MNSSHP...Kind of Freaking Out

[focusondisney]

NM

 

[Missyrose]

Maybe you could do dinner at one of the monorail resorts and watch Hallowishes from there?

 

[maxiesmom]

Is there any way to redo your schedule a bit? Either switch up your MK night, or maybe cancel an ADR and do the party instead?

 

[Momtomouselover]

So here's the upside to this...although I get that it sucks that you have to leave the park at 7pm that day it will also be a less crowded MK day at least until 4 ish which is when party guests start to arrive. If you go all day up to 7pm you will be able to fit tons in on a less crowded day and then you can go to either the Poly or Grand Floridian or the Contemporary for dinner. Following dinner you can watch the fireworks from there, and each of them have a good viewing spot. Yes, it is not the full experience of being in the park but still quite nice.

Another option is if you have park hoppers them the evening of one of your other nights head over just for Wishes (and maybe a ride or two). Finally, you could look at changing around and swapping two of the days if the other options won't work. It may not be as challenging as you think since it is September and not high crowd time yet.

Sorry about the disappointment and hope it works out.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Hey OP, don't get down about what happened and all of these opinions. While there were several signs along the way that could have tipped you off to the party on that day, it wasn't something on your radar and you just missed it. It happens. Frankly I think that's pretty easy to do for someone with limited Disney experience that may not necessarily know what to pay attention to or where to look. Also it's 9/2 - I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that Halloween wasn't on the brain! I've accidentally botched a 9AM MK opening when it had been updated to 8AM a time or two and I generally pay attention to the various resources. Stuff happens.

Maybe there's a way to turn lemons into lemonade. Maybe take away a meal or two earlier in the week and save some money for party tickets? Watching Hallowishes from outside the park is an excellent idea too - the view from Poly is great. They shoot perimeter fireworks off during certain segments and frankly the view from outside can be better depending on where you are in the MK.

Again, don't let any of this get you down - I'm sure you'll make the most of it and you can look back later and chuckle. I look back at some of the planning things we did on our first few trips and just laugh too.

 

[keishashadow]

So this is my family's first trip to Disney, and I don't have any idea how this works. I thought MNSSHP started later in September, but as I was double checking park hours for our trip coming up next weekend, I saw that MNSHHP hours have been added and it is starting on our last day in the parks (9/02). We have MK planned for that day and are saving fireworks and everything for that night. With breakfast ADR's early in the week I don't want to keep the kids up until 10 on our first nights there. If MNSSHP is going on does that mean we won't be able to stay at MK past 7pm??? After a years worth of planning, and checking and double checking park times I'm really frustrated! Maybe It's my fault for not realizing that MNSHHP started so early in September. At this point with Fp+ and ADR's all booked and planned out, I don't know how to rearrange our schedule if things have to change. Can someone calm me down?

First trip is especially difficult to plan. Take a deep breath, you'll have a lovely trip!

You still have wiggle room with FP & ADRs. Prepare yourself to be flexible. I switch things around often up to the day prior for ADRs, as long as you are over 24 hours you can cancel.

A suggestion or two:

Try to switch the breakfast ADRs to the last day (MNSSHP) if they are at MK.

Move the MK day to one without a party scheduled so you can enjoy the FW.

It may not be perfect but will likely work out for you.

MGM or Epcot fireworks the last night is something to consider.

Good luck, don't be discouraged.

 

[whiporee]

You have to understand that people here defend Disney against attacks they feel are unjustified. The insinuation in your original post was that Disney somehow messed this up for you, and people are saying that wasn't the case. You've since said that you weren't saying that about Disney, but people don't always read entire threads before jumping in. And a lot of people -- myself included -- get frustrated with the "Disney is unfair because they force us to plan and then change hours" mantra that many repeat ad naseaum (you weren't, but sometimes message boards breed reflexive responses).

All that said, the only thing that will calm you down is you.n You have to look at options and decide what to do on a go forward.

These are things you can know for sure -- you don't have any ADRs or FPs for times during the party, because they wouldn't let you book them during the party times. So you're not missing out on those opportunities. Since the MK has always posted that it was closing at 7, it wasn't going to have fireworks that night, anyway (I understand that you missed that closing time). So even without a party, you were going to have to pick another day to see the show. There have been a lot of good suggestions as to rearranging dates and buying party tickets and stuff like that, so I think that's going to be the only option for you.

One the other side, though, i will tell you it's hard to put off fireworks for the whole time you're there. It's just too tempting,. So I don't think there's much chance that last night was going to be the only time to see the shows. Disney time works different than other times; bedtimes are hard to manage and enforce. Even when my kids were three and had a 7:30 bedtime at home, we still could never get them into the bed before the fireworks. So I appreciate the good intentions and the stress that has accompanied this news, but I don't think it will actually play out that this was going to be your only shot at MK fireworks. I could be wrong -- I certainly don't know your family -- but you're fearing is a situation that won't actually come to pass.

Good luck. And as the prophet Jimmy Buffett said, "Breathe in, breathe out, move on."

 

[JerseyJanice]

OP, I wish I could give you a hug. It's not so bad. You're still going to Disney World.

 

[kwaziismom]

Yep, the bright side is that touring plans crowd calendar has that day as a 1, so that's awesome. If you don't want to buy MNSSHP tickets, you can always view the fireworks from the Poly, Contempary or Grand Floridian, and start looking for ADR's. Or maybe do the Pirates and Pals fireworks cruise. That's so much fun!

 

[RedWhiteandBlugold]

NM

sorry, thanks for your offer of help. I was going to post the plans later. I was able to sit down this evening and take a look at the plans and I think I figured out somewhere where I can rearrange. Won't be what I had been hoping for, but I will look at the bright side like so many people posted, and hope to take advantage of a less crowded day at MK that day.

 

[RedWhiteandBlugold]

You have to understand that people here defend Disney against attacks they feel are unjustified. The insinuation in your original post was that Disney somehow messed this up for you, and people are saying that wasn't the case. You've since said that you weren't saying that about Disney, but people don't always read entire threads before jumping in. And a lot of people -- myself included -- get frustrated with the "Disney is unfair because they force us to plan and then change hours" mantra that many repeat ad naseaum (you weren't, but sometimes message boards breed reflexive responses).

All that said, the only thing that will calm you down is you.n You have to look at options and decide what to do on a go forward.

These are things you can know for sure -- you don't have any ADRs or FPs for times during the party, because they wouldn't let you book them during the party times. So you're not missing out on those opportunities. Since the MK has always posted that it was closing at 7, it wasn't going to have fireworks that night, anyway (I understand that you missed that closing time). So even without a party, you were going to have to pick another day to see the show. There have been a lot of good suggestions as to rearranging dates and buying party tickets and stuff like that, so I think that's going to be the only option for you.

One the other side, though, i will tell you it's hard to put off fireworks for the whole time you're there. It's just too tempting,. So I don't think there's much chance that last night was going to be the only time to see the shows. Disney time works different than other times; bedtimes are hard to manage and enforce. Even when my kids were three and had a 7:30 bedtime at home, we still could never get them into the bed before the fireworks. So I appreciate the good intentions and the stress that has accompanied this news, but I don't think it will actually play out that this was going to be your only shot at MK fireworks. I could be wrong -- I certainly don't know your family -- but you're fearing is a situation that won't actually come to pass.

Good luck. And as the prophet Jimmy Buffett said, "Breathe in, breathe out, move on."

Yeah I get that. It was just the frustration of everyone piling it on. One or two people pointing it out would have been fine. At the time I posted I did think it was something that had just happened in the last week or two. I don't mind a couple people pointing out to me what I missed, it was just reading post after post about it when I had already admitted I was wrong that was just adding salt to a wound.

 

[mgpan]

Hey OP, don't get down about what happened and all of these opinions. While there were several signs along the way that could have tipped you off to the party on that day, it wasn't something on your radar and you just missed it. It happens. Frankly I think that's pretty easy to do for someone with limited Disney experience that may not necessarily know what to pay attention to or where to look. Also it's 9/2 - I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that Halloween wasn't on the brain! I've accidentally botched a 9AM MK opening when it had been updated to 8AM a time or two and I generally pay attention to the various resources. Stuff happens.

Maybe there's a way to turn lemons into lemonade. Maybe take away a meal or two earlier in the week and save some money for party tickets? Watching Hallowishes from outside the park is an excellent idea too - the view from Poly is great. They shoot perimeter fireworks off during certain segments and frankly the view from outside can be better depending on where you are in the MK.

Again, don't let any of this get you down - I'm sure you'll make the most of it and you can look back later and chuckle. I look back at some of the planning things we did on our first few trips and just laugh too.

I agree with seeing them outside the park, the view from the Poly, even the ferry can be better and much less crowded and hectic than inside the park. Also, unless you get a really good spot it can be hard for little ones to see over adults and shoulder kids. And I agree party tickets are expensive, if WDW keeps selling them and folks keep buying, they'll start the parties in April! They already have them for 4 months.

 

[IrishNYC]

If you have FP and ADRs made for 9/2, they will not be within the hours of the party, so just go to MK that day as planned. Your trip won't be any less magical without the parade and fireworks. DD's first trip at age 5 last year consisted of no fireworks because she was entirely wiped out by that time. None of us saw any fireworks at any of the parks. It was still a fantastic trip. Stop worrying, and be happy you'll be at Disney.

 

[focusondisney]

sorry, thanks for your offer of help. I was going to post the plans later. I was able to sit down this evening and take a look at the plans and I think I figured out somewhere where I can rearrange. Won't be what I had been hoping for, but I will look at the bright side like so many people posted, and hope to take advantage of a less crowded day at MK that day.

Well, I'm sorry the site you were using really steered you wrong. Glad you found a workable alternative. Every trip has to have a glitch, something that goes wrong. I hope this is yours & you found it now, while you're home & can take the time to think it through rather than when you got there. I hope the rest goes smoothly & you have a wonderful vacation!!

 

[Disneymom1126]

1. This will not ruin your trip! It's clear you've spent a lot of time planning and have made reservations, etc. don't let this stress you out!

2. MK will be way more busy on days that there isn't a party, so you will be able to accomplish more at MK on a party day even if you do have to leave at 7! It would probably just cause more stress to try and move around your plans at this point, so I would just go with what you've got planned!

3. There are other places to see the fireworks outside of the park - like others have mentioned the monorail resorts have viewing areas.

Have fun! Enjoy the trip! It will all be fine!

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I'm sorry OP, I know it is very frustrating when plans get made and don't work out (we are going that week also and I had to make adjustments also since I was counting on later hours and additional nights of MSEP that week just as we have had there on previous visits). Up until this week I was sure they would extend MK hours and add MSEP other evenings, we're swapping our plans for Monday and Thursday evenings to catch MSEP and I'm cancelling our adrs for those evenings.

 

[jlnten17]

You have gotten several good suggestions. Park Hoppers would be my choice if it is in your budget so you can still make take advantage of the dining reservations in MK your last day and hop over to see wishes one night earlier in the trip. If that's not an option or you don't want to mess with hopping I think going to MK earlier in the trip and changing your FP+ and dining reservations is possible (Unless it is something very hard to get like PPO CRT). A lot tends to open up days before the trip or even 24 hours before because people are canceling dining reservations to avoid the no show fee. FP+ can typically be had for most things as well and those you can't get you can rope drop (Rope Drop is your best friend you can get sooooo much done). There is so much to do at WDW that there is no way you can do it all in one trip and that's a good thing (reason to come back again). This is our third trip and we have missed Fantasmic our first 2 (crowds, rain, etc) so it is the one show we will plan around this time.

 

[disneymom0104]

Do you have FP past 7pm? I know you can't use FP during the party, so would be surprised if any site was allowing them to be booked past 7pm. You will still have a great time. I know how it feels when things you had planned for so long change at the last minute- but you will have a great time. Obviously if you want to see Wishes you will have to choose a different night, or maybe park hop on your last night there. Or get party tickets, or as someone else mentioned, hang at one of the monorail resorts and watch the Halloween fireworks from there! Changed plans don't necessarily equal ruined plans

 

[JerseyJanice]

I would swap that day with a day you were planning to go to AK or Disney Studios. The FPs at those parks will be easier to change than any you have for Epcot.

ADRs won't be hard to switch because cancellations come up last minute due to the no-show penalty.

Many posters here are veteran WDW guests who enjoy sharing knowledge and experience. Feel free to ask us for help and our opinions. It's what we're here for.

 

[isestrex]

Almost this exact same thing happened to me on my only trip to Disneyland. We had a west coast trip planned, the Disneyland day was set in stone, and I knew this would probably be my only trip to that park for a long long while. I was so nervous that I wouldn't be able to see everything and I had everything planned down to the hour.

Then they announced the Halloween Party dates. I read in horror as my eyes fell upon our date as one of the party dates. We couldn't see the DL version of Fantasmic, Paint the Night or their Fireworks show. It was a big blow but there was nothing we could do.