pay the extra ticket. Not fair to anyone who has. As for Disney employees being less than friendly, it's not a matter of being unfriendly (atleast from what I witnessed) as it was them doing their job. On a normal day, if you saw someone who snuck in chances are someone would be very upset after paying to get in and seeing someone who snuck in .. No different to those of us who are willing to pay extra.

I wouldn't chance it, it's a bad situation to attempt to put yourself in. And honestly, it is stealing. If you want to see the party or are unsure, research and decide whether it's worth the extra price for you or not.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

That's good to know that they were checking at MNSSHP. Aside from the obvious issues- what keeps bugging me about OP comments is that they just want to stick around for the "Christmas parade and fireworks...don't really care about the rides at that point." They say that- acting like rides are the main attraction of MVMCP. Parade and fireworks are really all we want to see as well. In fact, that's what most people are wanting to see as it's not stuff you can see during normal park hours- and that's why we've PAID THE PRICE OF ADMISSION! Funny-I remember being at MK back in the early 90s and seeing people being arrested for trying to sneak into the park...I wonder if they have the same leverage with people trying to hide inside the park for a hard ticketed event. :shrug: In my eyes- it's the same thing- so I would assume they do.

 

[geubux]

Was this portion of your comment really called for?

Called for? Why not? this USED to be a free country, but i'll check with YOU from now on, your PC highness.:fork:

And it seemed to me, that the crowds at universal were a little on the lower end of the social-economic scale. The kind that would steal from you. Kind of like at six flags or cedar fair; you know, with the girlfriend that has an 11 inch hickie on her neck from her "bf" while they were standing in line. CLASS!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

That's good to know that they were checking at MNSSHP. Aside from the obvious issues- what keeps bugging me about OP comments is that they just want to stick around for the "Christmas parade and fireworks...don't really care about the rides at that point." They say that- acting like rides are the main attraction of MVMCP. Parade and fireworks are really all we want to see as well. In fact, that's what most people are wanting to see as it's not stuff you can see during normal park hours- and that's why we've PAID THE PRICE OF ADMISSION! Funny-I remember being at MK back in the early 90s and seeing people being arrested for trying to sneak into the park...I wonder if they have the same leverage with people trying to hide inside the park for a hard ticketed event. :shrug: In my eyes- it's the same thing- so I would assume they do.

Yeah, that quote kinda stood out to me, too. I paid $200 for my family to experience things that aren't offered during regular park hours. But, by all means, come sit next to us on Main Street for free because you can "get by with it". :brick:

To the OP: Seriously, if you are taking something that isn't offered to you and you know you have to sneak to do it, it is stealing. Plain & simple. You may get by. You may not. But at the end of the day you've been a thief and that karma is now upon you. Is it really worth it? If you want to see the fireworks & parade without having to pay for the event keep an eye on YouTube or other fan sites where paying guests will post well-produced video for your viewing pleasure. If you want to see these offerings in person then just buy the ticket, grab a cup of cocoa & a cookie, sit back, and enjoy.

Golly, did ya really think that question was going to slide by without ruffling a few feathers???

 

[tizzo]

As for Disney employees being less than friendly, it's not a matter of being unfriendly (atleast from what I witnessed) as it was them doing their job. On a normal day, if you saw someone who snuck in chances are someone would be very upset after paying to get in and seeing someone who snuck in .. No different to those of us who are willing to pay extra.

If that one was directed at me, I'll repeat that the park was not yet to have closed to people not attending the party when my experience occurred.

What I left out of my description was that when I complained to guest services the next day, they told me that the cast members involved (my wife had similar encounters with two different people in two different areas on the night in question, having opted to try a different rest room rather than confronting the first person she encountered), we were told that they were absolutely not doing their jobs. In fact they wanted the cast members' names, which my wife hadn't though to get (my niece was reaching her limit at that point).

My point to the OP was that if this is how they treat guests who are still supposed to have free run of the park, imagine how you'll be treated if you really are trying to get away with something.

 

[StingraySam]

Called for? Why not? this USED to be a free country, but i'll check with YOU from now on, your PC highness.:fork:

And it seemed to me, that the crowds at universal were a little on the lower end of the social-economic scale. The kind that would steal from you. Kind of like at six flags or cedar fair; you know, with the girlfriend that has an 11 inch hickie on her neck from her "bf" while they were standing in line. CLASS!

You are correct this is a free country which allows everyone the opportunity to speak freely including my opinion of your comment. You made your point, which I agreed with by the way, up to the Universal comment.

Taking your comment in content since I not only frequent the Universal parks and am an annual passholder, Disney must have made a huge mistake for not only letting someone like me in their park and staying at their resorts but allowing me to purchase one of their annual passes as well. This must just totally ruin your time at the happiest place on earth when you see someone like me in your park.

No need to check with me on future comments though someone of my class wouldn't be welcome anyway.


To the OP: If you want to experience the MVMCP, BUY A TICKET!

Also let me apologize to everyone else for the thread drift. I do not normally let these comments bother me but geubux's first Universal comment just irritated me his explanation justifies his opinion which, though I do not agree with, he is entitled!

 

[Nikki M]

We were there last year during the MVMCP. On the nights we did not go to the party, things were shut down the minute the party started. You could not get into a store at 7:00. On our last night there, there was not even a party and everything was shut down, we were going to go into Minnies Bake Shop and the doors were shut and locked as well as the Emporium across the street.

I actually like that they do that on MVMCP nights, it clears the park out fast. The night we went there were not a lot of people. It is nice to feel like you paid to have the park to yourself. From our experience, it was worth the extra money.