MNSSHP character question

[Beckyb3]

We are going to MNSSHP for the first time ever next Sunday. I am so excited. I know lots of people have said it’s really crowded so I am trying to temper my expectations. I have two daughters ages 7 and 4. We are doing Halloween on the High Seas in October so I wasn’t planning on doing too many characters at the party and I haven’t gotten anything for the kids to get signed. If we do wind up seeing characters, is it a mistake to not have an autograph book? Also, the one character we really would like to meet is Moana as we will be dressed in Moana themed costumes (Moana, Maui, Pua, and Te Fiti). When would you recommend we try and see Moana to minimize wait times. I think otherwise our plan is to check out the parade and shoes, trick or treat, and maybe ride a few rides. How early do we need to look for a spot for the parade and do we need a blanket or something? Thanks in advance

 

[HopperFan]

Just my opinion but if you can eliminate the autographs it opens up more time to interact. It seems often when they are signing that the kids are just standing there and the interaction stops. Just have them go up to characters to talk/interact and the camera roll. That is when you often get the great hugs, dances and special moments. The photos will be more priceless than books**. (and this from a Mom with a kid that has piles of autograph books but last few trips I got him to not use one).

I would get to the party early and be in line for Moana so that the minute she starts greeting, you see her while you all look great and fresh, check that off your list and then enjoy the rest of the party without worrying about going back or wasting party time in line.

The year we were skeletons we did this with Jack & Sally and last year when we were Chip & Mrs Potts we did this with Gaston & Belle since they are only together at parties. The other years we did the same but our characters were not the long lines.

** I get home and have Shutterfly photo books made with the pictures.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

We went last week and were able to easily get a front row spot for the 2nd parade about 20-25 minutes beforehand in Frontierland. No blanket needed.

 

[kboo]

We have similar aged kids - how early do we have to be to line up a spot for the first parade? I just don't think my kids will make it to the 2nd one.

 

[alliecat523]

We were in the second row of people 25 minutes before the first parade in Frontierland.

 

[AngiTN]

I know everyone talked about the crowds for the first few parties but we went on 9/3 and did not think it was very crowded at all.
There was nothing to impact the crowds that I can think of. It did not rain that night, not even a threat of it. It wasn't even abnormally hot
We arrived at MK at the beginning of the party to no lines at security or the turnstiles.
Never found a line for candy all night. We could have gotten (well, we did get) all we wanted. We skipped at least half of the spots. DH and I just didn't want that much.
We didn't meet on any characters though, no help there. Of those I saw, lines looked short. Tarzan/Jane. Queen of Hearts, Tweedles. Alice/Hatter. Even Capt'n Jack was reasonable by the time we'd made it near Pirates.
We didn't see any line more than 20 min.
We planned fireworks from right outside Be Our Guest, to catch the late parade and the catch the last Hocus Pocus show after that. Worked perfectly.
We rode Haunted Mansion, did the photo op with the lantern and walked up to the Be Our Guest area. No one watches back there but it's a WOW! spot to anyone who does. There's a photographer set up to take photos of you with fireworks going off with the Beasts's Castle behind you too.
We grabbed some more candy, photos, rides and finished up with Pirates and walked up to catch the parade right by the bridge from Liberty Square and from there headed to the hub to wait for the final Hocus Pocus show. By this time, I was glad to rest so I sat on a curb right there along the sidewalk up to the castle, which gave me a great place to stand when the show started.

 

[ELLH]

Autograph book: I certainly wouldn't call not having an autograph book a "mistake". Unless, of course, that's something your kids really enjoy. So that's really up to you and your kids. My daughter is about to turn 8 and she still likes collecting autographs. Although, selfishly, I'll be happy when I no longer have to carry around the book(s) and pen(s), she enjoys it so I don't dissuade her from it. Whether or not your kids care about autographs is something you'll need to talk to them about. I also disagree with Hopper that autograph books are a deterrent for interaction. I'd even say that an autograph book would be helpful as an 'ice breaker' for kids who are more shy when it comes to M&Gs. But, really, this all comes down to your own kids. We are all just going off what we see and have experienced ourselves but we don't know your kids as well as you do.

Moana: In general, if there's one character you really want to meet I would line up for them as early as you can. You can start lining up for characters before the party. This would maximize your actual party time. I know we lined up for Moana before the party started and, if I remember correctly, we were able to see her before the official party start time (CMs ensured only party guests were in line). We did the same for Jack & Sally on a previous trip and then were able to get in line and see the Seven Dwarfs early, allowing us to have practically the whole duration of the party to do other 'party things'.

 

[AngiTN]

We were in the second row of people 25 minutes before the first parade in Frontierland.

Frontierland is ALWAYS the best place to watch any and all parades in my opinion, unless you have a need to be in the hub just before or after a parade. I really love to stake out a place nearish a walkway, knowing they will close those as the parade comes. You can stand in the roped area when they do.

 

[Nornster]

Our party last week really wasn't crowded, either, and we got a first row spot in Frontierland 20-25 minutes before the parade, too. We were right across the street from Westward Ho, between Pecos Bill and the DVC kiosk. We were right behind a hitching post, so we knew that no one could come up last minute and try to squeeze in front of us, and one step back was a wooden boardwalk, where we could've sat while waiting if it hadn't been so wet. (A blanket might not be a bad idea for that.) One nice thing was that we were right by the walkway for the exit from the Country Bears Jamboree trick-or-treat, so once we got our spot, one of us waited while the other grown-up and kid kept circling through the trick-or-treat line, without having to fight to get back to our spot. And folks who arrived about ten minutes before the parade got great second-row spots right behind us, on the elevated boardwalk.

If you're interested, when the parade was done, we cut through the bathrooms in Frontierland to Adventureland, and made our way to the grassy area on that (left) side of the Hub, and got great spots for the fireworks. We even had time to hit a couple of trick-or-treat spots in Adventureland on the way. My daughter just turned eight, so comparable in age to your older child.