MNSSHP and little kids

[sweetmama17]

I've always pushed back at the idea of spending extra on tickets as we have APs and my kids have never been night owls. But I am thinking of a long Labor Day weekend vacation which will be right before my oldests 5th birthday. I think he will make it up past 10 this year.

How do you with littles do the parties? What of the "extras" do they enjoy the most. I think it would be a cool 5th birthday present and I could maybe include Grandparents too as they love Halloween. I'd probably also bring the 2 year old along since he is free and I wouldn't care about him falling asleep, I just want to make sure the 5 year old gets something out of it. And to make sure it is worth the extra $$$

Thanks!

 

[DisneyMaleficent50]

I have taken my DD6 for the past 2 years. She loves it. The parade is still a little scary according to her but she sits front row as long as i sit next to her. its really just the haunted mansion part that I think she worries about. she doesn't like the grave diggers shovels. The fireworks she love to see. The hocus pocus show she is familiar with but only because we watch the movie every halloween. It can get really crowded by the stage so i recommend watching it a little further back if you little one doesn't like crowds. She loves the dance parties. She like to meet the rare characters-I usually set up fastpasses from 4-5,5-6,6-7 after we do the last fastpass we usually get in a character line and send 2 people to get dinner we can eat while in line. And most of all she LOVES to go trick or treating. She loves that Disney gives her candy. I do recommend getting a good nap in that day. it is critical. Her normal bedtime is 730 but she had no problem making it till 1145 on the bus. Although she crashed hard on the bus and never woke back up so try to put comfy clothes under the costume so you can remove the costume if they start to get sleepy eyes.

 

[tbholc81]

The Halloween party is worth it. Especially if you don't use your regular park tickets that day, because you can get into MK at 4. So when we did it with our kids who were 4 and 1, we spent the day at the hotel, (pool etc...) got a good afternoon nap in, and went to the park at 4. They give you a wrist band and you get to go around the back of Main Street to start the Trick or Treating, plus get your first photo. At 7 the crowd gets lighter and for us all the rides were walk ons. I should mention that it was pouring rain which messed up a bunch of character greets and cancelled one of the parades. But we had a great time and in order to see everything we powered through till Midnight. our 4 year old made it and did great. She was excited to meet the characters and get quickly on and off rides. I'd def recommend going.

 

[BebopBaloo]

I've taken a 2 year old and a 10 year old and they both equally enjoyed it. The two year old didn't fall asleep either. The only time that it was a little trying was standing in line for the 7Dwarfs for an hour, but it was at the end of the party and we had already done pretty much everything else that we wanted to, so for us it was worth waiting in line that long for a photo op that we may not have an opportunity for again. We still have candy leftover...

 

[RachaelA]

My kids have lasted until party end every year but once. (Every year for the past 5 years ages 1-5) i have them nap in the afternoon. Halloween party is their favorite. They love the parade and fireworks. And we meet a bunch of characters. We mostly save rides for non party time.

 

[mrsjoannh13]

Halloween party is a blast. We took our DD for 4th birthday last year and were concerned she'd poop out but she closed the park at midnight and even then we had to drag her kicking and screaming. Let the kids sleep late that morning and take a long late nap. Take it easy during the day - no commando style touring plan - and you should be fine. We enjoyed it so much we will try to go now every year. DD was not scared of anything other than Prince Phillip, LOL! It's because the princes had their (fake) swords on and she was concerned about the swords. She loved the headless horsemen, meeting Jack & Sally, the parade, the stage show. It was amazing.

 

[mrsjoannh13]

One more suggestion... if you think your crew can make it to midnight, skip the first (early) parade and use that time to meet some of the characters. Then go to the 2nd parade later when the crowds die down a bit.