MNSSHP sold out and some tips from a disabled perspective.

[Tink575]

Last night my dh and I went to MNSSHP sold out crowd. We had few goals, the parade, fireworks, Haunted Mansion if possible, a pic and some trick or treating. What a wonderful night, note we did not wait for characters, see the The Villain show etc. i guess my advice if the party is sold out is to pick the TOP things you want to do and consider anything else a bonus. Our bonus was loads of candy for the dh. We go slow and can't rush, your results can vary a lot.

We got there about 6 and worked our way through, starting with Adventureland where we enjoyed Jungle Cruise getting there just in time as there was a short line, maybe 5 minutes. We ended in Tomorrowland where we spent the most time. Tomorrowland was the least crowded by far and had ample available seats. Listening to the dance party was cute. Cosmic Rays, however was mobbed with huge lines and only one bay open. Fortunately we had eaten before leaving home. I scrapped my plan to get a snack there.

We watched the fireworks from the bridge to Tomorrowland getting there about 5 minutes before and it worked out fine.

We lined up for the parade in Frontierland by the Hall of the Presidents a few minutes before the Headless Horseman came through. It was the nicest bunch of people in years, so considerate. i hung back and leaned on a post, as I can't sit, my dh stood next to me, he is very tall and so was out of the way. Those people by the ropes sat and stayed sitting down!!!, folks brought kids up to stand behind them so they could see, what a polite bunch of people. The lighting was increased from what I remember from other parties and that helped me see.

We trick or treated here and there and got to Tomorrowland and hung out and rested. We started back and found the photopass photographer with the hitchhiking ghosts all alone, ok we had our pic too! Then we saw the Haunted Mansion had no line! We went right in, the doors were open and waiting and the stretching room 1/2 full. My dh was able to lead me right in. Main St was a shock, when we got there we found out where everyone was, total mob scene. We left the park around 11:30. Short line for the monorail and got on the first tram to the parking lot. We were home by midnight.

 

[Aladora]

Sounds like a successful night all around!

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for the report.

I would agree with the advice to decide what is important to you.
There is so much to do that doing it all is not going to be possible. Some of the things are pretty time consuming (especially waiting for characters).

The food situation is also a good thing to keep in mind. People expect that there will be a lot of places to fact, but actually most close at 7 when the party starts. So, if you haven't eaten before, check the MNSSHP maps you get when you go in.

 

[BroganMc]

Don't forget to go in at 4pm if you want to do rides. We find we're better off attempting rides before the party starts. (Main exception being Haunted Mansion which takes on some special holiday theming after dark.)

Go against where the crowd congregates. For us that means staying away from Main Street or the Castle circle before 9:30pm fireworks. (We have our own favorite viewing spot for that.)

Our plan usually begins with a ride or two, then people watching to see all the costumes, trick-or-treating thrown in, setting up to view fireworks, then view parade, then trick-or-treating and incidentals in the last hour of the park.

We also hang out a half hour or so after midnight enjoying the special lighting and music on Main Street and Castle circle. That allows the crowds to disperse on the buses and ferries which gives us an easier departure. If you leave at midnight you'll end up sitting outside doing nothing. If you leave before, you miss out on Main Street.

Oh and bag your lunch or settle for a kiosk turkey leg or something. We eat before we go and snack on candy. My sister made the mistake of waiting until 7:30pm to feed her family at Cosmic Rays. By the time they finished the party was half over. We plan to eat while waiting for fireworks or parade.

 

[Tink575]

Don't forget to go in at 4pm if you want to do rides. We find we're better off attempting rides before the party starts. (Main exception being Haunted Mansion which takes on some special holiday theming after

We also hang out a half hour or so after midnight enjoying the special lighting and music on Main Street and Castle circle. That allows the crowds to disperse on the buses and ferries which gives us an easier departure. If you leave at midnight you'll end up sitting outside doing nothing. If you leave before, you miss out on Main Street.

Oh and bag your lunch or settle for a kiosk turkey leg or something. We eat before we go and snack on candy. My sister made the mistake of waiting until 7:30pm to feed her family at Cosmic Rays. By the time they finished the party was half over. We plan to eat while waiting for fireworks or parade.

Very good advice, we knew about 4pm but didn't expect to be able to stay as long as we did. I was very glad we ate before we got there, I made sure we did because we didn't have any ADRs. I ended eating a few snacks from the candy bag and filling my water bottle and dumping in a Lipton Ice Tea packet. I wanted to make it up the hill to the monorail while I could and only downside was my left ankle was skinned by a stroller. EEP the good news is that wasn't the ankle I broke in Apr or I probably would have fallen down. Disney needs shin guards on those darn hard plastic strollers :X

 

[Tink575]

Edited because my prev reply did post (sigh)