**Villains After Hours - Magic Kingdom** FAQ & Discussion Thread

[eeyoreandtink]

I watched some videos from the event last time, and it looks like it is right up our alley. I am going to be buying tickets for April 3rd. It may not be as empty as a normal after hours event, but we are huge villains fans, especially DD16, and this may very will be her last big trip before college. We will just go in with expectation that we are there for villains content and lower, but not eliminated waits.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Catch all response to a few questions above...

Park Hours - historically for MK, park closing will eventually be bumped up to be at the start of the VAH or DAH event time. While DAK and DHS have had a “gap” for some DAH events, to date that has not been done at MK and the park calendar eventually gets updated along the way.

Park Clearing - DAH acts more like EMHs in that ride access is controlled, but you don’t see wide-spread park clearing - it depends on natural attrition. For VAH, this summer they did more active park clearing closer to what you see at a MNSSHP or MVMCP.

 

[ArielSRL]

I enjoyed VAH in June. I have never done a regular DAH though, so I can't compare and am slightly disappointed as I wanted to try it but I am certainly happy with the VAH offering. Hopefully I can fit it into one of my upcoming trips. My DH and I have our third adult only trip booked for 4/23-4/26 and there is a VAH on 4/24 so that might be our best shot since we would not need to spring for tickets for the kids.

 

[jenushkask8s]

I just booked DH and I for the 5/14 date! I've done the regular AH event at MK a couple of times but this will be my first VAH!

 

[buzzrelly]

Like many of you, I was hoping for a regular MK AH event in March so I’m slightly disappointed in this since I’m not a die-hard Villians fan.

However, does anyone think maybe the price jump may have them selling less tickets, thus making it more comparable (low crowd-wise) to a regular DAH? Maybe that’s why the price jump? Or am I just seeing things through pixie-dusted glasses?


Edited to add-our trip isn’t until March so I think I’ll hold off on purchasing tickets until some of the reviews come in.

 

[ezma]

SO SAD!!!

 

[bluezy]

I was hoping for a DAH event during our June 2020 trip but I'm ok with VAH. I'm going to hold off buying tickets until Spring just to see how things are going and how crowded the events feel. I'm curious how it will compare to a standard evening EMH at MK. We've done that twice (both in late June). Once it was a 12:00-2:00 a.m. event (2016) and once it was a 11:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m. event (2018). The 12-2 one was noticeably less crowded. We stood in Tomorrowland at one point and didn't see any other guests...which was actually a little creepy. That didn't happen during the 11-1 event. But both were enjoyable and we got on a lot of rides. Hoping that the VAH event would at least be comparable to the 11-1 EMH (but would love it to be like the 12-2 event).

 

[SL6827]

They will stop when people stop attending the events. This is really a dead horse and not the focus of this thread.

Touchy are we, lol. I could see this if the wait times are really low as advertised. But I haven't read much saying that they are.

 

[Tessaf]

I just booked DH and I for the 5/14 date! I've done the regular AH event at MK a couple of times but this will be my first VAH!

I just booked for 5/14 too!

 

[cakebaker]

Can I piggy back off the above questions? Do they make more of an effort to clear day guests for VAH than DAH. IIRC during DAH they weren’t making anyone leave they just couldn’t ride.

I don't know about the VAH's, but on the DAH we attended at the MK, there couldn't have been many non party people in the park since it was practically empty. I thought they did an excellent job of clearing out the park at closing.

 

[mekay1012]

I have mixed feelings. On one hand I feel like one of the few people here who enjoyed VAH...but I had nothing to compare it to, and I was really wanting a normal DAH in MK for our trip next year. I hope they don’t oversell these like they did the first time around and that they take into account guest feedback to make improvements. That price is also nuts, but the AP discount makes it a bit more palatable. At least other half will be excited to experience it, she’s as big a villain fan as I am.

I agree! We enjoyed it last year, but I was hoping to try a regular DAH this time.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

So, dissecting Disney’s website language is not always a very productive or useful endeavor, but since this is the DIS and speculation is what we do best, a couple of curious items from my perspective. Major caveat that website info for these types of things has been wrong before, either with errors or poor word choice - so take this with a grain of salt.

1. Normal DAH always used the phrase “and more than 25 attractions” in the event description. When VAH came out last year, they said “and more than 20 attractions” - the missing ones basically being the character meets (Princess Fairytale Hall, Ariel, etc). I wonder what - if anything - the “25” number implies.
2. Last year, Disney went out of their way in every event announcement, press release, and website info to say that Villains would not be participating in character greetings during the event. There is no similar language on the website now, and I don’t think I’ve seen a news release that does either?

Just my random thoughts for the moment!

 

[SaintsManiac]

So, dissecting Disney’s website language is not always a very productive or useful endeavor, but since this is the DIS and speculation is what we do best, a couple of curious items from my perspective. Major caveat that website info for these types of things has been wrong before, either with errors or poor word choice - so take this with a grain of salt.

1. Normal DAH always used the phrase “and more than 25 attractions” in the event description. When VAH came out last year, they said “and more than 20 attractions” - the missing ones basically being the character meets (Princess Fairytale Hall, Ariel, etc). I wonder what - if anything - the “25” number implies.
2. Last year, Disney went out of their way in every event announcement, press release, and website info to say that Villains would not be participating in character greetings during the event. There is no similar language on the website now, and I don’t think I’ve seen a news release that does either?

Just my random thoughts for the moment!

If they included villain character meets I would do it in a heartbeat (if I ever go when it's offered).

 

[SL6827]

If they included villain character meets I would do it in a heartbeat (if I ever go when it's offered).

They don't? Really? I would have thought for sure that would have been included.

 

[TISHLOVESDISNEY]

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...om-park-with-more-nights-and-more-wicked-fun/
This says towards the end no character meets.

As a reminder, this event does not include character greetings with the Villains.

But, who knows! If they add them in, I may have to rearrange plans.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...om-park-with-more-nights-and-more-wicked-fun/
This says towards the end no character meets.

As a reminder, this event does not include character greetings with the Villains.

But, who knows! If they add them in, I may have to rearrange plans.

Ahh, ok - well that’s a definitive source then. NEVERMIND.

I still don’t get it though. I know characters are expensive and management/logistics intensive, but man if VAH didn’t need at least one more “special” thing to satisfy the masses to make it a bit more special (in my humble opinion).

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Ahh, ok - well that’s a definitive source then. NEVERMIND.

I still don’t get it though. I know characters are expensive and management/logistics intensive, but man if VAH didn’t need at least one more “special” thing to satisfy the masses to make it a bit more special (in my humble opinion).

I don’t get the price tag. It’s lacking the extreme low crowds of DAH and much of the special activities that come with Halloween parties, yet is more than both?

Not knowing anything about it, I’m surprised there aren’t meet and greets I too assumed those were a give in.

 

[TheMick424]

I don’t get the price tag. It’s lacking the extreme low crowds of DAH and much of the special activities that come with Halloween parties, yet is more than both?

Not knowing anything about it, I’m surprised there aren’t meet and greets I too assumed those were a give in.

If I were to speculate, the price for all after hours events next year may be going up.

 

[Cluelyss]

If I were to speculate, the price for all after hours events next year may be going up.

Just like everything else....
(Not that it ever stops me from going!)

 

[KandyM]

I have a few questions about the AP discount that’s been mentioned, hoping someone can answer.

1. What is the cost after the discount?
2. How many tickets can I buy with the discount?
3. I thought I heard they must be purchased in advance, not day of to get a discount. Is that correct and if so how far in advance?

We are there Feb 15-25 and were hoping for a DAH. Never been to either though so we will consider the VAH, but the price jump is big for a family of five to swallow.