How long can you stay in MK on a MVMCP if you don't have a party ticket?

[MKTokyo]

YES^

Been doing parties yearly sometimes more than once since 2006. The standard should be no non-party guests in the parks by 7 pm, with current 6 pm close, except for those finishing up meals. They are supposed to be escorted out of the park other than Tony's.

Yes, there should be CMs at the doors and by 7 pm no one without a band should be allowed in the store let alone make a purchase. I have seen many folks turned away from stores and I've them in the store refused checkout because they had no band. I've seen them refused ride entry, refused buying food at counter service, refused forward motion in the parks and even refused entry into bathrooms. At our party last month they were enforcing it. This is how it should work. The park closes at 6 pm. Unless you have an ADR that is okay with for non-ticketed guest ... you are expected to be out of the park by 7 pm. And I have seen guests who were trying to stay escorted out.

I totally agree with hiroMYhero - be leaving by 6 pm and have a relaxing meal at one of the hotels or Disney Springs. It's just not worth the hassle of trying to deal with the crowds coming in and closure of most the park to non-ticketed guests. If you get there at rope drop with three booked FP+ and roll that 4th you can get plenty done. It is not unusual for us to roll and end up with a dozen FP+ each day at MK.

The checkout incident must have been for another reason. We have done it many times - started shopping before the park closed for the party & left afterwards. We either had already been or were going to the party on another day, but the CMs had no way of knowing that. They did make a point of saying, each time, that if you leave the store before you're done shopping, you won't be able to come back inside, so make sure to finish shopping before you leave. Realistically, they are not going to have people abandon a pile of would-be purchases.

I agree with everything else, though I personally have not witnessed even half as many of them!

The CMs are very kind when they do explain about the party, though. It's not done in a rude manner & people are not summarily marched out. That would be unpleasant to see. I'm sure some guests are nasty about it, but the CMs never are.

 

[HopperFan]

I know that feeling. Every night of our December trip is a party night (except the Saturday, and I believe the day we are checking out). You can get a good amount done this time of year if you come at RD and stay til' 6. You won't be able to ride rides, meet characters, or pretty much anything after 6. I personally would leave a little before 6, and perhaps enjoy the holiday offerings at HS, Epcot, DS, or any of the on-site hotels.

This is correct. Unless you were already inside a store, inside a character/ride queue or quick serve restaurant by 6 pm then a CM should have blocked you from entering. I'd rather be gone by that point enjoying elsewhere. Especially since many will get in those lines and they are longer. My guess is due to this last minute jump in line and the time it took to clear the lines ... one reason they added this hour of transition where day guests can not enter but party hasn't started. That hour should clear any out that were in line.

Totally left that off my post and that is exactly what we did. Hopped over to Epcot with plenty of dining and enjoyed Illuminations and one night we went to DHS with our last FP+ booked at Fantasmic. In no way did it feel like we were short changed by a party, we just planned our days to enjoy night times at other locations.

 

[lvdis]

Do you know if the castle will have the lights turned on before 6pm? We will be there during the day on a party night (12/7) and I plan on leaving by 6 but hoped to be able to see the lights. Don't need to see the lighting ceremony just want the beauty of it all lit up!

 

[Jetta8300]

I'm not trying to take advantage. I'm just trying to figure out if you should go on a non-party night instead. We have 4 party nights on our week; so scheduling is a bit difficult with this party going on.

You definitely should not skip going to MK on a party day just because it closes early. Those are some of the most wonderful days to visit with short lines. We have gone many times on days where there is a party at night and everything is a walk on. We specifically go to MK on party days for this reason, and I wish there were 4 parties the weeks we go!!!

 

[SaintsManiac]

I'm not trying to take advantage. I'm just trying to figure out if you should go on a non-party night instead. We have 4 party nights on our week; so scheduling is a bit difficult with this party going on.

Party days are some of the best at MK. Non party nights will probably be chaos.

 

[Sleepy425]

We were just in MK on a party night Oct 25. We didn’t get there til 130 (went to DHS first) and left by 530. In those 4 hours we did:
Small World
Peter Pan
Carousel
Winnie the Pooh
Pirates
Jungle Cruise
Country Bears
People Mover
SpaceRanger Spin
Under the Sea
Met Daisy/Minnie
Met Goofy/Donald
Had we been there at rope drop we would have been able to fit in everything we wanted to do easily. So don’t be discouraged due to a party, just use FastPasses to your advantage and enjoy an early night back at the resort.
In August of this year I was at MK on the night of the first party and got there for 7am rope drop. Even with my 4 year old daughters I managed to do at least 20 attractions. It was a couple months ago so I forget exactly which ones, but I know it didn’t include Space, Big Thunder, Astro Orbiter, and Coursel of Progress. And the only characters we did that day were Mickey, Minnie/Daisy, and Donald/Goofy (by choice, not because of long lines). But we did so much and didn’t feel rushed that day.

 

[IrishNYC]

We will be at the MK on 11/25, a party day. Liberty Tree Tavern has had a lot of ADR's available in the last few days for after 6 pm (like 6:20, 6:30, and 6:50 pm). They are not listed under the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party Dining reservations. Their web page says they are open until 7 pm that night. Since we don't have a ticket for the party, I assumed we could only make reservations up until 6 pm. Has anyone had any experience with this situation? Will they turn us away if we have an ADR for 6:30?

The fine print of the reservation will say that you need a party ticket for a dining time after 6.

 

[Robo]

You won't be able to ride rides, meet characters, or pretty much anything after 6. I personally would leave a little before 6, and perhaps enjoy the holiday offerings at HS, Epcot, DS, or any of the on-site hotels.

You're forgetting MK's "Frozen Holiday Wish" Castle Lighting Ceremony which will (very likely) begin at 6:15pm, nightly. It is open to all guests with a regular "day ticket."

 

[TheDisneyNurse]

You're forgetting MK's "Frozen Holiday Wish" Castle Lighting Ceremony which will (very likely) begin at 6:15pm, nightly. It is open to all guests with a regular "day ticket."

You’re right! I forgot about that, I’ve actually never seen it. Probably an unpopular opinion, but I wish they’d change the fact that it’s open for all. $99 (or more) a pop is a lot for a ticket.

 

[sharonabe]

The fine print of the reservation will say that you need a party ticket for a dining time after 6.

Not anymore. They have two separate "doors" into MK TS restaurants for party nights. One specifically states that it is "party" dining and ADRs will only be for during party hours. The other "door" will not allow any ADRs beyond the time that non-party guests can enter.

 

[Robo]

You’re right! I forgot about that, I’ve actually never seen it. Probably an unpopular opinion, but I wish they’d change the fact that it’s open for all. $99 (or more) a pop is a lot for a ticket.

They generally offer a second performance of the "Frozen Holiday Wish" Castle Lighting Ceremony that takes place at 8:15pm exclusively for
MVMCP guests.

 

[Soccer Princess]

You're forgetting MK's "Frozen Holiday Wish" Castle Lighting Ceremony which will (very likely) begin at 6:15pm, nightly. It is open to all guests with a regular "day ticket."

We will not have party tickets, but DD definitely wants to see this! Would we still be allowed to get PhotoPass pictures taken after the castle is lit up on the way out of the park?

 

[Missyrose]

We will not have party tickets, but DD definitely wants to see this! Would we still be allowed to get PhotoPass pictures taken after the castle is lit up on the way out of the park?

Yes, that won't be a problem.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

I remember a thread last year of someone hoping to schedule a later ADR and then hang in the shops from start of party until the parade, so they could see the parade without buying a ticket. I would hope Disney would escort anyone without a wristband to the exit as soon as the party begins. It isn't fair to those paying an arm and a leg otherwise.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Now that the OP’s question has been answered and before tips for circumventing Party Rules continue, closing.