Tell the Truth; Crowds Halloween Night at MNSSHP???

[TinkerbellMama]

Are they crazy?
I'm getting nervous.
Our plan is to go as an extended family to this event, but if it's going to be complete and total gridlock, that would be a very bad thing, indeed. We will be at the gates at 4 pm sharp so as to get in a few "normal" hours of touring before the party starts...perhaps we should try to hit all the big guns at this time in case it's pandemonium from 7 on.
Anyone been there on Halloween night, and if so, which year?
Thanks!

 

[Ghost]

Been in 2002, 2003 and 2005. Every time on 31st... Crowds are big, but... it's all about the candy, decoration, fireworks, parade, storytelling... Rides can be done on any other day (except Haunted Mansion ) has to be done during Halloween - never waited longer then 10 minutes)

Enjoy! I did (and will again in the future - but not this year ***snick*** sorry, makes me cry)

 

[engagedatWDW]

We were there last year and yeah it was crowded but it wasn't insane. I don't handle crowds very well, but I did We seemed to have a good stragety. We picked out a good spot for the parade at about an hour or so before it started (DF wanted to see the headless horseman as close as he could). We took that time to relax and people watch - everyone's costumes kept us occupied. After the end of the parade we hung back for a few minutes and rode TTA just to see where the crowds were. At first I think we stayed out of Tomorrowland and ended up doing that land last. We had little to no wait times and rode most everything twice. I noticed that after the parade and fireworks a lot of the crowd left - mostly those with young children, so as the night went on the crowds weren't even an issue.

 

[GEM]

We were at a sold out Christmas party in December, so I imagine crowds would be about the same.

Honestly, we were prepared for the worst, but we didn't find it bad at all! My advice is to concentrate on the special "party" things and save the rides for another time. Catch the Hallowen parade, the special version of the fireworks, the storytellers, fortunetellers, etc. Even just walking around and soaking up the atmosphere with the decorations is cool! (Honestly, we've been to both quite a few times and we like the Christmas party, but we LOVE the Halloween party!)

If you are planning on using it for ride time, you will be disappointed because the lines will be long. However, if you use it for the special party events, I think you'll be fine! (And the ride lines do go WAY down in the last hour or so of the party!)

 

[frankiemom]

We went last year on Halloween. They crowds were manageable. Halloween is the best day to go because they need to get rid of all the candy. We had so much that we had to ship the bags home! Don't worry---going on Halloween really gets you into the spirit---especially the Headless Horseman at the parade!

 

[eeyore45]

It was INSANE for us - we went on a Thursday beginning of October - it rained early, it was HOT and it was HUMID - they cancelled the first parade, so the 10pm parade was HUGE - all along the route 30 min before I started looking - way too late ended up in Frontierland 4 deep, people pushing, kids crying and whining, it was CRAZY

LInes for candy were BIZARRE - most were long, but moved fast - most had 3 barrels that a CM would put candy from into your bag - now some CM's would put a handful, some just one or two -we're talking Penny Candy - the laffy tafffy stuff - so not worth it!! And then to have an adult push my dd out of the way as he went from Barrel one to Barrel 2 to Barrel 3 - UNBELIEVABLE, and it happened often!! You'd see a line that was short (tomorrowland, and all of a sudden people would RUN to get this stupid candy!!)

We rode the TTA 4 or 5 times, it was the quiet coolness, away from the hectic crowds and craziness -

We did ride POTC and HM early with short wait times - Its a Small World and Philharmagic lines went fast - I think we may have done Buzz, but for the most part it was just hard to walk around!! OH Dumbo had a short wait late in the evening and they had a dance thing going on behind Dumbo that many kids and a few characters were having fun at... So there is stuff to do, but just get it in your mind it will be CRAZY CROWDED - -

Then your expectations wont be too high, and you'll be amazed at this post!! lol lol (its perception and it is a subjective opinion!! Last year what I read plus having gone to a $10 empty e-ride night I was so unprepared for the Crowds it made me cry!!)

 

[beattyfamily]

We went on Halloween night twice, in 2002 and in 2004. Then we also went on Oct 2 last year.

I would do Halloween night again in a heartbeat. Can't beat trick or treating at MK on Halloween night if your in the area anyway!

Yes, it can seem pretty crowded, especially on Main Street, but if you go with priorities set and a plan of attack, and IMHO, focus on the Halloween festivities, you'll do just fine.

What we usually do is get the free photo over with right at 7:00p, then we trick or treat until the fireworks. Then we get a spot on Main Street for them. Then we get a spot for the second parade and then we're done pretty much since we have little ones.

The ticket or treat lines sometimes appear long BUT they go by very fast. They have at least 2 CMs to every line and it only takes them a couple of seconds to put the candy in your bag. So just because a line looks long, doesn't mean it will take long.

If you can only go Halloween night, go for it!

 

[salmoneous]

I was there on 10/31/05. At any given moment, it was crowded at some places in the park, and near empty in others. I got there a little after 4:00 and was able to ride every ride I wanted, see the parade, see the fireworks and get a ton of candy by 12:00. Every now and then I was in a huge crowd - usually around the candy lines, but could just walk a little ways away and get away from the crowd.

 

[thelionqueen]

Of all the MNSSHP days, 10/31 is always a sell out. I've been on every day except Halloween and the crowds were fine. Sounds like it will be more crowded but manageable. Whatever the case, don't miss it, it's the BEST!!!

 

[disneynutsss]

I went for the first time in 2004. I too looked up this information here on the boards and was prepared for the worst. People said that on Halloween night it is sold out and so crowded!

To my amazement it was wonderful! We just about walked onto every ride, the candy lines were not that long. We had no problem getting a spot for the parade and the fireworks. I think the longest line we waited on was for our complimentary photos, that line was at the most only 10 minutes! It was wonderful and we would definitely do it again!!

 

[theostwalts]

We also went on 10/31/05. It was our first MNSSHP and we had a blast. We have 3 dd's and they all loved it. There were alot of people, but I thought it wasn't as crowded as the weekend days we were there.