DAS and MNSSHP

[memakwed]

Last trip I had a DAS. I will need it this trip in Sept. I just noticed tonight in my reading that MNSSHP overlaps in Sept with our trip dates. We have never done this. I have read about long lines for rides and character meet and greets. If we choose to do this event will I be able to use the DAS for character lines or just rides? It seems like an exhaustive event as an average person without health issues and I just don't want to plan on doing something that is beyond my physical capacity and then having to leave and feeling disappointed and that I have wasted money. Any experiences and info from others is appreciated.

 

[aaarcher86]

No. There is no FP for MNSSHP, so no DAS. I've seen people post every once in awhile they used it at a party, but it's nothing to count on and it seemed to be for one thing versus the whole party.

We didn't actually experience huge lines aside from candy and one or two characters. I've heard it's a great time to do lots of rides. Parades and fireworks and such were packed.

 

[memakwed]

Probably will have to pass on this event then. Without using a DAS I really can no longer function well at Disney. What I could do in the past I can no longer really do unfortunately.

 

[RubySue]

We went to MNSSHP this past October.
Like aaarcher86 said, candy lines and lines for more popular characters were long, but the lines for rides were short.

Stay away from Main Street, that was usually packed. But other areas of the park were pretty thin crowds. We went on rides during first parade and then watched second parade in Frontier Land.

My issue is mobility, not DAS, and I don't know what your situation is, so I can't say whether or not you should try MNSSHP. I can tell you that it was a lot of fun and you might want to give it a try? Maybe go to youtube and find some party videos?

 

[aaarcher86]

Probably will have to pass on this event then. Without using a DAS I really can no longer function well at Disney. What I could do in the past I can no longer really do unfortunately.

If you can wait the 15 - 20 minute FP line when using the DAS, I think you'd be okay 9/10 (depending on your party night) with ride lines during MNSSHP.

I personally wouldn't get the separate ticket just for the rides since I could do all that using FP+/DAS on a regular day, but if you're interested in some of the other characters I would maybe look into it.

Jafar was maybe 10 minutes. Jasmine/Genie at the end of the night were maybe 15 tops. They had a villains dessert party which I'm assuming they'll have again this year. It was pricey ($100/pp on top of a party ticket) but we had reserved seating at the hub for the parade/fireworks and we were able to see the villain stage show in between from our spots. Zero crowding. Awesome views. Free waters. And afterwards were went right into the castle for a dessert party sing a long with a bunch of villains. It was really awesome and it's something we won't miss every year. It's not rides, but you'd get great views and areas for the main stuff and you'd get to meet a bunch of villains and get souvenirs and desserts. Meeting special characters and the parade/fireworks were our priorities.

 

[memakwed]

Yes the primary idea of the MNSSHP is to see characters and the parade what we wouldn't be able to do in a normal day at the parks. I will look into you tube videos to get a visual on the situation that was a great idea.

 

[FeralCatRogue]

I've gone to mshhp party both in early october and on halloween, in early october there was no wait for rides really. You can get FP from 4 to 7pm, but not after 7pm.
Also a trick i learnt when i was there on halloween, you can get a view of the fireworks from the seating near casey's ice cream and it was pretty uncrowded there, there was only me and 2 other people on a sold out event watching from there.

 

[cynditech]

We have gone to MNSSHP the past three years, with two of the years having a DAS for DS9. While some character greets can get long (Jack & Sally and 7 Dwarves) we found that the other character greets went very quickly. We just really love the whole atmosphere of MK during the party - it's so fun! We hold off on trick or treating until near the end of the party, simply because the lines are too long. The parades obviously get very very crowded as well. We never used the DAS during a party - the need didn't seem to be there. The ride lines were very short during our party.

I think, as long as you're there, it might be worth trying at least once?

 

[aaarcher86]

Also wanted to add, that the earlier parties in September were dead. The farther away from Halloween you are, the less crowded it seems to be in general.

I'd encourage you to give it a try. I really think you'll be pleasantly surprised. You might not get to meet Jack and Sally (we stood in line for 1.5 hours!!!) but there are tons of other characters to meet, rides that have short lines, and the atmosphere overall is just a ton of fun.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . Stay away from Main Street, that was usually packed. But other areas of the park were pretty thin crowds. We went on rides during first parade and then watched second parade in Frontier Land . . .

1) But, the activities on/near Main Street are the reason for the Party.
2) Why pay the HUGE price, and just ride-the-rides . . . and for such a short period of time?
3) IMHO, a waste of money.

 

[aaarcher86]

1) But, the activities on/near Main Street are the reason for the Party. 2) Why pay the HUGE price, and just ride-the-rides . . . and for such a short period of time? 3) IMHO, a waste of money.

You don't necessarily have to be on Main Street though. You can see the parade from Frontierland, catch the fireworks where the dessert party is while sitting, and see the Villains mix and Mingle from the bridge to Tomorrowland.

If someone can swing it, I'd highly recommend the Villains dessert party reservation if they continue this. You can see all the main stuff in a reserved area with tons of wiggle room! It was amazing.

I personally wouldn't buy a ticket for just the rides, but I guess some people do.

 

[Missyrose]

1) But, the activities on/near Main Street are the reason for the Party.
2) Why pay the HUGE price, and just ride-the-rides . . . and for such a short period of time?
3) IMHO, a waste of money.

1) Watched the fireworks from a seat in New Fantasyland and had an awesome 360-degree show.
2) Watched the second parade from Frontierland and snagged a seated spot at the rope 15 minutes before the parade came through.
3) Watched the castle show from the Tomorrowland bridge.
4) Didn't ride a single ride.
5) Didn't set foot in the hub or Main Street until after 11 and had a MUCH better time than any other party where I spent much of the time on Main Street.

 

[PatMcDuck]

We did the MNSSHP mostly to ride the rides. Guilty as charged!

We went to WDW, had only 4 1/2 days. We wanted to see as much as we could in all 4 parks. MK closed early almost every night we were there, for MNSSHP. It was mid-October. With other plans, we only had that one night to see MK after dark (and the parks after dark are not to be missed!)

We did enjoy the special fireworks and parade, but did not do the meet/greets. (I have been to MNSSHP many times myself, and done them in different groups). Who cares about candy, not us. We DID mostly go on the rides. It was fairly crowded, but it was closer to Halloween.

Yes, it was expensive, but time was limited and this (adult) son's only trip in 7 years, and he will not be back for several more. So, it was worth it $$. But not worth it for locals, of course, or frequent park guests, just to go on rides.

 

[SueM in MN]

You don't necessarily have to be on Main Street though. You can see the parade from Frontierland, catch the fireworks where the dessert party is while sitting, and see the Villains mix and Mingle from the bridge to Tomorrowland.

If someone can swing it, I'd highly recommend the Villains dessert party reservation if they continue this. You can see all the main stuff in a reserved area with tons of wiggle room! It was amazing.

I personally wouldn't buy a ticket for just the rides, but I guess some people do.

I agree - you don't necessarily need to be on Main Street.
We try to avoid Main Street because it is the more crowded area, but still can see a lot.

1) Watched the fireworks from a seat in New Fantasyland and had an awesome 360-degree show.
2) Watched the second parade from Frontierland and snagged a seated spot at the rope 15 minutes before the parade came through.
3) Watched the castle show from the Tomorrowland bridge.
4) Didn't ride a single ride.
5) Didn't set foot in the hub or Main Street until after 11 and had a MUCH better time than any other party where I spent much of the time on Main Street.

Agree.
We usually run out of time because there is so much to do.

We did the MNSSHP mostly to ride the rides. Guilty as charged!

We went to WDW, had only 4 1/2 days. We wanted to see as much as we could in all 4 parks. MK closed early almost every night we were there, for MNSSHP. It was mid-October. With other plans, we only had that one night to see MK after dark (and the parks after dark are not to be missed!)

We did enjoy the special fireworks and parade, but did not do the meet/greets. (I have been to MNSSHP many times myself, and done them in different groups). Who cares about candy, not us. We DID mostly go on the rides. It was fairly crowded, but it was closer to Halloween.

Yes, it was expensive, but time was limited and this (adult) son's only trip in 7 years, and he will not be back for several more. So, it was worth it $$. But not worth it for locals, of course, or frequent park guests, just to go on rides.

Yes - usually the closer you are to Halloween, the more crowded it tends to be.
Most of the rides are short waits -especially during the parades. The 2 with the longest waits tend to be Haunted Mansion and Pirates; probably because people consider them more 'spooky' and want to celebrate Halloween at them.

The only thing I would suggest being aware of for someone who plans to go on rides is that not all attractions are open during the party. Many are, but you can check party maps before buying your tickets to make sure the ones you want to ride will be. People/websites like wdwinfo.com usually post party maps soon after the first party.