Just back from Sept 15th MNSSHP - pictures

[jgorman9]

Here is a link for my pictures. I'm not sure if it will work for everyone or just me. If it doens't work I will add the pics in the morning.

http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2101821046


We had a blast at the Halloween Party last night. It did rain for the first couple of hours and it seemed a little crowded to us. I have seen others posting about it not being crowded but comparing the party to the other days we were in the parks there were alot more people. We came across a couple on the way to the bus stop after leaving the party and they told us they had tried to buy tickets to the party the day before (Thursday) and couldn't because the party was sold out. So, I would recommend getting your tickets before you arrive at Disney.
We arrived right at 4:00 PM since we had dinner ressies at LTT at 4:10 and got in with no problem.

The cast members did a great job at clearing out non party guests. They started shortly before 7:00. We were in front of the castle at 6:55 and they were putting up ropes and only letting people with wrist bands into each land. There was a lady pushing a stoller with her kid in it saying her husband was in Fantasyland and they wouldn't let her through. After 7:00 I didn't see anyone without a wristband.

The rides didn't have long line buts the lines to get pictures taken with the characters were long. We waited almost 20 minutes to get our picture taken in front of Cinderella's Carriage. We were dissapointed when we saw the picture as it was to bright from the photographers flash and my kids looked like ghosts (LOL) No free picture, just half off so we passed on it since I took one with my camera.
After the long wait for the 1st picture we didn't wait for any others. Each character we came across had at least 30 people waiting for pictures.

We watched the 1st parade. It was awesome!!! My kids thoughts the headless horseman was cool! Even though it was raining during the parade it was still great. One of the Country Bears fell down from the wet street while he was dancing. My kids thought that was funny. He must not have been hurt because he jumped back up pretty quickly and kept dancing. The cast memebers did a great job at keeping the kids entertained before the parade started.

The fireworks were the best! A couple of them looked like Smiley Faces. The ending was awesome with fireworks going off all around us!!

My kids got lots of candy at the trick or treat stops and they had a blast at Stitches Dance Party. Stitch was dressed as Elvis and Donald and Pluto came out and danced with the kids. They did a costume conga dance and hula hooping. We spent almost 30 minutes at the dance party.

There was free face painting in Toontown. I will post Pictures in the morning.

 

[tony609]

Great review thanks!

 

[alliecats]

Thanks for the report! I can't wait, I can't wait. Can you tell me, was anything in Tomorrowland open? Rides, or food places?

 

[blondeheroine]

I haven't seen anyone post this yet, so I figured I'd be the first to ask....

Did the witch fly out of the castle during Hallowishes?

 

[mikayla73]

Thanks for the update and I can't wait to see the pics! I don't get to go this year, but I thought I would do some " pre-planning" for next year

 

[disneyphilip]

The rides didn't have long line buts the lines to get pictures taken with the characters were long.

Did you get any pictures of the characters anyway?

For one thing, I'd like to know where certain characters, especially the rarer ones, will be doing their sets.

 

[jgorman9]

Thanks for the report! I can't wait, I can't wait. Can you tell me, was anything in Tomorrowland open? Rides, or food places?

I think everything in Tomorowland was open. I didn't notice any rides closed.

 

[jgorman9]

I haven't seen anyone post this yet, so I figured I'd be the first to ask....

Did the witch fly out of the castle during Hallowishes?

Sorry, I don't know about the witch. We watched the fireworks in front of Crystal Palace and couldn't see the bottom half of the Castle because of the trees.

 

[grumpymakesmehappy]

Thanks for posting. I can't wait to see your pictures. The more I read about the parties the more excited I get! Almost a month away.....I can't wait!!!!

 

[maciec]

Thank you so much! Your pictures are great! I am so excited we are going on 10/17.

 

[GoofyforDisney3]

Thanks for posting the pictures! They are great. I can't wait until Friday.

 

[bellesnow]

I've never been during MNSSHP. Just looking at your pictures really makes me want to go. Maybe one year my family will get there during that time.

 

[blondeheroine]

Sorry, I don't know about the witch. We watched the fireworks in front of Crystal Palace and couldn't see the bottom half of the Castle because of the trees.

That's okay.

She may not have "flown" last night due to the rain. You guys were troopers and thanks for posting those pics!

 

[Jackmonkey]

I agree with this review 100%. We just got back this evening and had a blast.
First, yes, they did an excellent job of clearing out non-ticketed guests. We finished up with our dinner (Kona, Yummm) and entered the park right at 7:00. The only non wrist-banded guests I saw were on the way out of the park, and even they were in very short supply. There was a ring of cast members at the hub that were very effective at picking out non-wristbanded folks and directing them out of the park. (They were even doing restroom sweeps) I have to admit, all of our worries were for nothing. They did a very through job.
The only thing they could not control or keep out was the rain. It rained off and on for most of the evening, at times coming down pretty hard. The first parade was delayed a few minutes, but continued on through the heaviest rain of the evening. The Villians Dance and Meet, never got to do the dance part, but they did come out for the greet part. They were never able to get the stage in front of the castle dry for any length of time, although they really tried, even bringing out floor driers.
Unlike some things I had read on these forums, the park did not clear out after the first few hours. There were just as many people there at 11:30 as when we entered. However, while the shops along Mainstreet were crowded, and the picture backdrops had a few people in line, the park, and especially the attractions, was not crowded at all. Every attraction, even in the midist of the rain, was walk-on.
Pretty much everything was in operation. All of the attractions with the exception of Tom Sawyer Island, and Carosel of Progress were running as far as I could tell. Some of the cart merchant locations were shuttered as well, but a few extra Halloween carts were out an about with special event merchandise, including a neat Mickey plush (pics coming soon).
I will go through my pictures in the morning and post links to them if anything is worth posting. But rest assured, the event went very well, and was a lot of fun!
Oh, and Jack Sparrow fans have a little suprise in the parade...
ttfn

 

[lsjones]

Glad to hear it was fun, we're going on the 23rd of Oct...We're hoping it won't be as crowded since the free dining will be over!

 

[NannyPooh]

Thank You, Thank You, jgorman9 and jackmonkey!
Our first MNSSHP ever will be on Oct20, and I was a little nervous with all of the negative threads - you have eased our minds!
Loved the photos - what a fun family! You got some great shots!
Thanks again for taking the time to post!
One month and 3 days until our party , with my two

 

[mikayla73]

Thanks for the link to the pics jgorman9. Looking forward to jackmonkey's

 

[Harvest02]

Thanks for the great pics! I am taking my kids next year for the MNSSHP! Looks like so much fun! Can't wait till October 2007!!!

 

[PigletsPal]

Great pictures of the parade. We go on the 19th of Oct and can't wait since this will be our very first MNSSHP.

 

[beattyfamily]

I haven't seen anyone post this yet, so I figured I'd be the first to ask....

Did the witch fly out of the castle during Hallowishes?

Last year Tink flew during the 'new' Hallowishes fireworks. I was actually a little disappointed because I liked the witch flying for Halloween.

Tink also flew for the new Holidaywishes fireworks last year instead of Rudolph at MVMCP; again I was a little disappointed.