NOW I'M PANICKING...Just a few quick questions ..

[asfarrell]

Just booked September 26 -September 30. Quick Birthday vacay. Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween JUST released their dates. (Kids are old, we aren't doing that this time) My whole perfectly planned out trip has been disrupted..lol...We were doing MK that Friday but now due to MNSSHP I will rearrange...will a Saturday be TERRIBLY crowded at MK (that Sunday is MNSSHP too)? We are only doing MK and Hollywood studios this trip. We are doing BOG for dinner and dont want to leave the park early because of MNSSHP. I won't even begin to touch on the "if Star Wars" opens...lol
Orrrr... I can shift my WHOLE vacation Friday to Tuesday, instead of Thursday to Monday...
First (Disney) World Problems
Thank you...

 

[mom2rtk]

Yes, the MK will be terribly busy on a Saturday night during party season.

 

[mesaboy2]

Generally, Saturdays at MK during party season are very busy because of the parties on Fridays and Sundays. On the plus side, Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge opening by September is highly, highly unlikely.

 

[mamapenguin]

Yes, the MK will be terribly busy on a Saturday night during party season.

Like super duper busy, not to mention trying to leave. Forget the monorail or ferry, it was so busy they were bussing to the transportation center and that wait was long. Hopefully it was better for resort guests, but that’s one mistake I won’t repeat.

 

[asfarrell]

Generally, Saturdays at MK during party season are very busy because of the parties on Fridays and Sundays. On the plus side, Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge opening by September is highly, highly unlikely.

Lol...thanks for that little bit of positivity

 

[asfarrell]

So...pay extra, do MNSSHP, at least we can stay longer in the park or stay through Tuesday and do MK Monday night?

 

[dachsie]

MNSSHP is fun and you would enjoy it. But I would not discount going to MK on a party day. You can stay til 6 then go eat somewhere and can go back to get an early nite, or hang out in Disney Springs. The crowds are much better on a party day and you will get more done than on a Saturday.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

So...pay extra, do MNSSHP, at least we can stay longer in the park or stay through Tuesday and do MK Monday night?

YOU have to decide what is best for your family. No one knows them like you do. I don't travel to Disney during the winter months, so I couldn't give you suggestions even if I wanted to. I would definitely hear out any advice the DISers leave you then decide if that will work for you. As much as I've been to Disney, I STILL learn something new here on EVERY trip!

 

[asfarrell]

We did MNSSHP several years back, we did enjoy it. If we leave at 6 (when the party starts) I assume we will miss the lighting of the castle (our favorite) and parade. If we stay for MNSSHP, do you know if they allow later dining reservations, during the party? Particularly, BOG...thanks!

 

[DebbieB]

We did MNSSHP several years back, we did enjoy it. If we leave at 6 (when the party starts) I assume we will miss the lighting of the castle (our favorite) and parade. If we stay for MNSSHP, do you know if they allow later dining reservations, during the party? Particularly, BOG...thanks!

The lighting of the castle is Christmas party. You can stay past 6:00 for it, official party time is 7:00. You just can't get in any ride lines past 6:00.

 

[hiroMYhero]

I assume we will miss the lighting of the castle (our favorite) and parade.

The Castle lighting takes place during the Christmas season beginning in November.

The Boo To You parade viewing is for Party Guests-only.

The MNSSHP dates were released in mid-January and Parties have begun in August the last couple of years.

 

[bigbabyblues]

Every non-party night at MK will be really busy. I would go on a non-party day and then hop after MK closes, but we don't care for HEA at all and wouldn't bother to see it again anyway.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

We did MNSSHP several years back, we did enjoy it. If we leave at 6 (when the party starts) I assume we will miss the lighting of the castle (our favorite) and parade. If we stay for MNSSHP, do you know if they allow later dining reservations, during the party? Particularly, BOG...thanks!

As others have noted, they do not light the castle during MNSSHP. They will still run the Festival of Fantasy parade during regular park hours, but you need a party ticket to see Boo to You. MNSSHP is also quite crowded, so, no matter how you slice it, you are going to encounter crowded evenings in MK that time of year. Personally, I wouldn't spend the extra money on the party just for some extra hours in MK, if that's what you are looking for. Nor would I buy a party ticket and then spend party time eating at BOG.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

Do you have hoppers? Go to MK on a party day (it won’t be too crowded) then hop to DHS. I always go right after Thanksgiving and that’s what we do quite often on party days. It works out great

 

[focusondisney]

We did MNSSHP several years back, we did enjoy it. If we leave at 6 (when the party starts) I assume we will miss the lighting of the castle (our favorite) and parade. If we stay for MNSSHP, do you know if they allow later dining reservations, during the party? Particularly, BOG...thanks!

Yes, there is dining at BOG during the party. The question is always, do you really want to pay to be at the party & then spend a chunk of it eating?

As far as the parade, you know there is no night time parade anymore, right? There is an afternoon parade & special parades during the parties.

 

[sharonabe]

Just booked September 26 -September 30. Quick Birthday vacay. Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween JUST released their dates. (Kids are old, we aren't doing that this time) My whole perfectly planned out trip has been disrupted..lol...We were doing MK that Friday but now due to MNSSHP I will rearrange...will a Saturday be TERRIBLY crowded at MK (that Sunday is MNSSHP too)? We are only doing MK and Hollywood studios this trip. We are doing BOG for dinner and dont want to leave the park early because of MNSSHP. I won't even begin to touch on the "if Star Wars" opens...lol
Orrrr... I can shift my WHOLE vacation Friday to Tuesday, instead of Thursday to Monday...
First (Disney) World Problems
Thank you...

Is there anyway you can make Thur the 25th your MK day/night? The Sat and Mon will be crazy as in like Christmas crazy because they are sandwiched between party nights and they are usual days for people to schedule MK. If you can get in early enough to do MK on the evening of the 25th, then you could do a party night DAY at MK to get in all the rides. Not sure what type ticket you have, but an extra day would be worth more to me than paying to go to the party and then spending an hour or more eating dinner during it. BoG is open during the party, by the way.

 

[mamaofsix]

MNSSHP is fun and you would enjoy it. But I would not discount going to MK on a party day. You can stay til 6 then go eat somewhere and can go back to get an early nite, or hang out in Disney Springs. The crowds are much better on a party day and you will get more done than on a Saturday.

100 % agree with this! We went to MK on a Friday Party day last year in November (Christmas Party). The crowds were SO LIGHT all day long until about 4:00 - it was fabulous. We got way more done than we would have if we went on a non-party day/evening.

We made dinner reservations at Liberty Tree Tavern for 5:00, had a leisurely dinner and then walked out of the park around 7:00 - as long as you are leaving the park and not riding any attractions, you can totally stay for Dinner and then walk out at this time. It was an amazing day! I would absolutely do it again...

 

[Skippyboo]

If you don’t want to spend the money for the Halloween party, I would rope drop MK on Friday until you have leave the park. Then do dinner at poly or GF then you can watch the fireworks from the beach.

 

[Calee]

I have done MK there times in the Fall on a party day and gotten on every ride in the park, some more than once, before having to leave. It's worth it.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Just booked September 26 -September 30. Quick Birthday vacay. Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween JUST released their dates. (Kids are old, we aren't doing that this time) My whole perfectly planned out trip has been disrupted..lol...We were doing MK that Friday but now due to MNSSHP I will rearrange...will a Saturday be TERRIBLY crowded at MK (that Sunday is MNSSHP too)? We are only doing MK and Hollywood studios this trip. We are doing BOG for dinner and dont want to leave the park early because of MNSSHP. I won't even begin to touch on the "if Star Wars" opens...lol
Orrrr... I can shift my WHOLE vacation Friday to Tuesday, instead of Thursday to Monday...
First (Disney) World Problems
Thank you...

Others have given great advice for going during party time. Just wanted to chime in and say MNSSHP party dates were announced a little over a month ago--they were early this year.

When you planned this trip were you trying to avoid MNSSHP party time entirely? Just wondering because your dates would have def. fell into the party time period and for several years now it's been before mid-September that the party event starts.