MNSSHP day planning

[sproutsmama]

Hi all!

We are going to MNSSHP during our October trip, and I'm looking for advice on planning our day. Our son is 4, and this is our first family trip to WDW (we are staying 8 days). Right now we have plans to do a few hours at AK in the morning, then rest in the afternoon at the resort before we head into MK for the party. But I'm concerned that DS might not be able to make it staying up very late (he's a morning person, but we know he'll love the party which is why we're doing it). We know we can't stay until the end of the party but I'd at least like for him to see the fireworks, since I have heard they are amazing.

So, advice: should we try to do a bit of AK in the morning (breakfast at Tusker House and then a few rides) before resting in the afternoon? Or keep the entire day low-key and work up to the party that night?

TIA!

 

[journ116]

I think your current plan is just fine! Out of curiosity though,: how many "days" are your park tickets? I only ask because you can enter MK as early as 4-4:30 p.m. with your MNSSHP tickets (entry will probably be on the far right, where you'll be given a wristband that must be displayed), and save a day on your park ticket!

My family and I have been to 5 ticketed events at WDW (3-MNSSHP & 2-MVMCP), and our plan was similar to yours, only because if we didn't "use" a day on our park ticket, we'd technically "lose it" (just the way our travel plans worked out). However, we did try to stay at least until 11 p.m., letting our kiddos fall asleep in the stroller.

In years past, it has been our experience that mass crowds exit the park between the ending of the fireworks & right before the 2nd parade begins. If you would like to leave while the 2nd parade is going on, stay on the left side of Main Street as your walking toward the park entrance. If you don't feel like dealing with the mass exodus, wait out the party OR position yourselves near the entrance of the park to watch the fireworks.

Have fun and bring the TUMS and toothpaste for the 10 lbs. of candy you will mostly likely receive!

 

[sproutsmama]

Great advice about exiting the park! And that's exactly why we were thinking of doing AK in the morning, because we didn't want to "lose" a day on our tix.

 

[sproutsmama]

journ116, what are your "don't miss" suggestions for the party??

 

[Susan Savia]

Last year we went to DTD for a couple hours in the morning then got some lunch and returned to our room for a nap until it was time to head over to MK for the party. We were fully charged for the nights activities. Your plan sounds good.

 

[journ116]

journ116, what are your "don't miss" suggestions for the party??

Well, first off, I would suggest hitting up any rides or attractions before the party officially begins at 7 p.m.. Once the party starts, there are too many great shows and trick-or-treat trails to participate in rather than trying to jam in lots of rides that you can do on a non-event day.

Our "Must Do's" for the party:
-Trick-or-Treating around the park (however, we stopped after 5 locations because there was no way that we could, or should, eat that much candy!)

-M&G with Mickey in his costume and the Princesses with their Princes

-other various M&G's

-photo op with Cinderella's carriage and the Seven Dwarfs (never did accomplish the latter as their line was forming @ 6:45 p.m.!)

-Woody's Dance party @ the Diamond Horseshoe (due to a snafu in our groups' tentative itinerary for the party, we actually hung out in here during the first parade...would've liked to had done what we did in years past: park the stroller near the parade route with 1 or 2 adults, while the rest of the group danced with Woody, Jessie & Bullseye prior to the 1st parade)

-Villains Mix and Mingle show (the villains also make their way down from the stage after the show for a very brief photo op)

-Boo-To-You Parade (hands down, the best parade on WDW property!...aaaand now the parade song is stuck in my head)

-Castle show

-HalloWishes fireworks

-and fitting in a couple of rides while trick-or-treating: Dumbo, Barnstormer, and Carousel

Trying to accomplish ALL of the above was a small feat, and we didn't leave the park until a little after 11 p.m.. Word to the wise, check out the party's time guide and plan ahead. For instance, the Villains mingle, parade, castle show, & HalloWishes could be seen in consecutive order and from one spot. Unfortunately, this could eat up a significant chunk of your party time (almost 2 hrs.). Also, Disney does not mess around: when 7 p.m. rolls around (if not a tad before), the treat trails open up and unique M&G's are in full swing.

Lastly, don't be surprised if you see guests without party wristbands watching the shows and trying to get candy...otherwise known as "free loaders." CM's try their best to wrangle non-event guests to the front of the park, but many stick around trying to blend in with the crowds. However, in order to partake in any rides, attractions, treat trails, and M&G's, you must be displaying a party wristband.

A nap and hearty dinner (prior to the official start time) will be needed and well worth it! Advice that I received in the past still holds true today for Disney events: view the second parade and play late.

Have a magical time and enjoy the festivities!

 

[HouCuseChickie]

We went last Friday and they were actually letting ticketed guests in before 4pm I also got an extra 3FP+s for the day by linking in my MNSSHP tickets to my profile online.

We did not do any parks the day of MNSSHP. So, we went to dinner and then popped into MK afterwards. Haunted Mansion is really the only ride I'd say is really worth doing during the party since it morphs over into Halloween mode. In fact, we rode once before 7pm and the CMs were already in full zombified attire. We also rode one more time during the party to get all of the Halloween goodness around HM.

As for what to do, trick or treating was very high on my kids' lists. We hit up several spots as well as one of the trails over by Space Mountain. We opted for the 2nd parade, so we found a spot right on the curb at some point after the first...watched Celebrate the Magic, Hallowishes, Villains show, and then the later Boo To You parade. We went into the Diamond Horseshoe earlier on to dance with Woody, but the kids weren't into it so we walked and skipped the Monsters one as well. The M&Gs had such long lines that I didn't want to spend the time. Every now and then, we'd also just happen on performers as we walked around- so that was fun too.

 

[jkl2000]

Hi all!

We are going to MNSSHP during our October trip, and I'm looking for advice on planning our day. Our son is 4, and this is our first family trip to WDW (we are staying 8 days). Right now we have plans to do a few hours at AK in the morning, then rest in the afternoon at the resort before we head into MK for the party. But I'm concerned that DS might not be able to make it staying up very late (he's a morning person, but we know he'll love the party which is why we're doing it). We know we can't stay until the end of the party but I'd at least like for him to see the fireworks, since I have heard they are amazing.

So, advice: should we try to do a bit of AK in the morning (breakfast at Tusker House and then a few rides) before resting in the afternoon? Or keep the entire day low-key and work up to the party that night?

TIA!

Just wanted to say our plans are pretty much identical - with a four year old boy too! Good luck - should be interesting to compare outcomes. All good I'm sure!

 

[MOXOMUMD]

I just wanted to chime in to say instead of being in the great throng of people waiting for a bus or ferry after the fireworks, hit up the T or T places. It's better to wait it out somewhere in the park instead of out.

 

[jkl2000]

I just wanted to chime in to say instead of being in the great throng of people waiting for a bus or ferry after the fireworks, hit up the T or T places. It's better to wait it out somewhere in the park instead of out.

Nice!

 

[sproutsmama]

I just wanted to chime in to say instead of being in the great throng of people waiting for a bus or ferry after the fireworks, hit up the T or T places. It's better to wait it out somewhere in the park instead of out.

Good idea! Is it better to trick or treat right away, or wait until later in the night? Do they shut down trick or treat at any point, like if they run out of candy? I don't care how much candy we get (DS isn't a big sweets eater) but we do want to have the experience of it.

 

[MOXOMUMD]

@sproutsmama We trick or treat as we pass the candy areas so we don't have to backtrack. When the party officially starts at 7, the candy areas are the busiest but as the night goes on the lines are steady but not as long. I also think as the further into the night the people realize to have their bags open when they get to the CMs so the line goes faster. Don't worry about them running out of candy. They bring it out in cases. We go on Nov. 1 and they still have lots of candy. For your DS, in years past they have given out raisins, bananas and fruit snacks. We also stop into the Diamond Horseshoe dance party a few times a night and there's a candy stop in there.

 

[PrincessVic]

This is our first year at MNSSHP, but the past years (since daughter was 18 months, now 5 1/2) we have done MVMCP. We usually hit a park in the morning to do a few rides, then head over to a water park for a few hours to chill (to make the most of our time). Then a few hours to relax/get ready etc, before heading to the park early evening.
We found this worked well with our daughter (and us!).
Can't wait for the party!!!!!

 

[ragreenlee]

This will be our first MNSSHP. For the candy trail that goes from Tomorrowland to Storybook Circus, must you enter it at Tomorrowland and exit at StoryBrook Circus? this makes a difference in my touring plans if I can not enter at Storybrook Circus. Thanks for anyone who can answer this.