Advice for MNSSHP newbie

[OurLaughingPlace]

Well, just saw September calendar and are hopeful that we might actually get to experience the MNSSHP for the first time. We are booked August 20-September 2 and were 'hopeful' to have a party night on Sept.1st, but didn't really count on it since Labor Day is later this year.
There will be 4 of us, including teenage DD's, so we can stay late. How late does the party go until?
So... if there is a party on the 1st, I need some helpful DIS advice
We do not usually make a big deal out of parades/fireworks - what are your thoughts on the fireworks/parades at the MNSSHP? I think that we will likely try to see the fireworks/parade -how early do we have to find a place for the parade?
Is the trick or treating fun? What time does it start? I've read that we can enter as early at 4:00pm, so does the trick or treating start at 4:00? Should we bring our own bags for trick or treating?
We like meeting characters, going on rides at night, and love everything Disney! Any recommendations?
Final question... thinking that the MK might not be too busy that day (during the day since it closes early). Do you think it would be too much for us to come in from rope drop till noon, then back to resort for a rest before party? It will be our last full day / park day at Disney so trying to make it as fun as possible. Not worried about the cost of the using a park day ticket for 3 hours as we have a 10 day park ticket.
TIA

 

[Robo]

We do not usually make a big deal out of parades/fireworks - what are your thoughts on the fireworks/parades at the MNSSHP?

Many consider them to be the best that MK offers.

 

[Disneylover99]

I'm not a huge parade/fireworks fan, but you should really not miss the MNSSHP ones.
I'm not sure how crowded the first party will be. It's good that it's on a Tuesday though. We've been to a sold out party and both parades were really packed. Trick or treating starts at 7pm. That was our favourite part, but my kids are younger, maybe that's why. My kids brought their own Halloween bags, but you don't need to. Some people are really into meeting rare characters during the party. I think it's okay to go to MK early that day, especially since your kids are older.

Make sure you all dress up. Dressing up is really part of the fun!

 

[OurLaughingPlace]

Many consider them to be the best that MK offers.

Thank you for your help. I'm thinking that we will go to see them

 

[OurLaughingPlace]

I'm not a huge parade/fireworks fan, but you should really not miss the MNSSHP ones.
I'm not sure how crowded the first party will be. It's good that it's on a Tuesday though. We've been to a sold out party and both parades were really packed. Trick or treating starts at 7pm. That was our favourite part, but my kids are younger, maybe that's why. My kids brought their own Halloween bags, but you don't need to. Some people are really into meeting rare characters during the party. I think it's okay to go to MK early that day, especially since your kids are older.

Make sure you all dress up. Dressing up is really part of the fun!

Is it ok if my DD's (teens) trick or treat? Is it for everyone or only younger children? Do adults trick or treat or is that a 'no no'?
Thanks for your advice Now I've got to think of a costume for us ... I'm not very creative lol.

 

[Disneylover99]

Is it ok if my DD's (teens) trick or treat? Is it for everyone or only younger children? Do adults trick or treat or is that a 'no no'?
Thanks for your advice Now I've got to think of a costume for us ... I'm not very creative lol.

Yes! Trick or treating is for everyone!!!

 

[Eliza32]

We are 2 adults in our late 40's, we ALWAYS trick or treat........they give you a bag to fill as you go in. You can get some really good pictures with characters that you won't see other times too. We get our own t-shirts made for the party so that we feel part of the thing, but as we're from the UK, it's too hot for costumes for us!!! We usually go to a party first or second week in September and try to avoid the weekends when it's really busy. One year the rain was sooo bad we got a refund!!

 

[GatorMama]

The halloween party is one of our favorite things about disney. We love love it! We found that even with our young kids, we are at the party the full 8 hours (4 pm to midnight) or very VERY close to it.
We really really love the special parade and fireworks. My husband won't stop for a parade during the day but LOVES the parade during MNSSHP. Grab a snack and a good viewing spot and enjoy! We also do a lot of trick or treating. We may or may not have gone through the Pinnochio line several times for extra candy apple werthers. ::drool:: we've also had the shortest wait for many rides then too. 45 mins standby for 7DMT, walk on for Dumbo, POTC, tea cups, barnstormer, maybe 10 for Pooh... 30 mins for Peter Pan. I think Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin was 25-30 but that was very early in the day.

 

[TeamSy]

Are all the rides open during this time, or just a select few?

 

[purple figment]

We do not usually make a big deal out of parades/fireworks - what are your thoughts on the fireworks/parades at the MNSSHP? I think that we will likely try to see the fireworks/parade -how early do we have to find a place for the parade?

Our family thinks the Boo to You parade and Hallowishes fireworks are DW's best parade and fireworks.

Is the trick or treating fun? What time does it start? I've read that we can enter as early at 4:00pm, so does the trick or treating start at 4:00? Should we bring our own bags for trick or treating?

MNSSHP is from 7:00 - midnight soTrick or Treating starts at 7:00 because it is one of the party exclusive activities. CMs will hand each person a small bag (about the size of a lunch bag) when you check in to get your wristband. If you plan to do a lot of trick or treating you will probably want to bring a bigger bag to store the candy. We usually wait until near the end of the party to trick or treat so we won't have to carry candy around during the night.

We like meeting characters, going on rides at night, and love everything Disney! Any recommendations?

There are rare characters such as all 7 dwarfs and Jack Skellington from Nightmare Before Christmas at MNSSHP. Many who want to meet rare characters start lining up around 5:30 so they won't have to spend valuable party time in line. Same goes for dining - most recommend eating before the start of the party.

Some attractions will not be open during the party, but most are. I've linked last year's party info at the end of this post. The 2014 map shows which attractions are open, and where the special events and trick or treat stations are located.

Final question... thinking that the MK might not be too busy that day (during the day since it closes early). Do you think it would be too much for us to come in from rope drop till noon, then back to resort for a rest before party?

Sounds like a good idea. It's usually less busy on the day of a party because of the shortened hours and lack of fireworks before 7:00.

Is it ok if my DD's (teens) trick or treat? Is it for everyone or only younger children? Do adults trick or treat or is that a 'no no'?
Thanks for your advice Now I've got to think of a costume for us ... I'm not very creative lol.

Everybody can trick or treat.

When we've gone about half the adults wear costumes and many wear Halloween themed tee shirts. It's fun and a chance to dress up, but it will be hot and humid at the start of September so think cool when planning your costumes.

Are all the rides open during this time, or just a select few?

Most are, but the ones that I recall that were closed: Jungle Cruise, the DW Railroad, the Main Street vehicles, Liberty Belle riverboat, Hall of Presidents and Carousel of Progress.

Info from last year's MNSSHP:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/holidays/halloween.htm#mnsshp

 

[disneycrazy2004]

Also hoping for Sept. 1st party!!!! We have done the party 3 times and absolutely love it. Haven't done it since 2009 and really hoping to get to do it again.

 

[OurLaughingPlace]

Thanks everyone! This advice has been wonderful. Now I've got MNSSHP to obsessively plan!

 

[helenm29]

Well, just saw September calendar and are hopeful that we might actually get to experience the MNSSHP for the first time. We are booked August 20-September 2 and were 'hopeful' to have a party night on Sept.1st, but didn't really count on it since Labor Day is later this year.
There will be 4 of us, including teenage DD's, so we can stay late. How late does the party go until?
So... if there is a party on the 1st, I need some helpful DIS advice
We do not usually make a big deal out of parades/fireworks - what are your thoughts on the fireworks/parades at the MNSSHP? I think that we will likely try to see the fireworks/parade -how early do we have to find a place for the parade?
Is the trick or treating fun? What time does it start? I've read that we can enter as early at 4:00pm, so does the trick or treating start at 4:00? Should we bring our own bags for trick or treating?
We like meeting characters, going on rides at night, and love everything Disney! Any recommendations?
Final question... thinking that the MK might not be too busy that day (during the day since it closes early). Do you think it would be too much for us to come in from rope drop till noon, then back to resort for a rest before party? It will be our last full day / park day at Disney so trying to make it as fun as possible. Not worried about the cost of the using a park day ticket for 3 hours as we have a 10 day park ticket.
TIA

You will have a GREAT time no matter what you do! The mnsshp parade down main street is AMAZING! particularly at night! also, as they said make sure you are ALL dressed up and be sure to take some time to people watch! we couldn't believe how intricate some of those costumes were...you could tell they were hand made. Trick or treating is a lot of fun, don't worry about not getting enough loot....we got too much and had to give a lot of it away! When we went, we spent the whole day in the park, went to our lockers to get our costumes and went right back for the MNSSHP...there wasn't any problem with people leaving the park and you have a rubber bracelet that says you are allowed to be there. Hope you get to go and have a ton of fun!

 

[angierae]

DD18 (then) and I went to our first MNSSHP in 2013 and we had so much fun. I made us tutus and she dressed up as Rapunzel and I was Snow White. You can meet the princes with the princesses, which is what we did first, so we could get our pictures with Rapunzel and Snow. We are not parade people, but we LOVED the Boo To You! Parade. We trick or treated toward the end and filled both of the bags we were given.

If we go back during the party time for our 2016 trip, we're definitely doing the party again!

 

[GatorMama]

I think Splash Mountain was also closed during the parties too. I KNOW it was one of the years we've been, because there was a candy trail in its queue. And my stroller didn't get along well with it. ;-)

 

[LBIJim]

Are all the rides open during this time, or just a select few?

.

Most are, but the ones that I recall that were closed: Jungle Cruise, the DW Railroad, the Main Street vehicles, Liberty Belle riverboat, Hall of Presidents and Carousel of Progress.

Tiki Room and Splash Mountain were also closed after 7pm, but open until then. Trick or treating was in SM's queue and inside the Tiki Room.

 

[Disneylover99]

We get our own t-shirts made for the party so that we feel part of the thing, but as we're from the UK, it's too hot for costumes for us!!!

That's a good point. It is really hot at the beginning of September, even in the evening. I must remember to think of an easy, breezy costume.