MNSSHP STRATEGY FOR FIRST TIMER

[THEJOEL]

Been to the world multiple times and feel like an expert on how to tour. However this will be my family's first time attending the Halloween party. We have an 8 y/o princess. Anybody have some tips and tricks for the first timer?

 

[fluffykalie]

We went last year. if you want any of the party merchandise buy it early since it does run out. Watch the second parade since it's less crowded but do stake out a spot 30 mins early for it.

 

[godders]

If you can afford it and have time go to 2 parties because there is so much to see and do (and characters to meet) you might not fit it all in one party

If you can't, make a list of must-dos as more info about the party comes out

 

[jacobsmommy]

Sorry to hijack your thread, but we will be first timers to the Halloween party too! I thought about two parties but we will only be there for four nights, so not sure I want to give up two to the parties. I would appreciate touring advice for the party too. I know we want to see the 7 dwarves, some of the other characters, some villains, the parade and fireworks.

 

[THEJOEL]

If you can afford it and have time go to 2 parties because there is so much to see and do (and characters to meet) you might not fit it all in one party

If you can't, make a list of must-dos as more info about the party comes out

LOL
Two parties are out of the question. Only have so many days.

 

[beldred]

MNSSHP first timers here too! After several fall trips to WDW, we are finally going to try the party. It looks so great! Hanging around to steal any party tips you get.

Our highest priority is photos with Grumpy Dwarf, Maleficent, maybe a couple other villains if the lines aren't bad (DH will not typically wait in line for M&G's), special MNSSHP photo ops and merch, and the parade.

 

[Jimsig]

You can get in as early as 4p though the ticket says the party begins at 7p.

 

[smitch425]

We get to the gate around 3:30 so we can enter right at 4pm. From 4-5:15 we meet any regular daytime characters we want to meet while we are dressed up, and at 5:15, we eat a QS meal. By 6pm, we are in line for a high priority party-only character. That gets us done with our first character by 7:20ish. The next couple of hours just depend on who we want to see. We will probably see a castle show this year since it will be a new show. We stand near The Plaza for Hallowishes, and head to Frontierland immediately after it's over to grab a spot for the 2nd parade, getting snacks along the way. There is plenty of room back there, and a long path for the headless horseman to ride. We try to trick or treat whenever we see a spot, and even if the lines look long, they move very quickly. We meet fantasyland characters after the parade, such as Goofy and Donald, and the WtP gang. We always ride HM and Buzz (because the pics are great!). We stay until the very end.

If anyone is interested in joining my guest list thread, here is the link...

http://disboards.com/threads/official-2015-mnsshp-guest-list-thread.3383734/

The instructions are in the first post, and some of my past party pics are in post 2.

 

[MsHook]

We get to the gate around 3:30 so we can enter right at 4pm. From 4-5:15 we meet any regular daytime characters we want to meet while we are dressed up, and at 5:15, we eat a QS meal. By 6pm, we are in line for a high priority party-only character. That gets us done with our first character by 7:20ish. The next couple of hours just depend on who we want to see. We will probably see a castle show this year since it will be a new show. We stand near The Plaza for Hallowishes, and head to Frontierland immediately after it's over to grab a spot for the 2nd parade, getting snacks along the way. There is plenty of room back there, and a long path for the headless horseman to ride. We try to trick or treat whenever we see a spot, and even if the lines look long, they move very quickly. We meet fantasyland characters after the parade, such as Goofy and Donald, and the WtP gang. We always ride HM and Buzz (because the pics are great!). We stay until the very end.

If anyone is interested in joining my guest list thread, here is the link...

http://disboards.com/threads/official-2015-mnsshp-guest-list-thread.3383734/

The instructions are in the first post, and some of my past party pics are in post 2.

This is a good plan - we pretty much do the same thing. We arrive at 4 and go get photos with Mickey & Minnie straight away as we don't mind about them not being in costume. Then we go on a ride or two and grab a QS meal before getting in line for our main character. Last time it was the 7 dwarves - this year I think we'll go for Jack and Sally. We've been able to snag a place on main street for the 2nd parade immediately after the fireworks the last 2 times. Not sure if this will work this year with the new hub though.

Make sure you have a list of your daughters must see characters and prioritise them. You won't see everything in one night, but you don't really need to if you get all your must do's done. Hope you have a great time!

 

[mj512]

We haven't been in several years, but when we did go (probably in 2009, gosh we need to go again), we carried a candy bag around that whole stinking park most the night getting heavier and heavier. At the end CM were dumping tons of candy in bags at the end. Like they filled up our whole reusable grocery tote. They said they had an allotment each night that they had to get rid of that night. Now obviously in 5 years that could change, but if it hasn't, I would wait for the trick or treating towards the end so you aren't carrying heavy candy around all night.

 

[busymommy2pink]

Well
If you are my daughter you ride splash mountain 7 times without getting off. After 40 minutes I informed her I couldn't do it again lol. We trick or treated. Saw the fireworks and parade. Did the monsters dance party. She had the greatest time. We did miss all the characters (saw a few in passing) but she didn't care. It was still magical.

 

[THEJOEL]

Any more tips??

 

[OhThePain]

If you want to see J&S or the 7D, the earlier you get on line the better (the less it will eat away at your party time). My wife and I got on line for J&S in 2013 at 4:15. We were first on line but the line started to grow pretty quickly after that. The line was well over 90 minutes by the time the party started. In 2011 we got on line for the 7D at around 5:30, at which time we were 8th or so in line. By the time we were done with them and did the trick or treat trail that was next to them (they used to meet by the Splash exit) the line stretched to BTMRR. We spent the day at MK, so the long waits before the party didn't bother us.

Don't waste all your time going on rides. A few rides are fine, but there is a lot to see and do and the time goes very quickly. We usually stick with the ones that are more outdoors like TTA, AO, BTMRR because they sort of give a different perspective of the park... and of course HM.

As a PP said, get your souvenirs early, it is limited. Invest in the $5 Halloween party bag. It was a lot easier to carry that bag around then trick or treat bags plus a souvenir bag, plus other snacks along the way, etc. I used the trick or treat bag and my wife used the $5 bag for trick or treating, then when we weren't trick or treating I'd put my bag in the big bag and carry it. Just makes things easy. And yes, adults are encouraged to trick or treat.

We LOVE the Boo-To-You Parade and will watch both given the chance. We watch the first from Frontier Land (where it starts) and the second from MSUSA.

We didn't like the way the villains were done at our first party in 2011 (it was a chaotic mess) so we didn't even bother in 2013. Maleficent had the biggest line and a lot of people who had waited to see her didn't get to because the mingle part of the Mix and Mingle didn't last very long.

 

[Cando86]

I hope it's okay to post this website but this was really helpful in planning our strategy for this October!

http://www.disneytouristblog.com/mickeys-not-so-scary-halloween-party-review-tips/

 

[Marissaq]

Do u know if Anna and Else are at the halloween party?

 

[smitch425]

Do u know if Anna and Else are at the halloween party?

Anna and Elsa should be there. They met in their normal location inside Fairytale Hall last year.