Seeking park strategy advice

[CannonSTL]

Hi, all. First time posting. Here's are situation: DH, DW, DD8, DS6 at Disney (4th time) 9/14-9/18. Staying at AKV. Flying in 9/14 and out 9/18, so likely no parks those days. 9/15 is Halloween party, so tentatively planning MK that day, then Epcot 9/16 and AK 9/17. Main question is: should we do the Halloween party (and not visit the park beforehand)? Are fastpasses available during Halloween party? We want to ride some of our favorites during the Halloween party (or, perhaps, visit in the morning and come back for the party). If no FPs, could we expect to do Peter Pan, one of the Mountains, and maybe 7Drawrfs? Any advice is appreciated.

 

[Danimal]

No FPs during the party, however, you can enter the park at 4 PM. People with early party tickets so far have been able to book FPs from 3:55-4:55, 4:55-5:55, and 5:55-6:55 on the day of the party. During the party itself, it's still a bit of a wait for Peter Pan and 7DMT, but you should be able to almost walk on Space Mountain and Thunder Mountain. Splash Mountain will be down for a refurb. If you're planning on staying at the party until close, you should be able to hit all the rides, and still see the parade. Wait times drop during the 1st parade, so catch the second if you can. If it was me, I'd suggest hitting up a different park before the Halloween Party, but the downside to that is I'm sure you wouldn't be able to book a set of FPs for both that park and MK in the same day. Best of luck!!!!!

 

[StraightToDumbo]

From my experience, a party ticket day works best when you just attend the party. You can get in at 4:00, which gives you a solid 8 hours. You can tour the whole park with those low crowd levels in that time, and it gives you a day to sleep in. We no longer do a park morning on party days, it never seemed to be worth it and the parties are a blast (but take a lot out of you).

 

[sharonabe]

People with early party tickets so far have been able to book FPs from 3:55-4:55, 4:55-5:55, and 5:55-6:55 on the day of the party.

Is this new for this year? In the past, all FP+ ended at 6:30 on party nights, so your 3rd FP+ could be no later than 5:30-6:30.

 

[Danimal]

Is this new for this year? In the past, all FP+ ended at 6:30 on party nights, so your 3rd FP+ could be no later than 5:30-6:30.

No idea. Just going by what other posters are saying so far.

 

[StraightToDumbo]

Is this new for this year? In the past, all FP+ ended at 6:30 on party nights, so your 3rd FP+ could be no later than 5:30-6:30.

That's FP+ start time, I believe.

 

[sharonabe]

That's FP+ start time, I believe.

No, they want the last FP+ users that are NOT attending the party to be through BEFORE 7 pm, so they can exit the park. We went last year and could not get any FP+ with a start time past 5:30. No 5:35, 5:40....the last FP+ had to be no later than 5:30-6:30.

 

[StraightToDumbo]

No, they want the last FP+ users that are NOT attending the party to be through BEFORE 7 pm, so they can exit the park. We went last year and could not get any FP+ with a start time past 5:30. No 5:35, 5:40....the last FP+ had to be no later than 5:30-6:30.

Makes sense.

 

[danielocha30]

don't waste a ticket at MK on the same day you will attend the party, be there early and book the fastpass as advised.

 

[caliope]

Makes sense.

My 60-day FP+ window opened today and overlaps the first night of MNSSHP (August 25th). MK fast passes were bookable with start times up until 6:30PM. They just end at 7:00 instead of 7:30PM. I saw quite a few in that last hour before 7:00, actually.

 

[sharonabe]

My 60-day FP+ window opened today and overlaps the first night of MNSSHP (August 25th). MK fast passes were bookable with start times up until 6:30PM. They just end at 7:00 instead of 7:30PM. I saw quite a few in that last hour before 7:00, actually.

Well that is very interesting, and thanks for the report. Looks like they have changed things this year for MNSSHP.

 

[CannonSTL]

Thanks for the feedback. Going to stick around AKV for the day and head to MK for the party. Happy travels!