Is the Halloween Party worth $224?

BensWife

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We will be at DLR for the first Halloween Party, Sept 26. We are Disney Visa members, so tickets will be $56 a piece, so a total of $224 for our family. Is it worth that? We are concerned that we will pay $224 and then have the kids get tired a cranky and have to leave before any of the fun stuff (our kids are the "early to bed, early to rise" type of kids). It sounds like fun, but if it doesn't even start until 7pm, that is getting late for our kids. They usually go to bed at 8pm, which is 7pm California time. We can try the nap in the afternoon, but I guess I just hate to spend that much extra and then leave after a half hour. Do your kids make it to the end? If not, how long do they make it? Last year we went to WDW and got a fireworks cruise. Both boys fell asleep so soon as it got dark and missed out on everything. Any tips?
 
You know your kids' sleep patterns better than anybody here. If your kids go to bed early, why waste the money? I haven't been to Disneyland's Halloween party, but the WDW one is fun. However, many activities will take you well into the late evening. Perhaps you should wait until your kids are older, and can stay up for this event.
 
Based upon what you said I would wait until the kids are a little older. MNSSHP is a good time (IMHO) but if the kids normally go to bed at 8:00p, it will be a waste of your dollars. :thumbsup2
 
How old are your kids? If they aren't very flexible with their sleep schedule (meaning that bedtime is bedtime for them regardless of where they are), I'd probably skip it. If they are usually good with some wiggle room, it may be worth it. We did the party two years ago and all of my kids stayed awake entire time, except the youngest two who feel asleep at 11pm in the stroller. That was still much later than normal bedtime, but they are all pretty flexible when it comes to schedules. I will say, I think DH & I enjoyed the parties as much as the kids did.
 

This is a subjective question since only you can decide if it is worth it to you and how well your kids will do.

We have been taking DD 4 since she was a year old and every year since. She always has done very well and has been able to hold out till midnight. Her bed time is usually 8PM but the Halloween energy keeps her going. She loves the dance parties, special character M&G, firework shows and last year she wanted to do every treat trail. She loves MHP so much we are planning to do 2 parties this year.

I suggest visiting the Halloween super thread, there is lot of great information and seasoned MHP goers that can offer some great tips.

:-)
 
If it were me, I would skip it and wait until they are older. My DS6 is not very flexible with his sleep schedule. He usually goes to bed at 7:30-8pm and wakes up at the crack of dawn, that's 5:30am!!!! He doesn't do well staying up late then sleeping in the next morning, and naps are hit or miss. We will be missing a lot of nightime stuff when we go in November, but we will be there super early each day, so it's a trade off.
 
I've been to both MNSSHP and MHP and while I greatly enjoyed both parties, I generally agree with the PPs that if your children are unlikely to be stay awake, it's probably not worth spending the money and going to a party at this point. They could probably get in some trick-or-treating, maybe one or two character meet and greets (less popular characters only), and perhaps see some of the atmospheric things within the first hour. However, things like the Cavalcade (8:30 and 10:30 pm last year) and fireworks (9:30 pm last year) won't start until later.
 
As has been said before, follow your kid's patterns. In our experience, we took DD 9, DS 8 and DD 5. We got to the Park 5pm (you can get in starting at 4pm) and the kids were dead by 10:00 pm.

9:30 is their normal bedtime, and even though we tried to nap (didn't really work, too excited) they still stuck to their internal clocks.

It was our "day 6" so we rolled with it and the day turned out OK, but knowing what I know now, for my family, I would have skipped it.
 
I got to go last year with a friend of mine because I wanted to do the trick or treating! It was an adult only trip and planned specifically so we could do the trick or treating at Disneyland. We had an absolute blast but there is no way that I would take my all my kids to it on top of paying the regular ticket price. For one person or even two it would be manageable but for me it would not be worth it to do it with the 3-4 kids I would have with me. They can trick or treat at home where I can't get loot . . . either way you still get to enjoy all the decorations.
 
I was very hesitant to spend the extra money but I loved it and plan on going again this year. My daughter was almost 4, her bedtime is 730-8 and she is a little flexible with her bedtime. She made it to 9 and fell asleep in her stroller. My two friends and I then got to walk around, catch the fireworks and watch the parade. It was totally worth it.
 
If your kids will be near meltdown mode, or even marginally cranky, I say skip it.

The crowds are unbelievable. It is a frustrating experience when it's that jam packed. Even with that being said, I think it's worth doing it one time. Maybe when the kids are older and can handle staying up later and can be more reasonable.

We did it once and that's all we needed.
We did the Christmas party at WDW and that one time was all we needed with that too. Just too dang crowded. Insane actually.
 
If your kids will be near meltdown mode, or even marginally cranky, I say skip it. The crowds are unbelievable. It is a frustrating experience when it's that jam packed. Even with that being said, I think it's worth doing it one time. Maybe when the kids are older and can handle staying up later and can be more reasonable. We did it once and that's all we needed. We did the Christmas party at WDW and that one time was all we needed with that too. Just too dang crowded. Insane actually.

I've decided my idea of crowded is very skewed. Yes there are a lot of people - and I fully admit we didn't venture over to NOS during the party when the kids were little - but I didn't find it to that bad. I feel the same way when people talk about Thanksgiving time. It was busy, but not unbearable like I've seen reported. Maybe it's because we always go during busy times (holidays and summer)?
 
The crowds are unbelievable. It is a frustrating experience when it's that jam packed...We did the Christmas party at WDW and that one time was all we needed with that too. Just too dang crowded. Insane actually.

I've decided my idea of crowded is very skewed. Yes there are a lot of people - and I fully admit we didn't venture over to NOS during the party when the kids were little - but I didn't find it to that bad. I feel the same way when people talk about Thanksgiving time. It was busy, but not unbearable like I've seen reported. Maybe it's because we always go during busy times (holidays and summer)?

I think it's a matter of opinion and expectations. I'm more in line with DisneyJamieCA, in that I've been to sold out MHP, MNSSHP, and MVMCP and while they were busy, I've never felt that they were over-crowded. The Friday night MHP party I went to still felt less busy than the Saturday evening crowds at DL to me. I've never had the experience where it was gridlock during the parties (except perhaps on Main Street right when the fireworks ended - but that happens regardless of a party or not). I know that others have said the MHP were way too crowded or jammed pack for the same party I was at, so that's why I think it's all a matter of expectations and perceptions.
 
We will be at DLR for the first Halloween Party, Sept 26. We are Disney Visa members, so tickets will be $56 a piece, so a total of $224 for our family. Is it worth that? We are concerned that we will pay $224 and then have the kids get tired a cranky and have to leave before any of the fun stuff (our kids are the "early to bed, early to rise" type of kids). It sounds like fun, but if it doesn't even start until 7pm, that is getting late for our kids. They usually go to bed at 8pm, which is 7pm California time. We can try the nap in the afternoon, but I guess I just hate to spend that much extra and then leave after a half hour. Do your kids make it to the end? If not, how long do they make it? Last year we went to WDW and got a fireworks cruise. Both boys fell asleep so soon as it got dark and missed out on everything. Any tips?

I have been a DL AP for many years and finally went to the Halloween Party last year with my 3 year old. Let me just tell you, we were not missing out not going previous years. The best part was all the candy and fireworks. other than that it was crazy crowded!! not worth it
 
Ah, man. Y'all are scaring me. I'm now re-thinking whether it's worth it to take our 4 & 7yos...
 





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