How to get the most out of MNSSHP

[Popovich]

Last year was our first year for the halloween party and we loved it. The parade was fantastic as was the fireworks show at the castle. However, because it was our first time, I felt we were very disorganized and did not have anything planned out.

This year we want to be more organized and see more characters and ride more rides.

How do you map out your evening? Do you see the first parade or second? We are thinking of eating a late lunch at Crystal Palace (3:45 or 4:00) and staying in the park. What is your favorite place to see the parade from??

Thanks for any advice!!

 

[zurgswife]

Here is my advice...I've done it twice...

1. Get your picture done early and do it at one of the stations at the back of the park...lines are shorter...and pick more then one station...we had ours done at 2 separate stations more chance of a good picture.

2. hit candy stations when every you can and if you stay until the end we found the ones in the back of the park at the end of the night dumped handfuls of candy on our bags so they could get rid of it..

3. We did the second parade because lots of families don't stay until the end but depending on which night it was still real crowded...Frontierland like any parade had a good view and less people at times

4. The popluar rides are still popular during these evenings...so do you favorites many times if lines are small...

5. Watch the fireworks ...

Ok that's all I can think of right now...

 

[LittleBlackRaincloud]

Thanks for the tips Zurgswife, I will definately take your advice about getting a picture at 2 different stations. I'm getting more excited about this party everyday. For some reason, I wan't that excited about it at first, but it's starting to sound like lots of fun. I'm driving everybody at work and my DH crazy talking about this trip!

 

[ryansmom]

We want to do MNSSHP next Oct. How do you know where the candy and photo stations are? Do they give you a guide or map?

 

[CdnDisneyNut]

Yes Ryansmom they hand out maps with the photo and trick or treat locations

 

[ryansmom]

Thank You!!!

 

[3for Me]

zurgswife -

How about the riverboat ride? Did you do it? I hear that is very hard to get on which would lead me to beleive it's some big deal but if it's not then we'll skip it and use our time more wisely.

That was going to be the first thing on our "to do" list.

Any thoughts??

THANKS!

 

[madge]

the "trick or treat" stations are marked with a big balloon that says, "trick or treat", LOL....it gets hard to see those maps after dark. as a general rule, if there's a crod of people gathered, it's either a character or candy

happy planning!

 

[zurgswife]

I never did the boat ride but it did look and sound fun....we just never got around to it....If you are an adult going I highly suggest that you dress up....we have both times and it has definatley added to our playfulnes as we are in the park...

 

[Popovich]

Thanks for your input and ideas! We did not even know about the picture stations last year. We'll also try out Frontierland for the parade. Last year we were on Main St. in front of the castle and it was PACKED. One of us had to hold the youngest the entire time so that he could see, which made for a long night because it was so hot.

Do you go to MK for the whole day and stay in for the party?

We will be a group of 7, our family of 4 - ds age 4 and dd age 6 along with Grandma and Grandpa and my niece age 6.

We staying at Beach Club and we are deciding between:
1) sleep in, swim, go to MK around noon and have dinner at CP at 4:00 then head to the back of the park for start of MNSSHP.

2) wake up for early entry, stay at MK until 12:30 then go back to Beach Club for some time in the room naps (ha ha) or the pool. Eat at Cape May for an early dinner at 4:00 then go to park.

Which do you recommend? Or do you suggest something else entirely?? Thanks so much. I appreciate the help!!

I don't want the kids to be totally worn out. The day after MNSSHP we are making a hotel day. Sleep in just hang out at the pool.

 

[princess lovers mom]

popovich...we are also staying at the BC..our plans are to go to hang out at the hotel that morning, relaxing and head over to the park for a late lunch at CP and then stay on for the party and stay late for the second parade...we are going to the party on Tue 10/14...you?

denise

 

[Popovich]

Denise,

We are going on 10/5. We really had a great time last year, but we arrived about a half hour after the start of the party. So, this year, I'm trying to be more proactive.

How is CP? We've not eaten there before.

 

[BadgerBruce]

We did go on the riverboat ride & that's one I would skip. Did not seem to be a lot happening & very hard for more than a few people to see & hear the storyteller, etc. Did get great pictures with some bears from Splash Mtn. (?) while on the boat. Another thing I wouldn't do again is see Haunted Mansion. They didn't do anything special for the event & the line was very long. I love HM & do it every trip--just wouldn't take the time to do it at the party. Had a great time on everything else & made a great haul trick or treating!

 

[princess lovers mom]

popovich,
CP is fun..Pooh characters, nice buffet and centrally located..just off main st. You could really fill up and last the night with street snacks which is what we plan to do!!

 

[Popovich]

Last year we saw the first parade and then the show at the castle followed by fireworks. We then went to the candy stations and did rides.

Is there a second show at the castle with fireworks or only one in between the two parades??

 

[lrodk]

We make it a point not to miss the Headless Horseman riding down main street, and also the witch flying across the sky from the top of Cinderella's Castle. If you're not looking for these before the parade and during the fireworks show you can easily miss them.

 

[dis4me]

I know you need a separate admission ticket for this but do you need a regular admission ticket as well? Do you need to use a day on your hopper if you don't go until 7pm or can you just use teh MNSSHP admission ticket? Also How do you find out if there are any dates available?
Thanks

 

[FFerret]

All you need is the special MNSSHP ticket--not the regular park one.
I don't think any have sold out yet, except for maybe Halloween Night.

We're going October 5th--
can't wait
can't wait
can't wait!

 

[LoriZH]

My tip is to get there early! There is a very very long line to get into the park, so if you're there early, you may have to wait in line but you won't miss any of the activities. It's very crowded in the streets so I would say, go ride the rides first, see the show at the castle, watch the second parade (park practically clears out after the first) watch the fireworks, then head back into Adventureland or Frontierland, lots of fun stuff going on back there!

Oh I would definitely do the HM, it's a fun thing to do and the lines weren't that bad, just do it a little later. Fantasyland is really busy (not overwhelmingly) earlier in the evening, so avoid that till later. It really is a cool party, but you absolutely have to plan it right or you will miss a lot like we did a couple of years ago. I swore I would never do it again on Halloween, but being the glutton for punishment that I am, we are doing it again. This time we will plan it better.

HAVE FUN!

PS, if anyone is going early in the month, do you think you could grab an extra map for me, I would be happy to pay you for postage! If not, does anyone know where we could get them online? thanks!

 

[dturner]

I'm planning on going on October 3, the first night of it. I have a couple of questions since I've never been to MNSSHP.

First: This is the only time we will be at the MK during our vacation, do you think we can still ride (most of the rides) during this party or is it just too crowded?

Do they sell things like T-shirts that say MNSSHP or any souveniors just for this event?

We are doing Universal and Sea World this trip and I thought it would be a nice surprise for my DS (7) to attend this on the first night (our last night in Orlando), will I be dissappointed in spending $100.00 (3 of us) for 5 hours in the park?