Originally Posted By bayrr326 So last night myself and my girlfriend, who just went to WDW for the first time a little over a month ago, attended the Pirate and Princess Party at MK. I have been to the Halloween and Christmas parties so I was interested in how this would compare. Once you enter you get your wristband and off you go under the railroad tracks, down a red carpet where cast members greet you and give you your "booty" bag and map. Then as we walked out of town square up the street cast members were saying "good evening princess" or "pirate". It was a nice little touch. I will not give you a play by play of every ride we went on but needless to say we pretty much walked on everything. That ridiculous line u see on Peter Pan during the day, non existent. Of all the parties I have been to this has the smallest crowd. The only rides we had to wait at all for were the spinner rides(Dumbo, Astro, etc) So after going to the park for 22 years I finally rode Astro Orbiter . So that was cool. The cast members pretty much make or break these parties. So after going to the Christmas party last year and seeing the crowd control nightmare they had clearing the park of day guests I was interested to see if they would do a better job during a summer day. It was a hard close at 7. They were making "themed annoucements" that the park was now closed and that the party had begun and you could only stay if you got your special ticket. The biggest difference I noticed between the christmas party and this one is that they flooded the streets with cast member checking wristbands and directing day guests to the exit. There were a few day guests whining but most seemed to understand. Not to be cruel but unless you have a park hopper only an idiot would have gone to that park today. So crowd control was greatly improved over the last party I was at. The one thing that does impress me with the parties is just the amount of cast member that are in the streets during the parties. Smiling, saying hello and trying to make sure everyone has a good time. There are alot of things that are wrong with that park but I can't complain about the cast members they really do a good job esp. at the parties even though I am sure many of them have been working all day long. So we get off of BTMR and I notice that the first parade is about to start so we walk over there and pretty much got a spot right on the parade route right before it start. That is one thing that is unheard of at the other parties esp. for the first parade. Disney's Enchanted Adventures parade is an ok parade. The biggest problem is the theme music is just not that great. It is just sorta blah. So that doesn't help. That and it just doesn't seem to be as big as the Halloween or Christmas parade. The pirate ship float is really cool but the pirate flag squad was a little stupid. The ghost pirates were pretty cool. Capt. Jack is on the same float he uses in the Halloween parade but it is still neat. I guess the thing I noticed their simply didn't seem to be as many characters in the parade. Of course the parade ended with the Mickey and the rest of the gang on everybodys favorite reusable mirrored castle float. It was a nice parade but just didn't click with me the way the Halloween one does. Magic, Music and Mayhem is simply the best castle fireworks show I have ever seen. Steve Davison really created an amazing show. This is the first show I have seen that really uses the perimeter shots not just for extra bang but truly integrated into the story of the show. The part were the pirates attack the castle simply has to be seen to believed. A shell would look like its coming right at the castle and as it faded that part of the castle would explode in smoke and sparks. It was awesome. After that we did finally go after some treasure. It was a nice mix of candy, healthy snacks and trinkets. The bag is a lot smaller than the trick or treat bags at halloween but they are nice. So we rode a few more rides and by 11:30 my girlfriend was wore out and wanted to go so we headed out of the park. My only real complaint is besides the parade, fireworks and castle stage show none of the other entertainment had show times listed on the map. How are you supposed to see any of the extra entertainment if you don't know when it was gonna happen? Not all of us know to go to Disney fan sites and find out the entertainment schedule before we go. We got to see the pirate band Rusty Cutlass and they were great but come on Disney how hard would it be to put show times or at least and extra sheet with the show times on it. Then there are photos. Used to be when you went to one of these parties you got a free photo, then last year it became you got 50% off 5x7 photopass photos online. This year it was get 3 5x7 photopass photos for $19.95 but good only tonight at the Town Square Exposition Hall. Disney quite the nickel and diming over the photos. The whole point of photopass is to be able to look at your photos once you are home and pick and choose what you want. It is easy. This is just another little cut that is annoying. Overall, we had a good time and with the light attendance I can see why people used to really like the parties. If there had been the same amount of people in the park for the Christmas party i went to last year I might have had a better time. I guess the biggest thing is this party just didn't feel special like the Halloween and to a lesser extent the Christmas one does. The fireworks were awesome, the parade pretty good, the cast members and entertainers were great and the crowd size just right but it just didn't give me the same feeling that I had at the other parties. I am guessing it is because this is a made up event and not celebrating a holiday. I don't know if these parties are gonna return but it would be a shame to lose the best fireworks show they have ever had. If you go for the fireworks they are amazing.
Originally Posted By SpectroWishes321 Good to know you had a good time. The part where the castle is under attack is the best part of the show.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub Thanks for posting. I will be arriving this week and plan to go to the Party so I was curious about the enjoyment for adults without little pirates or princesses. What other forms of entertainment besides the Pirate Band should I know about? Do they have a stage show in front of the castle?
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub Arrrr back at you. i guess I should start practicing for Tuesday night!
Originally Posted By frdeb1999 We went on the 11th and the fireworks were fantastic. The girls were able to get all the pix...even with Jack. I do have to say it was way too much to do in such a short time though. Had a amazing time...rides with no wait, pic opps and lots of fun. But they really need to look into things such as lines to print pix and such. Even with that said...it's still very much worth the money IMO!
Originally Posted By Friar Tuck and Roll I was at the Magic Kingdom last night and yet could not bring myself to justify the price for this event. $45 dollars in a lot for what seems to be a fireworks show and a parade. I did notice online that there are discounts for annual pass holders but only on inconvient nights, like wednesday or some other weekday. On a side note, I noticed at the ticket boothes pirate and princess hats in the vein of Burger King crowns, and I only saw 1 person wearing a pirate one and it was a 40 year old male inside of Epcot.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <We went on the 11th and the fireworks were fantastic. The girls were able to get all the pix...even with Jack. I do have to say it was way too much to do in such a short time though. Had a amazing time...rides with no wait, pic opps and lots of fun. But they really need to look into things such as lines to print pix and such. Even with that said...it's still very much worth the money IMO!< I attended this also on the 11th and I usually can not make hard ticket events as they tend to be when the kids are in school for the most part -- I echo all of the above....in that the CM's make or break this and they were really good IMHO that evening. We had a brief downpour right after the party started - ( kids were waiting in line for pics with pirate Donald and pirate Mickey in Tomorrowland ) - lasting maybe 15 mins -- then the rest of the night was clear... My young nieces ( age 6&8) really enjoyed tracking all of the x marks the spot places and getting their 'booty' - candy or beads. I had no problem with the price as they let us in at 5 PM - and we stayed until 12 closure - so for pre pay cost of like $41 or something - it saved on day on each of my families 10 day hoppers ( for me it was pure cost but again I think it was worth it) - crowds were very small as we actually got to stay in the log for 3 straight rides on Splash right after the fireworks -- that was very cool. Buzz ( which for whatever reason I really like) was a walk around repeat ride most of the night.... Also kudos to them for the dance party stuff for little kids....they had a dance area set up near Ariel's Grotto geared towards the 10 and under crowd - with a live DJ and characters ( much like the Playhouse Disney dance party on EMH nights) - and this really plays big with that age group -- lots of fun. Jungle Cruise walk on.....etc....the one bad thing was that Pirates actually went down for about an hour during the party for pirates and princesses -- I am also still trying to figure on a day when the heat index was well into 3 digits how all of the candy was chocolate ? I do not believe the 11th party was anywhere near a sellout - ( maybe someone here would know) and if that was 25,000 people then it really works well. There were a few grousers - and a few trying to worm there way in without cost - but they eventually staged CM's at entrances to lands like Toon Town and stopped people without wrist bands from passing. A lot of 'no speak English' being played when told of the event - and signs were up everywhere. Also had one family on the monorail in ( sad to say from a suburb near me ) - explain to us that 'they' cannot do that and shut the park at 7 and she was going to guest services with her family and complain - they weren't going to throw her out once she was in. ( as her husband looked at me with a 'what the heck can I do' look on his face) - They actually ended up behind us in line for Laugh Floor around 5:30 and we heard her complaining that all they would do for her was offer her the pre pay cost ( about $7 less than at the gate ) - to get in and she wasn't ever going to WDW again ). She also mentioned that she was there 8 years ago and decided to go back and this is how she is treated -- She should have been on Laugh Floor....amazing how entitled some people seem to feel they are.... p.s. - although I really have almost stopped doing pins -- I did buy the 3 for the event - and they had cute t shirts for girls and boys with princess/prince on the front and pirate silhouettes on the back..
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I've got a great idea, especially in summer. Why don't they keep the park open late, put on amazing fireworks and live entertainment, with a special parade for everyone!!!! No hard ticket event. Once upon a time, that's what Disney used to do. Heck, I would pay more on my tickets all year round for that. Yet another piece of evidence of declining by degrees. Glad you enjoyed the party.
Originally Posted By -em I hit the party on Sat also after working the first two and liked it. It was very quiet and I got to ride a bunch of attractions I never ride due to wait times (ie Space, Dumbo) so that was nice... My fav part of the treats were the CARS raisins.. I liked the parade and LOVED the fireworks- Working in the Kingdom is getting me jaded though as we can see the parade out the doors and even if Im off it feels like Im still "at work" -em
Originally Posted By bayrr326 <<I've got a great idea, especially in summer. Why don't they keep the park open late, put on amazing fireworks and live entertainment, with a special parade for everyone!!!! No hard ticket event. Once upon a time, that's what Disney used to do. Heck, I would pay more on my tickets all year round for that.>> You pretty much hit the nail on the head. Imagine how much money they could make if they used the parade and fireworks as a special summertime promotion. Hell, I will even give them a slogan, "Come for a night filled with Music, Magic and Mayhem as Pirates and Princesses take over the Magic Kingdom." But this is WDW so we know that will not happen. As much as I enjoyed the party it is amazing that they are closing the park at 7 pm during the summer. Has that ever been done before?
Originally Posted By TMICHAEL >>>I've got a great idea, especially in summer. Why don't they keep the park open late, put on amazing fireworks and live entertainment, with a special parade for everyone!!!! No hard ticket event. Once upon a time, that's what Disney used to do. Heck, I would pay more on my tickets all year round for that. Yet another piece of evidence of declining by degrees. Glad you enjoyed the party.<<< I can not agree more!!!! A hard ticket event during the peak summer months?! Talk about Disney taking you for everything, and then some.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 You must understand that if they could, WDW management would close the MK every night and charge an extra fee. That's just how they do business now according to their current models and damn the magic. I won't bother to tell you folks that back in the 70s and into the 80s the MK was open from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. every night in the month ... or sometimes just until like the 27th or 28th depending on when Labor Day fell. I don't doubt this is a fun event. I greatly enjoy MNSSHP ... but I won't attend the Christmas parties. But whether it is a fun event is not the point. Closing the MK at 7 p.m. on an early August Saturday is very, very poor show.
Originally Posted By -em >>Closing the MK at 7 p.m. on an early August Saturday is very, very poor show.<< I wont say much except to concur in more ways than I can say here...
Originally Posted By vbdad55 I was also surprised by the earliness of this event. I am not complaining because I rarely can make the other events with 2 kids in different schools - but I understand why some would be upset ( even though 3 other parks open) - and I also remember the 1 AM closings as the norm...
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 ^^So VBDAD, any pics of you with your tiara? ... Maybe a pic of you and Cindy comparing gowns?
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Question for CM EM ... I have seen 1 a.m. closings for Saturdays in October on the schedule. I haven't seen those since the '80s ... do you think they're legit?
Originally Posted By Friar Tuck and Roll >>You must understand that if they could, WDW management would close the MK every night and charge an extra fee. That's just how they do business now according to their current models and damn the magic.<< Even though Disney is not closing early every night of the week they are closing early for a hard ticket event every weekend until New Years with the P&P party, Night of Joy, MNSSHP, and MVMCP.
Originally Posted By -em >>I have seen 1 a.m. closings for Saturdays in October on the schedule. I haven't seen those since the '80s ... do you think they're legit?<< I havent heard anything out of the ordinary but it seems odd for that time of year... I'll keep my ear to the ground...
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <^^So VBDAD, any pics of you with your tiara? ... Maybe a pic of you and Cindy comparing gowns? < nah, was low key -- but did get a pic with Pirate Donald - that was a highlight !
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo The thing is these events artificially inflate the wait times - other parks become more crowded than they would have. Non planners may miss out at a night in the MK assuming Saturday may have more entertainment and it my be one of the 4 days they are spending in WDW (a number of Brits go to FLA for 2 weeks, 1 week by the beach and 1 week at WDW, Sea World and Universal). So many of them tell me how disappointed they are that they were unable to see the fireworks without a seperate ticket (they don't pay as much attention as us). They wonder why I am obsessed with Disney and don't bother to return opting for other vacation destinations. Meantime, in the short term, Disney are raking it in. Those in the know buy the party tickets so they can see the fireworks their 1 day in the MK, and they think the queues are really short (while the waits for RNRC, Test Track, Soarin' etc are inflated because people have hopped out of the closed DAK and MK. Staffing costs are lower running 2 parks and 1 park at an upcharge (thereby subsidizing ops costs). The guests at the party are happy because "normally they can't take the kids out for the other parties", but they are getting something Disney used to pretty much offer for "free" for 30 years previously. But also Disney sell more "bargain" pictures with Pirate Donald, and more Hopper Pass add ons, so people have a park to go to on Saturday Night, or they go and spend money at DTD instead. And during the day, the MK is busier because people are less likely to take a break from the parks do to the shorter hours and bigger crowds (locals day too). Well it is really getting to me (can you tell?). But I feel like Homer after Moe steals his idea for the Flaming Homer/Moe. The place is so busy with happy customers, that the old clientele no longer matter. I stuck by Disney through thick and thin. In the 70's - seeing things that were duff (Noah's Arc anyone) to keep them solvent. Buying more stock in EuroDisney when the place was plummeting. Made a point of visiting the resorts after the 9/11 issues, and spending virtually all of my disposable income on their products. Yet, I cannot really do much to change their practices and voting with my feet won't really do much either (seems like cutting my nose off to spite my face). I am exasperated!
