Official 2011 MNSSHP Party Planning Thread ..BOO to You and You..Happy Halloween!

[beattyfamily]

Yay!! We are planning on going tuesday, 10/16... Have not bought the tickets yet....Waiting on Dad to let us know if he will be joining us or not!!

I'm going on the 16th too so I couldn't help but notice you wrote 'Tuesday' but the 16th is a Sunday. Just saying...

 

[aaarcher86]

Love it!

Well, knowing going the last day was hard helps cement the 27th for me. Part of me thought the 30th would be better. We could have it be our last hurrah, and then drive back in the am.

I had the same exact thought as the 30th is our last day too - but we decided to do the 27th for the party and Fantasmic! as our final goodbye on the 30th. We figured the 30th would probably be one of the most crowded parties since it is right before Halloween and on the weekend.

 

[BLTLDZ]

I'm going on the 16th too so I couldn't help but notice you wrote 'Tuesday' but the 16th is a Sunday. Just saying...

Woops! You are right! We are going on tuesday the 18th

 

[spthiveaud]

So excited!!!

 

[WDWLinda]

Hi...can anyone tell me if they rent the double strollers during the Halloween parties, and if so, up to how late? Are they still the molded plastic strollers?

Thanks!

 

[Delilah1310]

Couple quick questions --

How long is the parade?

Can I buy tickets the day of?

Does the first party (sept. 13) usually sell out or is it super crowded?

This is our very first WDW trip and we're not sure how DS4 will do. He usually goes to bed around 9 pm at home (many days without a nap).
And I can't decide if we should buy tickets knowing that we might last only until the fireworks (if we're lucky!).

Part of me says .. do it. when will we have this chance again?
then, part of me says .. he won't know what he's missing, there are so many other things he will love about this first trip.

argh! such decisions!

 

[avic77]

I am looking at either Tuesday Oct 11th (discounted night) or Thursday Oct 13th (Non Discounted night). Would one likely be less crowded then the other. Would either party be more likely to sell out then the other? I would like to wait till the friday before we leave to order tickets so weather reports will be posted and we can hopefully avoid a washout.

TIA

 

[ltsharkie06]

Hey everybody! i'm going to wdw for my first time in sept! me and my dbf are planning on going to the sept. 16th party! i am suuper excited!
i will be going as penny from the rescuers (yes i know obscure)
i already know i want a pic with the seven dwarfs, and i know it will probably be a long line, i was curious what other characters come out and how crowded they typically are.
also if you guys think you should go for two nights instead of one (since i have no idea how long itll be before i get to go back)? we could also go to the first party, but that is before the party we are already planning on going to and there is no party dates after the 16th we would be able to go to...
tia!!

 

[beattyfamily]

Couple quick questions --

How long is the parade?

Can I buy tickets the day of?

Does the first party (sept. 13) usually sell out or is it super crowded?

This is our very first WDW trip and we're not sure how DS4 will do. He usually goes to bed around 9 pm at home (many days without a nap).
And I can't decide if we should buy tickets knowing that we might last only until the fireworks (if we're lucky!).

Part of me says .. do it. when will we have this chance again?
then, part of me says .. he won't know what he's missing, there are so many other things he will love about this first trip.

argh! such decisions!

I think the parade is about 1/2 an hour but you can check Youtube if you want to be sure.

Yes, you can buy tickets day of if it isn't sold out however, you you will probably pay a higher price.

You never know which parties will sell out but for the past couple of years, the Sept parties did not sell out.

If you can fit it in and want to do it, I say go for it. I took my girls starting at age 1. Age 2 to 4 were actually the best and they just went with the flow. Sometimes they made it to the later parade and sometimes they didn't but we had a blast anyway.

Good luck deciding.

Try to get him to nap during the day if you can.

 

[SoScary'09]

I am looking at either Tuesday Oct 11th (discounted night) or Thursday Oct 13th (Non Discounted night). Would one likely be less crowded then the other. Would either party be more likely to sell out then the other? I would like to wait till the friday before we leave to order tickets so weather reports will be posted and we can hopefully avoid a washout.

TIA

I would think the closer your date is to the weekend the more crowded it might be. Just my guess.

 

[purple hippo]

Hello - finally firming up our plans! We are going to be in the area Oct 23-28 and want to attend our first MNSSHP. I was planning to attend the Oct 27 party but it seems like a lot of people are posting they are going that night. Do you think it will be really busy that night? It's our only stop at WDW so I don't want it to be crazy busy. I have the choice of Oct 23 (Sun) or Oct 27 (Thurs). Which would you pick?

Also - what percentage of people actually dress up? Are we party poopers if we don't? I know the kids will but DH and I aren't really into dressing up.

I also read on the first post that there is free face painting during the party - does that mean you have to wait until 7 pm or can you get it done earlier (like 4:30) if you have your wristband on?

Thanks!!!!

Hi everyone - can you please help? I need help with my dates and would love your opinion on the other questions too. I am so excited I keep waiting to see what you all suggest! Thanks!

 

[aaarcher86]

Hello - finally firming up our plans! We are going to be in the area Oct 23-28 and want to attend our first MNSSHP. I was planning to attend the Oct 27 party but it seems like a lot of people are posting they are going that night. Do you think it will be really busy that night? It's our only stop at WDW so I don't want it to be crazy busy. I have the choice of Oct 23 (Sun) or Oct 27 (Thurs). Which would you pick?

Also - what percentage of people actually dress up? Are we party poopers if we don't? I know the kids will but DH and I aren't really into dressing up.

I also read on the first post that there is free face painting during the party - does that mean you have to wait until 7 pm or can you get it done earlier (like 4:30) if you have your wristband on?

Thanks!!!!

Hi everyone - can you please help? I need help with my dates and would love your opinion on the other questions too. I am so excited I keep waiting to see what you all suggest! Thanks!

Hi - I am by no means an expert since I'll be attending my first party this year, but I've researched it beyond belief!

From what I've read: The closer you get to Halloween night the busier the party will be. However, weekends are typically more busy than weeknights. If it were me personally I'd go on Thursday the 27th (and it just so happens I am going that night lol. My trip is the 23 - 30). You would also have the option of Tuesday the 25th which is a party night if you would like to get further away from Halloween night, but stay on a weeknight. I don't think any of those dates will be overwhelming though.

There are an relatively fair share of people that do dress up and a fair share that don't. You won't look silly not dressed up.

I'm unfamiliar with the free face painting but my guess is that it wouldn't start until party time since regular ticket holders don't have to be out until 7p and it's a party perk.

Hope that helped a smidge!

 

[pilferk]

I would think the closer your date is to the weekend the more crowded it might be. Just my guess.

True...EXCEPT for that week has a curveball thrown at it.

The 10th (also a party night) is Columbus day. A lot of families (just like ours) use that shortened week to take vacations to visit the mouse. Those parties are (from previous reports) more crowded...with Monday's party being the most full (though I don't think it sold out in the past couple years...at least not "early").

The Tuesday party, though, is usually "less" crowded of the 3...mostly because there was a party the night before, ON the night of the holiday. That's the one we chose.

 

[mom2rtk]

True...EXCEPT for that week has a curveball thrown at it.

The 10th (also a party night) is Columbus day. A lot of families (just like ours) use that shortened week to take vacations to visit the mouse. Those parties are (from previous reports) more crowded...with Monday's party being the most full (though I don't think it sold out in the past couple years...at least not "early").

The Tuesday party, though, is usually "less" crowded of the 3...mostly because there was a party the night before, ON the night of the holiday. That's the one we chose.

I'm not sure if Columbus Day itself is more crowded. It's on a Monday, and a lot of folks actually use that as their departure day. I do have a friend who has been there twice for Columbus Day WEEKEND, and Saturday and Sunday are definitely more crowded.

 

[tperkins71]

Havent gotten through the whole thread yet so I am not sure if this information is posted elsewhere. The cast member I talked to last week said they sell only 25,000 tickets to each MNSSHP. And they consider that a very very slow night.. LOL

 

[mom2rtk]

Havent gotten through the whole thread yet so I am not sure if this information is posted elsewhere. The cast member I talked to last week said they sell only 25,000 tickets to each MNSSHP. And they consider that a very very slow night.. LOL

Until they all show up on Main Street at the same time for the parade or fireworks...........

 

[hawky7]

Until they all show up on Main Street at the same time for the parade or fireworks...........

HAHAAH!!! True Story!!!

 

[pilferk]

I'm not sure if Columbus Day itself is more crowded. It's on a Monday, and a lot of folks actually use that as their departure day. I do have a friend who has been there twice for Columbus Day WEEKEND, and Saturday and Sunday are definitely more crowded.

There seem to be (again, looking a previous reports and "volume" history/predictions) indications that THAT week seems to be busier than most in October....I assume people take there kids out of school because it's a short week (and, in some school systems...like ours...a 4 day weekend). I also think there are some school systems (Colorado?) who have a fall break from like the 6th to the 14th.

It's not easter or spring break busy, by any means. But, for OCTOBER, it's busier.

And looking back at previous party reports, that party seems to be more crowded. Maybe more locals attend (even though the next day is a school day)?

 

[pilferk]

Until they all show up on Main Street at the same time for the parade or fireworks...........

Or they all get in line to get candy...or meet the dwarves...or....you get the picture.

Yes, they sell far less tickets to a party than they could on a standard admission day.

And it's not the ATTRACTIONS that seem to get overwhelmed. Just some of the more "special" party events.

I've been to a sold out MVMCP and the gridlock in some spots (to get a picture with Mickey, for example) is just nuts. It was worse when they had the show in Tomorrowland, though. You had to que up an hour+ before show time to get in during busy party nights.

 

[SnipsNSnails]

We're all set to go on Sept 20! This will be our first time. It will be me, DH, our DSs (5 & 2.5), and my parents. My grandparents will also be along on the trip but have opted to stay back at the hotel and go to bed LOL That's just a little late for them. We are so excited! They boys already have matching Peter Pan Costumes. I was going to dress the youngest as a pirate but he'd have no part of it! He wanted the same thing as big brother so I'll have two Peter Pans LOL