Funneling guests at MK through backstage after Wishes???

[natedog24]

Just returned from WDW and on this past Saturday night at MK (which was way more crowded than I expected), after Wishes (10PM), the CMs were directing guests out of the park via backstage (behind Main St bakery) to avoid a rush of people heading down Main St at the same time, while also preparing for MSEP at 11.

I'm a former Cast Member, so it wasn't a huge deal to me and no magic was ruined for me, but I was surprised they were funneling guests back there. I saw a bunch of people taking pics and videos of this novelty. Just curious if this is now a common thing on nights where there are 2 night parades or did I just happen to witness an anomaly at Magic Kingdom. Anyone have experience with this?

[AgentC]

I don't know if it is a regular occurrence but I have done that detour several times when it is very busy. It does seem to occur as you mentioned on very busy night with a late parade. They also had another showing of the Castle show Saturday before the 11 pm parade which adds to the congestion on Main Street.

[k10]

I never experienced that, but I did get to run backstage at MK durning one of the races.

No magic ruined here. I'm more of the "this is so cool!" mindsets.

[Katzateer]

Never had that happen at MK but at the studios after Fantasmic, many times. That would be cool to exit MK that way. I have been on the Keys to the Kingdom tour and seen backstage areas, but it still woud be cool.

[faline]

I've seen them do this at the Magic Kingdom but we were far enough over that we were able to avoid the detour through the backstage area and walk back down through Main Street. I think they do this when they find it is particularly crowded and want to move a large number of folks at the same time.

[Melanie]

I thought they were dressing this area up, so to speak, and exiting folks through there was to become a more regular thing?

[Polynesian Dweller]

Yep, been back there a few times. It's always been on extremely busy nights. Don't know how regular it is but regular enough we went throughout twice last year and once in each of the previous two years.

Sure beats the stress of trying to get down Main Street in that crush. It didn't take away the magic for us at all.

[Aurora]

We were offered that route one night a few years ago going the opposite direction because it was during the "Magic, Memories and You" show, and Main Street was packed with viewers. We declined, though, cause we wanted to see the show!

[Pirate Granny]

I am bad...if the gateway is open I always take the back way...no one says a word.

[Patricia]

I have exited through the backstage area a few times but I'm often there closer to holidays and spring breaks when crowds are higher. It tends to be the better alternative then the crush on Main Street. I actually check now to see if it's opened.

[11290]

Just returned from WDW and on this past Saturday night at MK (which was way more crowded than I expected), after Wishes (10PM), the CMs were directing guests out of the park via backstage (behind Main St bakery) to avoid a rush of people heading down Main St at the same time, while also preparing for MSEP at 11.

I'm a former Cast Member, so it wasn't a huge deal to me and no magic was ruined for me, but I was surprised they were funneling guests back there. I saw a bunch of people taking pics and videos of this novelty. Just curious if this is now a common thing on nights where there are 2 night parades or did I just happen to witness an anomaly at Magic Kingdom. Anyone have experience with this?

It's called the (East) ByPass. Surprised it was still open after Wishes as it is usually opened for after 1st parade and then closed about :35 or :40 after the hour which is before Celebrate The Magic and Wishes. Anything later than that would require CM clockout extensions and that doesn't happen often for that area.

When I started working the area that supports the ByPass 6 years ago, we only opened the ByPass every so often (read that: very seldom) but the last 3 years or so, it seems that we staff it and open it practically every night and open it when the "in-park count" is above a certain level.

I think it primarily has to do with the change in the Main St. exit route changes since the Castle Projection shows came online a few years ago and we stopped keeping an exit lane down the middle of the street and moved exiting traffic onto the east and west sidewalk areas. The "old way" seemed to be more efficient guest movement but Park Operations wanted to have more guests in the middle of the street for the projection show viewing. Their call.

On 3rd & 4th of July and New Years Eve nights, we also open up a West ByPass behind Casey's (between Casey's and the Crystal Palace) and comes out at the Green Gate by the Firehouse. On those nights we also have benches for fireworks viewing in both ByPasses.

[ransam]

Actually last year when I came to Disneyland, we were escorted back stage to enter the park. I really don't know why, but that's how we got in. I remember I was a little disappointed. It didn't ruin the magic at all, but it was kind of strange.

[yankeesfan123]

I was seeing people take this exit one night when it was closed!

People showed up after Wishes, asked a nearby CM (custodial who was just leaving the area and coming on stage) why it was closed... And then the moment the CM walked away, dozens of people walked in!

[Aurora]

It's called the (East) ByPass. Surprised it was still open after Wishes as it is usually opened for after 1st parade and then closed about :35 or :40 after the hour which is before Celebrate The Magic and Wishes. Anything later than that would require CM clockout extensions and that doesn't happen often for that area.

When I started working the area that supports the ByPass 6 years ago, we only opened the ByPass every so often (read that: very seldom) but the last 3 years or so, it seems that we staff it and open it practically every night and open it when the "in-park count" is above a certain level.

I think it primarily has to do with the change in the Main St. exit route changes since the Castle Projection shows came online a few years ago and we stopped keeping an exit lane down the middle of the street and moved exiting traffic onto the east and west sidewalk areas. The "old way" seemed to be more efficient guest movement but Park Operations wanted to have more guests in the middle of the street for the projection show viewing. Their call.

On 3rd & 4th of July and New Years Eve nights, we also open up a West ByPass behind Casey's (between Casey's and the Crystal Palace) and comes out at the Green Gate by the Firehouse. On those nights we also have benches for fireworks viewing in both ByPasses.

Thanks for the explanation! Yes, the night I referenced above was in 2011, a few months after the castle projection show started.

[#1donaldfan]

I've taken that route several times now, both at MK and HS and it did not ruin the magic for me at all. I love seeing something new, even if it's backstage.

[mechanic]

The bypass next to caseys was being used on july 8 of this year. I didnt use it . But I had never seen that side In use before.

[hauntedmansiongirl]

We saw that in use a few times this past trip. It doesn't ruin anything for us- we've been there so many times now that it's kind of cool. But I can't help but think what Walt would think- esp. after he built the utilidors just so that guests wouldn't see a cowboy in tomorrowland. I don't think he would be okay with anybody but cast members behind the scenes.