Can anyone compare MNNSHP at MK with Halloween Time at CA?

[chrisn]

We will be going to WDW this October for the first time and are trying to decide whether or not to plan MNNSHP.

We did DL/CA a few years ago for Halloween and did the Halloween Time party at CA one night. Honestly, we were not blown away.

Can someone who's been to both please compare the two. Thanks!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

While we haven't been to the HP at DCA we did attend MNSSHP last Oct. and we had a great time. The party doesn't start till 7pm but you can get in with your ticket @ 4pm ~ we did visit a park earlier in the day but I'd suggest taking it easy that day, swim, enjoy a meal *late breakfast/early lunch @ a resort *hopefully you'll get free dining* ~ take a nap so can can party till midnight ~ *we did the party on our 1st full day so it was no problem staying till midnight ~ midnight there is 10pm to us* and then head to the MK @ 4pm ~ ya know what, if I were to go to WDW in Oct. again that might be the only time I spend in the MK ~ DL is so much better.

 

[angiebaylor]

I also have not been to DCA during Halloween but did go to MNSSHP this past year too and we also loved it! My dd was almost 4 and just all of the different characters that were out made the night for her! Snow White and all 7 dwarfs were there! Also when we wanted to do rides we basically just walked on. Some we didn't even have to get off....the lines were so short we could just stay on and ride again which was also a plus! The parade and HallowWishes fireworks were also wonderful! It was a late night but she did great. Have so much fun if you decide to go!

 

[BillyFan]

We've done the party at WDW. The parade and fireworks were incredible! They were totally worth the ticket price for me. Between the 2 of us (both adults) we came back to our hotel with 1/2 a grocery bag of candy. There were lots of photo ops and candy trails, and we got on a ton of rides. My only suggestion would be to make early dinner ressies before you enter the park, so you can enjoy the party and not worry about finding something to eat. I believe they close a lot of their counter service during the party.

 

[Dizneydaz]

First time we did MNSHSP we loved it! Not too crowded, loved the parade and fireworks. Next year we went and it was totally different-due to a huge (and I mean huge!) thunderstorm that forced Disney to cancel most extras (first parade, stage show, etc) Also the fireworks were delayed and even though they did eventually go off, there was no announcement they just started about 45 min. late. We were not in a good spot to watch most of them so that was a disapointment.

Also, since it was raining (sometimes pouring) off and on all night, all of the candy got wet. They provided some umbrellas for the CM handning out candy but the candy was completely out in the open. At one point we even saw them removing the Cards costumes from the CM along the Candy Trail so they wouldn't get any wetter. Also, I guess due to the rain, there weren't many costumed characters out. We only saw the Queen of Hearts along the one trail and she was in a huge hurry and didn't even stop.

When we got back to our room our candy was inedible. Too wet, and everything was sticky! Also, I noticed a change in the type of candy that year vs. previous year. More generic candy, less name brand.

The main complaint I had with Disney (and I love Disney) was that we couldn't get any info from them. They made no announcements. The CMs didn't know what was going on (we waited to take a picture with Cinderella's carriage for almost an hour and they never re-opened it). All in all it was a huge disappointment and even though I would go again (on a non-rainy day) I'll never get my DM to return.

The night was so bad that they offered guest a free return ticket for one day at MK within the next year. We actually got a full refund instead. That's how bad it was.

That being said, as long as the weather is good (and it usually is at night) I would do it again. The fireworks are really cool and the parade is great! Collecting the candy is fun though you can get a lot of candy at the store for the price of the tickets.

I do recommend that you enter the park at 4 p.m. and make an ADR for about 4:15-4:30. By the time you are done eating you will still have time to do some rides before the party officially starts at 7 p.m. Don't waste a ticket that day going to one of the major parks. We have done a water park on MNSSHP day, and that has worked out well.

I haven't done the one at DCA so I can't compare, but since DLR does a lot of Halloweentime stuff inc. in regular admission, I don't see myself paying extra to collect candy. I know there are other things (different characters, entertainment, etc.) but it's not enough to get me to fork over the extra $$.

Oh, and one last thing, if you don't attend and want to see the Grim Grinning Ghost Spooktacular (the fireworks) you get a great view (and some of the music) from the beach at Poly. Especially awesome is the view near the end of the show when the fireworks go off all around the park-amazing! Last year we managed to watch the show twice from outside the park. Once form the TTC and once from Poly. Really cool, and free!

 

[eduk8r26]

Haven't been to WDW, but at DCA, the party runs for 4 hours--6-10 or 7-11. You can't get in early. There are candy stations at various points but last year the candy selection was not as good as the year before. There are a couple of areas where you can dance and a few places to make crafts. There were some areas to get pictures taken with characters, but the line was generally pretty long.

 

[mom2rtk]

No BOO to You parade at DCA! So no headless horseman........

 

[ACDSNY]

We've gone to both and it feels less crowded in WDW and you have more rides/activities at MK than DCA. The is a big price difference between the two, WDW is much higher, but you can enter the park around 4PM and go to midnight so it's much longer.

 

[Huff]

We've been to both and MK wins hands down.

MK has a great holloween parade, kids activities (toon town), holloween fireworks etc.

DCA has no holloween fireworks (DL did but can't see from DCA). Also no holloween parade. There was a DJ and dance area for kids that was a ton of fun. Characters danced with the kids. DCA's version is shorter hours than MK's.

Decorations and theming at both were excellent. Trick or treating at various stations were at both MK and DCA.

That said DCA's is great for younger kids. Older kids would prefer MK's. Both are fun, DCA's I believe is lower cost. Both are worth the price IMHO but we do prefer the added parade and fireworks of the MK version.

 

[Sherry E]

Of course, check out our dedicated Halloween at DL thread (or Superthread in the making!!) for more info and photos on Halloween activities, food, merchandise, photo ops with Villains and decorations up until last year, as well as some links to other fantastic Halloween photos from DIS-ers!! I am waiting for someone to post more photos from the 2009 TOTP. We need more TOTP representation in that thread!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2408927

 

[cats mom]

We will be going to WDW this October for the first time and are trying to decide whether or not to plan MNNSHP.

We did DL/CA a few years ago for Halloween and did the Halloween Time party at CA one night. Honestly, we were not blown away.

Can someone who's been to both please compare the two. Thanks!

We've been to both. I'd say the biggest difference is probably the dedicated parade and fireworks at WDW, and maybe the ability to get into Magic Kingdom early with your ticket, if that's important to you.

So many people had talked up the headless horseman at WDW, that I guess my expectations were way too high. Been there, waited with anticipation, saw him, not blown away.

Collecting candy was not high on our list, but I thought that aspect was similar at both parties. I'm sure you can find detailed reports on that with a little searching. It seems to be very important to some folks. From what I can tell, both the quality and quantity of candy can be somewhat variable depending on the year, and even on the night you attend though.

In general our experience was long lines for characters, short to short-ish lines for rides at both WDW and DCA.

Good Luck with your decision.

 

[Moomduck1]

No BOO to You parade at DCA! So no headless horseman........

darn!!!

 

[crostorfer]

No BOO to You parade at DCA! So no headless horseman........

WHAT?!?! They don't do a parade??? We were thinking of going mid-October just to see the Halloween stuff since it's our favorite time of year, but if there is no parade that is kind of a deal breaker for me. From Seattle, it's the same price to fly to Orlando now on Southwest as it is to fly to Anaheim on Alaska, and if you are staying at an on-site hotel, you can stay at WDW for WAY cheaper than DL. That seals the deal for me.

We LOVED LOVED LOVED the MK MNSSHP. LOVED it. So much so in fact that when we went last month we didn't enjoy it nearly as much because we missed all of the Halloween decorations. The night we went the weather was fantastic and it wasn't crowded at all. The only things there were really lines for were the character meets and pictures in front of Cinderella's Coach, which is breathtaking btw. If you want that photopass pic I suggest getting in line immediately after you get to the park, the line reaches 45 mins-1hour long very quickly. We got a TON of candy and they have really creative trick or treat trails. The one by Splash Mountain is fantastic. It's well worth the money, especially since you can get in at 4pm.

 

[Hunter182]

The Fireworks alone are worth the price of admission. The soundtrack is INCREDIBLE.

 

[OrcaPotter]

I have not missed a Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at WDW since 2004 (back then, you used to get a complimentary [complimentary!] photo at different photo-op locations). It's one of my most favorite Disney events--dressing up in costume at the park, the BAGS of candy (they seem to change sponsors every year, so the quality of candy never seems consistent from year to year), the awesome parade (one of the best), fun dance parities, and the fireworks. It's true that you can get in starting at 4 PM ... that's the best time to do dinner so you don't miss a thing. Depending on how early in September/October you go will determine how crowded it is. We've rarely had to wait more than 30 minutes--max--to ride anything. Many times we've walked on to most everything, particularly late in the party when many young families have left with sleeping children.

The only downside is the weather. Every year my group always seems to choose the dates when it's ungodly humid, so plan your costume accordingly to work for hot and humid. I just wish they did more Friday night dates--they used to, but the past few years they only do maybe 2 or 3 Friday nights. Not as bad for out-of-towners, but not so good for locals who have to work the next day. You also pay more for Friday nights.

DL seems to be a lot nicer to their locals, whereas WDW often forgets people actually live in Central Florida, too.