After Hours Events - Ask Questions and Share Experiences Here

[focusondisney]

I interpreted your comment to mean that anyone going to this event would be generally disappointed. Thanks for clarifying!

Oh! Sorry! No, I meant disappointed there would be no gap. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[scrappinginontario]

This comment always confuses me. For a paid event, whether or not it's a peak time at the parks, shouldn't it remain a good experience due to the limitations on tickets sold (within a reasonable variance)?

While that would be nice, what 'should' happen and what 'does' happen can be very different.

It's also subjective too and depends on personal experiences. While the vast majority of people reporting had challenges with the 2/22 party, there were a few who had different experiences and didn't face the challenges many others did.

 

[OhhBother]

We'll be at the HS DAH tonight, and I'll report back. Really hoping we don't have to spend a huge chunk of our time in the ROR line. I actually meant to buy ILL this AM, but we slept until 11 am. Ahh, vacation!

 

[#1hoosierfan]

We are going to AH at HS tonight too. Will report back tomorrow.

 

[OhhBother]

We'll be at the HS DAH tonight, and I'll report back. Really hoping we don't have to spend a huge chunk of our time in the ROR line. I actually meant to buy ILL this AM, but we slept until 11 am. Ahh, vacation!

Well, we're back at our resort at 11:40 pm. Our HS DAH experience was not good. Let me preface this by saying I've done a half dozen or more DAH events at MK and AK. I've loved every one of them. I was just at MK DAH on Monday, in fact.

Tonight was terrible. With no buffer between the close of the park and DAH beginning, the lines were packed with day guests at 9:30 when DAH officially began. The only thing we could find with a minimal wait around 9:45 was Toy Story Mania, so we rode that. We walked over to SDD, which was posted 40 minutes. But the girl working the end of the line was telling everyone the wait was actually 55 minutes. Smuggler's Run was 65 minutes, and ROR jumped between 50 and 60 minutes pretty consistently. We finally made our way to MMRR and rode that with about a 10-minute wait. By now, it was 10:45, and the lines for the headliners weren't getting any shorter.

At that point, I gave up and went to Guest Relations. I was nice but firm in requesting a refund. It was about 11:10 while I was talking with the Guest Relations cast members, and they told me they'd just gotten the call that Toy Story Land was finally clear of day guests. I pointed out the DAH event was more than half over, and that just wasn't acceptable. The CMs were very friendly and, after some continued discussion, processed our refund.

I've been coming to DW since I was 3 years old, and my DH and I are DVC members and long-time AP holders. I believe this is the first time I've ever asked for a refund. That should tell you how disappointed I was in tonight's event. The Guest Relations CMs said the HS DAH events are not all like this - said tonight's crowds were driven by ride breakdowns during the day. I hope that's the case for future DAH guests at HS. Otherwise, I wouldn't recommend this event to anyone. It is concerning there are only eight rides open during DAH -- just not many places for people to spread out.

I was very pleased with the service from Guest Relations, though, and appreciated the cast members' willingness to hear us out.

 

[Betsyp]

So sorry you had such a bad night....and I’m glad you did get your refund. I think that rides are always going to break down, and it’s perhaps a matter of luck whether one‘s AH - at any park-is a good experience. That said, outside of 2/22 and perhaps tonight (need to hear from more people), AHs always seem to go well.

I supposed that ultimately it’s let the buyer beware. Hopefully my AH at HS on 5/3 will go better

 

[#1hoosierfan]

Ok, we did HS AH yesterday, 3/22.

Let me preface this by saying that we went into HS yesterday early and rode smugglers run twice, muppets, did Ogas and star tours. We left the park around 11.

We went back to the park around 8 last night. The boys went straight to star tours while dh and I had a drink at Baseline. We then went to smugglers with a 20 minute wait. We did TSM which was walk-on and then back to Smugglers which was a 20 minute wait. By this time it was about 9:30. We got snacks and got in SDD line. It took 20 minutes to board. Got a few more snacks.

We then went to RoTR. Time from getting in line to getting off…. 50 minutes.

Then we went to MMRR which was walk-on. Then to ToT which was walk-on. Rode that twice. We left the park at 12:30.

We got everything done we wanted to. Would I do it again….. no, Too many day guests still there at 9:30.

 

[Lsdolphin]

Ok, we did HS AH yesterday, 3/22.

Let me preface this by saying that we went into HS yesterday early and rode smugglers run twice, muppets, did Ogas and star tours. We left the park around 11.

We went back to the park around 8 last night. The boys went straight to star tours while dh and I had a drink at Baseline. We then went to smugglers with a 20 minute wait. We did TSM which was walk-on and then back to Smugglers which was a 20 minute wait. By this time it was about 9:30. We got snacks and got in SDD line. It took 20 minutes to board. Got a few more snacks.

We then went to RoTR. Time from getting in line to getting off…. 50 minutes.

Then we went to MMRR which was walk-on. Then to ToT which was walk-on. Rode that twice. We left the park at 12:30.

We got everything done we wanted to. Would I do it again….. no, Too many day guests still there at 9:30.

this is exactly what I’ve been afraid of ...no time for park to clear out before party begins! I’m going to keep an eye on this thread and if I continue to see negative reports about the AH I’m going to cancel our tickets

 

[LilyJC]

We were at the HS DAH last night as well, and I would say it was a bust. We definitely would not recommend. Perhaps part of the problem was that we had stacked LL for the couple hours leading up to the party, so having to wait in longer lines during the party felt ridiculous. I will say MMRR was a walk-on for us around 11pm as well as Toy Story Midway Mania. We went to get in line for SDD, and at that point I was done due to the length of that line! We got back out of line, and I slowly headed out of the park while the rest of my fam spent the last 40 minutes of the party going on Rise of the Resistance. Super lame event, and now I wish I’d gone and demanded a refund!

 

[Maggie The Cat]

None of this makes sense. Even if the day guests are there, they should be allowed on the rides. Now it seems almost all the rides have long lines until around 11pm?

Why is it so bad some nights, and just fine on others when the logistics are the same - sold out parties, no buffer, etc.

 

[DeluxePrincess]

Sorry to hear these latest reports. It makes sense though because day guests are going to hop into Slinky or Rise before leaving for the night, thus spilling over into party time. Not sure why they wouldn’t cut the lines off earlier or start the party later?

 

[scrappinginontario]

Sorry for those who have faced challenges at DHS parties. Thanks so much for taking time to honestly share your experiences though so that those considering going can be better informed before choosing to go.

While the 30 min buffer may not be needed at MK due to volume of rides, it's appearing that it really is needed for DHS parties.

 

[CeCe0906]

This is a little concerning for me as I will be attending an AH Epcot event in August.

I'm traveling with my granddaughter who uses a DAS bc of some anxiety/sensory issues that I won't go into detail here, but can do a more than 30 min wait without it impacting her mentally. And it already going to be a long day, since this will be after our last park day, so she will be tired, and that will impact things also.

Long story short my niece is flying in the night before to join us, so I bought the after hours tickets to give us a chance to do more with her, my gd is excited about that. We have res for MK Tues/AK Wed/HS Thurs + AH EP. I was planning on hopping to Epcot to do things that weren't open for after hours earlier in the week. That was I wouldn't have to deal with more than 1 VQ stress, just ride Guardians during AH, but I bet that one will have long lines early.

Will they let us use the LL with her DAS if the standby lines are 30 minutes or longer? I think I saw that somewhere, but I can't find that searching right now.

 

[DeluxePrincess]

Will they let us use the LL with her DAS if the standby lines are 30 minutes or longer? I think I saw that somewhere, but I can't find that searching right now.

Someone with experience with DAS will have a better answer for you, but I’m pretty sure DAS can be used at the events.

 

[Maggie The Cat]

Adjusting our game plan again - I think we will purchase an ILL for Rise for before the party. Then spend the first hour of the party just taking pics, eating a snack or two and going on Aliens and anything else with shorter lines. Then after 11 hit Slinky and ToT, then re-ride the ones we want most - MMRR, ToT, Aliens and Midway Mania. Also get a glass of wine in Oga's at some point.

We paid, it is what it is. I think we will still have a good time.

 

[kat_lh]

Just making some notes for future reference.

Right now HS AH is released through the end of June. Park hours are only released through end of May. Disney advertises May - June AH as running from 10P - 1A. March - April is 9:30P - 12:30P.

May HS hours for AH days are all 8:30A - 9:00P so a full hour buffer built in.

All the remaining March and April AH have no buffer. I don’t know if they had it built in and then taken away or if there was never a buffer.

I would say if you’re going in March or April readjust your plans based on feedback here and don’t hesitate to take it to customer service during the event either.

I’m definitely going to be keeping an eye on the May hours.

 

[Maggie The Cat]

Just making some notes for future reference.

Right now HS AH is released through the end of June. Park hours are only released through end of May. Disney advertises May - June AH as running from 10P - 1A. March - April is 9:30P - 12:30P.

May HS hours for AH days are all 8:30A - 9:00P so a full hour buffer built in.

All the remaining March and April AH have no buffer. I don’t know if they had it built in and then taken away or if there was never a buffer.

I would say if you’re going in March or April readjust your plans based on feedback here and don’t hesitate to take it to customer service during the event either.

I’m definitely going to be keeping an eye on the May hours.

May will probably be open until 9:30 so it looks like they adjusted for future parties. Those of us still going in April are apparently out of luck.

I did email guest services asking if they plan to most the rest of the party times back, but I know that it won't happen. But if enough people ask?

 

[Duke07]

Someone with experience with DAS will have a better answer for you, but I’m pretty sure DAS can be used at the events.

I saw someone using DAS at the event last night.

 

[wind79rain]

It's a real bummer about the reports from last night's HS AH.

We're scheduled for AH at HS in early April on a day where we will be at Epcot with Genie+. There are many reports now of folks being able to buy RotR ILL$ without a park ticket for that day at all (just the AH ticket).

I haven't seen anything conclusive on whether you can book LL for HS without a park ticket for the day or with a non-hopper ticket for another park. Anyone know about that or tried it? With the day crowds continuing well into the AH time it would be super helpful to be able to stack LLs for 7-9:30. Thanks!

 

[Duke07]

I was at the AH event last night at HS and can echo most of the feedback that's been expressed here.

In my estimation, it is certainly not worth it. Fantasmic being shown at 10:00 pm for regular guests when the AH event starts at 9:30 is problematic and keeps the park feeling crowded.

We went to Docking Bay for food after arriving then attempted to hit Smugglers, which showed a 20 min wait. About 25 mins into waiting, it was clear that it was going to be closer to a 50 min wait if not longer and we wanted to get a snack and get settled in at Fantasmic so we actually left the line at Smugglers.

After the show, we hit TSMM which was a walk on followed by MMRR (also a walk on). Then we had a drink at Oga's and walked over to Slinky, but as we were walking there the wait time went up from 35 to 50 so we opted for RotR which had a 40 min posted wait. After RotR, the event was over and we left feeling quite underwhelmed.

Unless something drastically changes the dynamic of this event, I would not consider going again.