Halloween at WDW - my daughter's upset about it. How is trick or treat at MK?

[CuteKatCar]

If you've been to MNSSHP, can you tell me about it. My daughter is very upset that we won't be home to trick or treat. I'm debating whether to change ressie to leave on Monday instead. But I told her she'd be able to trick-or-treat at MK and that the parade will be lots of fun. Help me convince her.

Thanks

Cutekatcar

 

[hockey mom]

There are quite a few trick or treat stations throughout the park. It is a very festive atmosphere with a cool parade. With that being said though we go in the middle of the month so that my kids can still get treats at home.

 

[kilee]

I had this same problem last year. DS (10 at the time) was really upset that we weren't going to be home for Halloween. He'd miss the school activities and trick-or-treating.

Now's the part you're most likely not going to want to hear. We did the MNSSHP on 10/31. I had him okay w/ the idea of being WDW for Halloween-- he loves Disney as much as me. Anyhow, the party was so crowded that he didn't enjoy it as much. The trick-or-treat lines literally were 150+++ people long. They went fast considering, but it would still take almost 10-15 minutes to get through the line. Then when they did, they got 1 minature (the mini, mini ones) piece of candy. He wound up w/ a total of 9 pieces of candy all night!! On top of it, the crowds were so thick, that seeing the rare characters was out of the question. We did the rides. I think the disappoint came in that we can do the rides any trip. BUT Halloween only comes once a year-- and to kids it's really special. I won't do it again. We are looking at going this fall-- I really want to fit another MNSSHP into the plans-- but it will be closer to the start of Oct.

Just wanted to give you the final reaction I got from him.

 

[ahoff]

We went on Halloween to MNSSHP two years ago, and had a great time. Thought it was not that crowded, and there was not much of wait for any of the rides. Even the wait for the complimentry picture was not too bad. And to top it off the two kids were selected to be in the parade! Just happened to be in the right place at the right time, I guess. We also got quite a good amount of candy.

We stayed at the BW, and they also had a nice party going on, which we basically missed by going to MK. Maybe next time!

 

[candleonwater]

We went for this past Halloween, and DD 6 (at the time) asked that we never do that again! It was very crowded and the trick or treating wasn't the same. She was fine going into it, but afterwards decided she'd rather spend Halloween trick or treating with her friends at home.

I agree with her since I figure we've only got a limited number of years where Halloween is special to them.

We're actually looking at going down earlier in October, so we still get to go to the party, but won't miss Halloween at home.

 

[NMAmy]

I'm going to add my warning to all the others. We had an AWFUL time at MNSSHP on Halloween night a few years ago. I had also used this party as an incentive because we'd be missing trick-or-treating at home. The crowd was just hideous. Grown adults were cutting in front of kids for the treat lines. There were so many people you couldn't see the parade and the lines were too long to get pictures taken. It was odd because no parks had lines the entire week we were there. It was the worst money I've ever spent.

She did end up with a lot of candy due to a kindhearted CM who toward the end of the night saw that DD's candy bag did not have much candy in it and stuffed her bag full for her.

I might go to the party again, but NEVER on Halloween.

 

[zurgswife]

WOW!!! I've been twice once 2 years ago and once on Halloween 4 yrs ago(has it really been that long)

We had no problems with getting candy...though we did find the spots at the back of the park gave out large amounts....It was awesome. Both times my kid thought it was great.

They got more candy then they do at home. We stayed until the park closed and on Halloween and found they gave out handfuls in the Frontier area as the park was closing...

Good luck with your decision...

 

[Wish Upon A Star]

We will also be at MNSSHP for Halloween Night.

My DD and DS are older (15 and 11 at time of our trip) so trick or treating especially for my DD is no big deal. She didn't go trick or treating last year at home and DS went over his friend's house.

I am constantly throwing out Halloween candy every year at Thanksgiving time because they hardly even eat it.

DS (who I thought would be upset) is looking forward to being at the MK for Halloween. Not just for the trick or treating. It's something different to do.

If for any reason they don't have a good time, there is always next Halloween (2005) to go back to a normal routine.

 

[Ducky4Disney]

I have heard that people don't enjoy MNSSHP on Halloween, but rest assured, not all nights are like that! We went last year on the 24th (Sunday) and had a blast! If a trick-or-treat line was long, we'd skip it and go to the next one. On the way back, the formerly long line was gone! We did get more candy closer to the end of the night.

Ride lines were short, the atmosphere was great, dressing up was fun, and we loved it!

Try going on two different nights. Sure she'll miss Halloween at home, but she'll get to go trick-or-treating twice! Who gets to do that? She can get two different outfits and dress up twice! This way, if Halloween night is super busy, she will at least have all ready been and won't feel like she missed anything.

Good Luck!

D4D

 

[SamanthaL]

How about doing the party on a night other than Halloween. Then on Halloween night research what the hotel and the other parks may be doing. She may be surprised and have a blast somewhere else on the 31st.

 

[Mickeydad]

Now I politely disagree with kilee's remarks...

We were there on 10/31 last year and there was 11 of us. 7 adults & 4 kids.

WE LOVED IT. The candy lines we encountered were not 150 deep?

This was the second time we went on Halloween night. We will probably do it again.

Mickeydad

 

[kilee]

Just wanted to add that to ease the time standing in line I had DS actually count-- alittle corny I know . Anyhow, the line for trick-or-treating in Tomorrowland near the Buzz entrance had 160 some odd people go through that we counted from the time we got in line until we got up to the CM's. The line in Adventureland by Swiss Family Tree house was over a 100-- don't remember what though. We attempted Toontown once around 8pm and turned right around. We went back about 11:40 pm and had less than 10 people waits.

I think the party IS GREAT, just too crowded for us on Halloween. Personally, I would love to see the numbers Disney lets in that night. I know we have all guesstimated. But I think it's higher, why not more money for them. I was there right after Easter in 2002 and thought the Easter week crowds were close to comparable w/ the sold-out MNSSHP crowds. Only difference was the ride lines were short. If you want to go and treat it like an E-night-- great idea!!!! Never waited more than 10 minutes for ANYTHING!!

Just one more thing-- there was a great thread going last year in regards to MNSSHP. So for anyone contemplating a first MNSSHP trip I'd do a search for it. The tips on it are priceless!!!!

 

[beattyfamily]

To the OP, we had a similar situation. We went to MNSSHP 2 years ago and my older DD (then age 6) was kind of disappointed that she missed the school festivities.

We went to MNSSHP Halloween night. Yes, it was crowded walking around, but we knew that it would be crowded going in. We were prepared. We were just so excited to be at MK for Halloween!

We got our photo done ASAP right at 7:00p with no problems...we were first in line.

The trick or treat lines did appear long BUT they went SO fast that it wasn't ever a problem for us no matter where we went and we did the trick or treating in the beginning until the fireworks at 9:15p. Well, then my poor DD got sick! Throwing up all over her costume in Fantasyland while the fireworks were going.

Because of her getting sick she begged me to try out MNSSHP again so she can experience it not sick. We did MVMCP last year and are doing MNSSHP this year again. I planned in such a way that she won't miss anything going on in school. We'll leave for Disney Oct 30 and do MNSSHP Oct 31. Now she can be at school that week before Halloween and be at MK for Halloween!

I think Halloween night can be very busy but it just depends where you are in the park and what you are trying to do. I say get the photo over with, wait for the second parade, the trick or treat lines are not as long as they appear because they go VERY fast, head to the back lands and I'll bet it's not as crowded. Relax and take in all the decorations and music and atmosphere. It's GREAT fun!

 

[manchurianbrownbear]

I think beattyfamily is absolutely right, that the crowds you encounter depends on where you are in the park. And also what time you are in a particular area of the park.

We were at MNSSHP on Halloween in 2000 & 2003 and had a GREAT time both parties!

Outside of ToonTown, we didn't encounter a candy line with more than 25 people and the kids received multiple pieces of candy at every trick or treat line we stood in. They got as much candy at MNSSHP as they do at home. Maybe we have stingy people in our neighborhood!

Also, everyone has a different definition of "crowded". In the two years we've gone to MNSSHP, it was not as crowded at the party as it was during the day in MK later in the week.

We waited maybe 15 minutes to get on Astro Orbiter, the longest we waited in any line, but we walked on many rides (Splash Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise) with NO wait.

In 2003 there were a couple false starts on the fireworks, but other than that, we thought MNSSHP was nearly perfect!

 

[skoi]

We're going this year for the first time. I have a question. Someone mentioned getting a picture? What sort of picture? Also, what kind of candy do they give out? Is it worth it to wait in the lines?

Thanks,
Julie

 

[Daddyman]

We're going for the first time this year too. My daughters are 9 and 7. We'll be there 5 nights (10/29-11/2). Should we do MK on a night otherthan Halloween and go somewhere else on the 31st?

 

[manchurianbrownbear]

There are a few "picture stations" set up around the park where you can have your family's picture taken. They'll send it to your home address within a couple weeks. Kind of a cool souvenir!

We had our picture taken outside of the old Lion King Theatre, which I believe is Mickey's Philharmagic now, in 2000, and last year we had our picture taken in the lobby of the Hall of Presidents.

We followed DIS tips on when to get our picture taken and it definitely paid off. We only waited in line a few minutes, but we saw pretty long lines at some of the picture stations. You've got to be in the right place at the right time!

They give out several different "fun size" candies. If I remember correctly our kids had Tootsie Rolls, some kind of taffy, Butter Fingers, etc. It was the same kind of things they usually get at home. We stopped at maybe a dozen of the candy stations and probably averaged four five pieces of candy per stop. Our kids were more interested in rides than candy, but if candy is a higher priority, you could easily have picked up more.

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by skoi
We're going this year for the first time. I have a question. Someone mentioned getting a picture? What sort of picture? Also, what kind of candy do they give out? Is it worth it to wait in the lines?

Thanks,
Julie

It's a free souvenir photo that you can have taken in various station throughout the park. There's one across from LTT and one by IASW ride and then there's one by Buzz ride etc...

You are suppose to get one photo per party ticket purchased. It has a Halloween/Mickey background and comes in the mail with a border that has the words "Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party" on it with the year as well.

The candy is name brand candy and varies from station to station. Each one has something different!

 

[bigsis1970]

Hi everyone - we are planning on attending on 10-31 and I have already told the kids it will be kind of busy waiting for the candy and we won't get as much as we do at home ( Thankfully !! - I throw away at Turkeyday too !! ) I think we will be fine , Michelle

 

[CuteKatCar]

Your replies have been great. I still haven't decided. We are not leaving for WDW until 10/31. So for MNSSHP it's Halloween or nothing. I'm leaning towards leaving Nov. 1st instead so we can have Halloween at home.

thanks,

Cutekatcar