"Official" 2018 Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party - A Spooktacular Celebration!

[FoxC63]

Does anyone know if you can stay and watch the parade from the garden area? Is this a good view for the parade?

It's not a good view and I don't recommend it.

 

[chuff88]

Does anyone know if you can stay and watch the parade from the garden area? Is this a good view for the parade?

The impression I got from the CM I chatted with is that you'd be best off watching the first parade from the garden area before the fireworks start. Last year, the first parade stepped off at 9:15. Currently the website lists 8:45 as the time for the Plaza Garden dessert party. I think if you got there, ate a few desserts, maybe got a box or stashed some in a bag and got out to the plaza by about 9:10, you could watch the whole parade from there. If it ends around 9:45, there are then about 30 minutes before the fireworks start.

Does anyone know if you can reenter the dessert portion of the party once you go out to the plaza? Could you, in theory, do what I just described but go back to the desserts between the parade and the fireworks?

 

[GirlDreamer]

They are not that strict. Last year I saw full capes on two men dressed as the Hat Box Ghost. One pulled it off perfectly, the other not so well. Regardless I hope your cape is detachable in case you get too warm to wear it. Make sure you bring a lite weight tote to put it in and separate from your candy haul. Some reported their chocolate melted.

Thanks. Having looked at a different seller (on Amazon), I think it might be detachable as their picture seems to be the exact same dress, except they show it from the side as well and there' s no cape in that picture. I've already got a fairy costume, but I might be getting my DH some Dopey accessories, so it would be fun if we matched.

 

[chuff88]

It's not a good view and I don't recommend it.

What makes it not a good view?

 

[FoxC63]

The impression I got from the CM I chatted with is that you'd be best off watching the first parade from the garden area before the fireworks start. Last year, the first parade stepped off at 9:15. Currently the website lists 8:45 as the time for the Plaza Garden dessert party. I think if you got there, ate a few desserts, maybe got a box or stashed some in a bag and got out to the plaza by about 9:10, you could watch the whole parade from there. If it ends around 9:45, there are then about 30 minutes before the fireworks start.

Does anyone know if you can reenter the dessert portion of the party once you go out to the plaza? Could you, in theory, do what I just described but go back to the desserts between the parade and the fireworks?

I specifically asked this when we were there last year and it was a non issue, so yes you can leave and return as long as you have your lanyard on.

 

[FoxC63]

What makes it not a good view?

Way too many people on Main Street. If you're super tall then give it a try.

 

[FoxC63]

Thanks. Having looked at a different seller (on Amazon), I think it might be detachable as their picture seems to be the exact same dress, except they show it from the side as well and there' s no cape in that picture. I've already got a fairy costume, but I might be getting my DH some Dopey accessories, so it would be fun if we matched.

Love the sound of your ideas! Hope you can post pictures on the: [URL="https://www.disboards.com/threads/%E2%80%9Cofficial%E2%80%9D-2018-mickey%E2%80%99s-not-so-scary-halloween-party-costumes-guidelines.3671354/"]Costume Thread[/URL]

 

[Rich M]

Way too many people on Main Street. If you're super tall then give it a try.

Interesting but do you think it would work for the second parade or still too many people?

 

[anomamatt]

What makes it not a good view?

Check out @Robo's maps: https://www.disboards.com/threads/maps-of-wdw-by-robo-65-maps-more.3545729/#post-56460944

The problem is that you will be behind ~10 people deep between the curb and where the garden starts. So it's not going to be a good view, even if you are up against the west railing.

 

[chuff88]

I specifically asked this when we were there last year and it was a non issue, so yes you can leave and return as long as you have your lanyard on.

Okay so follow up question... the dessert party starts at 8:45 and the fireworks start at 10:15. If we want to see the 9:15 parade, are we better off arriving at the dessert party late? Should we watch the parade, go to the dessert party and gather our desserts, and then head out to the viewing area? Or should we just forgo the party altogether?

 

[chuff88]

Check out @Robo's maps: https://www.disboards.com/threads/maps-of-wdw-by-robo-65-maps-more.3545729/#post-56460944

The problem is that you will be behind ~10 people deep between the curb and where the garden starts. So it's not going to be a good view, even if you are up against the west railing.

Yeah.... I realized I was misreading the map.

 

[areno79]

Has anyone come up with costume ideas yet? I am so lost.

@FoxC63 Has a thread specifically talking about Costumes for MNSSHP...you should check it out!
https://www.disboards.com/threads/“...-halloween-party-costumes-guidelines.3671354/

 

[areno79]

In one of the previous posts someone linked to discussion from last year (or maybe the year before), discussing how they all sent emails to Disney complaining that the dessert party was sold with parade viewing, and Disney took it away after people booked it. Does anyone know which email address would be the best one to use to get it to the powers that be?
This is really beyond ridiculous. Many of us are booking the party because of the parade viewing, and it clearly states it on their website. I don't know if it's the party planning department, or IT, or Joe Schmoe, but they really need a better checks and balances system when people are paying them a lot of money for something that may not be true.

 

[GirlDreamer]

Love the sound of your ideas! Hope you can post pictures on the: Costume Thread

Thanks, I'll have to check that out

 

[GillianP1301]

Okay so follow up question... the dessert party starts at 8:45 and the fireworks start at 10:15. If we want to see the 9:15 parade, are we better off arriving at the dessert party late? Should we watch the parade, go to the dessert party and gather our desserts, and then head out to the viewing area? Or should we just forgo the party altogether?

You're assuming you'll be able to be in the viewing area that early. The description of the plaza garden party is you can check into the party 90 minutes early and you are then escorted from the party to the fireworks viewing area in the plaza. There is no mention of parade viewing in the party description.

Now the terrace party has the parade viewing in it's description, but the 9:15 start time is throwing everybody. But at this point, I'm assuming the parade viewing will only be with the terrace version or none at all. I'd be very surprised if it got added to the plaza one at this point.

 

[FoxC63]

What makes it not a good view?

The horrible black line on the sidewalk is full of people, some sit but most stand and they will be in your direct line of view. You will be behind them if you view the parade while in the Garden View area. You can watch the parade on Main Street but trying to secure a really good view is time consuming. I hope this helps.

EDIT: Just for full clarity, the Plaza Garden (aka, Garden View) is incorrectly labeled on this map. It’s really the green area underneath the word “view” and that smoking sign. Per @GADisneyDad14

 

[mamapenguin]

I specifically asked this when we were there last year and it was a non issue, so yes you can leave and return as long as you have your lanyard on.

What does this lanyard look like? I hope it isn’t big.

 

[chuff88]

The horrible black line on the sidewalk is full of people, some sit but most stand and they will be in your direct line of view. You will be behind them if you view the parade while in the Garden View area. You can watch the parade on Main Street but trying to secure a really good view is time consuming. I hope this helps.

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I already posted this, but I have a follow up question. We definitely want to see the parade, fireworks, and Hocus Pocus spelltacular. If we want to see the 9:15 parade, are we better off arriving at the dessert party late? Should we watch the parade, go to the dessert party and gather our desserts, and then head out to the fireworks viewing area? Or should we just forgo the party altogether? Or should we plan to do the later parade?

I'm really having a hard time prioritizing things. We are only going to one party, but our priorities for that party are the special events (what I listed above), and some rides and trick or treating if there's time. Character meets are our lowest priority, and will only be done if we can jump in a short line. We are planning to do our whole MK day before the party, and we have at least one other partial MK day during our trip.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Does anyone know if you can stay and watch the parade from the garden area? Is this a good view for the parade?

DS and I watched the parade from the Plaza Garden last year. As others have stated, it’s not ideal. But it wasn’t terrible either.

Pros were that we had plenty of room and didn’t spend a second holding down a spot in advance. I could easily put DS on my shoulders and not bother anyone - giving him a great high up view. The garden does have an ever so slight higher elevation change than the areas right around it.

Cons were you are a large sidewalk’s length “back” from the route and I had to hold 50+ lbs on my shoulders for 20+ minutes on a hot night! LOL!

But in all seriousness, we sort of did it on purpose as we had plans to watch the second parade “for real.” So the less than ideal conditions for the first parade (and not having to spend any time waiting for a spot) were perfect for our style.

 

[anomamatt]

I already posted this, but I have a follow up question. We definitely want to see the parade, fireworks, and Hocus Pocus spelltacular. If we want to see the 9:15 parade, are we better off arriving at the dessert party late? Should we watch the parade, go to the dessert party and gather our desserts, and then head out to the fireworks viewing area? Or should we just forgo the party altogether? Or should we plan to do the later parade?

I'm really having a hard time prioritizing things. We are only going to one party, but our priorities for that party are the special events (what I listed above), and some rides and trick or treating if there's time. Character meets are our lowest priority, and will only be done if we can jump in a short line. We are planning to do our whole MK day before the party, and we have at least one other partial MK day during our trip.

If your schedule will accommodate it, I would recommend the second parade. It's MUCH less crowded.

I have young kids and I need to do the 1st parade. Right now I have the Terrace party booked, but if it doesn't actually include the parade, I'm going to cancel it. Because as you say, the timing doesn't work well for the first parade and then a dessert party.