I Had a Disappointing Experience at Magic Kingdom, and I Know I’m Not the Only One

A trip to the Magic Kingdom is almost always a wonderful day. However, on occasion, things can take a disappointing turn… especially if one’s not paying attention.

Many Disney fans are aware of the “rules” that go into a Disney trip. Whether it’s making advance dining reservations, booking Lightning Lanes, or planning for early entry, there’s a definite benefit to knowing as much as possible about the parks beforehand. However, sometimes even the best of us make mistakes that end in disappointment.

Case in point: I have been visiting Disney theme parks for over 30 years, and yet back in December 2009, I made a crucial error. During a trip to Florida, a group of friends and I happened to have a free day and decided to spend it at a Disney park. Given my perceived expertise, they asked me to choose which park, and after a bit of internal debate, I said we should go to the Magic Kingdom, figuring it would be best for the “iconic” Disney experience.

So, we purchased our tickets a kiosk in the lobby of our off-property (this was in the nascent smartphone era, so not everything was handled online) and arrived at the Magic Kingdom around 10:00 AM… only to discover that it was a Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party day, and that the park would be closing to regular day guests at 6:00 PM.

Suffice to say, I was mortified and quite angry with myself for not thinking to check. We considered purchasing tickets for the party for that evening… but it was sold out. Now granted, we had a fun time with the hours we had, but it was still a disappointing experience to have to leave the park before dark, feeling like we had “just gotten started.”

It still bugs me nearly 15 years later, and I’m sure it’s still happening to guests today. Even with the advent of apps and My Disney Experience becoming a lynchpin part of any Disney World trip, there are likely still guests who arrive at the Magic Kingdom from late August through late December only to discover that the park will be closing early for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party or Very Merry Christmas Party.

The lesson here is to always check park hours BEFORE buying tickets and or committing a vacation day to a specific Walt Disney World park, especially the Magic Kingdom. Otherwise, you’re risking a magical day ending in disappointment. Stay tuned to AllEars for more hard-earned Disney lessons.

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What’s been your most disappointing Disney experience? Let us know in the comments below.