MNSSHP 2017 - Strategy in the making.

[kizmet311]

My party report: we planned way too much! Also, kids don't care about plans so... Here's what we were able to do with a 2.5 yo and 6yo

Arrive at 4:30, got wrist bands outside the trainstation and it was pretty hectic.

go through bypass and get first candy bags. It looked like they had some games like giant Jenga and ring toss set up, maybe while they were holding people at the gate earlier?

4:45 Photo pass in the dessert party gated grassy area with the castle in the background

4:55 space mountain with FP for DH and DD6. People mover for DD2.5 myself and my mom.

5:15 carousel of progress for DD2.5 and Astro orbiters for dd6

Why are we in tomorrowland? I don't know. It wasn't on the plan. It just happened. It wasn't a great use of our time and it was so dang hot we had to take off most of our costumes.

5:45-6:30 grabbed hotdogs at caseys and fish at Columbia harbor house and ate upstairs. The lines were suuuuuper long and the food was gross and heat lamp-y. Nobody ate much because it was yucky. This becomes a problem later when we all start eating candy...

6:30-7 princess fairy tale hall for Rapunzel and Elena (kids costumes) and all 4 princesses were just wonderful and gave them tons of attention.

7-7:30 tangled floating lantern pictures/tag team bathrooms
The line was long. Also, in retrospect, I shouldn't have done this in costumes. They came out okay for the kids but my husband was wearing a fake beard and I had on a wig so it wasn't the romantic keepsake I imagined.

7:30-8 haunted mansion. The line for those magic shots around there was loooooooong!!! Madame Carlotta was out and hilarious. My 2.5yo was terrified the entire ride and miserable so I was miserable too. We scrap the memento Mori idea so as to not further freak her out. Womp womp.

8-9 carpets. Like 5 times. Why? Kids are weird and make bad choices. And I'm a good mom and didn't force the issue, especially after traumatizing the littlest on HM. We did squeeze in a ToT stop at the tiki room which looks really cute! Felt They gave us big handfuls of candy.

9-9:30 bathrooms. Pirates. ToT at pirates. Only gave two peices each. Lines for jack sparrow looked short, maybe 30mins? And line for Jafar looked similar.

9:30- here's where things really got off track... I tried to herd everyone over to fireworks and we accidentally walked past Moana... and the line looked really short. So the girls wanted to meet her. So daddy got in line. And we ToT tiki room and bathrooms AGAIN and girls got in line with dad and... they cut off the line right before him. And I was trying to tag team a snack. And for whatever reason, he got out of line with all the girls and promised them fireworks instead... but now it's 10:05!!

So we rush to fireworks, find a not-too-Terrible spot near the adventure land bridge and enjoy the fireworks. We liked them but it was not as good as happily ever after the night before but that's just me being picky. DD 2.5 falls asleep on me about 30 seconds after they start. She got very heavy by the time the ursula music started.

DD6 starts to look ill. When was the last time she drank any water? It's still 5000degrees and 400% humidity at this point. When was the last time she ate anything? Except for that giant bag of all the tiki room candy? No Food since noon. Mother of the year folks.

So after fireworks daddy runs back to get back in the Moana line. He's on a mission for his sick little girl now, he can't even hear my words as I explain how dumb this plan is and hey can't we just look at MY ITINTERARY?!?!

10:40-11 the rest of us hang out in bathroom getting cool, getting hydrated, trying to get DD6 to maybe poop. Good stuff. Fun times. Dd2.5 asleep on me this entire time. She's really heavy now.

11-11:10 6yo perks up and wants to ride... carpets. Again. Whatever. Ok.

11:10- DD6 is now limp in the stroller begging to go home, doesn't even want to meet Moana. Dd2.5 asleep in the stroller. My mom and I want to see the parade and DH is determined to meet Moana at all costs at this point. We leave him to his Captain Ahab-like quest and scoot over to frontier land through the bathroom underpass (oh hey bathroom where I spent half the party! Hi!) and have a great not at all crowded view just in time for the headless horseman. Here's where it all gets good again!

11:15-11:30 boo to you parade: SO SO GOOD! As soon as Dd2.5 heard Minnie's voice she woke up and was fresh as could be. She got up and danced and waved and loved it. Meanwhile, dd6 has fallen asleep in the two minutes between the horseman disappearing and floats appearing thank god for strollers because at this point my arms are DONE!

11:30 After the parade we scoot back through the underpass. Bathroom break. Oh hello same bathroom. Pick up DH. No, he didn't meet her- she kept breaking when he was at the front and he left the line AGAIN. Good thing he's cute.

11:40 head back toward exit, and get stuck in the parade route on a little hub near the train station. Take some magic shots (appearing ghosts and pumpkin stacks) there while we wait and in the meantime, DD6 has woken up and is all about this viewing of the parade. Dd2.5 is now asleep again return the stroller and watch the end of the parade.

12:10 exit the park and grab one last magic shot (headless horseman) in front of the train station. They had about 4 PP stations so the lines were flying through. There were tons of busses waiting for almost every bay, our AoA station had two at the same time and another pulled up as ours left so my sense was everyone could get home quickly!

So here's the thing- my evening didn't go at ALL as planned, thanks to kids, husbands and candy. BUT we had a blast. We did rides, trick or treat, tons of photos, fireworks and basically two parades. I'd do it again in a heart beat.

Thank you @FoxC63 for all your planning help, it really did help me set priorities and have a strong sense of times and places for the big stuff. And it was fun.

Your post has me thinking i might need to include bathroom breaks for the 5yo in my itinerary, lol.

 

[Bex258]

Saw headless horseman. I need to retake the photos for that on Tuesday. The Creepa Crew came dowm main street and around in front of the train station away from where I am and I have no one to hold my bag or my spot.

 

[Bex258]

Ok finished show, got quite a good spot. I'm just waiting on getting couple of photos and then thats me done.

9:18pm first Minnie photo
9:35pm for first Goofy photo.

I think that was the only time I forgot. If I missed anything let me know. And I shall answer when I can.

I didn't ToT and I didn't look at the party treats. The Waffles are on my list for Tuesday.

Seen a few full length capes on over 13yr (or whatever the age is) and dresses.

Saw the guy dressed as the castle with fireworks on his back too.

Thats me out.

 

[Felicis]

Awesome! THanks for sharing @Bex258 Did it feel really full?

 

[Felicis]

I have tentatively been looking at ours. Would love some advice around the 3 main entertainments in particular.

Arrive btwn 3.30 and 4.

4 - 5 Bypass, FP for Junglecruise, check out rides in adventureland area.
5-6 FP POC, then maybe some shopping (merch + snacks)
6-7 Head around towards fantasyland, maybe some rides, depending on lines maybe Belle and Gaston for first M&G, or Cruella.
7-8 Haunted Mansion. Keep an eye out for roaming Tremains
8-9.00 Maybe Jafar, maybe Moana from afar. Maybe TOT in area.

Now here is where I am not sure of the order. Do I go:
9.15 Parade, 10.15 Fireworks, 10.45 Hocus pocus
OR
10.15 Fireworks, 10.45 HP, 11.15 Parade?
OR
9.15 parade, 10.15 Fireworks 12.00 HP?

Am tending towards the first, just because I think we will be ready for sitting and waiting by 9. 00, and I think I would like that last hour to finish TOT and maybe meet Lotso.

BUT - how 'easy' is it going to be to move places to get a better (don't care for best, but would like adequate, and my DD is only 10 and not tall), view of each thing when all in a row? Is there a place to aim for that is better than any other?

It is so hard deciding, DD would LOVE to meet Moana, but not enough to stand in line for over an hour (and more). Her priorities are the shows, she LOVES villains and would like to meet a couple, hence thinking Cruella and Jafar. She also loves Beauty and the Beast, so thinking maybe that one.

 

[acln]

Ok finished show, got quite a good spot. I'm just waiting on getting couple of photos and then thats me done.

9:18pm first Minnie photo
9:35pm for first Goofy photo.

I think that was the only time I forgot. If I missed anything let me know. And I shall answer when I can.

I didn't ToT and I didn't look at the party treats. The Waffles are on my list for Tuesday.

Seen a few full length capes on over 13yr (or whatever the age is) and dresses.

Saw the guy dressed as the castle with fireworks on his back too.

Thats me out.

Thanks for reporting back last night. So about how long did you wait for Minnie? I’m thinking of trying to put her in my plans around 8/9pm and thinking an hour wait? I hope you have a great time at your next party!!!

 

[la79al]

Couple questions. First, despite my plan to have Jasmine, Snow White and Ariel, I have a vampire, a witch and a ghost. They are the thin costume material but long black sleeves. Are they going to absolutely roast all evening? Second, how long is it taking everyone to get back to TTC at the end of the night?

 

[lovingeire]

@Bex258 your costume came out fabulously! Super cute! Sounds like you knocked out a lot of M&G which is awesome! Hope you enjoy the second party just as much!

 

[Bex258]

Awesome! THanks for sharing @Bex258 Did it feel really full?

It felt busy in hub, near Rapunzels restroom and near food locations. Other than that didn't seem bad aside from character queues.

I have tentatively been looking at ours. Would love some advice around the 3 main entertainments in particular.

Arrive btwn 3.30 and 4.

4 - 5 Bypass, FP for Junglecruise, check out rides in adventureland area.
5-6 FP POC, then maybe some shopping (merch + snacks)
6-7 Head around towards fantasyland, maybe some rides, depending on lines maybe Belle and Gaston for first M&G, or Cruella.
7-8 Haunted Mansion. Keep an eye out for roaming Tremains
8-9.00 Maybe Jafar, maybe Moana from afar. Maybe TOT in area.

Now here is where I am not sure of the order. Do I go:
9.15 Parade, 10.15 Fireworks, 10.45 Hocus pocus
OR
10.15 Fireworks, 10.45 HP, 11.15 Parade?
OR
9.15 parade, 10.15 Fireworks 12.00 HP?

Am tending towards the first, just because I think we will be ready for sitting and waiting by 9. 00, and I think I would like that last hour to finish TOT and maybe meet Lotso.

BUT - how 'easy' is it going to be to move places to get a better (don't care for best, but would like adequate, and my DD is only 10 and not tall), view of each thing when all in a row? Is there a place to aim for that is better than any other?

It is so hard deciding, DD would LOVE to meet Moana, but not enough to stand in line for over an hour (and more). Her priorities are the shows, she LOVES villains and would like to meet a couple, hence thinking Cruella and Jafar. She also loves Beauty and the Beast, so thinking maybe that one.

Not sure on those charcters but I would say second parade was easy to get a spot for. I sat down at 10:37pm and theres spaces all over main street.

Thanks for reporting back last night. So about how long did you wait for Minnie? I’m thinking of trying to put her in my plans around 8/9pm and thinking an hour wait? I hope you have a great time at your next party!!!

According to my photopass my Donald and Daisy pics were taken at 8:47pm and my Minnie was 9:18pm. She's much quicker than D&D. Thank you.

Couple questions. First, despite my plan to have Jasmine, Snow White and Ariel, I have a vampire, a witch and a ghost. They are the thin costume material but long black sleeves. Are they going to absolutely roast all evening? Second, how long is it taking everyone to get back to TTC at the end of the night?

Depends. If your meeting Jack and Sally then you'll be in the sun and I melted in my vest. We all were suffering. After sun set was much more comfortable. Did see people in thicker costumes and long sleeves and some looked ok and others looked like they struggled. I left at 1am and got photos as I went out, our Disney transport bus got stuck in traffic, it was bad leaving Disney. A lot left before and after the last parade.

@Bex258 your costume came out fabulously! Super cute! Sounds like you knocked out a lot of M&G which is awesome! Hope you enjoy the second party just as much!

Awh thanks. Yeah not bad got Moana and Pooh and friends next time and maybe Genie and Jasmine. Fireworks and redo my pic of headless horseman and HM lantern shot.

For my Jungle Criuse skipper beige sandals or black as they wear black shoes?

 

[cuewittyname]

Had a blast Sunday night, even though it was sold out. It didn't feel crowded really. I've never been to a party before so I don't have anything to compare it to crowd wise. But my boyfriend and I (The Claw and an alien) got every thing we wanted to do done, minus one magic shot I couldn't find (couldn't be bothered to find by the end) and the snacks (not hungry too hot).

Observations:
-Holy humidity batman! It never let up either. So glad we knocked out the photopass early.

-It was sold out? But it didn't seem to make a difference to me. The biggest problem area was in the hub when a sorority invaded and were just taking group pictures everywhere.

-The parade and fireworks were incredible! My boyfriend was wary of having to "wait 30 minutes" in one spot for the parade but ended up being so glad we did. We showed up at 8:40ish and found a great spot near Caseys between two strollers. Perfect for the parade and fireworks

- "wow you were right" was the theme of the night for him to me. From the Pooh and friends (6:40 to 7:10, first 10 groups) to doing photopass early to doing rides late to the parade, my planning paid off. I can't thank you all enough!

This is a terrible review but yeah if you have questions feel free to ask. First party but it was incredible. Already wanting to go in two years again!

 

[Bex258]

Oh yeah Judy Hopps didn't see me but Nick Wilde did during the Creepa crew.

A lot of my parade pics came out blurry but I did video too so hope that went well. My spot was so close to the floats.

I thought this was a gem of a picture though.

https://flic.kr/p/YMHUu5

 

[rcbarker]

Here are my photos and the ally is shown behind them.

We are talking about the same place, the proper name of the ally is Center Street.

 

[sherlockmiles]

Oh yeah Judy Hopps didn't see me but Nick Wilde did during the Creepa crew.

A lot of my parade pics came out blurry but I did video too so hope that went well. My spot was so close to the floats.

I thought this was a gem of a picture though.

https://flic.kr/p/YMHUu5

GREAT PICTURE!~!!!

 

[paradesintherain]

Alright guys, critique my tentative plan! We're going on November 1, and we only have party tickets so we'll enter the party at 4 pm. (before that I think we'll probably eat some Kona breakfast and explore the monorail resorts).

3:30-4:30: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train FP
4:30-5:30: Space Mountain FP
5:30-6:30: Peter Pan's Flight FP

After our final FP, I thought I might get in line for a character. I love Moana, and Jack Sparrow seems like a lot of fun. Welcome to suggestions here - I really don't want to wait longer than an hour in a line.

9:15: Boo To You parade - I know the 2nd one is less busy, but the parade is a priority for me and if I end up loving it I want the opportunity to watch the 2nd parade. I was thinking a spot a the corner of Main Street and the hub, if possible.
10:15: HalloWishes fireworks - the grassy spot in front of Casey's seems intriguing
12:00: Hocus Pocus Stage show? Or should I try to fit in the first show of the night? The show is causing me the most trouble.

 

[Nutsforchipanddale]

I have tentatively been looking at ours. Would love some advice around the 3 main entertainments in particular.

Arrive btwn 3.30 and 4.

4 - 5 Bypass, FP for Junglecruise, check out rides in adventureland area.
5-6 FP POC, then maybe some shopping (merch + snacks)
6-7 Head around towards fantasyland, maybe some rides, depending on lines maybe Belle and Gaston for first M&G, or Cruella.
7-8 Haunted Mansion. Keep an eye out for roaming Tremains
8-9.00 Maybe Jafar, maybe Moana from afar. Maybe TOT in area.

Now here is where I am not sure of the order. Do I go:
9.15 Parade, 10.15 Fireworks, 10.45 Hocus pocus
OR
10.15 Fireworks, 10.45 HP, 11.15 Parade?
OR
9.15 parade, 10.15 Fireworks 12.00 HP?

Am tending towards the first, just because I think we will be ready for sitting and waiting by 9. 00, and I think I would like that last hour to finish TOT and maybe meet Lotso.

BUT - how 'easy' is it going to be to move places to get a better (don't care for best, but would like adequate, and my DD is only 10 and not tall), view of each thing when all in a row? Is there a place to aim for that is better than any other?

It is so hard deciding, DD would LOVE to meet Moana, but not enough to stand in line for over an hour (and more). Her priorities are the shows, she LOVES villains and would like to meet a couple, hence thinking Cruella and Jafar. She also loves Beauty and the Beast, so thinking maybe that one.

We

I have tentatively been looking at ours. Would love some advice around the 3 main entertainments in particular.

Arrive btwn 3.30 and 4.

4 - 5 Bypass, FP for Junglecruise, check out rides in adventureland area.
5-6 FP POC, then maybe some shopping (merch + snacks)
6-7 Head around towards fantasyland, maybe some rides, depending on lines maybe Belle and Gaston for first M&G, or Cruella.
7-8 Haunted Mansion. Keep an eye out for roaming Tremains
8-9.00 Maybe Jafar, maybe Moana from afar. Maybe TOT in area.

Now here is where I am not sure of the order. Do I go:
9.15 Parade, 10.15 Fireworks, 10.45 Hocus pocus
OR
10.15 Fireworks, 10.45 HP, 11.15 Parade?
OR
9.15 parade, 10.15 Fireworks 12.00 HP?

Am tending towards the first, just because I think we will be ready for sitting and waiting by 9. 00, and I think I would like that last hour to finish TOT and maybe meet Lotso.

BUT - how 'easy' is it going to be to move places to get a better (don't care for best, but would like adequate, and my DD is only 10 and not tall), view of each thing when all in a row? Is there a place to aim for that is better than any other?

It is so hard deciding, DD would LOVE to meet Moana, but not enough to stand in line for over an hour (and more). Her priorities are the shows, she LOVES villains and would like to meet a couple, hence thinking Cruella and Jafar. She also loves Beauty and the Beast, so thinking maybe that one.[/Q

 

[Nutsforchipanddale]

We always go to the late shows and parades they are less crowded.

 

[Nutsforchipanddale]

Couple questions. First, despite my plan to have Jasmine, Snow White and Ariel, I have a vampire, a witch and a ghost. They are the thin costume material but long black sleeves. Are they going to absolutely roast all evening? Second, how long is it taking everyone to get back to TTC at the end of the night?

We went last Sunday and it was very hot. We were there for 10 days and it was hot everyday pretty much. The ferry boat is probably faster if your trying to get back faster

 

[Nutsforchipanddale]

One thing that happened at the party we were at was at the Jasmine and Aladdin meet and greet. A guy proposed to his girlfriend and everyone cheered and clapped it was so heartwarming.

 

[Felicis]

I thought this was a gem of a picture though.

https://flic.kr/p/YMHUu5

I LOVE Tigger! Awesome pic!

 

[lovingeire]

For my Jungle Criuse skipper beige sandals or black as they wear black shoes?

My gut instinct is beige, but then I think for authenticity maybe the black. I'm really no help! LOL!