Haunted Mansion on MNSSHP

[ilovecraigandcooper]

When making our touring plans for our mnsshp I have us doing Haunted Mansion via standby because
1) I thought I had read the standby queue has lots of cool things to see that you miss with fast pass
2) Since part of the queue is outside I thought it would be more 'halloweenish' to do it when it was dark
3) According to the crowd calendar ride chart thing it was showing mansion with only a like 15 min wait at 7:00 on a party night so I didn't think it would be that bad...

Now every report I'm reading mentions the 'madhouse' at the mansion and that it was wall to wall people. We're going on a thursday, early october.

So...do you think I should go ahead and change one of my fast passes to haunted mansion? Right now I have peter pan (which I don't care about, really...), 7 dwarfs and big thunder mountain (both of which my fam is very excited about).

Is the queue def worth the wait (considering we'll be in a very halloweeny mood, lol)?
Is the queue def better at night?
Is the haunted mansion always crazy during mnsshp?
Thoughts and opinions?

 

[JessLyn]

I'm curious to know, too. I'd like to hit up HM and PotC from 7-8pm

 

[srferson]

If you don't care about Peter Pan, I'd say change the fast passes to HM. If you get over there and the standby line is insane, just use the fast passes. If it's not bad, do standby so you can check stuff out and feel halloweeny and then use your fast passes to go again if you want to.

As long as you don't really care about PP, it's not going to hurt to have the fast passes. That way you'll be prepared to go either way.

Disclaimer: I haven't been since the FP+ thing and it's been a few years since I went to MNSSHP. I'm just thinking logistically.

 

[mesaboy2]

When making our touring plans for our mnsshp I have us doing Haunted Mansion via standby because
1) I thought I had read the standby queue has lots of cool things to see that you miss with fast pass
2) Since part of the queue is outside I thought it would be more 'halloweenish' to do it when it was dark
3) According to the crowd calendar ride chart thing it was showing mansion with only a like 15 min wait at 7:00 on a party night so I didn't think it would be that bad...
Now every report I'm reading mentions the 'madhouse' at the mansion and that it was wall to wall people. We're going on a thursday, early october.
So...do you think I should go ahead and change one of my fast passes to haunted mansion? Right now I have peter pan (which I don't care about, really...), 7 dwarfs and big thunder mountain (both of which my fam is very excited about).
Is the queue def worth the wait (considering we'll be in a very halloweeny mood, lol)?
Is the queue def better at night?
Is the haunted mansion always crazy during mnsshp?
Thoughts and opinions?

In case you're under the impression you can FP HM during MNSSHP: you can't. There are no FPs issued during parties.

HM is traditionally one of the busiest attractions during MNSSHP, and for obvious reasons.

 

[HopperFan]

- No FP+ during the party.
- Special lighting, special character and CM dressed up start with party.
- Very popular attraction at party but we've never found SB long later in evening.

 

[ilovecraigandcooper]

I know there are no fast passes during the party, I have my fast passes from 4-7, that's why I didn't initially make one haunted mansion, because it wouldn't be dark then...

 

[JessLyn]

How long of a wait do you think it will be at 7pm?

 

[mesaboy2]

I know there are no fast passes during the party, I have my fast passes from 4-7, that's why I didn't initially make one haunted mansion, because it wouldn't be dark then...

Okay, just making sure.

Yes, experiencing HM during the party is a pretty different experience--extra effects, CMs completely in character, etc. The cemetery portion of the queue is better at night too. Yes, lines are longer there but not appreciably moreso than it is anymore during the day. Last year, however, I was able to walk on it in the last few minutes of the party just before midnight. I would make the effort to try to ride it during the party if at all possible.

 

[godders]

I think it was posted 25 mins when I walked past at one point during the party but when I rode as the fireworks were starting it was a walk on. Later in the evening (during the 2nd parade perhaps) and you should hit little to no wait

 

[HopperFan]

I know there are no fast passes during the party, I have my fast passes from 4-7, that's why I didn't initially make one haunted mansion, because it wouldn't be dark then...

Ok, thought when you said Halloweenish you meant the party effects.

 

[HopperFan]

Okay, just making sure.

Yes, experiencing HM during the party is a pretty different experience--extra effects, CMs completely in character, etc. The cemetery portion of the queue is better at night too. Yes, lines are longer there but not appreciably moreso than it is anymore during the day. Last year, however, I was able to walk on it in the last few minutes of the party just before midnight. I would make the effort to try to ride it during the party if at all possible.

And Madame Carlotta!

 

[mesaboy2]

And Madame Carlotta!

Yeah, her name escaped me so I didn't list her. Thanks!

 

[ilovecraigandcooper]

Okay sounds like we should def suck it up and do standby during the party when it's dark! thanks everyone!

 

[midnightlouise]

We did standby on Halloween in 2013 and it wasn't too bad toward the end of the night. (We got there late so not sure how early on was.) We went after the 2nd parade and it was around a 30 minute wait. DS11 just had to do it, though, and it really was cool. Definitely worth the wait.

 

[CarolAnnB]

Is Madame Carlotta out all night?

 

[ktlm]

Madame Carlotta typically takes turns switching out with Madame Renatta. They are both great, but we have a special fondness for Carlotta as my DD was obsessed with her last year as they had quite a conversation and when Madame Carlotta left, she took DD by the hand and walked with her a bit. We spent quite a bit of time enjoying her stories. I was so glad to see her back in the photos this year. Both of them do leave before the party ends, I can't remember how early they are gone- 11:00 maybe? Could be a little earlier.

As far as the Haunted Mansion, the area should be experienced. Madame Carlotta and Madame Renatta are worth a visit, the lighting is terrific, and they usually do magic photopass shots with the ghost carriage, and there should also be a magic shot with the hitchhiking ghosts somewhere nearby (that one has moved around, so I'm not sure exactly where). As far as riding HM during the party, that is fun, but not quite as important as seeing the area itself during the party. If the line is long, then we usually just visit the area and come back later to ride. Our experience has been that once the Madames have both left, that the line goes way down. We have walked on it in the last hour of the party more than once.

 

[jemlover]

One of my favorite HM experiences was during a MNSSHP. We were in the stretching room just before the doors closed and I was facing my DH. He had a funny look on his face and I turned around and one of the CM's was standing right behind me staring. I screamed and DH laughed so hard. The CM was really creepy looking. They use the best CM's on party nights. It's a must do for us at every MNSSHP.

 

[crostorfer]

Okay sounds like we should def suck it up and do standby during the party when it's dark! thanks everyone!

Mmmmmm.............not so fast.

By early October do you mean any Thursday, October 8th? If you do, that night will sell out. One year ago on that night, and I can attest to this personally, that line never dipped below a 45 minute wait from 7pm-12:15am. The line stretched all the way down to the Liberty Belle.

 

[ArmyVet80]

The last 3 MNSSHP we have gone to the HM didn't have a crazy line. About 15-20 minutes each time. It really depends on when you go though. Obviously later into the party (after the fireworks/parade) the crowd thins some and every ride is around a 15 minute wait (minus 7dmt). Last year we rode BTMRR 8 times in a row with never getting out of the last car. We were the only ones and when we got back to the station we would give a "thumbs up" and they would send us right back out.