MNSSHP Disappointment

[Lothlórien]

I wonder if more people are waiting for the second party to avoid the crush of people who are there for blogging/vlogging/social media reasons to buy new and/or exclusive merchandise on the first party night.

Unfortunately, they are all crowded.

 

[RamblingMad]

It’s way over sold. I avoid it now.

 

[hhhaleybird]

I LOVE MNSSHP! I can trick or treat as an adult in the Magic Kingdom! Don't be afraid to ask for more candy. Disney donates the candy that isn't given out by the end of the parties...by the truck load! The gravediggers are my favorite to see at the Boo To You Parade. The Hocus Pocus Show is fun to watch...I love when Oogie Boogie comes on stage. The Magic Shots are fun to take too

 

[krd315]

We were also at the 8/20 party and definitely crowded. Especially at the hub. We met Jack & Sally (in line from 2:45 -4:30) Elvis Stitch (1.5hr wait) Red queen, tweddle dum & tweedle dee. Did TOT when convenient, fireworks, Cruella party (glad to have reserved parade viewing but wouldn't do it again). Took several photos including magic shots and quick service dinner. We love dressing up but only did 1/2 the park and no rides as we had another MK day.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I did the first MVMCP of the season last year. We went in knowing it would be crowded but I wanted to experience the atmosphere of the party, go watch the little shows and acts and the fireworks and parades. And get my picture with the 7 Dwarves. We did do all of that. We had 10 day PH also so we didn't go in to ride any rides and I didn't bother checking wait times. DD12 and I did enjoy it but it was a one and done for us. It was VERY crowded. Luckily we got a spot for Wishes in the garden in front of Casey's and got a front row seat in Frontierland for the parade but it was still very crowded. I got the 7 Dwarves picture before the party even started which was great! All planned with recommendations from the boards. I'm glad I decided to do it on just a mother daughter trip because paying for 4 of those tickets would have bugged me. Getting only two wasn't as bad.

 

[ABE4DISNEY]

We have attended three parties but none within the last 5 years.
They were overcrowded even 10-12 years ago.
And they priced us out. If I were by myself, it would be an okay indulgence, but IMHO, it's not worth $400+
for a family.

 

[Searc]

I LOVE MNSSHP! I can trick or treat as an adult in the Magic Kingdom! Don't be afraid to ask for more candy. Disney donates the candy that isn't given out by the end of the parties...by the truck load! The gravediggers are my favorite to see at the Boo To You Parade. The Hocus Pocus Show is fun to watch...I love when Oogie Boogie comes on stage. The Magic Shots are fun to take too

I doubt they donate candy they can just give out the next night.

 

[rg35]

Also, 8/20 is still in summer crowd season with kids still out of school, everything is more crowded. Traditionally, the crowds are lower from mid-Sept. thru early Oct.

Florida schools were back in session already, and many others around the country as well. Late summer is definitely not busy season at WDW. For the most part, crowds during our trip were not bad at all. As an example, at Typhoon Lagoon we were able to circle the park and ride all the water slides multiple times with very little to no wait. We rode Soarin' at 10 AM with about a 15 minute wait. Overall, crowds were not bad. MNSSHP was just way more crowded than what I was expecting.

 

[Dug720]

I doubt they donate candy they can just give out the next night.

I interpreted it to mean after Halloween. Not after each party.

 

[skyblue17]

We went two years ago and had a great experience... and it was the party before Halloween! It kind of amazes me that the parties are overcrowded in AUGUST, when it isn't even Halloween season, but I guess the fact they offer them at August at all kind of explains that. I do agree that they should amp up the trick or treating aspect, either by having different types of treats in the various places or making it more of an event to actually get the candy.

 

[cdoc29]

Disney is trading on the reputation of "low crowds" for hard ticketed events when not actually promising that. We typically go to one of the parties every time we attend and they have all been crowded the last few times we have gone. We are going again next week, but we go for the SOTMK party card, unique meet & greets, parade and fireworks plus a few of the specialty shows. Even though we are supposedly going on a slow night I still expect it to be very crowded compared to parks during the usual September time frame. I fear low crowds are a thing of the past at Disney World at anytime of of the year.........

 

[cvjw]

We’ve attended a Halloween party every year since 2001. Boy, were the first parties fantastic. It is nothing like that anymore. The crowds are so much larger now. We still go to the Halloween parties because I love the parade and fireworks. We just know that it will be super crowded going in.

They used to give out special treats on the way out of the party. They did this for years. Not anymore. It stopped a few years ago.

They don’t give away the extra candy after each party. If you do keys to the kingdom tour during the Halloween season, you can see the refrigerated transfer trucks parked behind Main Street holding all the extra candy.

 

[poober25]

I think PP meant that the extra candy is all donated after the LAST party. Not after each party

Don't be afraid to ask for more candy. Disney donates the candy that isn't given out by the end of the parties...by the truck load!

 

[Mom2Stitch]

We had attended MNSSHP for several years when DS was little, then we got away from going at that time of year. In 2015 we went to the 1st one and it was so crowded and nothing like we remembered. We were so exhausted from fighting the crowds that we just gave up and left after the fireworks. Just staking out a spot for that was like a bad joke-we actually had someone park their stroller right in front of us and then just leave it there as their place holder while they ran about doing stuff, then all of a sudden 7 people showed up-and not all of them had wristbands. We decided the magic and lure of the party was gone for us.

We haven't been back in party season since then, so this trip we are going to try again. This time I have a strategy and plan of attack-which sounds more like going to war and not to a holiday party in a theme park. I'm worried that we had to choose the Labor Day party, hopeful it won't be too awful, and planning like it's going to be Halloween night.

 

[TheConsciousness]

We went for the first (and likely last) time last year. We went on a random, unimportant weekend and it was INSANELY packed. Much more packed than it was during the day somehow. Wait times were crazy too, of course.

 

[DisneyFive]

We haven't been back in party season since then, so this trip we are going to try again. This time I have a strategy and plan of attack-which sounds more like going to war and not to a holiday party in a theme park. I'm worried that we had to choose the Labor Day party, hopeful it won't be too awful, and planning like it's going to be Halloween night.

At least you are fully aware of the situation and can set your plans and expectations accordingly.

Selfishly, it makes me glad that we were able to go in years when we felt it was still not overly crowded.

Dan

 

[nkereina]

They oversell it because people will still buy it and overselling it means more sold. And then people are worried it will be crowded so they opt to spend more on the up-sell experiences like dessert parties. Its a vicious cycle of money grabbing.

 

[Love Tink]

They oversell it because people will still buy it and overselling it means more sold. And then people are worried it will be crowded so they opt to spend more on the up-sell experiences like dessert parties. Its a vicious cycle of money grabbing.

Yeah, reading through the big MNSSHP thread, it is astonishing to me how many of the posters have also bought tickets to one of the special events within the event, or are going to more than one party.

 

[hhhaleybird]

I doubt they donate candy they can just give out the next night.

I remember Kenny the Pirate mentioning it on his video blog of last years MNSSHP. After the last Halloween party, the candy is donated. I can’t remember to whom or where but I think it was like two 18 wheelers filled with candy after the parties in 2017.

 

[AggieDizzer]

I went to my 1st hard ticket event last year, Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland, and absolutely loved every minute of it. I am attending my 1st MNSSHP this year in October and I cannot wait! I was concerned about crowds last year at MHP, and while it was certainly crowded, the festive atmosphere and the truly unique experience more than made up for the park attendance. I am anticipating that this year will be the same.

I have to agree with those who suggest knocking out character meet-and-greets and attractions during normal park hours whenever possible. You can FP 7DMT, BTM, or SM (either one) and cross them off your list before the party starts. I think that wait times run a little longer because a LOT of guests will put off these activities, thinking they can avoid long lines during the party.

October can't get here soon enough! Save me some M&M's!