Headless Horseman

[prowlerregal335m]

Can anyone tell me where the headless horseman comes out from?Does he come out from next to the fire house down by the train station and run towards the castle,or does he come out in frontierland and run towards the train station?Also where is the best place to view him?I'm going to be there on october 17th.Do they post the times he comes out?If anyone knows the times he comes out can you tell me them?Thanks .

 

[princessgirl2238]

he comes out about 5-10 minutes before the boo to you parades (he goes out for both parades); he leaves from fronteerland and goes down the parade route (then the parade follows him); the only time he doesn't go out is if it just poured rain and is too slippery to go out or if it's raining too hard- but even then he almost always goes out, but just at a slower pace, i think the best place to see him is in liberty square but it does tend to get crowded in that area- just remember not to have bright flashes cause that scares the horse and the headless guy really does not have anytype of vision and has to rely on the horse to guide and if the horse see bright flashes, then he gets spooked and it's not a good thing

 

[3littleHalls]

We stood near Splash Mountain which is where the begining of the parade is. We got a really nice view of the parade and it wasn't very crowded.

 

[Boardwalker]

Actually, I hate to be contrary, but I remember seeing him come up Main Street towards the castle the one time we were there. Perhaps the earlier parade goes one direction and the later parade goes the other? Experts, help please?

 

[prowlerregal335m]

Princessgirl2238 and 3 little halls, thanks for the information.It will help me out the night of MNSSHP.

 

[outlander]

Actually, I hate to be contrary, but I remember seeing him come up Main Street towards the castle the one time we were there. Perhaps the earlier parade goes one direction and the later parade goes the other? Experts, help please?

Both parades go the same direction and they both start in Frontierland by Splash Mountain.

 

[Boardwalker]

Sorry, I don't know what to say. We were in front of the castle in 2004, on the tomorrow land side when the Headless Horseman came up right towards us at a canter as big as life... I never saw a horse look so magnificent, shining and black... you could almost see the steam coming out of his nostrils. I hadn't heard of it before, so it took me so by surprise.... the horse was more breath taking than the rider, who seemed to have lost his head somewhere... apparently Frontierland. It really was the thrill of the evening for my daughter and I. Perhaps things have changed, but I swear I will never forget he came right at us... the horse was head first anyway...

 

[outlander]

Boardwalker, it very well could have been that way when you saw it in 2004. I am not trying to contradict what you said you saw then, I was just explaining how the parade works now.
I totally agree, the horse is absolutely magnificent.

 

[tmt martins]

My understanding is up until last year the parade went in both directions .

But because the horse had trouble with this and line of sight was better coming from FL to MS thats the directions both parades go now in that direction.

SO YOU ARE BOTH CORRECT.

I talked to the rider last year for a while after a small mishap at the circle and he came out to explain what he needed from her for all to be safe.

 

[Steamboat Marti]

We were also told that the horse does the trip nearly from memory and the rider has no ability to see - so flashes of light can severely jeopardize the run. We watched him twice last year - once from Frontierland and once right over the bridge in front of the castle. He takes a break just before the bridge by the castle and we got to see him for quite a long time. No good pictures though...


ETA: Nevermind -- he did get a good picture!!

 

[princessgirl2238]

both showings of the parade start in fronteerland and go to the firehouse on mainstreet and the headless horseman runs down the parade path the same way- it's too hard to have things go different ways or switch up the parade route for the second parade-
tip: make sure you get there early for good seating/viewing and have the candy bags out, open and up high for the goofy candy co. people and don't get too upset if one of them misses you cause there are more of them coming and it's really hard to get everyone as they are skipping down the street

 

[minnieluvzmickey]

What was the small mishap at the circle? I ask because that is where we sat last year and I promise the horse almost stepped on us. He was going so fast and he was so close to the edge.....after he went by my dh and I both looked at each other and said.........what just happened?

Before he came out the CM kept telling everyone to stay back and not to take any flash photography. She said that the horse is guided by light and if he saw a flash of light he would come to it and not follow the right light. I wonder where this light that he follows is located?

 

[goofydad621]

WE saw the headless horseman on the 29th for MNSSHP and he does start at frontier land and heads to mainstreet to the square. He was going rigth along but not that fast really.

What a great night we had there for the party, stupid me forgot the Dis meet afterwards though.

Had a great 8 night trip and just arrived about 1 hour ago, unpacking doing laundry and gettign ready for the work week. If anybody has any question please let me know.

 

[princessgirl2238]

there are special lights that guests do not notice that parade control people put out right before the start and the horse is trained to see and follow the lights, and flashes distract the horse from it's route- it is up to the discretion of the rider on how fast the horse runs

 

[Boardwalker]

Thanks for setting me straight. It seems thing are becomng refined. I just wanted to be sure that the OP wasn't facing the wrong way with camera focused and pointed only to hear the footbeats coming from behind... been there, done that too in 2003.... boy did I feel like... well like my picture...the wrong end of the horse.

 

[kdzgon]

We were there Sept 22 and sat in front of the Country Bear Jamboree - the view was wonderful, incl for the Horseman. However, I did not hear any warning re: flash photog. Is there usually an announcement, or do the CMs walk the line spreading the word?

 

[oogie boogie]

Does he only come out during Halloween type/fall season parades? We will be there in Dec. (x-mas time) and doubt we would see him. Least I don't remember seeing him last year.