*Please* give me MNSSHP info, scary at ALL? Not every night?

[kmwilson98]

DD will be getting a suprise trip to Disney for her 5th birthday in the second half of October. Probably 3 nights, 4 days.

The other night we were casually talking about Disney World, and she started crying saying she never wants to go there ever ever...because there are SCARY things at DW.

The next day I showed her pictures online of DW, and assured her that DW is a safe place and there's nothing scary there. She eventually believed me, and is enthusiastic about going "someday", though she still doesn't know we're going this year.

DD gets scared easily, so obviously we won't be doing the Haunted Mansion or Pirates of the Caribbean. BUT now I'm wondering about this Halloween thing. We don't usually "do" Halloween (don't flame me), but I'm not "anti-Halloween" either. DD just doesn't like it. Sure, she likes candy, but she doesn't like seeing people in scary costumes like witches, ghosts, etc.

I want to be able to take her to DW and not see "scary stuff" (please keep in mind, even the tame to her can be "scary", it's a phase she's going thru). I hear that the fireworks even have a sort-of-Halloweenish ending during the MNSSHP. Is that true?

Will we really have to leave the park at 6 if we don't want to do MNSSHP??

She's only interested in the MK. She doesn't watch Disney channel or even most of the Disney movies, so MGM would be lost on her, and while I love Epcot I know it's not up her alley.

Please don't ask me to rationalize with her on the "scary stuff". There's only so much I can do in that arena, and usually talking about it just makes her more determined. I can just see...three hours into our 4 day trip, she sees someone dressed scarily, and heads for the exit! Ugh. She's never been before, and may never get to go again, so this is our one chance to make her itty bitty princess dreams come true.

So...talk to me about this MNSSHP. How much is the park affected by it, both during the day and at night? Will there be "halloween-y" stuff at the character breakfasts and stuff that time of year?

Thanks for your help!

 

[luvmick]

I would'nt consider the MNSSHP scary at all, but it might be for a child who has issues with that.There are more of the scarier character out such as Jafar and Maleficent. Images of ghosts and bata projected down Main Street,but not too scary. Headless horseman leads the parade. The character breakfast are the same as always. Hope this helps!

 

[kilee]

The fireworks don't have a scary ending. The witch flies through the sky rather than tinkerbell but that is the only Halloween theme to them. In that case there are many areas in the park (over 1/2 the park) where you can't see her flying during the fireworks so, I you could just be there.

As for costuming, well there are some folks who dress as Freddy (we seen 3 this last MNSSHP) or witches and such. So, if that will be an issue then you may want to avoid it. The biggest issue you'll have w/ that is the party goer's are allowed in the parks starting at 4pm. So, you'll begin encountering the people in their costumes at that time. You'll encounter them on the Disney transportation and possibly at your resort. I know we did Chef Mickey's one night that had a MNSSHP (not the one we attended) and we saw a minimum of a dozen people at dinner dressed up. As well as another group of 5 in the parking lot. Just so you are prepared for that.

You will have to leave the MK at 6pm if you are not attending the party. As for the MNSSHP parade, there are characters from the Haunted Mansion, many villians, and the headless horsemen, so I think that would be out.

 

[kmwilson98]

Out of four nights (weeknights), what would you guess would be the #of nights they'll have the MNSSHP, or am I misunderstanding and it's every night?

We'll be there for three nights/four days sometime during the week of Oct 17-21. Dates are not exact yet, but we won't be there on a weekend day.

I won't hold you to your guesses - if I understand right, the dates won't come out for another few months?

 

[mjmcca]

It is not every night but it is a majority of the week nights. I took 4 kids(5,4,3 and 2) and 1 teen and 1 young adult this year they had a blast. You can avoid the parade by either staying in tommorrowland or fantasyland the parade does not go through those areas. You can also avoid the witch there. There are a lot of things at MGM that she should like even though she doesnt watch the disney channnel.


If you really dont think she will like MGM or Epcot what about the Animal Kingdom?

 

[DebbieB]

It's not everynight. Usually 3 or 4 nights a week. See the schedule from last year:

http://www.allearsnet.com/tp/mk/mnssh.htm

 

[kilee]

I really think AK would be another good park. There's really a lot there that you should be able to do that wouldn't be scary. Also, what about the World Showcase. There are kidcot stations and she may get into those a bit. MNSSHP does usually run 3 nights a week. Never on Saturday's.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

Why not postpone the trip until this phase is over? IMHO, a child who is fearful of a lot is going to miss out on a lot. The characters (they are large) may frighten her, and the characters are everywhere. AT MNSSHP they play the music from HM. It's cool, but it's ever so slightly spooky too.

If you wait a year or two, she may be more receptive to new things.

 

[Jackie H.]

I agree maybe postponing the trip until she is over this stage. Keep in mind a child with these type fears can be frightened when there is absolutely nothing to be frightened of (by the way, avoid the Snow White Ride Too.)

If you go in the summer, there will be less darkness. If she has already decided that the place is scary, then she is going to go there frightened. You are going to have to prove to her that there is nothing to frighten her and most likely something will frighten her.

That being said, if you really want to go now. I would try to prepare her as best as possible. Buy her a book (Kid's Guide to WDW or something similar) with pictures that show the rides and describe them. Kim Wright Wiley writes a great book that gives you a "scare factor" on every ride in WDW. (You can find it on Amazon). Get on the Disney world website and have them send you the free DVD or video.

I think she would still like Disney Studios. There is a wonderful Little Mermaid show there (but it is dark); a great play area - Honey I Shrunk the Kids; and a very funny Muppet 3D movie - if she doesn't like the 3D effects she can just take off the glasses.

Also give her something to help her feel in control. My kids were somewhat afraid of the dark rides at WDW (they were fine until we went on Snow White!). A lot of very innocent rides are dark! I got them each a very small flashlight on a string they could wear around their necks. I instructed them they could turn them on any time they wanted, but only to shine in their laps or at their feet. It worked wonders for them. It gave them confidence because they had an element of control.

Hope this helps.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I doubt MNSSHP would be held on every night you're there. When you check-in, pick a day where the party isn't due to be held and go that day. Or leave the park early. If you stay until closing the night of a Halloween party you will see people coming in dressed in costume for the event. I always felt MNSSHP had more of a "fun" atmosphere vs a scary one though if someone as young as your dd is & predisposed to scaring easily a couple things might spook her.

 

[henrylovespooh]

I know how your daughter feels. As a child, I was afraid of a lot, including loud noise. I dragged my parents out of weddings, amusement parks and parades all the time because I was terrified of something or other. I'm still afraid of thrill rides and endure the comments of others, so I know where you're coming from. But I will tell you that I absolutely loved the Magic Kingdom from the first minute I was there.

If I were you I would skip the Halloween Party. Let her try the Magic Kingdom during the day to get her comfortable with the park and maybe save the Halloween party for another trip (or if she says she wants to go, see if you can buy tickets while you're there). The party isn't scary, but as another poster noted, there will be people with scary costumes on that might scare your daughter before she's even in the park. "Haunted" music also plays and might scare her. It sounds like she's not into Halloween anyway, so I wouldn't spend the extra money and risk ruining the trip for your daughter. But if you are interested in trying it, I think they usually have it on Sunday night and Tuesday or Wednesday night, and then of course on the weekend.

In general for MK, don't take her on Snow White's ride. I went when I was 6 and I still remember being scared out of my mind of the wicked witch. She will love It's a Small World, the carousel, the Teacups, the Dumbo Ride and the Aladdin carpet ride. If she seems afraid to go on the Pooh ride and Peter Pan ride because there is some darkness, rest assured both are cute. I will warn you that the 3-D movies at all parks are very loud and the one at Animal Kingdom (It's a Bug's Life) scared my kids (1&3). I thought I would just mention it depending on what scares your daughter.

Your daughter might really enjoy the Animal Kingdom, but I agree that going to MGM will be a waste of your time. It's the park my kids like least, and my husband is no fan either. Since you will be there in October when the Food and Wine Festival is going at EPCOT at that time, you might want to pop over there for an afternoon to snack around the World Showcase and let her make a mask by visiting the kids station at all the country pavillions. My 5 year old neice loved doing that so I thought I would mention it.

We're headed to Disneyworld October 15-23rd and I can't wait! Hope this helps. Have a great trip!

 

[MomofKatie]

My DD visited the MK for the first time at age 3, and she was also in a "scared" phase. We found that being prepared helps- we got a Disney For Kids guidebook, and made a list of what we wanted to try. Then, once we got to the park, we watched the rides we could see to make double sure we were okay to go on them. She ended up not going on Dumbo or Aladddin because of the height and spinning factors. I knew if she tried them, she would be okay, but she was fearful, so I decided not to try to change her mind. The next trip, when she was 6, she rode almost everything, and loved MK.

Basically, even though you think she might be okay with a ride, let her make the choice. Otherwise, the trip might be ruined for her very early on.

IMO, don't even try MNSSHP. She will be more prepared, and braver, as she grows up. You will have a good reason to go back in the future, too!

 

[PratersloveDW]

It is not strange at all for children to be scared of things - especially Halloween - so no one should ever ask you to 'rationalize' her being scared. I don't know that I would postpone the entire trip until she is over her fear, however, I would think about not going to the MNSSHP. As the title says, they keep it 'not so scary;' however, they do have the ENTIRE park decorated in a Halloween atmosphere. To a child that does not like Halloween, she will most definetely not be amused by the decorating. They will also have the HM music playing in the background and while it is not scary per say, she might find it adds to the Halloween decor and become frightened.

The fireworks do have a bit of a surprise in them. The castle has ghosts being projected onto it flying up and down and during the show, a witch will appear on a balcony while she 'taunts' the crowd - just before she flys down in Tinkerbell's place. If you keep your daughter away from sight of the castle, she can just watch the fireworks and avoid seeing the witch - I don't know if you can hear her from all good viewing areas.

I would take caution in watching the parade if your daughter does not like scary costumes. The Headless Horseman will come running down the streets before the parade. Then, in the parade, there are most of the villans from the movies, as well as dancers that are supposed to be ghosts from the HM. These actors are a bit scary with their heavy makeup in which I might add is very realistic. As well, many of the characters are dressed up as ghosts or in their 'favorite' costume.

MNSSHP runs a couple nights each week. You will be asked to leave the park at 6 if you do not have a wrist band on - which just indicates that you have a pass for the party. As I said, it is a rather tame event but it could frighten a child that is already not a fan of Halloween and a little frightened of Disney. It may not be a great way to have her first visit DW. However, you may find, once you get her down there that her fear of Disney disappears. If so, you could explain to her the party and go from there. She still may not feel comfortable going to a Halloween party and yet she may. You should easlily be able to buy the tickest for the party while you are down there. Most nights are not sold out in the middle of the month. And at least this way you don't waste money on tickets to an event she may not want to go to.

 

[LorraineH]

We went to MNSSHP during our first trip last October.

My daughter is 8, and still finds things quite scary. My 11 year old son wanted to go to HHN, but we knew this would NOT be suitable for our daughter.

Everything at MNSSHP was very child-friendly.

But I will let you know about 2 stupid cast members -

We wanted to go on Splash Mountain. There was no queue at all so we walked straight up the entrace where a friendly-looking female CM was waiting.

"Hi Guys - Are you having a Not So Scary Halloween?" she called to us as we approached.

"Yeah!" we all replied laughing.

My daughter walked through the entrance first, followed by me. As we walked through this other male CM was hiding and leapt out at us screaming!!

My daughter was a state. She ran all the way back up to BTMRR crying her eyes out.

How stupid of them. They thought it was hysterical. We couldnt calm her down all night after that.

So be prepared if you do go.

They are some psycho CMs in WDW!!!!