MNSSHP 2015 - Be Prepared For Chaos

[jhaig]

Went to the first Hallowern party last night and was completely caught off guard. The crowds were completely insane, wall to wall in some cases. I completely did not expect the first party of the season to look like a U2 concert. I have followed the DISboards religiously to try and strategize and make plans to get the most out of the party. I can safely say, after last night's experience, that you can throw those plans out the window. If the first party of the season was an indication of what the crowd levels are going to be for the rest of the party season, then you are in for a surprise.

Every bit of advice I have seen before regarding the number of tickets sold, day of the week to go, go earlier in the season to avoid crowds, etc. will not matter if every party is sold out, like I believe last night's was.

Yes, some ride times were pretty good (5 min for Space Mtn at 930pm and 10 min for Big Thunder). However, I noticed that the mine train was not running around 9 PM. As I walked by the back entrance, a cast member was escorting people off of the ride. Character lines were HUGE, many spilling out of the ropes, and parade viewing was difficult as the crowd in many places were 6-7 people deep. Candy lines for the first two hours were at least 100 people long. Example: at 730 pm the candy station at COP wound around the ride's walkway and stretched all the way past where the Monsters Dance party was taking place. Quite the time commitment for a handful of Tootsie Rolls. I didn't bother waiting for the second parade because we got out of there just before the fireworks started.

I don't blame people for going. I totally blame Disney for selling way too many tickets for these events and turning what used to be a pleasurable experience into an utter mess. It doesn't help that the first party this year started two weeks later than the first party last year. I'm sure that has something to do with the sea of humanity at the Magic Kingdom last night.

I am not saying that you shouldn't go, but what I am saying is don't expect the Halloween parties this year to be as they have been in previous Septembers. I will not waste another penny on these "special events".

 

[Jenna319]

I'm sorry to hear you had a bad experience last night. I am surprised that the 1st party wasn't sold out. Makes me nervous for our party - we are attending the last party on 11/1 - which I am fully expecting to sell out. I am attending myself with my 7-year-old niece and my 1-year old daughter. Don't care as much about getting on rides as I do for the experience of the dance parties/parade/trick or treating. Hoping I'll be able to easily navigate with a stroller!!

 

[anniemae]

That stinks. I thought one of the "perks" of these special parties was the low crowds. I thought I remembered that someone said the same thing about the Christmas party being over sold last year.

 

[crostorfer]

Last night was sold out by 5pm.

 

[jhaig]

I'm sorry to hear you had a bad experience last night. I am surprised that the 1st party wasn't sold out. Makes me nervous for our party - we are attending the last party on 11/1 - which I am fully expecting to sell out. I am attending myself with my 7-year-old niece and my 1-year old daughter. Don't care as much about getting on rides as I do for the experience of the dance parties/parade/trick or treating. Hoping I'll be able to easily navigate with a stroller!!

Not that it was bad overall. We met Jack and Sally and they were awesome! But we got in line at 450pm (yes there was already a line), which I was prepared for. If I had shown up there 30-45 min later, I would have had to wait upwards of 2 hours minimum.

Hopefully others will have better luck at the other parties, but this one was madness compared to what I was expecting from an early September party. Just go into it with your eyes wide open.

 

[Jennasis]

That was a sold out party. I would expect the first party of the year to be sold out, especially with the new show (the Hocus Pocus thing). Sorry it wasn't what you were expecting and that you missed out on those incredible fireworks.

 

[jhaig]

That was a sold out party. I would expect the first party of the year to be sold out, especially with the new show (the Hocus Pocus thing). Sorry it wasn't what you were expecting and that you missed out on those incredible fireworks.

We actually watched the fireworks from the safety of the Polynesian beach after we escaped MK.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

That was a sold out party. I would expect the first party of the year to be sold out, especially with the new show (the Hocus Pocus thing). Sorry it wasn't what you were expecting and that you missed out on those incredible fireworks.

Every guide I read, Kenny the pirate and such, said the first party was expected to be one of the 3 least crowded. I think those guys miscalculated.

 

[Jennasis]

Every guide I read, Kenny the pirate and such, said the first party was expected to be one of the 3 least crowded. I think those guys miscalculated.

Clearly! I would have gone anyway even if it was sold out. I plan to go to things when I can go to them...and that often doesn't jive with what "they" say is the best time to go.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Sounds like they are selling too many tickets.

 

[han22735]

I'll echo the OP I too was shocked at how crazy it was. The candy lines were ridiculous. Even trying to leave right before the 11:15 parade was nuts. Main street must have been 5-7 people deep. Another issue I had was the completely uninformed CM's. Most had no clue what was going on especially with character meets and where they would be located.

The fireworks were great but with the scaffolding around the front of the castle id try to stay down by CP. We found a spot near the hub around 7:30 for the parade, the hocus pocus show, then the fireworks. It was a long crowed 3 hour ordeal the fireworks seemed to be mostly on the left side of the castle and partially blocked so id stay right next time. We are actually looking forward to watching them from the poly beach friday night.

Hopefully the next few parties aren't sold out for those going. Id love to know if disney increased the number of tickets sold this year.

 

[Aurora0427]

That was a sold out party. I would expect the first party of the year to be sold out, especially with the new show (the Hocus Pocus thing). Sorry it wasn't what you were expecting and that you missed out on those incredible fireworks.

We attended a sold out MVMCP last December. It was not at all chaotic as OP described.

Im guessing Disney got greedy and sold more tickets.

 

[Dentam]

Too bad that Disney is putting money over creating a good experience.

 

[jlwhitney]

I have been to sold out ones and ones that didn't sell out and sold out ones are crazy. But I think in the end alot depends on what people are doing. I went to one Halloween where seeing the parade/fireworks/get candy was very easy but the rides all had crazy long lines.

 

[vettegirl]

Glad we are skipping it, I can't handle all that and deal with a 14 month old

 

[Mamapapa]

I don't blame people for going. I totally blame Disney for selling way too many tickets for these events and turning what used to be a pleasurable experience into an utter mess.

This was exactly my experience at MVMCP last November. It was PACKED and not enjoyable. Wait times for rides were longer then they were in the afternoon! Even at 10pm, ride lines were over 30min for all the major rides! Lines for characters were insane and it was 6-8 people deep for the parade so it was impossible to see anything at all. Like you, I will never again purchase a ticket for one of these parties. Everyone says they limit the tickets they sell, well it sounds like they're selling double the "limited" tickets they used to sell. I'm glad I checked it off my Disney bucket list, but never again!!

 

[godders]

Yes the candy trails were long for a little while at the start but they don't exactly take forever to get through...... and I definitely think some of the wait times posted were inflated. HM said 15 mins at 9.45ish and it was a walk on.....

I think 2 things added to the crowds last night:
1) Mine train went down for a long time meaning the hundreds of people who would've been in there had to find something else to do

2) It's been a long weekend so many people who were at the parks in the morning I think would've stayed especially once everyone in their costumes started showing up.

Everyone still to go: don't worry too much just yet, there has only been one party so far over a long weekend which means diddly squat as to how the crowds will be for the rest of the parties. I would wait until next week when there's been a few more parties before panicking. I'm at the party on friday and sunday so I'll no doubt post afterwards how they go

 

[Jennasis]

We attended a sold out MVMCP last December. It was not at all chaotic as OP described.

Im guessing Disney got greedy and sold more tickets.

Technically, there could have been people at that party last night who would have found it to be not chaotic as well. Depends on where they are and what they were doing. There are many times where it's crowded and crazy in part of the park but not in another.

 

[CinderElsa]

I suspect it was sold out AND they sent the media along with all the bloggers & their families, without those folks needing tickets. (I saw someone post a photo of the bloggers' pass on Instagram.)

That would make it the most crowded party of the year... even worse than Halloween night.

 

[cakebaker]

We thought the MNSSHP we went to last October was too crowded and made it much less enjoyable compared to one we had attended several years ago. We don't go to these to do the things we can do any day in the parks so short lines on rides isn't what we're looking for.

I understand that Disney is apparently having no problems selling this out, so I'm in the minority obviously. But it doesn't work for us so we won't do them again.