Halloween party strategy

[kkmcan]

We are doing the party on Fri Oct 3rd and then a one day non hopper for DCA the next day. We don't get anymore park time than that so we want to hit all of our favorites and do as much as we possibly can.

We will enter DL at 4:00 (the earliest we are able to with this ticket) and I had planned for us to grab fast passes for Space and then hit Indy, Big Thunder and HMH. Those are our big musts as well as Pirates. Everything else we get done on top of those will just be icing on the cake..

So my question is.... is this a good plan or should we not stress over these rides but hold off until the last hour or two of the party when hopefully the crowds as well as the lines thin out? Which is more crowded: the first hours of the party and the 3 hours before or the last few hours of the party?

We'll try and trick or treat whenever possible or last part of the night if we've already ridden all the rides that are important.

Thanks for any help!

 

[kkmcan]

Let me also see what you guys think about this idea. We are going with friends who really want the chance to eat dinner at Café Orleans. Because I've been reading that the 4-7pm time frame is super busy, maybe we should eat dinner there around 4-5 pm. Then start rides.

What do you think?

 

[ClosetDisneyJunkie]

We are doing the party on Fri Oct 3rd and then a one day non hopper for DCA the next day. We don't get anymore park time than that so we want to hit all of our favorites and do as much as we possibly can.

We will enter DL at 4:00 (the earliest we are able to with this ticket) and I had planned for us to grab fast passes for Space and then hit Indy, Big Thunder and HMH. Those are our big musts as well as Pirates. Everything else we get done on top of those will just be icing on the cake..

So my question is.... is this a good plan or should we not stress over these rides but hold off until the last hour or two of the party when hopefully the crowds as well as the lines thin out? Which is more crowded: the first hours of the party and the 3 hours before or the last few hours of the party?

We'll try and trick or treat whenever possible or last part of the night if we've already ridden all the rides that are important.

Thanks for any help!

** Sorry I spelled strategy wrong. I don't know where that came from and it won't let me edit it.

I'll defer to people who have actually done this sort of thing except just to say that I noticed that the Oct 3 MHP is already sold out, so expect some crowds! I also just wanted to note that I'll be there for the party on Friday Sept 26 and will post my thoughts on the crowd flow for that day when I get back on the 29th. Obviously it'll only be a few days before you're there but may help a little with last minute planning.

Good luck!

 

[Girimama33]

You should only pull a FP if the return time is before the party starts. They will not accept any FP's during the party. If you are able to knock out Space with a FP, that would be great, but I imagine you will not get a return time before 7pm, so you may have to wait in the (really long) standby line. HMH will also have a very long line. Are you planning on going to DCA the next day? If you are going to go to DL on both days, I suggest hitting Space and HMH first thing Saturday morning (grab Space FP and head to HMH). If you are going to DCA, you are going to have to do them during the party time.
Keep in mind that you are attending during the Gay Days weekend, and there will be a lot of people in the parks. That Friday party sells out first usually (and it is already sold out).

 

[figment_jii]

So my question is.... is this a good plan or should we not stress over these rides but hold off until the last hour or two of the party when hopefully the crowds as well as the lines thin out? Which is more crowded: the first hours of the party and the 3 hours before or the last few hours of the party?

I generally think the first few hours of the party and during the overlap are the biggest crowds. For the three hours before the party starts, you have both the MHP crowds plus the day guests still in DL, so I would expect long(ish) lines. Coupled with the fact you're going during Gay Days weekends and to the first MHP to sell out, I would except fairly substantial crowds both before and during the party. I don't think crowds will markedly lessen even towards the end of the party for the big rides (Space, Indy, HMH, BTMRR), so you'll need to prioritize.

If it was me, I would probably opt to pull an Indy FP and then head over to Pirates and HMH. I would guess that HMH will be running 45+ minutes at that point, and the thrill rides will be closer to 60+ minutes. Then to BTMRR or return to Indy whenever the window opens up. I'd save Space and/or BTMRR for the end of the MHP ride (get in line as the last thing you plan to do). They only have FPs during the three hour overlap period (at least they haven't had FPs in the past during MHP), so you'll probably only be able to get one (two at most).

 

[kkmcan]

. Are you planning on going to DCA the next day?

Nope, we are doing DCA the next day with no hopper. Its kind of a quick budget trip.

 

[kkmcan]

If it was me, I would probably opt to pull an Indy FP and then head over to Pirates and HMH. I would guess that HMH will be running 45+ minutes at that point, and the thrill rides will be closer to 60+ minutes. Then to BTMRR or return to Indy whenever the window opens up. I'd save Space and/or BTMRR for the end of the MHP ride (get in line as the last thing you plan to do). They only have FPs during the three hour overlap period (at least they haven't had FPs in the past during MHP), so you'll probably only be able to get one (two at most).

I like that plan figment! We can probably manage Space and Big Thunder later in the party so if we concentrate on Indy, Pirates and HMH when we get there we won't be criss crossing the park. Plus if we decide to eat at Café Orleans it will be right there also.

Thanks!

 

[kkmcan]

I'll defer to people who have actually done this sort of thing except just to say that I noticed that the Oct 3 MHP is already sold out, so expect some crowds! I also just wanted to note that I'll be there for the party on Friday Sept 26 and will post my thoughts on the crowd flow for that day when I get back on the 29th. Obviously it'll only be a few days before you're there but may help a little with last minute planning.

Good luck!

Thanks for any info you can report back on. I appreciate it!

 

[figment_jii]

I like that plan figment! We can probably manage Space and Big Thunder later in the party so if we concentrate on Indy, Pirates and HMH when we get there we won't be criss crossing the park. Plus if we decide to eat at Café Orleans it will be right there also.

If you want to eat at Cafe Orleans, I would make a reservation. That will make touring harder, but given the crowds that are expected due to Gay Days, I wouldn't plan on being able to walk up and be seated in a fairly short amount of time at CO. If CO isn't taking walk-ups or the wait is long, I would consider French Market. It's nearby and I like it.

Thanks for any info you can report back on. I appreciate it!

Once the parties start, I would guess that a good number of folks will report back how it went over on the HalloweenTime SuperThread. Some folks might even report "live" from the first party!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3270919&page=85

 

[CassieF]

Space will probably be the longest line so if you really want to optimize your time you could leave that for the very end and hop into line right before the park closes so you don't waste party time in line. It will make for quite the late night but it will allow you to do more

 

[jenmaster]

Are you more concerned with the rides or the other things like the parade and the fireworks? Ride lines are very short during the fireworks and you could probably get through 2 or 3 of those rides during that time. This will be our 4th year in a row for MHP one year we wasted most of the time trying to get some pictures with the characters. This year it is rides and candy and the villains at the end of the party. Have a great time it is so much fun.

 

[figment_jii]

Are you more concerned with the rides or the other things like the parade and the fireworks? Ride lines are very short during the fireworks and you could probably get through 2 or 3 of those rides during that time.

I haven't watched the ride line length really closely, but I'm not sure you can get through 3 of the thrill rides during fireworks, especially on the Fri before Gay Days weekend MHP. I think they could probably get done one or (maybe) two, but not three if Space, Indy, and HMH are in the mix.

 

[LisaT91403]

If it was me, I would probably opt to pull an Indy FP and then head over to Pirates and HMH. I would guess that HMH will be running 45+ minutes at that point, and the thrill rides will be closer to 60+ minutes. Then to BTMRR or return to Indy whenever the window opens up. I'd save Space and/or BTMRR for the end of the MHP ride (get in line as the last thing you plan to do). They only have FPs during the three hour overlap period (at least they haven't had FPs in the past during MHP), so you'll probably only be able to get one (two at most).

Just curious why you suggest the FP for the one ride that has single rider. Wouldn't it make more sense to pull a FP for Big Thunder (assuming they are gone for Space...which I'm guessing they will be), ride single rider for Indy, and then standby for the other rides?

 

[figment_jii]

Just curious why you suggest the FP for the one ride that has single rider. Wouldn't it make more sense to pull a FP for Big Thunder (assuming they are gone for Space...which I'm guessing they will be), ride single rider for Indy, and then standby for the other rides?

The OP used "we" so I didn't want to assume they would be willing to ride separately. I know for my family that is not an option. I haven't seen very many folks use the SRL at Indy, so I don't know how well it works.

I also tend to recommend a FP for Indy because it goes down so often. You'll invest less time (compared to waiting in Standby and finding it goes down while you're still outside of the temple) and if it's down during your return time you can try back later.

Getting a FP for BTMMRR is another good idea. It really comes down to which you'd rather wait in standby and which you'd rather FP. I would probably stop by the times board and see what the waits are and then go from there.

 

[Sherry E]

We are doing the party on Fri Oct 3rd and then a one day non hopper for DCA the next day. We don't get anymore park time than that so we want to hit all of our favorites and do as much as we possibly can.

We will enter DL at 4:00 (the earliest we are able to with this ticket) and I had planned for us to grab fast passes for Space and then hit Indy, Big Thunder and HMH. Those are our big musts as well as Pirates. Everything else we get done on top of those will just be icing on the cake..

So my question is.... is this a good plan or should we not stress over these rides but hold off until the last hour or two of the party when hopefully the crowds as well as the lines thin out? Which is more crowded: the first hours of the party and the 3 hours before or the last few hours of the party?

We'll try and trick or treat whenever possible or last part of the night if we've already ridden all the rides that are important.

Thanks for any help!

** Sorry I spelled strategy wrong. I don't know where that came from and it won't let me edit it.

You will be able to edit your subject/thread title if you click on the Edit button in the lower right corner of your post, then click Go Advanced option. Once you go into Go Advanced, you can correct typos in the title or change the title or whatever.

When I go to DLR for Halloween Time, and if/when I go to the MHP, I will post about it (in detail, as I usually do about most things at DLR!) in the Halloween Time Superthread (not in a separate thread) upon return. Stay tuned!

 

[kkmcan]

Are you more concerned with the rides or the other things like the parade and the fireworks? Ride lines are very short during the fireworks and you could probably get through 2 or 3 of those rides during that time. .

We are more concerned with rides and the fireworks. If we get to see the cavalade parade then great but we won't be staking out a spot for it. We've seen it before as well as the fireworks but that fireworks show is amazing. And candy of course. But we can trick or treat anytime during the evening and I'm sure we come away with a full bag.

 

[kkmcan]

You will be able to edit your subject/thread title if you click on the Edit button in the lower right corner of your post, then click Go Advanced option. Once you go into Go Advanced, you can correct typos in the title or change the title or whatever.

When I go to DLR for Halloween Time, and if/when I go to the MHP, I will post about it (in detail, as I usually do about most things at DLR!) in the Halloween Time Superthread (not in a separate thread) upon return. Stay tuned!

Thanks Sherry! I didn't know about that Go Advanced option.

 

[Fivers]

The OP used "we" so I didn't want to assume they would be willing to ride separately. I know for my family that is not an option. I haven't seen very many folks use the SRL at Indy, so I don't know how well it works.

If it's busy, SR for Indy doesn't always save you all that much time. You have to get a card from the CM at the beginning of the line outside, then you go through the exit, and you have to cross the main line a couple times. For that you're at the mercy of when the CMs inside can let you across, which if the stand-by line is long can take awhile. We've had CMs at the front tell us it isn't going to save much time, and they've been right. We tried it when stand-by was 30-45 mins, and it took us about 20 mins if I remember correctly. That said, if you have efficient CMs inside, it can be much quicker!

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

If it's busy, SR for Indy doesn't always save you all that much time. You have to get a card from the CM at the beginning of the line outside, then you go through the exit, and you have to cross the main line a couple times. For that you're at the mercy of when the CMs inside can let you across, which if the stand-by line is long can take awhile. We've had CMs at the front tell us it isn't going to save much time, and they've been right. We tried it when stand-by was 30-45 mins, and it took us about 20 mins if I remember correctly. That said, if you have efficient CMs inside, it can be much quicker!

I think part of the reason the CMs hold back the SR line where it crosses the SB line is to moderate SR overflow in the safety-spiel room (since single riders must watch the entire spiel before proceeding.)

Another thing worth mentioning about Indy is that unless the line outside the temple is really long, Fastpass doesn't save you much time. Since you join the main queue the moment it enters the temple, Fastpass riders still must walk through 90% of the SB queue. So on non-crowded days there's not that much benefit. SR is always a better deal.

 

[figment_jii]

SR is always a better deal.

At Indy and as long as you're okay with riding in separately.

While the FP must walk most of the queue, they aren't fully utilizing the queue anymore. Most times, we've meet up with the line somewhere inside or just before the room with the well, which is more than 10% of way into the temple queue.