Halloween Night suggestions needed!

[LuvMyEAR]

For the first time ever, Halloween night falls into our trip this year. Much as I would love to be at MNSSHP on Halloween itself, the cost would be well over $800 CAD for our family, so unless there is an unexpected windfall, that is off the table.

So, I am trying to find a good option for our group of 6, which includes our two amazing grandsons, 12 and 13. We are staying offsite, in WIndsor Hills and aren't looking for trick or treating opportunities. I would just love to know if there are any things/places that provide some light-hearted Halloween fun and atmosphere. We tend to stay relatively close to the WDW area, and are not looking for "super-scary" settings.

all suggestions appreciated!

 

[lpizzuro123]

We have been in WDW many times in October and have attended a few MNSSHP. This past year, instead of heading to the party, we went to Fort Wilderness. They have a lot of Halloween activities going on. You will need to check what day they do it but they have a Golf Cart Parade (around 5:00 or 6:00 pm). At least 50 people staying at Ft Wilderness decorate their Golf Carts with Halloween themes and there is a parade of them. It is so much fun watching what they do to their carts. After the parade we ate at Trails End (which is a great inexpensive buffet - as per Disney standards) at around 7:00pm.

Later that night (starting around 8:00 or 9:00) they had a Halloween Dance Party. It was so much fun. There was a DJ and dancing on the beach, and lots of people dressed in costumes. The Headless Horseman showed up and we got tons of pictures of him. A lot of the decorated golf carts parked down near there also so you could also go up and check them out. There was also a Pumpkin Decorating Contest. The Electric Water Pagent also passed by the beach in Fort Wilderness around 9:45 so you can watch it from there and I am not sure but I think you might be able to see some of the Fireworks from the beach (don't know now with the new Fireworks show). A lot of the campers also decorate their campsites for Halloween and you can walk around and check them out.

As Halloween itself was a Monday in 2016 they did the parade and party either Saturday or Sunday (I don't remember which). We were not staying on Disney property and just drove to Fort Wilderness and parked at the front of the Fort and then you use their internal bus service to get to the main area where the restaurants are. They also have movies and a campfire with smores. We were a group of 7 adults (in the 50 to 60 age group) and we had a great time. I am sure your grandsons would enjoy it also and if they are big eaters Trails End is a great buffet.

We made reservations at Trails End because I had heard Fort Wilderness gets very crowded due to all the Halloween activities. Some of the campers also do trick or treating (not sure what night) so you can check that also. Go to the Camping at Disney World section of the dis and you can get a lot of info there.

 

[lpizzuro123]

Lets see if this works. Here is a utube of the parade.

 

[lpizzuro123]

Schedule from last year. Looks like activities were on Sunday and Halloween was on Monday. This year Halloween is on a Tuesday so not sure when they will be doing parade and party - probably on Halloween itself. We probably will not be down this year for Halloween but if we were we would definitely do it again.

 

[lpizzuro123]

Movie schedule for October from last year.

 

[LuvMyEAR]

Thank you so much for taking the time to post all this info! I have always wanted to have dinner at Trails End buffet, so this would give me a good excuse to try to get an ADR. Haven't had any luck in the past when we tried to get a walk-up spot, after deciding on the spur of the moment. We have, however, enjoyed the ride through the campground by bus. After reading everything, I wish camping for a few nights was an option, but as we fly down from Canada, we are kind of short on equipment. Seems the campground is pretty solidly booked for seasonal events like this, too. Great to see that kind of spirit. I watched a video of the pet costume parade some time ago. Looked like so much fun.
Is it OK for non-campers to drop in as spectators for these activities?

We attended MNSSHP once, mid-Sept 2015. It rained hard, off and on, and the parade we had hoped to attend was cancelled as T-storms were in the area. It was still pretty cool, though. I love Halloween!

 

[lpizzuro123]

Definitely try Trails End (and make reservations prior to attending - especially if it is a special night at Fort Wilderness). We have never stayed at Fort Wilderness but I have heard if you want to stay during Halloween time you need to make reservations at least a year in advance.

It is definitely ok to head to Fort Wilderness and enjoy activities going on there even if you are not staying there. They also do hay rides but were not doing them the night we were there for the Halloween Beach Bash due to crowds.

Hope you enjoy your time in Disney in October.

Linda

 

[lpizzuro123]

I was just looking at the schedule and as only guests staying at the resort are allowed in the pool area - not sure if you can participate in pool activities - but you can participate in the campfire, singalong and the movie.

 

[HopperFan]

Last year on Halloween we had dinner at California Grill and then watched HalloWishes from the observation deck. Given they are older they may enjoy a grownup dinner followed by amazing fireworks. PS - we didn't order expensive entrees but appetizers and sushi we all shared.

 

[LuvMyEAR]

Sitting here on a frigid morning, with fresh snow on the ground, and dreaming of the Florida sunshine in the fall. I am really excited to be going in time to enjoy the fall/Halloween atmosphere as well as catch the start of the Christmas decorations! I love the idea of seeing HalloWishes and maybe we will head to one of the resorts for a viewing area, if we have enough steam left by that time.

I am going to see if I can get Trails End ADRs as soon as we hit 180 days from oct 31, hopefully hitting the Pumpkin Patch and the Pet Costume Parade in the afternoon. The whole family would absolutely love that. We love to tour resorts, and are more inclined to use our dining budget in the resorts than parks, but always want to be respectful of the facilities/activists which are meant only for guests of that resort. Since the Pumpkin Patch has its own fee, and pet and golf cart parades are meant for spectators, I feel pretty good about this plan.

I think it is very sweet that, at 12 and 13, our DGs would still rather do these kinds of things than Frights Nights, etc. Probably not many years left of that!

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

If you have a car there is a town called Celebration that does a lovely Halloween night visit. The houses really push the boat out in decor and lots of trick and treat. A pumpkin patch. One house had a pirate ship! Real fun!

 

[LuvMyEAR]

Another cool idea. I love Celebration and always said that if I won a lottery, my first purchase would be a home in there. Of course now there is Golden Oaks, so I might have to revisit that plan. LOL.

 

[dmea10]

I thought I read somewhere that they were going to limit the people able to enter Ft Wilderness on Halloween somehow.