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

[mommykds]

Thanks for this thread. The party map was very helpful. We will be at the party on 10/29.

This will be our 3rd time attending MNSSHP. (2005 & 2007)

 

[maburke]

I read about a dozen pages of the thread and can't find an answer to this question. Hope someone can help.

How are they handling crowd control this year for MNSSHP attendees before 7pm? Do they route everyone into one land while the rest of the park is cleared-out?

We are attending one of the parties and want to meet-up with some folks around 6pm who are NOT planning to attend. Is there a good spot in the MK where we can meet and chat for 15-20 minutes--before 6:30pm--without being shooed-away by CMs trying to clear the park?

Thanks!

Just to be clear, if you have tickets to the party, you can enter as early as 4pm, even if you don't have park tickets for that day. (I know, we did it last week.) Then, as other people said, they don't shoo other people out until 7pm. So you have 3 hours to spend with the other folks, wherever you want.

 

[guynhawaii]

Aloha,

Enjoyed MNSSHP 02 and 09 Oct. Following lessons learn are provided:

1. Star Wars Tooth Brushes. They only issue a set amount at the start of each party. Once all the brushes are gone they are gone for the night. They generally last until about 7:30 PM each party night. They are issued in Tomorrowland by the Dance Party.

2. Recommended Tour Planning for just about everything except for Characters:
a. Be in the park with dinner done, ready to go by 5:30 PM at the very latest. Start at Adventureland and work the park clockwise...Frontierland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland and then the Toon Town Trick or Treat street leading into Tomorrowland. Catch the fireworks at 9:30 PM and the second parade at 10:30 PM.

3. The Cinderalla Carriage was open for pictures at 6 PM.

Happy Treats and Boo to You!

 

[VegasMike21]

Definetly get in line early for a picture with Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs, the line does get long, we missed the 1st cut but were first in line for their 2nd cut as they do come out for 30 minutes then take a 30 minute break. We waited over an hour but the picture was worth it.

 

[RangerPooh]

It's probably been covered, but when you enter the park for the party do they issue you trick or treat bags or is it bring your own?

 

[JhazaBoo]

After entering the park for the party, you will be handed a bag shortly after you get the band placed around your wrist. You can also take your own as well. I kept my mom's bag (took her to MNSSHP for early bday present) and used it to hold all the little souvenirs I got during the day we went.

The bag design is rather a keepsake in itself for some if they wanted to, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on one side and Up on the other.

 

[thecapells]

We plan to go as Pirates of the Caribbean this year.
What's the policy on foam and plastic swords and daggers?
I know you can get them in the park and I think at the Pirate's League.
Can we bring our own in for the party?

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

We plan to go as Pirates of the Caribbean this year.
What's the policy on foam and plastic swords and daggers?
I know you can get them in the park and I think at the Pirate's League.
Can we bring our own in for the party?

DS4 had a foam sword and shield for his Prince Philip costume. They were from disneystore.com. No one said anything to us about them.

 

[goofy's friends]

we went Oct. 6th and thanks to this thread got to do just about everything we wanted!! We happened on the carriage at 6:15 and there was no line! We rode a few rides in FL, then went to stand in line for Snow White (well, I stood in line and the kids and dad rode more rides). They didn't come out until 7:30--so my wait was about an hour, but worth it--so cute! We went straight from there to get faces painted in Toon Town (again I waited in line while they ran to rides and trickortreated). The wait here was about 30 min. We went down the Alice Trail and ended up in Tomorrowland, where the kids LOVED the dance party and Chip danced with them alone--adorable! We went through the light tunnel and then headed over to Haunted Mansion. We got our picture, but the kids didn't want to ride. From there we went Trick or treating down by the paddleboat and came up where they were taking pics for the hitchhiking ghosts. Then we went to Frontier land and got candy. I got us a spot for the parade and the kids rode BTMRR in the dark like they wanted. They got back just in time to see the Headless Horseman and the parade was the best one we've ever seen in Disney!!! Loved it!! We headed straight to Adventureland after that and did trickortreating there--they had pirates giving out candy in the Pirate's League--fun! A quick ride on Pirate's and then to the villan's show! We left after that. The only dissapointing thing was that my camera quit after the parade, so wehn we got in line for Jafar--we didn't get a picture. Other than than it was a great night!!!

 

[thecapells]

DS4 had a foam sword and shield for his Prince Philip costume. They were from disneystore.com. No one said anything to us about them.

Anyone have any information about a plastic sword?
It's a bit more "weapon-like" than the foam ones but clearly not real...

 

[Nutz4Dizney]

I went to the party Oct 2nd and Oct 6th.
I got back yesterday, I will give you ALL the details on where to find what characters tomorrow (maybe). I'm sick so I'm not really up to anything today.

By the way between the 2 parties I saw EVERY character, made all the parties and did some extras so I have lots to tell

 

[Nutz4Dizney]

My son was dressed as a pirate and we had a sword with us (plastic) when we arrived in the park.
We also received a plastic sword for each of us with our Pirate League makeovers.

I have many details and photos to show.

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

Anyone have any information about a plastic sword?
It's a bit more "weapon-like" than the foam ones but clearly not real...

If it looks like something you could buy in the parks (think Pirates gift shop, etc.), you're probably fine.

 

[bgsnmky]

Did the villians stay around for pictures after the 10:05 villians show...and was it extremely crowded from people watching the fireworks.

I wanted to do this, but was also worried about people crowding the villians and then crowding the street and not getting a good view of the parade.

I was also there on Sept 4. I had the best time (so did the kids) I saw the 9:30 fireworks stood for the 10:05 villans show and saw the 10:30 parade. Creullea and Maleifant(sp) were on the right hand side for pics and the evil queen and Queen of hearts where on the left. The CM for snow white side they come out for an 1/2 an hour and leave for an 1/2 an hour. I saw guest with a really cool black and orange treat or treat bag w/ ghost mickey on it. I think there selling it at the party its smaller than the totes from the disney store but they look like a thicker material. If you find those really cool blinking ghost on a blinking lanyard buy them fast dont wait they sell out fast. I looked all over for then and they were completely sold out they are only 5 dollars

I dont know why but we got to the MK before 4 and they were letting us in. We were inside the turnstyles 15 mins before 4, waiting for the cm to put on our bracelets I was so happy beacuse we had adrs for the plaza at 4:30 and we were able to take our time and take pictures

The only long lines I had that were slow were Snow White and Cinderella Carriage. but all others moved pretty quick. However we still didnt have time to do everything I didnt get a chance to take picture with any of the characters in adventureland If anyone has the Piarte leauge adrs before the party arrive to your adr way before your time. My adr was for 6pm so we got there 5 mins before. I thought that was good, nope they were running behind (and taking walk ins) We didnt get done untill 7:20 However it was a great experiance for the kids.

 

[TexDisneyMom]

We went to the party on 10/8. It was our first time and it was a blast!!! We dressed up as the Flinstones and received a lot of attention. Almost every ride was a walk on. I couldnt belive it, when do you ever get to just walk on to Peter Pan and Winne the Pooh at 7:30 at night???!!! That night was my son's birthday, and it was really special. The parade was wonderful and so were the fireworks. We didnt stand in line to take any pictures, but the lines didnt look that bad. We hit all the trick or treat stations. Candy was not all that great, but it still was fun to collect it. It was an awesome time.

 

[bgsnmky]

My favorite thing to do at the Halloween party is to see the characters dressed in Halloween costumes. It is like I spend time finding them.

There was a great list on this thread of the characters and some evenstate "in costume". I was wondering if those that have been can confirm that the ones that don't say in costume..don't look any different than if you see them during the day.

I want to make sure I am spending time looking and getting pics of the ones in halloween costumes.

Thanks.

Below is the list that was from this thread..I just cut and pasted.
(Some I know like Snow white etc won't be in special costume).



* Cinderella's coach is out in the Fantasyland stroller parking area (next to It's A Small World). Get there early- the line gets long and closes quickly.

* Tarzan, Jane, Terk, Rafiki, and Baloo are in a large room next to the Dole Whip stand that is opened up for the party. As you exit, they give you special candy it was different from the candy being distributed elsewhere. It's on your right as soon as you cross over the bridge to Adventureland. You enter the room referred to through doors that are adjacent to the little dining area. There are cast members stationed there inviting people in, and there is a small sign identifying the area.

* Alice, Tweedle Dee and Dum, the White Rabbit, Mad Hatter, and the Queen of Hearts are on the trail between Toontown and Tommorrowland.

* Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs are in Fantasyland near Dumbo or the entrance to Toontown, fairly close to the teacups (I have heard different stories of where they are - so check with a CM) Get there early- the line gets long and closes quickly.

* Mickey and Minnie in their Halloween Costumes were at the beginning of Main Street, in a Gazebo, between Exposition Hall and the Train Station. I also heard you can find Mickey in costume in his house and Minnie in Toontown Hall. Again ask a CM

* Donald at Donald's Boat

* Goofy at Barnstormer

* Cinderella/Prince Charming and Aurora/Prince Phillip should be in Toontown in the Princess room

* Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore and Piglet are out, in costume near Pooh's Playground

* Woody, Jessie and Bullseye should be in Frontierland, near the Diamond Horseshoe

* Peter Pan, Wendy, Hook, and Smee should be near the PotC ride

* Aladdin, Jasmine, Abu, and Genie should be near the Carpet ride

* Daisy, Pluto, Chip, Dale, Belle at Toontown Town Hall gift shop

* Little Einsteins at Toontown Train station

* Ariel at Ariel's Grotto

* Goliath the Gargoyle behind Cinderella Castle

* Br'er Bear & Br'er Rabbit at Big Thunder Mountain

* Buzz Lightyear at Timekeeper

* Stitch at Cosmic Ray's

* Fairies in Toontown tent

* Stepsisters and Lady Tremaine in Belle's Garden (I heard Merlin was here at one time)

 

[copperbrick]

We're back from WDW - went to MNSSHP on October 2, and it was wonderful! Since we were without kids on this trip, we skipped the candy lines and did only the rides, parade, fireworks.

NO waiting! It was wonderful. Our longest wait was for Peter Pan's Flight which was maybe five minutes at the most.

Parade and fireworks were awesome. I had watched the parade on YouTube a few times, so I thought it wouldn't be as much fun since I knew what it was going to be like . . . WRONG! It was great.

We watched both the fireworks and parage from the train station, second level. A great spot that also gives an easy acess to the exit area if not staying afterwards. The trick is to leave just before the parade ends.

The Boo-To-You music is more fun in person, too. On YouTube it, well, frankly drove me a bit crazy. In person, I couldn't get enough.

Haunted Mansion was closed that night, alas. A true Halloween disappointment, of course, but we went another night (not a party night -- cannot remember the date but It was a late night).

We were surprised by an interaction with a cast member . . .

When we went on Haunted Mansion, the cast member who showed us into the stretch room had fun sneaking up on people and silently boo-ing them with a haunted look. She was quite talented, and she was hysterical!

It was also a bit scary since the performance was unexpected (at least by us!).

That night, it was an adult crowd with a couple of teenage girls who were going on the ride for the first time. The cast member really made the ride special for them by sneaking up on them more than others.

They screamed and laughed through the whole thing! The cast member set them up perfectly for not knowing what was coming next, so by the time they sat down to ride, they were pumped and primed, and screamed every turn.

Everyone was laughing and having a blast listening to the girls, because we'd all done the ride a zillion times and knew not to be scared.

So here's the thing: We all loved it, but the interaction might have frightened small children. Again, there were no small children there, and it was so much fun -- I'm not complaining, but I would ask first if it this might take place if I took a little one on.

Question: Is this the cast member interaction a new thing, or was this just something that the cast member was having fun with that night?

 

[DaniTaylor]

The cast interaction depends on the cast member. I have been on the ride many times and have seen the cast sneaking up on people and really putting on a good show and I've been on other times where nothing happens. I think they also play to their audience if it's a more adult crowd they will be different then with a group of small children.

 

[JhazaBoo]

They probably changed this from last year, but on Alice and Mad Hatter's Treat Trail...only Hatter and Alice were there the night I went. Tweedles, Queen, and White Rabbit were meeting by the Tea Party. :/

Also can anyone confirm a sighting of Walrus at all or is he retired with no chance of being seen again?

 

[GoofyMomInOhio]

I get more and more excited everytime I read this thread. This is our 1st MNSSHP! Only 8 more days till we go.