Thoughts on the All-Nighter?

[itsbetsyh]

Frankly, I don't understand it at all. Is there something magical about staying up all night? Is that a flashback to our childhood where we kinda always wanted to know what it would be like to stay up?

I watched the live stream for quite a while in the evening...the parade...Wishes. and then went to bed. I woke up around 4 AM and thought since I'm awake I think I'll check out what is happening on Main Street. I was amazed at how many people were out there. I was also shocked by the number of strollers with kids in them. Sorta worried me a little. Are parents so immature and self centered that they will disturb the sleep of their child to have the opportunity to stay up all night? Don't we reach a point in our growth that we are able to acknowledge the responsibilities of parenthood and make decisions based on that?

I realize that this is just my opinion, but, I couldn't help but think that were I a young parent (like I once was) and someone said "Hey, let's stay up all night at WDW", I would have had to say, 'I'd love too, but, I have to get my kids tucked in and getting the rest they and I need'. (sigh) I guess the times have changed.

This is why I didn't go. I have a 5 year old and frankly, sleep is more important for both of us.

 

[Gabe1]

Having attended the Leap Day 24 hour event last year, this years event turned into a nightmare for us. We arrived at Magic Kingdom Orlando around 10. Saw the fireworks from the main entrance near Tonys Italian restaurant. Then headed towards Tomorrowland. Don't let the 24 stream live video fool you. This place was packed like Times Square on New Year's Eve. Total, grid lock prevented us from getting into Tomorrowland for over an hour. That's right an hour to walk from Main Street into Tomorrowland. The Emporium was jammed solid with guests trying to take a short cut into Adventureland because Main Street was at a stand still. Nobody couldn't even shop. Very unsafe, very dangerous to pack this many guests into the park. A total fire and emergency hazard to say the least. Those who purchased a full day ticket really lost their money, you couldn't enjoy yourself with crowds like this. Space Mountain at one point was a 3 hour wait. We turned away and went back to the resort at midnight. 2 hours in shoulder to shoulder walking and being pushed and shoved. If you didn't attend, you didn't miss much. Shame on Disney for not thinking of guest safety first.

My DS, a CM worked during the day and went into the MK late at night for Leap 24. It was said pretty quickly they'd do it again, Disney didn't anticipate that many guests in the wee hours. He said they quickly knew for the next time more eating venues had to stay open and more attractions open later for the guests that stayed to see the sun rise.

My DS had a good time, it was a novelty. He didn't find it dangerous, just some guests more tipsy then normally seen at MK, more so at Epcot. This 24 hour crowd level isn't much different than nearing capacity on any other given date. The only thing that didn't seem to work itself out was tranferring guests from Epcot to the MK. That snag remained.

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[ImagineerDude]

Best and most tiring Disney experience ever! I doubt they'll have another one this year, but it's a money-maker so they definitely will but I hope they keep it in the off season.

 

[ShookieJones]

Frankly, I don't understand it at all. Is there something magical about staying up all night? Is that a flashback to our childhood where we kinda always wanted to know what it would be like to stay up?

. I was also shocked by the number of strollers with kids in them. Sorta worried me a little. Are parents so immature and self centered that they will disturb the sleep of their child to have the opportunity to stay up all night? Don't we reach a point in our growth that we are able to acknowledge the responsibilities of parenthood and make decisions based on that?

I realize that this is just my opinion, but, I couldn't help but think that were I a young parent (like I once was) and someone said "Hey, let's stay up all night at WDW", I would have had to say, 'I'd love too, but, I have to get my kids tucked in and getting the rest they and I need'. (sigh) I guess the times have changed.

Yow....If you're shook up about parents letting or 'forcing' their kids to stay up all night at WDW, I'd hate to see what your judgement of me would be with some of the 'mistakes' I've made when I was young parent. ouch!!

And honestly if we're going to be shocked about this crazy behavior of staying up late at WDW with our kids while there are so many other things in the world (and the World) that parents do that might be considered shocking then yes indeed my friend..times have changed.

To answer your question -- yes I think there is "something magical" about being a kid and staying up past ' your bedtime'! I can remember a few occasions quite vividly when my parents where having cook outs when my cousins were over and it was dark and the adults where drinking around the fire and we (my cousins and me) were in the backyard running around and I know our parents 'forgot about us' and we were up well past the time we should have been tucked in --- that those moments stuck in my mind and they are still there to this day.
I can only imagine what an impression it would leave if we were in WDW at the time. But as you said...that's just my opinion.

 

[Tommye1078]

I spend all free time with my wife and kids. I don''t drink, smoke, or do drugs (while I did in college, Yeah! ). I would absolutely bring my kids to the 24 hour event. They are both young 3 and 5. If we got tired then we could leave, but I feel missing some sleep 1 night is ok and around 1am when everyone is really tired thats when we would be at our silliest. Nothing increases parent child bonding like silliness. I feel to call a parent self serving because they bring them to a Disney all nighter is quite a broad blanket statement.

 

[WaltsWorld]

I like the idea of a POTC 5 all-nighter! I wonder if this will ever extend to the other parks of WDW? Obviously, AK wouldn't be able to stay open, but Epcot or DHS maybe?

 

[R W B]

Hopefully they do continue to have these 1 night a year and I'm able to make one just to say I did it.

Think it's funny how people are complaining about the parents that "kept" their kids out all night long 1 night during a vacation in the Magic Kingdom. Come on people, it's a once in a year thing, for some once in a lifetime because we don't know if 24hrs of MK will happen again. So they stay up real late, stop acting like its going to damage them forever lol. Even if the kids were sleeping in a stroller at 3am but the parents wanted to stay, what's the problem? I've seen kids sleeping In strollers at 8pm too, are those parents not doing it right either?

 

[UPbeekeeper]

I didn't attend either of the 24 hour events, and honestly, would never attend any in the future. If one of these events happen to be announced on a time when I have a scheduled vacation, I will rearrange my plans to avoid it. If it's your thing, then I say, go for it, enjoy it, and make wonderful memories. For me personally, I do not like crowds, only go to WDW on the slower times during the year, and would rather spend my time actually enjoying attractions instead of waiting in endless lines for them.

To be fair, allow me to clarify the kind of person I am in everyday life. I am the person that tends to avoid parties & other crowded social events. I'm also an Accountant that starts work at 5 a.m., so I'm not much of a night owl....lol. I would never say these 24 hour events are bad or a waste of time, etc...just something I personally would not enjoy. Now....if I was allowed to have the park to myself for 24 hours...that's an entirely different story.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Hopefully they do continue to have these 1 night a year and I'm able to make one just to say I did it.

Think it's funny how people are complaining about the parents that "kept" their kids out all night long 1 night during a vacation in the Magic Kingdom. Come on people, it's a once in a year thing, for some once in a lifetime because we don't know if 24hrs of MK will happen again. So they stay up real late, stop acting like its going to damage them forever lol. Even if the kids were sleeping in a stroller at 3am but the parents wanted to stay, what's the problem? I've seen kids sleeping In strollers at 8pm too, are those parents not doing it right either?

I did state that "I was just my opinion" but I guess what bothers me more is that anyone would want to do the all night thing. It's not like a coronation! You stay up all night...so what? A real accomplishment for a 14 year old, but, an adult? Just don't see what the appeal is. Once a year, Once a lifetime...it's not like a eclipse or some natural rare happening. It's nighttime in a theme park. If I missed everyone, which I will, I still don't think I missed anything. I checked every bucket list I ever had and it doesn't appear on it anywhere.

What I was referring to was the little one's. It just surprised me because in the dark ages, when my kids were little, it just never crossed my mind that I should drag them out all hours of the night. I also knew that if I did my next day was going to be a nightmare. There is nothing more difficult to deal with then tired, cranky kids. I suppose there is some truth to the idea that they are asleep in the stroller so what's the difference. Probably none, but, it's hard for me to believe that they are getting their proper rest with all the noise and activity that close to them. The very best scenario is that they are all rested and you look like death warmed over due to lack of sleep and small kids that need things from you the next day. Again, it's just my opinion, but, I wanted to express it, because that is what I felt and the title of this thread was "Thoughts on the all-nighter". I guess for me it isn't just that the kids are out all night, it's more of why would anyone want to be out all night? I don't think you get a medal for it.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I spend all free time with my wife and kids. I don''t drink, smoke, or do drugs (while I did in college, Yeah! ). I would absolutely bring my kids to the 24 hour event. They are both young 3 and 5. If we got tired then we could leave, but I feel missing some sleep 1 night is ok and around 1am when everyone is really tired thats when we would be at our silliest. Nothing increases parent child bonding like silliness. I feel to call a parent self serving because they bring them to a Disney all nighter is quite a broad blanket statement.

I guess, but I would think that child/parent bonding would come from respect, protection and concern for well being. Silliness is something a kid does automatically...no training required.

 

[Spikerdink]

It is each parent's choice whether to have their children be part of the 24 hour celebration, and that is well within their rights as parents.

What I have a problem with is the next day, when the child's clock is off and they are irritable, cranky, out of sorts and Mom and/or Dad don't connect the dots to the night before's events and end up screaming at the kids, or even worse, hitting a crying child because they won't 'snap out of it'.

Sure, being in the MK at 3 am is great fun. But If I had a 6 year old, that child should be in bed at that time because at that age the child needs the structure and rest they are used to. If I had a 16 year old, I would say, let's see how long we can last and tomorrow we will do nothing but kick back and sleep as late as we want....

All my opinion, and no two children are the same. But I have seen too many parents screaming at (and spanking) children who have been pushed past their limits and the child is truly innocent here it is the parent who is at fault.

 

[asc341]

I'm so glad the participants had fun, but I get overtired after a regular day at the parks - I can't imagine what kind of cranky monster I would have been at the monstrous summer event!

 

[Tommye1078]

I guess, but I would think that child/parent bonding would come from respect, protection and concern for well being. Silliness is something a kid does automatically...no training required.

...and sometimes play!

 

[mickey2008.1]

It looks like fun and somethingn i would like to try. I like the idea of other parks trying 24 hours. Epcot would be great because ofnits size. DHS would be fun, but it's too small in my opinion. What if they did all parks except ak, logistical nightmare, but would be fun

 

[Soarin2u]

I like the idea of a POTC 5 all-nighter! I wonder if this will ever extend to the other parks of WDW? Obviously, AK wouldn't be able to stay open, but Epcot or DHS maybe?

I don't think they will ever do any late nights at DHS. It's a VERY small park and is somewhat limited to what you can do. It's inconvenient unlike Epcot and MK who are both connected by a monorail. The bus route is the only way there and well, if you look at a picture above you.... That was the line from Epcot to the MK. However, they should at least, at one point, open Epcot along with the MK. They should only fill one park up to capacity but have two parks open to allow more space and shorter lines. Plus Epcot, again, is connected by monorail to MK.... Allowing easier access to both parks...

 

[ShookieJones]

I did state that "I was just my opinion" but I guess what bothers me more is that anyone would want to do the all night thing. It's not like a coronation! You stay up all night...so what? A real accomplishment for a 14 year old, but, an adult? Just don't see what the appeal is. Once a year, Once a lifetime...it's not like a eclipse or some natural rare happening. It's nighttime in a theme park. If I missed everyone, which I will, I still don't think I missed anything. I checked every bucket list I ever had and it doesn't appear on it anywhere.

What I was referring to was the little one's. It just surprised me because in the dark ages, when my kids were little, it just never crossed my mind that I should drag them out all hours of the night. I also knew that if I did my next day was going to be a nightmare. There is nothing more difficult to deal with then tired, cranky kids. I suppose there is some truth to the idea that they are asleep in the stroller so what's the difference. Probably none, but, it's hard for me to believe that they are getting their proper rest with all the noise and activity that close to them. The very best scenario is that they are all rested and you look like death warmed over due to lack of sleep and small kids that need things from you the next day. Again, it's just my opinion, but, I wanted to express it, because that is what I felt and the title of this thread was "Thoughts on the all-nighter". I guess for me it isn't just that the kids are out all night, it's more of why would anyone want to be out all night? I don't think you get a medal for it.

The problem is it turned form thoughts about the all nighter to your "opinions on parenting" which is WAY off subject.

Again you're assuming what you did with your kids is what's correct for others.

You can have your opinion all you want you're certainly entitled to it as am I (ask my wife she'll tell you I think so).

But let's save the
"I would never...or how could they.."s
and the "yeah but how about the next day when that parent is going to beat that kid into oblivion for asking for more juice"
accusations and assumptions for the "How to be a good Disney Parent" thread.

Deal?

 

[Goofyernmost]

But let's save the
"I would never...or how could they.."s
and the "yeah but how about the next day when that parent is going to beat that kid into oblivion for asking for more juice"
accusations and assumptions for the "How to be a good Disney Parent" thread. Deal?

As I said..those were my thoughts. It's up to parents to decide if what they are doing is proper or not. Although, I know what you are saying. I just misread it to think that I was included in the question even though I didn't go. Sorry! I do have to wonder why, if everyone thinks it is the right thing to do, have gotten all defensive about it. What does it matter what I think. I'll answer that...not at all! Everyone will justify their actions regardless of the fact that we all have no idea if what we are doing will be harmful or not. We find that out later when it comes time for them to choose a nursing home for us.

Oh, one last thought...no matter how bad I was feeling or what mood I was in I never was tempted to "beat the kid into oblivion"! I never even implied that any harm would come to the child. I would appreciate not putting those words in mouth, when you are the one that came to that conclusion, not me. Deal?

 

[ShookieJones]

As I said..those were my thoughts. It's up to parents to decide if what they are doing is proper or not. Although, I know what you are saying. I just misread it to think that I was included in the question even though I didn't go. Sorry! I do have to wonder why, if everyone thinks it is the right thing to do, have gotten all defensive about it. What does it matter what I think. I'll answer that...not at all! Everyone will justify their actions regardless of the fact that we all have no idea if what we are doing will be harmful or not. We find that out later when it comes time for them to choose a nursing home for us.

Oh, one last thought...no matter how bad I was feeling or what mood I was in I never was tempted to "beat the kid into oblivion"! I never even implied that any harm would come to the child. I would appreciate not putting those words in mouth, when you are the one that came to that conclusion, not me. Deal?

I think you read the question or thread topic correctly..the OP asked what everyone thought whether they went or not. Like all other threads around here you're more than welcome to jump on in!

I just thought you got a little off base and made some comments moving in a direction other than what the thread was about. "What do you think of the All nighter?"

For the record - I definitely was not putting words into your mouth or coming to conclusions, but more doing a little colorful commentary based on the thread in general taking a turn toward 'bad parenting' including some other poster's comments that seemed to be focusing on how parents shouldn't be out late with their kids and how they may react because of it.

Strange that you mention defensiveness and then say that I'm putting words in your mouth...but on that subject -- I rarely if ever get into "back and forths" on these forums or 'speak out' in this manner but me making a comment about you being unnecessarily critical about a touchy subject (parenting) not to mention off base on the general subject of the thread isn't defensive it was just another post and a different view point.

 

[Goofnut1980]

I do not think they need All-Nighters... but could they at least make the park hours at MK consistent like they do at Epcot and AK... Pick a time already and make that the year round time. Like 9-10 with EMH on select nights. its so hard to plan things sometimes because you don't know what they are going to pick.

 

[blm07]

Frankly, I don't understand it at all. Is there something magical about staying up all night? Is that a flashback to our childhood where we kinda always wanted to know what it would be like to stay up?

Have you seen that movie Little Monsters? lol

But honestly, to me, the only cool thing about the leap year event last year was how they played alternate universe versions of background music. Otherwise, eh, not too interested in doing it again.