Should we do the Halloween Party?

[Dreambig39]

I am so undecided on what to do for upcoming trip! Our last visit to WDW was in October of 2013 and we did not do MNSSHP because my youngest was only 2. This time, boys will be 7, 11, and 12 (1 week shy of 13!) I am also trying to be a little more economical/frugal this time around. This leaves me trying to decide between keeping a day at MK or dropping a day and booking the party, but going early and staying to close. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated

 

[disneyvoice]

I think it depends on if you are thinking about doing it because you want to do MK rides or if you want the special Halloween stuff. Personally, we don't go to MNSSHP for rides - it's pretty common for us to never ride any ride at all during MNSSHP. We prefer to see the Halloween parade and shows, visit the special characters, do special Halloween photo ops, and just kind of wander around and enjoy the atmosphere. I don't think it's a good option or value if you are primarily going hoping that lower crowds will allow you to walk on rides. Many people are disappointed that the crowds were not as low as they had hoped which resulted in not being able to do many rides.

Do you have another full day at MK or would MNSSHP be your only MK day?

 

[JerseyJanice]

I think it’s a pain to pack costumes, and I have yet to hear a good review from somebody I know IRL on either the Halloween or Christmas party.

 

[Mr & Mrs DD]

Maybe get input from your kids. They would be able to go "trick or treating" within the park and watch a parade and so on. Is that something they would rather do vs an extra day in the park? Maybe try to feel them out a little bit about it.

 

[Dreambig39]

I want it all - lol! My kids don't really care about pics with the characters (the oldest thinks he's too cool for that), but we would like to see the special fireworks show and Boo to You parade, and trick-or-treat a little without costumes. Personally, Halloween is my 2nd favorite holiday, so it's me that loves the thought of it. Kids don't know I'm planning a trip. I'm also trying to squeeze in a day to hit Universal because I have huge HP fans. My thought process (which could be totally off) is to spend 1st afternoon checking in and just hit Disney Springs for dinner or O'Hana. Day 1, HS, day 2 AK, day 3 Universal, day 4 rest and then hit MNSSHP that afternoon/night, check out day 5 and hope my kids are tired from staying up late and sleep on the ride home Sounds like a marathon when I say it out loud. We did Epcot last time, and while we liked it, I thought it would be one I could forgo to squeeze in Universal. Too much?

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I want it all - lol! My kids don't really care about pics with the characters (the oldest thinks he's too cool for that), but we would like to see the special fireworks show and Boo to You parade, and trick-or-treat a little without costumes. Personally, Halloween is my 2nd favorite holiday, so it's me that loves the thought of it. Kids don't know I'm planning a trip. I'm also trying to squeeze in a day to hit Universal because I have huge HP fans. My thought process (which could be totally off) is to spend 1st afternoon checking in and just hit Disney Springs for dinner or O'Hana. Day 1, HS, day 2 AK, day 3 Universal, day 4 rest and then hit MNSSHP that afternoon/night, check out day 5 and hope my kids are tired from staying up late and sleep on the ride home Sounds like a marathon when I say it out loud. We did Epcot last time, and while we liked it, I thought it would be one I could forgo to squeeze in Universal. Too much?

I think your kids are the perfect age to do the party! I would definitely do it in lieu of just a regular day at MK. Especially since you aren't interested in meeting any characters (which can take up SO much time at the party). I finally took DS to MNSSHP last year when he was 9 and we had BLAST! The atmosphere is so much fun and the parade and fireworks are awesome! We are doing it again this year. You don't have to go nuts on costumes, either, if you don't want to. Last year, it was pretty hot when we went, so DS dressed up as his favorite basketball player (think gym shorts and basketball jersey) and I put a "princess" sash over my sundress - voila, costumes!

I don't think it's too much. I think you have a good balance of parks plus that break before the party - sounds like fun!

 

[mousehouse23]

I think you should go for it. Remember you can show up at 4:00, to take advantage of all the MK time you can get!

I agree with DisneyWishes14. Not too much for a shorter trip, especially with a Base ticket. Have a great time!!

 

[SG131]

We just did the Halloween party for the first time this past year and loved it! That being said, we did it mostly for the shows and one of the special meet and greets. You can get in the rides with much shorter lines, but there are still some lines especially for the headliners. If rides are your boys focus and you can do a full day at the park on a non party day you may be able to get more done. However if your choice is going on a party day and only staying at MK till 6, you may be able to get just as much done during the party.

 

[jaiminee krikit]

We did the Halloween party last year and had an amazing time!
We rode rides and watched the parade and fireworks, and of course went trick-or-treating. We arrived at MK around 4pm and grabbed a quick bite to eat at PVH. We did get FPs for the time before the party so we rode PP and I think Buzz. There was a little storm around 6 that really emptied out the park even before the party started. DD15 and I did dress up so that added to the fun, but a lot of people weren't dressed up. Part of the fun was just seeing some of the costumes. I loved seeing 2 grown men dressed as Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum!
The parade was awesome, we were in Frontierland so it added a spooky element to it. Hallowishes was good, too. We were right in the hub for that and it wasn't terribly crowded. We didn't do any character meets, DD feels too old to do them, and I'm fine with that. The only ride line that was long was HM, but we waited until later in the evening to ride it so it wasn't terrible. Unfortunately for us, the night was muggy. I was hoping for a cooler evening, but it was downright nasty. I even ended up taking off my tights and throwing them in the trash! But it was the most amazing time. I loved trick-or-treating, the CMs handing out candy were all so fun! I highly recommend it if you can!

 

[Stefani P.]

In 2016 I went with my family and my friend's family for 9 days.
Between the 8 of us, our Halloweern party night was the absolute favorite for us all. I would never go back in October without a party date, myself.
And the parade!! Oh my. Loved!

 

[Dreambig39]

Seriously glad I found this site! You've all been so helpful and I am getting excited just reading your comments. DH doesn't want to plan or really even talk about it. Just wants to show up and have it all laid out. I planned my heart out last time and it went great, but I really felt like we ate our way through the parks and maintained a very strict schedule. Want to take it a little more low-key this time, but still plan enough to avoid super long lines. I am just so grateful to have someone to talk it through with!

 

[DaniMoon]

I am on the fence for this trip. It's late August, but there are two parties while we are there. I do think I am going to wait til I am down there. Last year I purchased tickets for the Galactic Star Wars dessert party and my son had an asthma episode and he and I spent the night in our hotel while he did breathing treatments. Hubby and my daughter enjoyed the dessert party, but I am now leary of buying tickets for specific events, because I just never know with his asthma when it's going to flare up.

The Halloween party would be something new and my kids are older enough to make it through most of the night to make it worth it.

 

[Dreambig39]

DaniMoon, I totally understand with asthma. My oldest has asthma and peanut and tree nut allergy (among a long list of other food and environmental allergies). You never know when it's going to hit. My biggest problem with traveling is not so much the places we go, but the places we stay. Down pillows, mold, dust, strong deodorizers, etc. will bother his asthma. I always take our nebulizer, rescue inhalers, Benedryl, Epi pen, and our own pillows if not flying. It can be tough!

 

[Dreambig39]

So, did you have a park hopper pass for that day to get fast passes for before the party? I won't have a park ticket that day, as it will be my last day. Also, were any of the major rides closed during the party? Thanks!

 

[RJstanis]

Seriously glad I found this site! You've all been so helpful and I am getting excited just reading your comments. DH doesn't want to plan or really even talk about it. Just wants to show up and have it all laid out. I planned my heart out last time and it went great, but I really felt like we ate our way through the parks and maintained a very strict schedule. Want to take it a little more low-key this time, but still plan enough to avoid super long lines. I am just so grateful to have someone to talk it through with!

I plan like a crazed obsessive loon before going so I can have a low key time when we're there if that makes sense lol. Other than ADRs and FP, we aren't tied to anything. If someone doesn't want to do something, we don't do it. Rather do this instead of that, cool. If we do this now we'll have to give up this, or if you wait to do this later we can do both of these kind of things. I'll guide my party along a bit but that's it, and try to enjoy the moment.

 

[RJstanis]

So, did you have a park hopper pass for that day to get fast passes for before the party? I won't have a park ticket that day, as it will be my last day. Also, were any of the major rides closed during the party? Thanks!

Unless they change policy this year, you can book FP with your party ticket for the time window of 4p-6p. No park ticket or hopper ticket required. Only a Halloween Party ticket in your MDE is required.

These caused conflicts last year with other days of park day FP where the system thought you didn't have enough park tickets for days of FP and would randomly drop people's last day of FP scheduled. So some felt like they might get rid of the 4-6p FP option but that has yet to be seen.

All major rides are open during the party, sans (obviously) any rides under refurbishment. Look at the big Halloween Party post by Monique and I think she lists what rides on first page.