We were there Thurs for our very first
MNSSHP. We had been at MK before it opened for breakfast at CRT, stayed until 1, went to the hotel for naps and showers (it was extremely hot) and then headed back at 5:00. We had no interest in Jack & Sally since my DD has never seen NPC. We headed to Pooh but it was still regular Pooh and Tigger until 7. We ran in to meet Rapunzel and Tiana since there was a 10 min wait. We asked the CM there where exactly Cruella was because we weren't sure. After picking up some snacks we were in line for Cruella by 6:30, with only a handful of people ahead of us. By the time she arrived at 7:15 the line was really long. What's irritating is she's not listed in the brochure (as are none of the characters) nor was she on the app, nor was there a sign. My mother and DH were questioning me that she was even going to be there "are you sure?" before we asked the CM. So if you don't go on message boards I guess you're just SOL which I find ridiculous really. Cruella was awesome though. The first people in line were wearing Dalmatian costumes and she yelled "Bring me those puppies!" When she arrived.
She asked my daughter if we had a dog and when she said yes asked about his coat, etc.
We caught the 8:00 stage show and the 8:30 parade which were both awesome. That last number of the stage show was really great.
Then I went to get in line for Pooh which was over an hour, they took a 20 min break in that time. Meanwhile my family rode the teacups and Ariel while I saved the spot. Everyone in line was doing the same, holding spots while others did other things.
When Pooh came back it was without Piglet!!! One lady asked the CM if he was coming back and she just said "I don't know. Maybe." three groups got pics taken without Piglet then he came ambling up. I would have been ticked if I'd been one of those groups! (I love me some Piglet)
Then it was time for fireworks which were amazing!
A lot of people were leaving then. We made our way to the hitch hiking ghost pic. No line at all. The people behind us asked what it was for and when we told them hitch hiking ghosts they were like "What!!!" And started screaming up the street for the rest of their group to join them. Again, if you don't read the internet how would you know.
We did Belle and Gaston then. Line was about 20 mins. They cut the line right at 11.
Got the headless horseman pic on the way out and left at 11:30.
I would definitely say eat ahead of time. We had eaten at 4:00 but DD got hungry and there wasn't much that wasn't treats unless you wanted to go sit down and eat which we didn't want to waste time doing. So she had fruit and a croissant for dinner.
We didn't trick or treat at all. I thought it a waste of time, she'll be trick or treating at home in a month and I wasn't going to be shoving candy in our suitcases.
All in all we had a great time. Weather was mild, not overly humid when the sun set. It had been brutally hot earlier in the day but the night was very pleasant. Definitely a plan and reasearch is needed! Not enough time to do it all!