Magic Kingdom is having a bad day today...

[Unagi]

First, the gate scanners weren't working which caused a clusterfuck at the entrance.

Technical Difficulties Allow Crowd to Enter Magic Kingdom Without Scanning Tickets - Inside the Magic

Large crowds of Guests waited outside Magic Kingdom Park on January 2nd, 2020. Technical difficulties barred MagicBands and Park Tickets from being scanned.

insidethemagic.net

"The backlog of Guests waiting to be scanned at Magic Kingdom began backing up along the Monorail ramps as well as the Ferry docks and bus security checkpoints."

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And then the People Mover erupted a few hours ago...

BREAKING: PeopleMover Evacuated in Magic Kingdom as Smoke Fills the Air

Walt Disney World news, photos, and reviews! We provide you with daily news from the Walt Disney World theme parks and beyond

blogmickey.com

From what I heard from a friend there, the conveyor belt jammed and caused a small fire.

 

[Nicole]

It couldn’t have happened at a worse time of year.

 

[SukaUniFl]

Yeah it was not a happy smile Mickey Mouse kind of day. So glad the nephews wanted to go to IOA instead. But, hopefully it won't be too crowded on Sunday, and all the winter breaks, and holiday break tourist have went home, taking the Vayne family to Magic Kingdom. It may also pay that when we bought our house WDW is like near by.

 

[Unagi]

But, hopefully it won't be too crowded on Sunday, and all the winter breaks, and holiday break tourist have went home,

Don't expect the crowds to die down just yet.

I was at MK two years ago today and it was PACKED. That same day DAK reached capacity. I just checked the Disney App and Space Mountain and Seven Dwarves are currently showing 2+ hour standby times.

Even though the a lot of the holiday crowds have gone home you have to keep in mind that the southern hemisphere of this planet is on their summer vacation. There are tons of visitors from all over South America still in town.

 

[BGWnut]

Not to mention that today is the first day that most of the passes are finished with their Christmas blackout days

 

[----------------------]

Unfortunately there are so many folks trying to go to disney these days that there are no more slow seasons really. Just super crowded and not as super crowded. The only way to get the park fairly empty is to go to thier night time event where they sell a limited number of tickets and have a portion of the rides open.

 

[BGWnut]

Unfortunately there are so many folks trying to go to disney these days that there are no more slow seasons really. Just super crowded and not as super crowded. The only way to get the park fairly empty is to go to thier night time event where they sell a limited number of tickets and have a portion of the rides open.

Even then the park is really full. I did both the Halloween and Christmas parties and the lines for the big rides like 7 dwarves mine train were around 60-90 minutes most of the night.

 

[Unagi]

Even then the park is really full. I did both the Halloween and Christmas parties and the lines for the big rides like 7 dwarves mine train were around 60-90 minutes most of the night.

Not always. It depends on when you go.

I went to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party on a Tuesday in September and crowds were light to moderate. Seven Dwarves had a 45 minute posted wait time but we were able to ride in 30 minutes. Everything else was practically a walk-on.

 

[Zachary]

Even then the park is really full. I did both the Halloween and Christmas parties and the lines for the big rides like 7 dwarves mine train were around 60-90 minutes most of the night.

I had this experience on a sold out party night in 2018. The less crowded party nights can be great, but it really sucks to end up at a full one. ?

 

[----------------------]

Even then the park is really full. I did both the Halloween and Christmas parties and the lines for the big rides like 7 dwarves mine train were around 60-90 minutes most of the night.

I had this experience on a sold out party night in 2018. The less crowded party nights can be great, but it really sucks to end up at a full one. ?

I was referring to the non holiday Disney after hours events. They host them several nights a year and are advertised as limited admission events. here's the info for the Magic Kingdom:

Disney After Hours at Magic Kingdom Park

Add even more magic to your visit with this unique experience at Walt Disney World.

disneyworld.disney.go.com

 

[BGWnut]

I was referring to the non holiday Disney after hours events. They host them several nights a year and are advertised as limited admission events. here's the info for the Magic Kingdom:

Disney After Hours at Magic Kingdom Park

Add even more magic to your visit with this unique experience at Walt Disney World.

disneyworld.disney.go.com

I've also been to some of those that are pretty busy. But like @Zachary says the secret is to try to go on a night that isn't sold out or is earlier in the event where the crowds aren't as bad.

 

[----------------------]

I've also been to some of those that are pretty busy. But like @Zachary says the secret is to try to go on a night that isn't sold out or is earlier in the event where the crowds aren't as bad.

Not picking a fight but can you define "crowded"?

 

[BGWnut]

Not picking a fight but can you define "crowded"?

At Disney? I'd define an event as crowded is 7DMT and Space mountain are over an hour. An hour wait during an event that lasts 5 hours is too long.

 

[----------------------]

At Disney? I'd define an event as crowded is 7DMT and Space mountain are over an hour. An hour wait during an event that lasts 5 hours is too long.

yeah I'd be upset if DAD had multiple lines longer than 20 minutes. Then again, I generally avoid disney just because of the insane crowds.