Subsonic Radio

Hi

So I've just got back from WDW and wanted to share one story with everyone. There were only 23 people on my Southwest flight down to Orlando which foretold of how hard tourism is being hit (there were only 35 people on my Jetblue flight back too). I went to Magic Kingdom on Sunday, November 16 for the MVMCP. I will preface my story by saying that a cold front creeped in the previous day so it was a little chilly on Sunday and I understand the economy is making people cut back but I've never seen such a light crowd in MK. I have gone to the MVMCP every year since 2006 and usually face a smaller crowd/shorter lines because of the nature of the event but people show up nevertheless. This year however was amazing. We arrived at 5pm and there were no lines. No lines on PoTC, no lines on Big Thunder, no line for the Haunted Mansion......NO LINE FOR SPACE MOUNTAIN! The rocket ship was sitting there waiting for me! I couldn't believe it. I still can't believe it. We looped around MK 3 times, usually riding each ride at least twice each time. We had our own boat for PoTC! My friend who was with me wondered if the other parks were just as slow but unfortunately we didn't have enough time to get to any of them during our tiny vacation window. I am saddened to see MK this slow because ultimately it means layoffs for cast members.

I have friends leaving this Sunday for an 11 day visit. It seems as if it has been very slow now right before the holidays. It was pretty slow right before July 4th this summer and then it picked up again. I'm sure with the holidays coming it should pick up again.

Wow, that's really something. The MK has always been wall-to-wall people when I've been there, and I always go off-season. Heck, I was there a month after 9/11 and it was crowded.

However, my parents told me they went there with some friends in the mid-70s, before I was born, and it was dead like you described. And that's back when the MK was the only game in town. So Disney has been down this road before and survived. I certainly feel for the CMs who will get laid off because of this, though. Poor folks.

I think that most people (at least the locals) won't shell out the money for the Christmas Party before thanksgiving. I also dont think they would go on a Sunday Night. So I think with those 2 aspects, that is probably why you got so lucky with the park being so empty. It will probably pick up once this week passes.

I think they should cut back some of the shows as I always think the HP and CP go on for way too long but maybe that's just me. I hate when MK closes at 7, it just isn't fair to the average tourist when they close the parks early so they charge extra for a special event that happens a lot.

Yes, isn't it stupid that they close the park early, then want you to pay to get back in for the "special event"? I mean, of course Disney's main objective as a company is to stick a Shopvac into your wallet and suck until all they get is lint, but I wish they'd be less obvious about it.

Future Guy wrote:Yes, isn't it stupid that they close the park early, then want you to pay to get back in for the "special event"? I mean, of course Disney's main objective as a company is to stick a Shopvac into your wallet and suck until all they get is lint, but I wish they'd be less obvious about it.

I don't think it's stupid at all. The park closes about 2 hours earlier than normal, which isn't that bad. If they closed for like 6 hours, then I could see the point about closing early. Guests have at least 2 other parks that they can go to, as well as DTD for entertainment when MK closes early.

as for having to pay extra for the special event... since MK is open until AT LEAST midnight or later, with at least 2 extra shows not shown during the day, the cookie/cocoa stations set up throughout the park, as well as a special fireworks show that uses more fireworks (and more specialized fireworks) than the usual guest version, they have to defray those overhead costs somewhere.

anyways, back to the OP, we went in December 06 to MVMCP and (at least to me) the park seemed fairly empty. I think alot of it has to do with the weather, as it was fairly cool (almost downright cold with the wind) the night we went. it was nice to be able to basically walk-on to any of the attractions. much different than the way it was during the day...

One other thing to remember is schools go on breaks in about a month, so less families take kids out of school right now since they have the breal coming up. The attendance usually pics up again right after Thanksgiving.