MNSSHP-Tips, Tricks, Secrets newbies should know (from the 2009 party!)

[Tri-circle-D]

The night we went to the party we went through the line by the Mad Hatter at the very end of the party because I had read that they'd give handfuls out then. They did not do this for us. Many of them had tons of candy left in their barrels and it was almost midnight.

I just wanted to let others know that they don't always give out handfuls of candy. BUT, let me say also, that when we got home we weighed all of our candy and together the 5 of us got over 12 pounds of candy. You really don't need a special strategy. We went through every candy line once and then we went through the Mad Hatter line a second time at the end of the night and that was all we did. At no point did any cast member give us a big handful and we still ended up with WAY more candy than we could eat!!

For those of you interested in maximum candy acquisition, I will specifically tell you where we have always had success topping off our bags . . .

Just outside of the Carousel of Progress, they have a candy station set up where you walk through some illuminated hoops, and end at barrels where castmembers are stationed to distribute the candy (I guess this is a futuristic candy station?). Early in the evening, you will be waiting on line to get candy. Later in the evening, you will be able to walk right through and get the candy. If you wish, you can continue looping though as many times as you like. In my experience, toward the end of the evening, the castmembers will give you handfuls of candy, until your bag is full. It has always worked for us.

Maybe in other areas, they are stingy with the candy distribution, but not at this one.

Now for a word of caution. We like to eat candy. But, we had a lot of that dang Halloween candy hanging around at our house for months! It might be fun collecting it all, but it probably is not a good idea to get too much.

TCD

 

[billsfan]

If you really want to meet SW, my advice is to get in line while she is on break -- ask the CM what time her next set is and where you should line up and then get in line 10 minutes before she id due to appear. Once she is out and everyone sees her and her little friends, the line closes in minutes.

I 100% agree with this. We were there in Oct 2006 and tried to get pictures with Snow White & the 7 Dwarves. The FOUR times we went to get in line we were told the line was closed and to come back later. Also I believe they will be even more popular with the Blu-ray release of Snow White.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

are the characters giving out the candy? is it hard to tell which lines are for candy and which for are for pictures with characters?

can we get wrist bands a little before 4:00? We have a pirate league appt at 4 and don't want to be late plus dinner at LTT at 5:30. We have reg tix with parkhopper so we could use that to get in at about 3:45 and then have to go back to get wristbands after the pirate league?

Is that clear as mud?

thanks!

Which night are you going? We also have a Pirate League appointment (4:15) and a 5:30 LTT reservation -- on 9/4

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Hi, I will be attending the party on Sept. 4th ...can't wait.....
So lets say I get there at 6pm.....What should I do ...??? get candy or photos or get to the rides????

Thanks

We'll be there the same day!

 

[karacarter]

Is it possible to get pictures with the villians and 7 dwarfs and the carriage all at one party and still have time to trick or treat? Is there a gargoyle there for pictures as well?

 

[DisneyObsessive]

Are sunday nights a less busy night or just as busy as say a friday? Was wondering if we'd have to worry about tickets ahead of time or if we can get them the day of no problem... I'm a CM and i know we get a discount but I believe its only the day of that party that we can get it, so I'm wondering do i risk it for the discount or buy full price prior to?

 

[JackSkeleton]

Awesome thread. As a first time going to MNSSHP, I have a few questions for the more experienced attendees. lol

Do alot of adults dress up in costume for this? My wife and I aren't sure if we are going to bother and just dress up the kids.

Is it ridiculously busy ON Halloween night? We'll be there Oct 30th, 31st, and Nov 1st. So we could go any of those nights but we were planning on going the 31st.

I've heard about the "some what secret hidden treasure" of the Headless Horseman Haunted Hayride at the Fort Wilderness Campgrounds. Do they still do this? Is there a way to find a schedule or anything official on it?

Thanks so much. We are really looking forward to this trip and the kids are so excited we can't wait, three more months! I just wish now that we knew ahead of time about the free dining. We booked back in Jan, and they didn't announce it until Spring sometime. It figures too because we got MYW plus deluxe dining. Oh well.

 

[pixidust princess]

We can't wait for our first MNSSHP on 10/6! Keep the tips coming!!! Thanks to all the party veterans for their wisdom!!!!

 

[tygerlilly27]

this will be our 1st MNSSHP...we will be there on oct8th. great tips and ideas!! we cant wait!!

 

[Mgoblue44]

Was at MNSSHP 9/08, I'd list the following:

1) No need to hit all the candy stations, they give out handfuls. We went to 2 or 3 and it was plenty.

2) AWESOME character meet right in front of Cindy's castle immediately after parade. Your only photo op with all the villians. Very cool.

3) I wouldn't miss the parade.

4) The fireworks show is not much different from the several you'll already see on your trip, use this time to make up some serious ground while everyone else is watching fireworks.

Enjoy the party, it's a lot of fun.

 

[Dolce27]

I just want to make sure I understand this correctly. If I have park tickets for 5 days w/o the PH, I could visit a different park each day and then on the 5th day (which I would have MNSSHP tickets for) I could go to a different park in the morning and still get into the MK for the party at 4pm? Ultimately be park hopping on the last day?

Since your MNSSHP ticket is a separate ticket from your park pass, it will not be considered park hopping. You will not need your park pass at all to enter the Magic Kingdom for the party. You will only need your party ticket.

 

[Tri-circle-D]

I've heard about the "some what secret hidden treasure" of the Headless Horseman Haunted Hayride at the Fort Wilderness Campgrounds. Do they still do this? Is there a way to find a schedule or anything official on it?

In 2008 the Haunted Hayride became a Haunted Carriage Ride. You can read all about it in nauseating detail here:

A Definitive Report on the 2008 Haunted Carriage Rides


I don't see any information here on this Board yet about the 2009 offerings, but this link will take you where that information will be posted, when it becomes available: http://www.wdwinfo.com/recreation/trailride.htm#hauwag

TCD

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Haven't ever been, but I just had a thought. For the PP who said they got 12 lbs of candy between 5 people -- if you don't eat it all before you leave, do you really have enough space and weight left in your suitcase to bring it all home? Wouldn't want to get charged for overweight luggage for candy.

 

[Iwant2BAprincess]

Is it possible to get pictures with the villians and 7 dwarfs and the carriage all at one party and still have time to trick or treat? Is there a gargoyle there for pictures as well?

I dont remember seeing a gargoyle-

Last year we did the HM carriage shots, Cindy's carriage, Snow and the dwarves and the villians-no problem. Longest wait was for Snow-but in the process we discovered that watching the fireworks from behind the castle was kinda neat, slowest moving was Cindy's carriage-the photopass guys are very accommidating-translation you want ashot of all 4 of your kids, then by twos and a whole group-no-problem

 

[mom2rtk]

I dont remember seeing a gargoyle-

Last year we did the HM carriage shots, Cindy's carriage, Snow and the dwarves and the villians-no problem. Longest wait was for Snow-but in the process we discovered that watching the fireworks from behind the castle was kinda neat, slowest moving was Cindy's carriage-the photopass guys are very accommidating-translation you want ashot of all 4 of your kids, then by twos and a whole group-no-problem

Glad to hear that! Don't get in line behind me. I'll be in Fairy Godmother costume with Cinderella rags underneath. My plan is to take the cloak off for pics with my daughter in both.... Sorry in advance to everyone in line......

What's everyone's recommendation. Are the nighttime photos better or the daylight ones before the sun sets???

We got to do the carriage once, but it had been sprinkling and the photopass folks were gone.... I was SO disappointed....

 

[SassyCat]

Dh and I are going for the first time this year, and I cannot wait! It sounds like so much fun! Thanks for all the great tips!

 

[aprhj]

I just love the people on this board. I knew nothing of the Haunted Carriage Rides and just called. They are currently taking bookings I think beginning Oct 1, I booked Oct 3 at 8:30 pm. The times were 5:30-9 or 9:30 and the cost was a flat $60.

Thanks for the info, now we have an exciting way to end our trip.

 

[gracie1]

Great tips...I need to write these down. We will be there 10/27. I was hoping to do a waterpark early, but get back to the hotel in time to maybe get the kids a nap. I don't know now...thinking we might just hang around the hotel and swim until 4.

Were doing the parade the same time as you are!

 

[auntfrannie]

For the photo ops with the characters, are there park photographers there where you use your photopass card? Or do you take your own pictures?
Thx.

 

[billsfan]

For you late nighters. Get in line for a popular ride right at closing. Don't move too fast when leaving the ride and take a nice stroll out of the park. Have Main Street and the Castle to yourselves as you exit. I believe you can still pick up your discounted MNSSHP picture as you leave. We picked ours up at around 12:30 am. In 2006 we didn't leave the park until around 12:45 - 1:00 am. We were back at ASMu at 1:30 am.