Given the following would you recommend MNSSHP?

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

I kinda skimmed the replies, so here's my take on this (I may or may not repeat others, fyi)...

Being DVC owners has nothing to do with the party or going to WDW (just in case you felt you had to brag, no offense, just the way it came off)...

Having AP's doesn't do you any good for this hard ticket event. It's a separate admission, for which the date you would be attending is the highest price of the run of the event.

It definitely is worth a go if you haven't been. Rare characters are fun. Jack Sparrow is a fun M&G. Crowds for the Nov. 1 party will NOT be low. Yes, they have a cap on how many tickets they sell per party, but it will in no way be low crowds (esp for those rare characters!).

The Hallowishes fireworks rank up near the top with 4th of July and Christmas, far surpassing regular Wishes. The Boo to You parade is unique and awesome in its own right. Not like any other parade you've seen during the daytime.

Now here are some other things that may be of note:
- November 1 will sell out fast. If you're going then, get your tickets soon or you won't be going anyway.
- Again, crowds won't be low.
- To go with a sellout crowd on Nov. 1, a lot of those people will be in line for the rare characters.
- Trick or Treating, characters, parades, all take up time. The event is only officially from 7-12. You can enter the park at 4 with your hard ticket, but the festivities don't kick off until 7.
- If you go, go at 4, do the rides you want, then get in line for the characters you want to meet. Jack & Sally can get to a 2 hour wait real quick and the line will start forming at 4/4:30ish (same for 7 dwarfs).
- November 1 is also the last party I believe, so again, don't let the idea of "low crowds" fool you.


The party night goes by REAL quick once things get underway. That said, it's up to you to figure out if it's worth it or not.

Since they are AP holders, they can and might want to go in a little earlier. When we did the party and were AP holders, we went in at 3 or so and avoided waiting in lines with the party goers at 4.

 

[mousehockey37]

Since they are AP holders, they can and might want to go in a little earlier. When we did the party and were AP holders, we went in at 3 or so and avoided waiting in lines with the party goers at 4.

The earliest you can get in with party admission is 4pm. Any earlier and you're using your hopper option on your AP's. Regular guests who don't have AP's, but have park hoppers and a party ticket fall into this as well. It's not an AP only thing.

 

[Farro]

The earliest you can get in with party admission is 4pm. Any earlier and you're using your hopper option on your AP's. Regular guests who don't have AP's, but have park hoppers and a party ticket fall into this as well. It's not an AP only thing.

Are you saying this is a good thing or a bad thing? We always have hoppers and we liked that we could go in the park before 4 - maybe to eat, or do some fast passes.

This party we are doing something else during the day and are choosing to avoid the lines for entry in the opposite way. We aren't going to arrive to MK until 6 or so - but we don't wait in line for characters.

Also OP, a tip, if you think you will be there long enough for both parades, skip the first one and ride some rides or get candy- lines will be shorter as most people watch the first parade. Also late night- we went on 10/26 one year and cruised through the candy lines later in the night.

 

[mousehockey37]

Are you saying this is a good thing or a bad thing? We always have hoppers and we liked that we could go in the park before 4 - maybe to eat, or do some fast passes.

Everyone does things different. If you're dressing up for the party, you'll want to stick closer to 4pm as an arrival. They may not let you in earlier than 4 if you're dressed for the party and look like characters that are still out doing M&G's to regular day guests. I don't think it's a bad idea though. We went in at 4, we ate, rode some rides and got that out of the way (the HM was still a MUST DO at the party though).

This party we are doing something else during the day and are choosing to avoid the lines for entry in the opposite way. We aren't going to arrive to MK until 6 or so - but we don't wait in line for characters.

Also OP, a tip, if you think you will be there long enough for both parades, skip the first one and ride some rides or get candy- lines will be shorter as most people watch the first parade. Also late night- we went on 10/26 one year and cruised through the candy lines later in the night.

Weather does play a factor in this. The year we went, it rained early in the night, so the 1st parade was done using the "B" plan... The later parade though was done full out as it stopped raining and dried up some. So all the performers were safe to do routines at that time, so we saw the same parade done 2 different ways.

 

[Farro]

Weather does play a factor in this. The year we went, it rained early in the night, so the 1st parade was done using the "B" plan... The later parade though was done full out as it stopped raining and dried up some. So all the performers were safe to do routines at that time, so we saw the same parade done 2 different ways.

Shhhh...I don't let myself think about weather issues, it tends to make me neurotic....

 

[mousehockey37]

Shhhh...I don't let myself think about weather issues, it tends to make me neurotic....

That's one of the worst parts of planning ANY Disney vacation. Especially when you're still in Hurricane season!