Halloween Party

[cd&kids]

Okay...I read the separate thread on the Mickey Halloween Party...it was very helpful but also had a lot of other info there I didn't really need.
Can I just ask a bottom line question for those who have been there? Is it worth it to spend an extra 150 bucks or so (me, wife and 3 kids)? Part of me thinks it's ridiculous because we already spent money on park hopper passes and now we'll be laying out more cash for entry to a park we can already get into. And despite all the fun and festivities, the main reason to go, in my mind, is access to the rides. Are the lines long? I'd really feel like an idiot if we spent all that money and then waited and waited in long lines to go on the rides.
Thanks!!

 

[beattyfamily]

We LOVEED MNSSHP on Halloween night but, IMHO, if you are only going for more ride time then it might not be worth it.

We went Halloween night and it was pretty crowded. We did ride Haunted Mansion and Goofy's rollercoaster but that's about it. But we were more focused on the other aspects of the night like the parade, fireworks and most of all, the trick or treating. I couldn't believe how cool and neat the decorations were too!

A regular EE night would be much more worth it for someone like you and much cheaper BUT I don't think they have EE nights in October because of MNSSHP.

Good luck!

 

[holcomb-mania]

We went on a Sunday last Oct and the lines weren't bad at all. Many rides, even in Fantasyland, were walk-ons. Later on in the night, Buzz, Space Mtn, and Astro Orbiter were nothing waits. The Liberty Belle boat was absolutely PACKED, though. There are two parades so you can use that to your advantage as well. The ones on Friday nights and closer to Halloween may be different, however.

The kids absolutely loved it. We're going again this year on the 5th.

 

[Disney1-30-98]

I have to tell you I agree with beattyfamily if you are going for the rides you might be going for the wrong reasons. The park is decorated so cool and its the best way to have your kids go trick or treating i've ever seen. Not as much need to worry about safety, you know the candys ok. We went 2 years ago and are going again this year. One warning for you though, if you do go, Halloween will never be the same anywhere else again!!!

 

[snowsdad]

Not sure how old your children are, but if they are in the "costume age" you'll probably find MNSSHP worth the money. Our DD5 absolutely loves it and it's become our favorite Disney event. Tips and highlights:

1) Costumes - ALL the kids (10 and under), some older kids and even lots of adults dress up. Our DD5 dressed as Snow White and was thrilled to meet the "real" Snow White that evening.

2) Plenty of short line character meetings - and they are wearing their Halloween costumes too

3) Trick-or-Treating - tons of candy, almost never any waiting

4) Parade - completely custom for this event, cool music and costumes, floats, etc. (lots of villains), the Headless Horseman is very cool but happens fast (so make sure the kids are paying attention), the late parade will be less crowded

5) Dancing - DJ's with loud rock music and dozens of little kids shakin' and bouncin' (so cute)

6) Face painting - very elaborate, free for kids and adults

7) Easy rides - MAKE SURE you are in the park before 6pm. For past two years we have ridden everything in Fantasyland without lines between 6pm (when the daily folks must exit) til about 7:30pm when the modest lines begin. (I sometimes hesitate to mention this great tip, but I care about my fellow DISers! Not to mention I probably first heard it here two years ago.)

8) Decorations - the park is spooky. A little darker lighting, orange lights, hay bales, eerie music, ghosts projected on castle, etc.

9) Fireworks - standard show, but still a plus at this time of year (when FW aren't shown each night). One extra spooky touch - Witch flys rather than Tink.

We've gone earlier in the month (and we'll be there on 16th this year!), so I can't comment on crowds on Halloween night. Also, the Fairytale discounts may impact this year.

Sorry for the message length - can you tell we love this event?!

 

[cd&kids]

Great tips, snowdad, especially the "secret one!"
But I thought I was told this was from 7-to-11 pm? How can you be in the park before 6? Would my ticket (not my park hopper....just by Halloween ticket) get me and my family inside Magic Kingdom at, let's say, 5:30?
What if we did a Liberty Tree dinner at 5? Would Halloween ticket be enough to get us inside MK for the dinner? (Kids are 14, 10 and 6 by the way....younger two are girls.)

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by cd&kids
Great tips, snowdad, especially the "secret one!"
But I thought I was told this was from 7-to-11 pm? How can you be in the park before 6? Would my ticket (not my park hopper....just by Halloween ticket) get me and my family inside Magic Kingdom at, let's say, 5:30?
What if we did a Liberty Tree dinner at 5? Would Halloween ticket be enough to get us inside MK for the dinner? (Kids are 14, 10 and 6 by the way....younger two are girls.)

They will let you in the park after 4:00p with only the party tickets...they have for the last 2 years anyway. at 6:00p they will usher you to one section of the park; usually Tomorrowland, while they are busy clearing the park.

You can also schedule a dinner at LTT, CP or the Castle from between 5 and 6 to get a head start as well and that is what we do.

 

[Tara8595]

I have started going every October just to go to the Halloween party. It's the best, and I'm an adult with no kids. It's awesome seeing the park all spooky with Main street in a swath of purples and greens and orange, with witch and ghost shadows and 'mickey bats' flying all over the storefronts. There are eerie sound effects and lots of Haunted Mansion music. Plenty of candy for the adults and kids - and almost all the guests dress up, kids and adults and some are really creative. The parade is great - I think it's my favorite parade actually - I love the villains float with the Captain Hook rap, and the dalmatian puppies with Cruella, and the Haunted Mansion gravedigger dance. Not to mention a Hercules - or rather Hades float.

Plus riding things at night is a big deal for me, because I never get to be there for e-nights. Jungle Cruise at night is awesome, and Haunted Mansion actually seems darker at night, I don't know why, but it's scarier.

The fireworks aren't exactly the same, the colors are different and there are some that go off all over the park, not just behind the castle. It's awesome.

If you like Halloween, and love Disney, you shouldn't miss it, whether or not you are riding the rides.

 

[donna in Oz]

If you're thinking that you want to get a PS for the LTT, I suggest you call NOW. They've been taking PS's now for quite some time for the MNSSHP nights; it may be difficult to get a time that you want.

Try not to get one after 6:15 or so (the earlier the better. ) You don't want to spend your party time eating, so it's best if you can be out of the restaurant earlier than 7:00.

 

[KSgirl]

My stratagy last year was to do the party before we used our park hoppers, so we didn't use up any days. It was our first day at the MK...we had flown in the day before. We had an awesome time! We actually went on November 1, and all the rides were walk ons. Perhaps we hit them during the first parade, and that's why we had no waits. Regardless, we had an wonderful time! Everything was awesome....the costumes, the decorations, the parade, the fireworks, the walk-on rides. It was well worth the money for our family!!!