This is Magical, this is Horrific, and this is Epic! TR 8/27-9/7/25, updated 10/14*

[disneyAndi14]

Hope they have it!! I might look for a Figment sweater when there.

I was surprised she actually liked a Figment shirt, hope they have it for her! I have seen Figment sweaters very cute

Oddly excited to see this for myself.

It is a cute area and lots of seating! Love the muppets!

Mistake? Even if I didn't like beer, I'd take it and share or give away.

Haha very true anything for free especially at Disney is a plus!

I'll try it and reserve judgement.

TT is not a favorite of mine at all so for me it is just meh! New overlay or not

Ironically, that is the ONLY one I've ever had.

That is one of those at the top of my list.

Delicious!

As much of a bummer as it all was, I kinda miss going to Disney during CoVid. FAR less people-y!

Very true, I miss the low crowds and I don’t miss the phrase fill in all the space!

Yeah, I thought too!

<"I'll have an ice tea, please.">

I thought about a Diet Coke in there , haha

I'm impressed with how many of the food booths you did! we always talk about trying more items, but never seem to do it. And the fried pickle needed much more sauce.

Thank you! This was our plan for today and yes Disney is stingy with dips!

 

[disneyAndi14]

Tonight was the Halloween Party at MK.

Initially our plan was to have dinner at Wailulu Bar and Grill at The Polynesian Resort.

Our timeframe for dinner was dwindling and we were not very hungry so decided to skip it this trip. We really wanted to check out this restaurant, oh well, it will be another thing to put on our list.

We got ready for the party and headed out to the bus stop.

I have us entering the party around 6pm. This is the time the park closes for day guests. We took the special walkway for party guests. We got our trick or treat bag with a full size caramel M&M in it. Andi posing for me! I have so many pictures through the years of her standing at the MNSSHP inflatable!

We saw Mother Gothel out in this area! There was also a DJ out there interacting with the guests.

The plan was to get a few pictures and head over to the Diamond Horseshoe restaurant because I had heard the 3 hitchhiking ghosts would be in there.
Castle Picture along the way

This is a trick or treat
spot. It wasn’t quite 7pm yet so we waited in the line.
A lady was with several young kids in front of us and she had given them some M&Ms to eat and one of the kids dropped one on the ground and the lady picked it up and gave it to him, haha I guess the 5 second rule even counts at Disney. Andi, who is a germ aphobe thought this was the worst thing ever! I just laughed! She eventually did as well!

The line started moving right at 7pm and we walked through the restaurant but no hitchhiking ghosts, boo we did get a huge scoop full of candy.

Oh and by the way trying to get a few PP pictures before this was a no go, the lines were crazy and Andi hates waiting in long lines so no pictures.

At this point, we could tell this was a very busy sold out party. Andi and I have a great perspective because we have been doing MNSSHP since 2013 and wow, Disney oversells the parties now. It is way more busy than during the day at MK on a party day. The walkways were so crowded, ugh We decided to head to Friar Nooks for the chili bean loaded tots with ranch jalapeño dip and a spicy Buffalo chicken hand pie.

I guess we weren’t paying much attention because the chili on the tots had meat in it. We thought since it said bean chili it was vegetarian but it was ground beef and beans. Andi ate a few of the tots along the side and she ate the hand pie.

I really liked the chili loaded tots except it was way too much just for me.

Tots

Hand pie

We decided to head over to Storybook circus and ride Dumbo. We also trick or treated at the train station.

Here I am on Dumbo, haha

Both of us on Dumbo!

The path to Tron behind Barnstormer was blocked off so we headed back into Fantasy Land. We rode Under the Sea, Tea Cups with the overlay, spooky music and orange/purple lights.

We also did Speedway, ugh this ride needs an update!

We did more tick or treating stations. We were getting a ton of candy. Our plan was to go into Tomorrow Land and check out the exclusive park merchandise at Star Traders.

I wanted the cute Mickey ghost shirt but that was sold out.
Follow me to the next post……

 

[disneyAndi14]

We got more candy and rode one of our favorites the PM.

It was time to work our way back to Fantasyland, we went into Princess Hall to get candy and Maleficent was in there. I got a quick picture.

We went on WtP next and into Philharmagic for more candy. we watched some of the fireworks in Fantasy Land, we also went on PPF, HM, and Pirates
Waiting on the parade in Frontier Land


I finally saw the Hitchhiking ghosts in Frontier Land yay

We were shocked how many people were already lined up for the 11:15 parade. Andi got us a spot and I headed to the restroom. I did see the Cadaver Dans performing on my why back. I got a quick picture.

We had to line up 45+ minutes before the parade. In the past, we would be able to line up for the parade about 15 minutes before hand. Frontier Land was packed. We did have a good spot and stood our ground because people did try to come stand in front of us.

I love this parade, it is my all time favorite parade ever! The parade alone is worth the party cost to me.

Here are some awesome parade pictures!
Headless Horseman riding by

First part of the parade




Follow me to the next post…..

 

[disneyAndi14]

We were at the start of the parade which was really nice.
More parade pictures, love the gravediggers, ballroom dancers, and my all time favorite pirate Captain Barbosa!




Captain Jack

Goofy

Villians and the best Halloween band ever!



We were able to head over towards Adventure Land and trick or treat a few more times, get a Dolewhip, and work our way out of the park.

Overall we had a wonderful evening but the crowds really make it difficult to enjoy all the offerings of the party. In the past you could do a sample of everything in the 5 hours, now you have to pick and choose certain things, and the parade, walkways, and fireworks are so crowded!

We arrived back to the YC around 12:30am. It was our last night at the YC. Here is just my candy haul and Treat Bag




Tomorrow we move to the Horror and Epic portions of the trip, please stay tuned for our first day at Universal, coming soon!

 

[amazingact21]

It's such a shame that Disney oversells these parties now. It's probably one of the many reasons they cost so much. You'd think at a certain point the cost would be so high not as many people would attend. Do you think the After Hours is less crowded?

I would have been grossed out by the M&Ms off the ground, too. Especially because there's ample candy to be had at the party! Just throw those out and get more for free.

Glad you managed to find the Hitchhiking Ghosts, and you enjoyed the parade. Having to line up 45 minutes before a party parade is rough, though.

 

[teach22180]

I wanted to say thank you for all your trip reports over the years. That is my hobby between trips to read trip reports. I want to thank all the regulars who seem to be following on this thread and let you all know that there are many people reading your reports that don't reply. I completely understand that it's getting to be a bit cumbersome, but I wanted to say thank you while I had a chance. I'm going back in December for the first time in 2 and a half years, and I have very much gotten into it again. Thank you all!

 

[Wood Nymph]

We were at the start of the parade which was really nice.

That's a good place to stand. Then you get to move on and do fun stuff while the crowd is busy watching the rest of the parade.

We stood by the train station to watch the parade and that was a great spot. We saw them make the circle and head straight towards us. But I did get very tired of the music. They need something better than that song.

Overall we had a wonderful evening but the crowds really make it difficult to enjoy all the offerings of the party. In the past you could do a sample of everything in the 5 hours, now you have to pick and choose certain things, and the parade, walkways, and fireworks are so crowded!

It's hard to watch the show and the fireworks with the huge crowds.

I really like the Trick or Treat bag. I think we just had cheap, plastic bags when we went. But we haven't been to a party in 8 years, so things probably changed a bit.

 

[pkondz]

I don’t think we have ever sat inside Jock’s bar now that I think about it.

I have!
Finally something I’ve done that you haven’t. Never thought it’d happen.

Wow that would be so cool, I remember you saying you have done the diving in the aquarium

And an amazing experience.

Haha I didn’t have any beer honestly

Who said you????

He is but remember we are really short!

Okay!

You got us there! We are like Hobbits we have two breakfasts, with beer haha

He sure was, hey kid this isn’t Kali River Rapids!

They are called Brazi bites

Thanks! I took a screen shot. I’ll take a look next time I’m there… which isn’t very often.

We really wanted to check out this restaurant, oh well, it will be another thing to put on our list.

I wonder if you’ll ever go back?

We got our trick or treat bag with a full size caramel M&M in it.

Starting off with a bang.

I have so many pictures through the years of her standing at the MNSSHP inflatable!

We saw Mother Gothel

She looks pretty good for her age.

I guess the 5 second rule even counts at Disney.

Walt wouldn’t allow germs at Disney.

Andi, who is a germ aphobe thought this was the worst thing ever! I just laughed! She eventually did as well!

no hitchhiking ghosts, boo

Well poop.

Oh and by the way trying to get a few PP pictures before this was a no go, the lines were crazy and Andi hates waiting in long lines so no pictures.

Even later in the evening?

wow, Disney oversells the parties now

Yeah… super unfortunate. They were so good a few years ago.

Here I am on Dumbo, haha

You look so scared!!

We also did Speedway, ugh this ride needs an update!

It does… but keep it kid friendly. Rides for the littles are getting scarce.

There it is!
It must be done.

Maleficent was in there. I got a quick picture.

She looks more annoyed than evil.

We went on WtP next and into Philharmagic for more candy. we watched some of the fireworks in Fantasy Land, we also went on PPF, HM, and Pirates

Lots! So at least you can still get on some rides.

finally saw the Hitchhiking ghosts in Frontier Land yay

Oh good.

I did see the Cadaver Dans performing

Nice.

We had to line up 45+ minutes before the parade. In the past, we would be able to line up for the parade about 15 minutes before hand.

I remember they had two parades during the party (do they still?) and Main St was almost completely empty for the 2nd parade.

We did have a good spot and stood our ground because people did try to come stand in front of us.

Some people. Bet they expected you to move back. Good for holding your ground.

I love this parade, it is my all time favorite parade ever! The parade alone is worth the party cost to me.

Absolutely!! And Hallowishes.

Headless Horseman riding by

Hard shot to get. And such a cool part of the parade.

love the gravediggers, ballroom dancers,

In the past you could do a sample of everything in the 5 hours

I remember.

Here is just my candy haul and Treat Bag

And you ate it all that night!

 

[disneyAndi14]

Hello There

Today was moving day! We said goodbye to The YC and Disney. We ended this portion of the trip with another Mickey waffle meal. We both had the kids meal and Andi got bacon to give to me. Double bacon with Mickey waffles makes for a great morning.

Goodbye YC, we love you.

Here is the construction at the front of the resort.

I ordered a Lyft at about 11:00am for our ride over to The Hard Rock Hotel (HRH).

This will be our first stay at HRH. It is very close to the entrance of US and this was perfect for our next couple of days.

We arrived and checked in and our room was ready, yay!

The room was on the 6th floor towards the end of the hallway" we like this, it is usually more quiet away from the elevator area. Here are some pictures of the room and our view.



Our view


I liked the hotel and the rooms are fine but overall it is my least favorite of the three premier resorts. My favorite is Portofino Bay and Royal Pacific as my 2nd. What I usually do is look for the best AP deal for the premier resorts and pick that one. HRH is usually the most expensive but this time it was the least expensive.

We settled in and took a little rest before heading out to Citywalk. The walk was really nice and very convenient. I would say a 5-8 minute walk including the security check point.

We wanted to have a later lunch at Toothsome’s Chocolate Emporium before going to US for HHN.

Our plan was to do the stay and scream for Fallout. You get a wristband and can line up earlier than guests who only have the HHN tickets and not US tickets. We have APs so we could participate in this.

We walked over to the restaurant around 2:15pm for our 2:30pm reservation.

Andi picked this restaurant and I have always enjoyed our meals/drinks/dessert here,

We were seated quickly and decided to share the Wild Mushroom Risotto with chicken.

We also each ordered the seasonal pumpkin spice martini.

This was delicious! I could have drank several if they weren’t so expensive.

The risotto was delicious as well.

Penelope and Jacques came by to say hello and to ask about the Horror Nights. They said it maybe too scary for them! I know how they feel!

We finished our meal and headed out to Universal Studios.

Follow me to the scary business

 

[disneyAndi14]

We entered US and got our wristbands for the stay and scream area, we had some time to do ET, along the way we stopped in the SpongeBob store, I got Andi’s picture with Gary.

Next we rode ET and MIB before going to the stay and scream area. We were able to enter Fallout early so we could do this house twice. It was hot waiting, I drank a lot of water! US has Coke freestyle machines and you can fill your water all over the park and the water is cold!

A lady in front of us went to lay on the ground because she was feeling ill from the heat. Park medics came to assist her. The heat is no joke! She was sitting up in a wheelchair soon drinking water.

We did Fallout twice then continued on to more of the Haunted Houses. We had express pass for the night which was really needed even for a Wednesday night in early September. The wait times were all 40+ minutes.


We really enjoyed all the houses tonight with some great scares! Terrifier and 5 nights at Freddie’s had the longest lines but we got in each house in 15-20 minutes with stand by waits of over 100 minutes.

We saw a few characters walking around the scare zones, the chainsaw guys always get me!

The toxic 20s, be careful of toxic ooze!


The food lines are incredibly long. We really wanted the giant cheese stick but the line was crazy long.

We got the twisted tater chips this year. I like the twisted tater on a stick better. The chips were pretty good, seasoned with a ranch dressing.

I thought the big Transformer on the building looked cool in the night sky.

I wanted the famous pizza fries, which are iconic at HHN.

A simple snack which are weirdly delicious, it is french fries, pizza sauce, sausage, pepperoni, and cheese. Andi had some of the fries without the meat. Andi tried a couple of the specialty drinks and I would take a sip or two.

We didn’t watch any of the shows tonight. We finished all 10 houses doing one twice by 11:30pm and decided to head out.

I got a few pictures of the statues, Andi by Art the Clown from Terrifier.


We really love HHN and I am glad we got to go twice this trip.

Goodbye Horror Nights until next year!

Steps 28,786

Tomorrow is our first take it easy day, haha, we still visit two parks, the dead coconut club, Pat O’Brien’s restaurant and Fat Tuesdays!

Stay tuned!



Hey Everyone

My goal is to finish my TR before my trip and I might, but if not, rest assured I will finish it when I return from my trip!

Today I made FP$$ and Fancy Ride reservations for Liesa and I for our portion of the trip!

Everything went very well. I got everything we wanted and coordinated the times with our Big Fat Plan i.e. eating and eating haha

I leave one week from today!

Keep reading and I will be back to comment!

Thank you

 

[disneyAndi14]

It's such a shame that Disney oversells these parties now. It's probably one of the many reasons they cost so much. You'd think at a certain point the cost would be so high not as many people would attend. Do you think the After Hours is less crowded?

Andi laughs at me because every year we do the more and more crowded parties I say this is my last one and every year I buy tickets, lol and yes the After Hours so far is less crowded!

I would have been grossed out by the M&Ms off the ground, too. Especially because there's ample candy to be had at the party! Just throw those out and get more for free.

I know especially when the adult in your party gives it to you yuck way to set a good example

Glad you managed to find the Hitchhiking Ghosts, and you enjoyed the parade. Having to line up 45 minutes before a party parade is rough, though.

I loved seeing the Hitchhiking ghosts since they are a new addition to the party! Not a fan of lining up so early for the late parade!

I wanted to say thank you for all your trip reports over the years. That is my hobby between trips to read trip reports. I want to thank all the regulars who seem to be following on this thread and let you all know that there are many people reading your reports that don't reply.

Well Thank you very much for the kind words and reading along! In the years past I learned so much from the boards and especially from trip reports!

I completely understand that it's getting to be a bit cumbersome, but I wanted to say thank you while I had a chance. I'm going back in December for the first time in 2 and a half years, and I have very much gotten into it again. Thank you all!

Yay to returning to Disney in December! I hope you have a wonderful trip!

That's a good place to stand. Then you get to move on and do fun stuff while the crowd is busy watching the rest of the parade.

We love this area and in years past it was much less crowded! I hate lining up so early for the parade and fireworks especially on a party night that is time limited!

We stood by the train station to watch the parade and that was a great spot. We saw them make the circle and head straight towards us. But I did get very tired of the music. They need something better than that song.

Hahaha I love that song and could hear it over and over! One of my favorites! I hope they don’t change it!

It's hard to watch the show and the fireworks with the huge crowds.

Very true! We basically did rides, trick or treated, and watched the parade and this took all 5 hours!

I have!
Finally something I’ve done that you haven’t. Never thought it’d happen.

And diving in the aquarium I have never done that! Years ago I did snorkel not dive in the Galapagos Islands and The Great Barrier Reef

I wonder if you’ll ever go back?

I’m thinking about it,

Walt wouldn’t allow germs at Disney.

Exactly, just like no rain right?

Even later in the evening?

Yes worse even later! You really could spend hours doing all the photo ops

Yeah… super unfortunate. They were so good a few years ago.

Way to crowded now!

You look so scared!!

I am terrified of Dumbo, haha

There it is!
It must be done.

Love PM, such a favorite

Lots! So at least you can still get on some rides.

Yes we concentrated on rides and candy!

I remember they had two parades during the party (do they still?) and Main St was almost completely empty for the 2nd parade.

Yes they still do, this was the late parade!

Absolutely!! And Hallowishes.

The fireworks being 360 perimeter ones we could get a good view in Fantasyland

Hard shot to get. And such a cool part of the parade.

I never good one of the Headless Horseman such a cool part of the parade!

And you ate it all that night!

No wonder I couldn’t sleep

 

[Wood Nymph]

A lady in front of us went to lay on the ground because she was feeling ill from the heat. Park medics came to assist her. The heat is no joke! She was sitting up in a wheelchair soon drinking water.

The heat in September was surprisingly bad for our trip, too. I think the fact that it was sunny instead of cloudy played a role in the heat.

Was this event more crowded than in the past?

 

[Stacybaeasm]

Whew! Caught up! I can't believe how busy the MNSSHP is now. I remember attending in the 2010's many times and the 2nd parade would have almost no one there. And Boo to You is my all-time favorite Disney parade. I miss it. But once I entered academia, there is no way to get to a Halloween party.

HHN sounds too intense for me. In my younger years, I think I would have been all over that but now...just too old to be scared like that. But it sounds like you and Andi had fun!

I hope your trip is wonderful!!

 

[pkondz]

Today was moving day!

Double bacon with Mickey waffles makes for a great morning.

Bacon makes everything better.

This will be our first stay at HRH.

Interesting. I’ve never considered it. I ate at a Hard Rock restaurant once and was so unimpressed that I figured the resort would follow suit.

The room was on the 6th floor towards the end of the hallway" we like this, it is usually more quiet away from the elevator area.

Always prefer to be away from the elevators… but not so far you’re exhausted by the time you get there.

Here are some pictures of the room and our view.

Not bad! Like the drumsticks.

overall it is my least favorite of the three premier resorts.

Ah ha!!!

My favorite is Portofino Bay and Royal Pacific as my 2nd.

I’d reverse those. I like the pool better at RP.

We wanted to have a later lunch at Toothsome’s Chocolate Emporium before going to US for HHN.

Of course. Some treats before the tricks.

decided to share the Wild Mushroom Risotto

Mmmmm… risotto.

We also each ordered the seasonal pumpkin spice martini.

Don’t do pumpkin very much but sounds interesting.

They said it maybe too scary for them! I know how they feel!

Aw, poor Caroline.

I got Andi’s picture with Gary.

Nice shot.

A lady in front of us went to lay on the ground because she was feeling ill from the heat

Oh dear. Florida heat is no joke.

We had express pass for the night which was really needed even for a Wednesday night in early September. The wait times were all 40+ minutes.

I think I’d have gotten it anyway, but this just reinforces that thought.

we got in each house in 15-20 minutes with stand by waits of over 100 minutes.

the chainsaw guys always get me!

And yet you lived to tell the tale.

We really wanted the giant cheese stick but the line was crazy long.

For which end?

thought the big Transformer on the building looked cool in the night sky.

I wanted the famous pizza fries, which are iconic at HHN.

They are? I e never heard of them.

A simple snack which are weirdly delicious, it is french fries, pizza sauce, sausage, pepperoni, and cheese.

Sounds good though!

got everything we wanted and coordinated the times with our Big Fat Plan i.e. eating and eating haha

I leave one week from today!

Have a great trip!

Years ago I did snorkel not dive in the Galapagos Islands and The Great Barrier Reef

Aaaaaand… I’m jealous again.

Exactly, just like no rain right?

I am terrified of Dumbo, haha

Yes they still do, this was the late parade!

Really! I’m shocked!

No wonder I couldn’t sleep