Halloween party question!

[NicholeB630]

I am super excited about the halloween party in September we have tickets too. We did the Christmas party in 2014 and though it was fun we didn't get much out of it. It was our first time at a party and I hadn't planned it that well but def learned some things to hopefully make this party more fun. I am just wondering how much you can actually get done in the amount of time you have. I kinda wish it started an hour earlier. I know my kids will want to trick or treat so my plan is this. We will be at Mine Train from 5:30-6:30 for our FP window. So we will start there and make our way down to the Main Street hub for VIP area for Hallowishes dessert party.

7 Party starts.
Make our way down stoping at trick or treat places heading towards adventure land.
Meet Jafar
Meet Tarzan and Friends
Go to parade viewing spot for Dessert party around 8:00. They say to go earlier but I don't think we need to sit there an hour as I read there is plenty of space for those who bought the Dessert party tickets but i do want to be sure we have curb seats so a little early will be good for us.
Watch parade
Go to Dessert party, watch fireworks
Head to tomorrowland dance party
Trick or treat more.

To me that just seem like that much happening in 5 hours. Maybe I'm wrong and it is. I wish we could squeeze a few more characters in but not sure we'd have time. I def don't want to wait an hour or more for the top priority ones. But I know my kids will enjoy trick or treating and the dance party with Monsters Inc characters. This is hoping they can make it till Midnight!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I think meeting Jafar and Tarzan between 7 and 8 is optimistic. One or the other, yes. Both, probably not.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

We love DP's but wouldn't waste any party time at a DP.

 

[BayouQueen]

I'm more familiar with the Halloween parties at DL, but we are going to one this year at WDW. I did make a reservation for the dessert party, but after doing some research, and based on my experience with lots of DL Halloween parties, I cancelled the dessert party. I just decided we'd rather not be stuck in a structured situation during precious party time. My understanding is that they have two parades, so if we plan to see the second one, hopefully it won't be too crowded.

Anyhow, that's just sharing our plan, based on lots of research here, there and everywhere. Whatever you decide to do, have a great time!

 

[Accident]

I don't remember there being 2 parades but I didnt' go last year.

Just make a list of everything you consider must do and everything if there is time that you want to do.. good luck!

 

[NicholeB630]

Well we tried for second parade at Christmas party and it was just as crowded. People rows back a long time before it started. I was really stressed out. With little ones they need to be able to sit on curb. I think the dessert party is worth it for us. Not being crammed on the street like sardines for the fireworks!

 

[BayouQueen]

Well we tried for second parade at Christmas party and it was just as crowded. People rows back a long time before it started. I was really stressed out. With little ones they need to be able to sit on curb. I think the dessert party is worth it for us. Not being crammed on the street like sardines for the fireworks!

That is disturbing news. Makes me wonder if it varies depending on if it's a more popular party night. Now I'm going to beat myself up for cancelling our dessert party reservation. But still...I'd rather be trick-or-treating. And also the Hocus Pocus act to factor in. Usually we really love the DPs, but thought not in this case. Oh why oh why does it all have to be so complicated???!!!

 

[Kathryn777]

We went to the 2nd parade last year at a sold out party. It was crowded, for sure. We went 20 min early and got "good enough" spots, but definitely not curbside

 

[NicholeB630]

That is disturbing news. Makes me wonder if it varies depending on if it's a more popular party night. Now I'm going to beat myself up for cancelling our dessert party reservation. But still...I'd rather be trick-or-treating. And also the Hocus Pocus act to factor in. Usually we really love the DPs, but thought not in this case. Oh why oh why does it all have to be so complicated???!!!

My kids won't know we're going to Disney till the night before we leave so I'll make a rough plan for party then ask them prior what they wanna do and we can adjust! Too much to do.

 

[Missyrose]

That is disturbing news. Makes me wonder if it varies depending on if it's a more popular party night. Now I'm going to beat myself up for cancelling our dessert party reservation. But still...I'd rather be trick-or-treating. And also the Hocus Pocus act to factor in. Usually we really love the DPs, but thought not in this case. Oh why oh why does it all have to be so complicated???!!!

The second party is still fairly crazy crowded on Main Street, but less crazy in Frontierland. You really, really don't need a DP to enjoy MNSSHP. We watched the midnight Hocus Pocus show (and also saw it from further back on Main Street while waiting for the fireworks).

And @_auroraborealis_ is right, you'd get Jafar OR Tarzan done in that first hour, likely not both.

 

[NicholeB630]

The second party is still fairly crazy crowded on Main Street, but less crazy in Frontierland. You really, really don't need a DP to enjoy MNSSHP. We watched the midnight Hocus Pocus show (and also saw it from further back on Main Street while waiting for the fireworks).

And @_auroraborealis_ is right, you'd get Jafar OR Tarzan done in that first hour, likely not both.

It really will take an hour to see one character that isn't top priority?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

It really will take an hour to see one character that isn't top priority?

Yes. All of the character M&Gs that are party-special are 30+ minute waits at best. People start lining up well before 7PM.

 

[NicholeB630]

Yes. All of the character M&Gs that are party-special are 30+ minute waits at best. People start lining up well before 7PM.

Damn that's disappointing. I knew you had to line up before the party for like seven dwarfs and jack and salt but didn't realize for them all. So really you have to pick one thing you wanna do.

 

[Missyrose]

Damn that's disappointing. I knew you had to line up before the party for like seven dwarfs and jack and salt but didn't realize for them all. So really you have to pick one thing you wanna do.

The M&Gs are fairly slow going at the start of the night, but you can get a few done during the first parade and also toward the end of the party.

 

[NicholeB630]

The M&Gs are fairly slow going at the start of the night, but you can get a few done during the first parade and also toward the end of the party.

We will be watching the first parade in the Hallowishes reserved seating area. I just really felt like we'd benefit from the dessert party. I know it takes up some time but with our kids and my husband who really doesnt like crowds. We will all just be happier in a section that we don't feel crammed together and especially to watch fireworks. Maybe we can meet someone after the fireworks and get lucky. Again I guess I will just ask my kids that day what they want to do the most and we will focus on that.

 

[BrianL]

At the MNSSHP I went to last year the second parade was WAY less crowded and I got a spot right in front of the castle looking toward Liberty Square. We got there maybe 10 minutes before parade start. It filled in a little but was not crazy.

Also, to the OP, trick-or-treat lines are busier earlier in the night. I'd recommend hitting characters then trick-or-treating a bit later.

 

[NicholeB630]

At the MNSSHP I went to last year the second parade was WAY less crowded and I got a spot right in front of the castle looking toward Liberty Square. We got there maybe 10 minutes before parade start. It filled in a little but was not crazy.

Also, to the OP, trick-or-treat lines are busier earlier in the night. I'd recommend hitting characters then trick-or-treating a bit later.

Good to know. I just figured since we would be up that way for our last Mine train FP we'd make our way back down trick or treating. But maybe if were done with our FP by 6:30 we will go back down to adventure land and get in line for one of the characters we want to see down there. And then maybe we'd have time to see another before we go to our parade viewing spot at the Main street hub. The first parade starts at 8:35 they say you can check in at like 7 something but I'm not sitting there that long wasting time when we already have a good section with less people in it. I read a lot of post from people saying they arrived way later and there was plenty of curb side seating. So we wait till about 8 I think we'll be ok. Then if we happen to have time before that we can stop at a tick or treat place. Maybe we wont do the dance party since people are saying its not really worth it during party time. After Wishes we could do all the trick or treating then.