Disney World Wait Times Update, Boo Bash Versus Not to Boo Bash, Early Entry, and Extended Hours

We’ll take a look at wait times over the last couple of weeks, check if Magic Kingdom is more or less crowded on Boo Bash After Hours dates, see about the best plan of attack for those attending the Boo Bash, and consider alternatives like the Early Entry and Extended Hours beginning in October.

Below is a chart of the average daily waits at Magic Kingdom over the last three weeks, organized by whether or not a Boo Bash is scheduled that day. The numbers only take into account waits during regular hours across our usual 17 attractions, since we’re interested in whether or not we need to avoid or hone in on Boo Bash dates for being more or less crowded:

The results, with event days and non-event days seeing nearly identical average waits, aren’t particularly surprising. Both types of days offer similar or the same operating hours and nightly showings of the fireworks. It’s likely that most guests visiting during the day have no idea whether or not a Boo Bash is scheduled, or at least wouldn’t identify it as a day to avoid given the fact that the offerings are the same.

In previous years, when Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party was Magic Kingdom’s separately-ticketed fall-ish event, the operating hours on Party nights were typically 8am or 9am to 6pm, with no opportunity for day guests to see the nighttime fireworks, which Disney typically offered on just Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.

In turn, those days were typically much more crowded as people piled into the Park when they perceived more value – days with longer hours “seem” better than days with shorter hours, and certainly being able to see an expensive fireworks spectacular is better than having no opportunity to see it. But from analyses like Walt Disney World Crowds Continue to Shift Away from the Summer, we come away with charts like this, which show how much longer waits were on days without a Halloween Party:

Crowd patterns have obviously shifted this year with all that’s going on, but we likely would have seen a similar phenomenon if the Boo Bash closed Magic Kingdom to regular guests at 6pm. On Party days in 2018, you could expect to wait about 33% less, or about ten minutes less per attraction, on Party days.

Here’s October 2017, when there were more Party days than not:

You would have waited about 13 minutes less, on average, on Party days. That’s a big departure from this year, when the Boo Bash looks to have little effect on crowd flow.

And continuing with this year, here’s the daily breakdown by day for August:

Larger: Here.

The week prior, which began on July 25th, saw the longest waits since Magic Kingdom reopened, with an average of 44.9 minutes. So last week’s 23.8-minute average is almost half. After I fill in the rest of the week that began August 22nd, the average wait should come in under half of what it was just a month prior. You can pull up the full chart for every day since the Park reopened, through the end of July of this year, here.

You’ll note above that there are a couple of dates with a * next to them – these are days when the Park closed early for some sort of private event. That’s why we see such a short wait on Saturday at the end of the week beginning with August 8th, though the effect is much less on the following Friday. Part of that is likely weather-related as well.

Somewhat interestingly, during the first week of the month, Tuesday with no Boo Bash during the week is the second-busiest day of the week, with an average wait that’s just a minute shy of the Monday with the longest wait of the week. The following week, Tuesday with the Boo Bash is still the second-busiest day of the week. The following week, Tuesday is the third busiest, and so far this week, Tuesday is again the second-busiest. So we can probably say with some certainty that people aren’t going to or avoiding Magic Kingdom specifically because a Boo Bash is scheduled. Tuesday would be on the busier side either way.

As far as the others Parks are concerned, obviously Boo Bash is exclusive to Magic Kingdom and there are no After Hours events currently scheduled at the other Parks; but we can see if waits are roughly the same when an event is taking place at The Most Heavily Leveraged Place on Earth. In past years, the other Parks were reliably busier on non-Party days because people were actively avoiding the shorter hours and lack of nighttime entertainment at Magic Kingdom:

At EPCOT, average waits are within a minute of each other.

The daily chart:

Part of the reason for the lower waits on event days is likely due to the fact that more of them fell later in the month, when waits were lower across the board. And if anything, the similarity is more proof that the Boo Bash isn’t a driving factor in the decision making process of which Park people visit during the day.

Here’s a “high-tech” look at the Studios, where waits are again within a minute of each other on Boo Bash and No Event days:

And we continue to see shorter waits on the weekends, as has been a consistent trend most weeks since reopening. That may change heading into the cooler months should Disney figure out how to sell Annual Passes again. They may be finalizing details on a Genie+ add-on. Or figuring out how to sell a Nightmare Pass that only allows guests to visit the Italy booth during Food and Wine season. What a value!

And Animal Kingdom to round things out:

We would probably spend more time with August’s trends if we could expect them to continue for much longer than three or four more weeks. But we can’t, so you’re spared. This time.

As far as wait times during the After Hours Boo Bash are concerned, the following chart shows what you can expect to experience. Ticketholders can get in at 7pm, with the event itself beginning at 9:30pm, and going through 12:30am, for events through September 5th. Beginning September 7th, the event officially begins at 9pm. On those future dates, you can basically just subtract a half hour from the below:

Larger: Here.

In this first image, I’ve included the waits running up to the event time. During the Boo Bash, waits reliably average about eight minutes, which is a third of what you’d see at 6:30pm, and a quarter or less of the afternoon peaks. Remember, just a month ago, there were days when Magic Kingdom would have averaged more than 50 minutes per attraction. So while the event is “only” three hours long, you could rationalize that you’ll be able to do nine or more hours worth of attractions. And you can get in with just the Boo Bash ticket at 7pm, giving you five or five-and-a-half hours of “fun” depending on your date with After Hours.

But waits aren’t nonexistent everywhere, with Seven Dwarfs Mine Train posting 20+ minutes through the end of the evening. During the event, there’s little scheduled entertainment to pull people away from the rides, and no attraction overlays to drive people to the likes of Mad Tea Party or Pirates of the Caribbean, as we’ve seen with previous events. Still, attendance is capped much lower than a traditional Halloween or Christmas Party, which means nonexistent waits just about everywhere else.

The following list is ordered by priority, with the minimum amount of time the attraction takes, assuming you’re basically walking the queue and getting on the second or third vehicle to arrive, resulting in a wait of one or two minutes:

As you plot out your evening, you’ll most likely want to visit the top two attractions last, beginning with Space Mountain about 30 minutes before the end of the event, with plans to end the night in line at Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. If you have some extra time in between, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh makes a good filler that’s on the way. You may also have time to sneak in a short Tomorrowland attraction like Buzz. Or you may not want to risk mechanical failure and whatnot, and simply continue on to Mine Train after Space, even if you’re getting in line ten minutes before the official end of the event. Like any regular night, you can get in line for any operating attraction up to a minute before the end, which is 12am or 12:30am. Most guests won’t want to wait 15 to 25 minutes for Space or Mine Train during the majority of the event. Add the attraction duration, and you’d be looking at spending up to a sixth of the event on just one ride.

Swiss Family Treehouse is also open during the event, and would take about seven minutes to walk up, with Country Bear Jamboree also running and coming in at about 12 minutes, assuming that you don’t have to wait more than a minute or two for the next show to start. Both would be at the bottom of the list since they’re “literally” both walk-ons.

As far as entertainment options are concerned, the following is what you can expect to see. For the events beginning at 9pm in September, it’s likely that you can subtract a half hour from these times, but double check the map that will be available on event night:

1. 9:30pm to 12:30am – Tomorrowland Dancy Party at Rockettower Plaza Stage to the right of Space Mountain.
2. 9:40pm – Cadaver Dans – Frontierland, typically above Country Bear Jamboree.
3. 9:55pm – Mickey’s Halloween Cavalcade – Begins and ends in Frontierland, in between Splash Mountain and Pecos Bill, and continues down and around Main Street.
4. 10:20pm – Cadaver Dans – Frontierland, typically above Country Bear Jamboree.
5. 10:30pm – Disney Villains Halloween Cavalcade – Begins in Frontierland, Ends on Main Street.
6. 10:40pm – Jack’s Nightmare Cavalcade – Begins in Frontierland, Ends on Main Street.
7. 10:50pm – Maleficent’s Fiery Prowl – Begins in Frontierland, Ends on Main Street.
8. 11:05pm – Cadaver Dans – Frontierland, typically above Country Bear Jamboree.
9. 11:25pm  – Mickey’s Halloween Cavalcade – Begins in Frontierland, Ends on Main Street.
10. 11:45pm – Disney Villains Halloween Cavalcade – Begins in Frontierland, Ends on Main Street.
11. 11:55pm – Jack’s Nightmare Cavalcade – Begins in Frontierland, Ends on Main Street.
12. 12:05am – Maleficent’s Fiery Prowl – Begins in Frontierland, Ends on Main Street.
13. 12:10am – Cadaver Dans – Frontierland, typically above Country Bear Jamboree.

When or if you see the various pieces of entertainment depends on your goals and what you’re prioritizing during the event. Most guests are probably juggling a little of both, which means I’d recommend seeing the first set of Cavalcades in Frontierland. But keep in mind that seeing each procession will suck up about an hour of the event. If you post up for the first Mickey’s Cavalcade, either in Frontierland or on Main Street, at 9:55pm, Maleficent isn’t going to roll through until 10:50pm, or just about an hour later. The benefit of seeing the Cavalcades in Frontierland is that they’ll pass earlier and you’ll be closer to the attractions than if you double back to/from Main Street.

Typically during the seasonal Parties, the recommendation is to see the fireworks and then stay put on Main Street for the second Boo to You/Mickey’s Christmastime Parades. Crowds are much less of an issue at Boo Bash, given that it’s closer to a typical After Hours event with attendance that’s probably about a fifth of the typical Party. The emphasis is squarely on the attractions during Boo Bash. By seeing the first set of Cavalcades, you’ll be able to easily find spots and enjoy shorter waits after. If you see the second set of Cavalcades, you’ll be watching the characters glide by as waits fall, and waiting in line longer earlier in the evening.

Main Street remains a little spookier with the decorations and lighting, but without the Headless Horseman, music, and about a third of the overall performers, if that, Frontierland is a safe enough bet. Of course, if your priority is taking in the entertainment with the most unique atmosphere possible, Main Street is a smarter choice.

During the Boo Bash, there are no fireworks or stage shows, making the Main Street visit less of a value on the time proposition front. Those honing in on the attractions may at least want to keep an eye on their watches to see a passing Cavalcade when it’s convenient, with plans to seek out the Jack Skellington and Maleficent units in particular. Should you miss the first, you may be able to easily catch the second. There shouldn’t be much of a difference in the number of people watching, though the second pass ought to be even easier to see than the first.

Since this is an After Hours event, rather than a Party event, select bottled beverages, popcorn, and ice cream novelties from a variety of snack carts are included. Paid treats are also available for an additional cost, including the Mocha Chocolate Chip Frozen Drink and Apple Ginger Dale Frozen Drink from Golden Oak Outpost across from Pecos Bill on the Adventureland side, Prince John Frozen Drink from Auntie Gravity’s in Tomorrowland to the left of Cosmic Ray’s, and Maleficent Churro from the Main Street Snack Cart. None of them are probably worth seeking out, but they may be a refreshing change of pace versus the usual items.

Trick or Treating is also available on a limited basis, specifically at Enchanted Tiki Room, Pecos Bill, Splash Mountain, Liberty Square to the right of Hall of Presidents – allergy friendly treats in particular, Ariel’s Grotto, Pinocchio Village Haus, Pete’s Silly Sideshow, Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe, Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor, and the Main Street snack stands. Unlike the Halloween Party, when crowds are much higher, it’s unlikely that you’ll need to do much strategizing when it comes to visiting the various locations. During the first two events, I don’t think I saw a line that looked longer than two or three minutes, if that. During Halloween Parties, lines could swell to 20+ minutes, but also offered more variety in treats.

what can you do at the boo bash? NOTHING. how much does it cost? IT’S SOLD OUT FOR ALL DESIRABLE DATES BUT IF YOU MOVE TO SEPTEMBER IT’S ONLY $592.16 FOR YOUR FAMILY OF FOUR UGLY PEOPLE. so there is a parade though? CAVALCADES. characters? IN THE VICINITY. candy? I WOULDN’T

— josh (@easywdw) August 10, 2021

The Boo Bash is officially sold out for every event night online, but there has been day-of availability depending on who, and where, and at what time you ask. Your best bet is Magic Kingdom, where signs will indicate availability. It’s likely that Disney is holding back some tickets as they sell for more money on the day-of versus online, in addition to cancellations, and the company not wanting guests to sort of use the Boo Bash as a one-time Park Hopper.

Since the Boo Bash ticket gets you into the Park as early as 7pm, you could easily spend the day at Animal Kingdom or elsewhere, have dinner, and then show up to the Boo Bash right around 7pm in lieu of also purchasing the Park Hopper add-on. With Park Hopping not coming into play until 2pm anyway, and with Park Hopper at its highest recorded prices, using a Boo Bash ticket as an add-on to your day elsewhere makes even more sense. But note the late timeframe, whether it’s realistic that you’ll be able to stay out until 1am, and also find some way to recuperate the next day. There is a lot of ground to cover in a short period of time.

Of course, we continue to talk about the changes coming around the first week of October, in part for the 50th anniversary. These aren’t concerns(?) or bonuses(?) for guests visiting in August or September, but from October on, all on-site guests and those staying at other select resorts will get a 30-minute jump on most off-site visitors/passholders at every theme park every morning. Eligible guests visiting the Parks for six days will receive the same three extra hours “for free,” though they’ll obviously be spread out across the Parks for most guests, and you’ll be talking about a lot more people making a similar pilgrimage.

We can expect the following attractions to be operating during Early Entry, the replacement for morning Extra Magic Hour:

Magic Kingdom:

• “it’s a small world”
• Astro Orbiter
• The Barnstormer
• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• Mad Tea Party
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• Mickey’s PhilharMagic
• Peter Pan’s Flight
• Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• Space Mountain
• Tomorrowland Speedway
• Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
• Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid
• Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress

EPCOT:

• Beauty and The Beast Sing-Along
• Frozen Ever After
• Mission: SPACE
• The Seas with Nemo & Friends
• Soarin’ Around the World
• Spaceship Earth
• Test Track

Hollywood Studios:

• Alien Swirling Saucers
• Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
• Slinky Dog Dash
• Star Tours
• Tower of Terror
• Toy Story Mania

Animal Kingdom:

• Avatar Flight of Passage
• DINOSAUR
• Expedition Everest
• It’s Tough to be a Bug
• Na’vi River Journey
• TriceraTop Spin

We’ll obviously know more about wait times and crowd distribution come October, but it’s worth noting the change and the extra allotted time. For a list of participating resorts, which include everything from the local Holiday Inn to the Grand Floridian DVC, along with an updated list of attractions and opening times, you can visit the page at DisneyWorld.com, here.

Extended Theme Park Hours are more interesting. Guests staying at eligible resorts, which only include Disney Deluxe Resorts, Disney Vacation Club Resorts, the Swan, Swan Reserve, Dolphin, and Shades of Green, enjoy two extra hours at Magic Kingdom and Epcot to cap off the night three times every eight days:

Guests visiting for eight days will typically enjoy up to four extra nighttime hours at Magic Kingdom, and two at Epcot, which is apparently not EPCOT in this instance. You can pull up an updated list of resorts, dates, times, and attractions at DisneyWorld.com, here.

The attraction list is currently:

Magic Kingdom:

• “it’s a small world”
• Astro Orbiter
• The Barnstormer
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
• Country Bear Jamboree
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• Haunted Mansion
• Mad Tea Party
• The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• Mickey’s PhilharMagic
• Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
• Peter Pan’s Flight
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• Space Mountain
• Swiss Family Treehouse
• Tomorrowland Speedway
• Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid
• Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room

That’s a longer list of attractions than what’s available during the Boo Bash, though obviously you won’t come away with the “free” candy, soda, ice cream, or the entertainment. I would expect wait times to be a bit longer as well, but guests will either need a Park Pass for the Park with Extended Hours or a Park Pass for another Park and the Park Hopper add-on to take advantage, which will work as a cap of some kind. We’ll obviously have a better comparison once the Extra time comes into play. But it’s worth noting for guests staying Deluxe or at an eligible resort that there will be multiple nighttime options included “at no extra cost”  come October.

Here’s what should be available at EPcoT:

• Beauty and The Beast Sing-Along
• Frozen Ever After
• Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros
• Mission: SPACE
• The Seas with Nemo & Friends
• Soarin’ Around the World
• Spaceship Earth
• Test Track

Waits should be even more reasonable there, though people may hang around for a short time if Harmonious proves popular.

We’ll continue to assess things as they change, with a particular emphasis on how Genie+ may help(?) balance things out.