I'm starting to stress about our first MNSSHP and I would like to have a party schedule in place before we arrive. I'm planning to arrive at 3:30, but our kids are 4 and 6, so we probably won't make it to the end.
Must do's: first parade, Hocus Pocus show, fireworks, dance party, ride Haunted Mansion, trick or treat trails, PP Halloween magic shots
Time Permitting: Meet Minnie and/or Mickey, pick up some pins and special party treats
Can anyone help with what order you would do everything and around what times? Is there anything on my list that can be done before the official party start at 7:00? We'll have grandparents with, so we're open to splitting up at times if it helps us get more done. Thank you!
None of the party stuff can be done before the party starts, but you can get other stuff out of the way that would otherwise waste time after 7 pm.
Get the rides the little ones want to do out of the way first, before the party starts. Also, any time after 4 pm, go get your wrist bands and party maps and treat bags so you don't have to deal with that too near to 7 pm. If you need to get something to eat, do that so you are totally done with your meal before 7 pm.
For the Magic Shots they really are better when it's dark outside so the first little bit may not be ideal for the best effect. I don't know when your trip is, but right now it gets dark just before 8 pm and that will get earlier as the weeks move along.
I would probably start in Tomorrowland from 7 pm, get some candy (lines are often very long early in the evening and Friday night they were ridiculous at the start of the party). Maybe you and your DH or the grandparents can collect some candy for the kids while the other adults stay with then at the Monsters Inc dance party just along from Space Mountain. It is SO cute and they were so good with the little ones!
If you watch the first parade from the Hub you can watch the last Hocus Pocus show before it starts, while you hold your spots. As soon as the parade is over it's probably the best time to head through for your Photopass magic shots on Main Street. Then see what you can do before the fireworks start. It's not that hard to find a spot to view them just before they start because you can stand in the street in Main Street USA. I set up a tripod right in the middle of the street for photos and there was lots of space around me. Because they are up in the air it doesn't matter where you stand as your little ones will still be able to see the show.
If you can last past the fireworks, lines drop dramatically and a lot of people leave. If your kids can handle it, that may be the time to try meet Mickey. DD went (she's 14 so she was able to go alone) on Friday while we watched the parade and she walked up with nobody else there and then hopped straight across to Tinkerbell, also with no wait. We've done this many times at previous parties. Then if you can try get out of Main Street before the second parade comes through and do whatever you missed out, you could head back and out of the park before the last parade sends a mass of people to the exit. The second parade finished up along Main Street around 11.45 pm on Friday, if that gives you an idea of timing.
