Halloween Party? Band?

[Sharron379]

How early can you get your bands for the Halloween party? We have dinner reservations at Goofy's kitchen that evening at 5. So I was hoping to get the bands on before dinner so that we can go straight into the party after dinner.

Sharron

 

[MyYearWithTheMouse]

3 hours before the start time of the party, but you have to be in the gate to get the band and they don't run out or anything--it takes almost no time to get one, so there's no need to rush.

 

[skiingfast]

How early can you get your bands for the Halloween party? We have dinner reservations at Goofy's kitchen that evening at 5. So I was hoping to get the bands on before dinner so that we can go straight into the party after dinner.

Sharron

You should get them early. The line will be a lot shorter when you are leaving for dinner than when returning after dinner. At 6 the after work crowd will be showing up.

 

[MyYearWithTheMouse]

You should get them early. The line will be a lot shorter when you are leaving for dinner than when returning after dinner. At 6 the after work crowd will be showing up.

There's no separate line for wristbands, or at least there wasn't when I was there. You waited in the entrance line, gave them your ticket, then walked over to a CM and got a wristband which took us about a minute. You can get a wristband early but you'll still have to wait in the entrance gate line like everyone else, and that's what gets crowded when the 6:00 group shows up. You don't get priority line entrance with a wristband or anything.

I don't see an advantage of waiting in the entrance gate line, getting the band, going to dinner, then waiting in the entrance gate line again. I'd just do it once.

 

[skiingfast]

There's no separate line for wristbands, or at least there wasn't when I was there. You waited in the entrance line, gave them your ticket, then walked over to a CM and got a wristband which took us about a minute. You can get a wristband early but you'll still have to wait in the entrance gate line like everyone else, and that's what gets crowded when the 6:00 group shows up. You don't get priority line entrance with a wristband or anything.

I don't see an advantage of waiting in the entrance gate line, getting the band, going to dinner, then waiting in the entrance gate line again. I'd just do it once.

The advantage is you aren't showing up with the bulk of party goers when you show up earlier to get your wriste band. The OP can enter on the left when they return if they already got a wriste band. They don't need to go the right and do the check in process again.

 

[JeriLee]

I’m confused...

We will be in the park all day. When/where do we pick up our tickets? When/where do we pick up our bands?

We will probably leave for dinner and to change into our costumes – what time should we be back? We are going on 10/28, so the party starts at 7:00 I believe. We don’t plan on riding anything – just experience all that the party has to offer.

There is a special parade – right? What time is the parade? What time are the fireworks?

Wow – I had more questions than I thought!

Thanks!

 

[MyYearWithTheMouse]

The advantage is you aren't showing up with the bulk of party goers when you show up earlier to get your wriste band. The OP can enter on the left when they return if they already got a wriste band. They don't need to go the right and do the check in process again.

I see, it just wasn't our experience to have a long check in process to get our wristbands. We arrived right around 6:00 and it was very quick to walk through the gate and immediately get our wristband and goodie bag.

Added: We went on a Monday so maybe it was just less crowded overall.

 

[skiingfast]

We will be in the park all day. When/where do we pick up our tickets? When/where do we pick up our bands?

We will probably leave for dinner and to change into our costumes – what time should we be back? We are going on 10/28, so the party starts at 7:00 I believe. We don’t plan on riding anything – just experience all that the party has to offer.

There is a special parade – right? What time is the parade? What time are the fireworks?

If already in the park, check in at Carnation Gardens Plaza, to the southwest of the Castle to pick up your wriste band, candy bags and party map.

I would aim to come back early from dinner if possible so you aren't stuck in the crowd of party goers getting in and the regular guest exiting between 6 and 7.

Yes the parade runs twice. Small world to Town Square at 8:30, and in the reverse direction at 10:30. The Fireworks, which you should plan to get a good spot early, is at 9:30.

The other popular thing to do at night is meet characters, so try to get that out of the way. Then other than the shows you can trick or treat.

 

[skiingfast]

I see, it just wasn't our experience to have a long check in process to get our wristbands. We arrived right around 6:00 and it was very quick to walk through the gate and immediately get our wristband and goodie bag.

Added: We went on a Monday so maybe it was just less crowded overall.

The OP never mentioned what day thier party is so I made general advice becuase I was guessing that it was for a Friday since they were eating close to the start of the party.

It's probably because of when you arrived that there were not regular admission guests entering anymore so they didn't split out the party guests.

 

[Sharron379]

I’m confused...

We will be in the park all day. When/where do we pick up our tickets? When/where do we pick up our bands?

We will probably leave for dinner and to change into our costumes – what time should we be back? We are going on 10/28, so the party starts at 7:00 I believe. We don’t plan on riding anything – just experience all that the party has to offer.

There is a special parade – right? What time is the parade? What time are the fireworks?

Wow – I had more questions than I thought!

Thanks!

Great questions! I am pro at WDW, but DL is entire new ballgame for me!!!! Thanks for asking!!

 

[Sharron379]

The OP never mentioned what day thier party is so I made general advice becuase I was guessing that it was for a Friday since they were eating close to the start of the party.

It's probably because of when you arrived that there were not regular admission guests entering anymore so they didn't split out the party guests.

We are going to the Halloween party next friday night, Oct. 21st. Traditionally we have always done Chef Mickey in WDW as our first dinner of vacation so to keep with tradition we are doing Goofy's kitchen at 5 PM. I am hoping to get to Goofy's kitchen around 4:45 PM and get in on time. Our plan is to be in DL all day on Friday. We will change the boys into their costumes after dinner. Easy costumes (Harry Potter robes and ties). My game plan was to do rides during the day and then concentrate on the party in the evening. What is the best spot for fireworks and how early should we get spots? Where is the best place for the parade? I would love to say we will be able to go longer after fireworks that evening, but I think we will be way to tired, since we leave early that morning for Cali!

 

[skiingfast]

What is the best spot for fireworks and how early should we get spots? Where is the best place for the parade? I would love to say we will be able to go longer after fireworks that evening, but I think we will be way to tired, since we leave early that morning for Cali!

For better and worse. It's the best Disney Firework show. And the crowds are worse because of that.

People hold spots two or three hours early. The best spots are in the Hub and closer part of Mainstreet. Make sure you have a clear view of the Castle and the area above it, not trees or structures in the way. You may need to stake out a spot an hour early and have some popcorn there.

For the Parade people have the best luck watching from near Small World with a short wait. May not be an option but the second parade has lighter crowds.