Tips for MNSSHP After LTT?

[viluvsdisney]

Hi - we'll be at the MNSSHP on Oct 31st and we have PS at LTT for 5:15. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get the most out of the beginning of the night for the party? Where can we trick or treat without a big wait line after dinner? Any suggeations on which direction to go - maybe towards SM? Our DD is 4 and may not hold out too long and she really wants to get her candy and see the parade After those are out of the way we can stroll about. Any suggestions from those who've attended this year's party? And should we bring bug spray? We're from CO and there have been 1500 West Nile cases reported this summer Thanks for the info!

 

[beattyfamily]

We were there for Halloween night last year and we ate at LTT at 5:20p just about the same as you!

First we got in the photo line right across from LTT and got that over with with no wait.

Then our main focus was the trick or treating, HM ride and the second parade.

The park was packed. It was very crowded especially in Fantasyland and behind the Castle. But that's to be expected on Halloween night.

We started our Trick or Treat right near LTT heading toward HM and through Fantasyland then towards Tomorrowland then to Toontown. We hung out in Toontown for awhile and then headed back toward Fantasyland. By then (about 8:45?) Fantasyland was PACKED! If my DD didn't suddenly get sick there, we probably would have headed towards the other side of the park to the Alladin carpet ride and trick or treat there too but instead we got her cleaned up and heard the fireworks and then we headed for spot for the second parade. We had to find a spot for the second parade at least 1/2 early and it was pretty packed. But we did get one of the last spots.

Be forwarded, the trick or treat lines appeared VERY long but they are deciving because they go very fast.

As far as the bug spray, we didn't need it at all. I guess it just depends on the weather or time of year??

If rides are important to you, I suggest you do them during the parade you are not viewing.

Hope this helps!

 

[cats mom]

Sorry, I can't really help with a planning strategy to get the most out of those first hours of the party - but I've read several reports and I think you're right on with the bug spray! Bring it! Another reason I love theses boards - I would never have thought to pack it. Have a great time!

 

[beatnik]

We went to the Halloween party this year on October 3rd. Ate at LTT around 5:40 and finished at 6:50. The photo site for this part of the park was inside the Hall of Presidents, so that might be a good thing to check off your list early (although they did not start taking the photos until 7).

I don't have too much to add except that we were surprised to find the party very UNcrowded for the first hour or so and moderately crowded thereafter. We expected early crowds and then for the kids to poop out and many of the families to go home. I don't know if this is the norm, but based on our experience, I would say to ride any rides of interest early and then trick-or-treat. In the first hour of the party, we rode Haunted Mansion, Dumbo, Peter Pan, Buzz Lightyear, Goofy's Barnstormer and saw Mickey's Philharmagic, all with no wait. After that lines increased to maybe 15-30 minutes, which is too long for us to wait under any circumstances and certainly too long to wait during the Halloween party.

The only other tip we would offer is that the fireworks at the Halloween party were different from the fireworks we saw at the MK in late Sept-- perhaps was a preview of the new show? Fireworks were mainly postioned over the castle as per "usual," but some were launched from each of the lands-- we could not see these well from where we were sitting. Consider watching the fireworks from in front of Cinderella's Castle or the top of Main Street in order to get the full effect.

Have fun!

Beatnik

 

[kilee]

We have a 5pm PS @ LTT on 10/31!! I was wondering some of the same things. I'm thinking though that if we are done by 6-6:15 ish they are going to probably send us towards tomorrowland--- anyone know if this is accurate?

 

[beatnik]

When we went this year, there was no "corralling" of the Halloween party attendees (either before or after dinner). You could go wherever you wanted before the party started; we do not know if rides were open, since we were eating. But the first ride we went to after dinner was the Haunted Mansion and it appeared to have been closed when we arrived (there was not a "soul" in the place except for castmembers, my husband and I and two other couples). Ours was the first party of the year, so there is some chance that the procedures was abberant, but it seems like the Halloween crowd is being handled differently this year.

Perhaps someone else who has been to this year's party on another day could comment?

Beatnik

 

[viluvsdisney]

One more question for Beattyfamily....How packed is "packed?" Is it just unbearable? Wer're pretty easy going but have two sets of parents (mine and Dh) in tow. Will they just be going nuts with the crowds? Thanks again

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by viluvsdisney
One more question for Beattyfamily....How packed is "packed?" Is it just unbearable? Wer're pretty easy going but have two sets of parents (mine and Dh) in tow. Will they just be going nuts with the crowds? Thanks again

No, I don't think I'd use the word "unbearable". Just more crowded than I am used to. I'm comparing it to off season; Sept, Oct, and December crowds. I'm also comparing it to previous MVMCP's that I've been to.

It was very crowded but like I said we were able to ride Haunted Manion at about 7:15p with no crowd and went on Barnstormer twice in a row at about 8:15p.

I think many were there just to be at MK for Halloween and enjoy the atmosphere and there were lots of people walking around but I'm thinking other sections of the park weren't as crowded as Fantasyland. I heard reports that people were able to ride what they wanted in other sections of the park without much of a problem.

It was more crowded than I'm used to but we did have elbow room to walk around. We were just bummed by how crowded Fantasyland was at 8:45p and a bit surprised at how packed the second parade was in comparision to the second parade at MVMCP. You definitely need to get there early to ensure a spot.

If you are interested in trick or treating and the parade, then you really don't have to worry (the trick or treat lines go VERY fast no matter how long they may look) but if you are interested in Fantasyland rides then do them ASAP or during the second parade as that was the busiest area of the night that we encountered.

If you go in knowing it's going to be a bit crowded and with a plan of attack, of what you really want to accomplish, then I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. It won't be bad. It was still a GREAT night! We had so much fun, that we're doing it again next year so I guess it couldn't have been that bad!

 

[DebbieB]

Definitely take the bug spray, I'm still scratching from last Sunday night and I used Avon Bug Guard!

We arrived about 6:30 and headed back to Liberty Square, they were already passing out candy from a coffin (gummy mummies!). We got our picture taken at Small World and walked on Peter Pan & saw Philharmagic. The trick or treat stations did not have long lines. Saw the fireworks from the Tomorrowland Bridge, stopped at the bake shop and then found a spot for the second parade in Town Square, it was not crowded there at all, there were still lots of curb spaces at parade time.

 

[jdads2]

We did the same thing as you floks a couple of yrs ago. Park was not crowded but that was probably because this was 1 1/2 months after attacks. We got our photos right down the street, to the right as I recall (could be wrong) from the LTT. Here's my partial report from that evening

LTT for our PS’s (at 6:20) by 5:50. We were seated at 6:00 and were immediately greeted by Goofy. He loved the kid’s costumes and laughed his butt off when he saw me. We pretty much got the same reaction from all of the characters. Pluto, Minnie, Donald and Chip and dale were there as well. Great interaction with the characters!! It also seemed to me that because the kids were wearing Disney costumes they got a lot of attention from characters and CM’s. I am not saying that others didn’t get any it just seemed as my kids got a lot. Seems like the LTT was not too busy. I was thinking that they must have had quite a few cancellations. When we walked outside it looked like we had walked into a different world. It had gone dark between the time we entered and exited the LTT. The lighting had changed and more balloons and decorations had gone up. The huge pumpkin balloons were lit up and the Mickey head was now disguised as a ghost (oooh scary).

We had our complimentary picture taken and then started looking for candy!! Boy what could be better than being at WDW and going trick-or-treating? We went on some more rides, none of which had waits longer than 5 minutes, and generally did some sightseeing. One of the highlights of the evening was when I came across a gentleman wearing a homemade Tigger costume. I scream “Tigger”, he screams “Pooh” and a jog over to him, in the process I forget that I am pushing my DD in the stroller and let the stroller go. She starts rolling downhill (for only a few feet) and my DW catches her. The crowd (including my ever agile wife) thinks it is funny. Tigger asks if I have seen any other friends of ours and I think to myself “this guy has lost it, he thinks I’m one of his buddies”. So I say “who” and Tigger says “Eeyore or Piglet”? I am such a schmutz. “No I haven’t but I’m still looking” About 20 feet later I see another Tigger and Eeyore. I yell over and wave. They both look at me half wave and give me the look that says “What a wacko”. Oh well, some people are more fun than others. We then took in the parade. The ride of the headless horseman was very cool but we were so far down the Parade root that it barely seemed as though the Parade and the ride were connected. The parade was excellent!! And the kids loved it. The music before the parade was SCARY!! My 7 yr old son works himself up into an almost terrified state sometimes. If we had been closer to the beginning of the parade nothing would have bothered him.

The fireworks display was awesome. The fireworks encircled the entire park! That was a great change considering that some must get used to the fireworks after seeing some sort of display on every night of your stay.

Here is a brief summery of our day:

23 rides, many more than once
2 parades
1 fireworks display
LTT
Lots of candy!!

Only the Extraterrestrial had a wait longer than 10 minutes and that was because we got in line just after the show started, otherwise it was a walk on. Same for Bear Jamboree. Buzz’s Spin was a walk on every time (299,800 top score for me). Every ride in Fantasyland was a 1 or 2-minute wait. Every other ride was less than 10 minutes.

 

[viluvsdisney]

You all have such great info Where would you suggest to see the parade? Any spots better than others? You've all got such great tips - I'll take whatever you've got Thanks again!

 

[viluvsdisney]

Bump - Thanks

 

[KathyFP]

Thanks for all the information. We just can't wait.