If we aren't going to Halloween party...

[loveswdw]

Is it better to skip DL/DCA altogether on party days? We have one day during our trip that has a Halloween party (Wed night). We also plan to go to USH one day during our week. Would that Wed be a good day to go to USH? Does the Halloween event make the crowds higher at DL/DCA? (DL due to the party and DCA crowded due to guests not attending the party go over there).

(We don't plan to attend the party. We've been to MNSSHP twice and don't feel like MHP will be that different for the price.)

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

I would go to USH on that day like you suggest. I have found that people do go to the other park as the party starts and it does feel crowded. We have done the MHP 4 times and that is enough for us, it just no longer felt like an exclusive event for the price, way too crowded.

 

[mom2rtk]

I guess it depends on what your other days are. I wouldn't swap a Wednesday for a Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday. Wednesday is generally one of the few lower crowd days available. We did DL on a party day in late October last year and actually had one of our lowest crowd days in the park ever. (That week it happened to be a Thursday 10/29).

 

[loveswdw]

I guess it depends on what your other days are. I wouldn't swap a Wednesday for a Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday. Wednesday is generally one of the few lower crowd days available. We did DL on a party day in late October last year and actually had one of our lowest crowd days in the park ever. (That week it happened to be a Thursday 10/29).

We check in later on Monday (10/24) (driving down from Yosemite) then check out Sat. morning. (10/29) 3 park days so Tues-Fri. are our options. Originally planned on USH on Thurs but after seeing there's a party on Wed. thought maybe changing to the Wed.

 

[figment_jii]

I didn't think the mornings and early afternoons were markedly more crowded on MHP days, but during the overlap period (3:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Wednesday) the crowds felt pretty substantial. Personally, if the option is between a Wednesday (with MHP that night) or a Thursday (no MHP), I would opt to go to DL on Thursday. The only major drawback is that Thursday is DL's EMH/MM morning, which means some attractions (FL and TL) will already have lines when the park opens to the general public. On the flip side, if you go on Thursday, you'll probably have slightly longer operating hours at DL (the schedule isn't posted until about 45-days in advance) at DL.

 

[mom2rtk]

We check in later on Monday (10/24) (driving down from Yosemite) then check out Sat. morning. (10/29) 3 park days so Tues-Fri. are our options. Originally planned on USH on Thurs but after seeing there's a party on Wed. thought maybe changing to the Wed.

I would go with Tues, Wed, Thurs park days, but maybe do DCA on the party day, or at least hop over later in the day (if you have hoppers).

Of course, if you want to see fireworks, you would need to do Friday. But based on what I've heard about the replacement show, it's not much to miss (very short and not all that impressive).

 

[Imdboss]

I'd make Wednesday my non-park day. I've attended MHP 3 times and also been in the parks on MHP days. The morning and early afternoon of MHP would be fine but once the party guests can start getting in the park it gets really crowded then when the party starts and everyone goes to DCA it gets really crowded there also. Even though Friday is going to be generally busier at least you can hop between the two parks as you choose.

 

[SMD]

It would depend if that's a Halloween Horror Night at USH. I'd rather have one day out of a multi-day DLR trip be crowded after 3pm than the only day at USH be an event there. USH does close earlier at that time of year, but there are a lot of APs this year and they sell a combo ticket that includes regular admission and that same days' horror night.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

I love the party night days in the park. Leaving just as the guests arrive in their costumes is super cute and for free. At Christmas you can see the snow Main Street before they kick you out! I do find less people in the park during the day mainly. But we have APs. I might not be so glad to have to leave early if I was using a ticket unless I was happy with this or ready to go anyway.

 

[loveswdw]

It would depend if that's a Halloween Horror Night at USH. I'd rather have one day out of a multi-day DLR trip be crowded after 3pm than the only day at USH be an event there. USH does close earlier at that time of year, but there are a lot of APs this year and they sell a combo ticket that includes regular admission and that same days' horror night.

Thanks. I had not thought about HHNs at USH. I will definitely look at the calendar there as well.