Question about MNSSHP and crowds

[wildernesslodgelover]

Hello there! I know there are a few threads going about MNSSHP but they are rather lengthy and I was hoping to just toss my particular question out to the board and get some quick answers. thanks!

I was just reading thru my 2004 Unofficial Guide (wow, it is amazing how so many things have changed since then) and one thing that upset me was many people wrote and said that MNSSHP is crowded, that you can forget about riding any rides, etc. Now...I thought I heard (probably on this very board) that WDW sells a limited number of tickets and that the opposite is true...there are no waits for the rides and low crowds.

This is my first time attending (Oct 13th, Thursday) and I am hoping to hear from someone familiar with MNNSHP, to give me the scoop on crowds and stuff! Thanks!

 

[lillygator]

We went on a Thrusday night last year....towards the end of October and I didn't think it was crowded....there were lines for candy but they moved very quickly as did the photo lines.

I know they sell a limited amount but am not sure what that is...

 

[MrsKreamer]

I want to say I remember hearing they sold 10,000 MVMCP tix, so I would assume it was the same for MNSSHP. It looks like a big number but when MK max capacity is 10x that, it seems rather empty!

 

[beattyfamily]

The beginning of October parties are not crowded. It's the end of October ones that are more crowded like Halloween night and the Friday before it. They are pretty crowded.

No one knows for sure how many tickets Disney actually sells but I've heard 20,000 tickets, not 10,000.

 

[rob'n]

We were there Oct. 12 and it was not that bad at all...by the end of the night we walked on all of the rides...It was one of the most magical parts of our family trip...we can't wait to do it again this year...on the 20th!

 

[HauntedMansionFan]

I've gone for the last three years and I would avoid going on a Friday, Saturday, or Halloween night like the plague! I went on a Thursday and a Saturday last year.... the Thursday was more pleasant.

 

[Hannahsmom]

I think it depends on what your version of "crowded" is. If you are someone who goes during the height of the summer or busier times like Spring Break or Christmas, the crowd level at the parties will be not bad. On the other hand, if you usually go during low crowd times like September, you may be dissappointed. We attended the MVMCP last Dec. 2 ( I think?) and were horrified how crowded it was. We were there for the whole party, but I think we only went on 4 rides the whole night. Granted my daughter did enjoy the dance party with the characters in Fantasyland, but I don't think we will do the MVMCP again.

Although, we are considering going to the MNSSHP on 9/30 this year. But we will not go to ride the rides this time, just to take in the Halloween atmosphere and see the shows.

 

[addicted2disney]

Hannahsmom-
We went to our first MNSSHP at the same time you are planning and it was SUPER hot!! I think it was near 90 and the humidity was terrible. I kept saying it would cool off when the sun went down, but it never did. I walked out of the park at midnight still sweating. If you are planning on dressing up like we did, just make sure you have something cool!! We are from PA and my kids ususally have to wear winter coat under their costumes. My son was 2, and had the most adorable Tigger costume that was made out of a sweatshirt type of material. It was way to hot for that, so he wasnt in costume. Ihad a poodle skirt on with tulle under the skirt and the tulle was sticking to my legs in the heat and it was annoying and itchy! We found the Halloween party to be a bit crowded too. The decorations were cool and we loved the headless horseman at the start of the parade. I didnt like the halloween parade anywhere near as much as I liked the Christmas parade at MVMCP. One thing that disappointed us, was that there are no halloween or fall decorations out all the time. They only have them for the party. There were some hay bales, cornstalks and pumpkins over in Liberty Square by a porch, but that was really it. I love fall and halloween and was hoping it would be decorated for fall as much as it is for CHristmas.

 

[disneyfan3]

I don't think there is a limit to how many tickets can be sold. You are supposed to be paying EXTRA money for a party that isn't crowded like it would be on any other night. That is what was intended years ago but now the almighty dollar wins with disney. We have gone for the halloween party and it is so crowded and I wonder why I paid this extra money for it to be just like any other night minus the parade and trickortreating. If you haven't been just pick a sunday or thursday night and hope for the best. Go on the rides during the parades and have fun. When you have kids you have to go and just don't worry about the crowds. Another thing that bothered me was that some of the rides were closed and I felt what I was paying that everything should be open. We usually eat at the liberty tree tavern for dinner and that makes it special so we are in the park and ready to go at 7:00. I don't want to discourage you from going but just realize that it may be crowded and you just have to work around it. More and more people are going every year and disney isn't going to turn down $$$!! If I had to pick I would choose the halloween party because you get more for your money:
trick or treating, parade and just the ambiance of the park. My kids have their best memories of disney during the parties. There is no such thing as disney not being busy or crowded anymore. Just accept it and make the best of it.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Thanks for the responses, guys! We will be going in the middle of Oct, on a thursday...so we will hope for the best.

The Unofficial Guide says that WDW sells 20,000 tix max for the party. But they admit they don't know that number for sure, but that is the rumor.

I am a bit spoiled...i only go during slow seasons...(weekdays in Nov, Dec or Jan...not holiday times) so i am a bit worried. But I guess I just have to see it for myself! Thanks!

 

[rob'n]

We found that after the first parade...crowds really thinned out...it was a blast! My kids still are talking about it! There is a path from Toon Town to Tomorrowland that is lined with characters from Alice in Wonderland...this is where we did most of our "trick or treating." We did not hit Tomorrowland til the end and it was pretty empty...we walked on Buzz three times.

We had 5:15 ressies at LTT and from there went to HM and POTC...we then waited about 45 for the parade...others have said it's better to wait til the later parade but I am glad we did it this way...the later parade was significantly reduced due to weather...while we were waiting for the parade to begin, we watched the show they had in front of the castle...the name is escaping me...this helped pass the time...aslo there were lots of characters...lots of villains...roaming for pictures and autographs. We parked the kiddies with the hubbies and my friend and I went and bought our MNSSHP pins and shirts...by the time we got back...it was time for the parade!

We can't wait to go back! Do dress cool-ly though! We were all pirates and dying by the end of the night!!!

 

[beattyfamily]

I would avoid going on a Friday, Saturday, or Halloween night like the plague! I went on a Thursday and a Saturday last year

FWIW, there has never been a MNSSHP or MVMCP on a Saturday night.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

We found that after the first parade...crowds really thinned out...it was a blast! My kids still are talking about it!

It was the same the night I went in 2004. At first I was in SHOCK at how crowded it was- I was there during the day and it literally felt more crowded for the party than it did all day! AT FIRST..... then after the parade it was much much better. Now I know if I got to any parties like this- stay till they close! LOL

 

[kelmac284]

I posted this under the other thread but I will ask here. We are going on the 28th which is the Friday night before halloween. I am starting to worry now that it is going to be packed. I went through all thousand pages (LOL) of the other thread and only found 1 other person going the same night as me but I know there will be others going that night. Is it going to be miserably crowded?

Also I plan to make a PS at Cinderella's table for dinner that night. I wanted the girls to get to eat at the castle but I am not even going to try to get a char breakfast and since we want to eat in the park that night anyway we figured we would have dinner there. I have heard some say the food stinks. Is that true? If so maybe I will do CP instead.

And lastly we want to go to dinner at Calif grill on the wed before and there is NO halloween party that night. Do they still have fireworks on a wed night? If so does anyone know approx what time so I can make a ps at CG?

Thanks is advance for any info.