"Official" 2018 Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party - A Spooktacular Celebration!

[GADisneyDad14]

I’ve never been, so I’m really struggling with understanding views. From what you said, it sounds like it is possible to see the parade from the garden. I don’t particularly care about having the greatest front-and-centre view - I would much rather be somewhere that is not too crowded. Would you recommend the party viewing area for the parade? It sounds like it could be the answer to my problem.

Sorry, PIC HEAVY post.

Hey, so... sorry for the delay in responding more fully.

Here's a better explanation. The Plaza Garden East (the reserved area for the Plaza Garden Dessert Party) is the garden with the star below. If we want to believe Google Maps distance accuracy... it is roughly 16-18 feet from the Main Street curb to the closest spot in the Garden. That's what that little yellow line is below - and it approximately where we positioned ourselves in the garden for the parade. The garden has an ever so slight higher elevation than the sidewalk.



We arrived in the garden approx 9:20pm. This was the scene in the garden at 9:24pm. On this night, there were three others next to me that had a similar idea of viewing the parade, but the rest of the garden was all but empty, minus a few people just hanging around. I suspect this could be YMMV on any given night.


First sign of the parade at 9:32pm. I am 6 ft and my phone was held generally around my head level for these shots. You can see, it's just an 'ok' view, not great... not terrible. You have a lot of bodies on the sidewalk between you and the parade route.



9:33pm. You can notice how the oh-so-slight elevation change in the garden helps here.


Not so good for street level characters and performers. You're only getting glimpses in between people.



9:34pm. This view is good enough for me, but won't be good enough for many.


9:38pm


9:40pm.


The view to my left looking towards Main Street.


Last year, we watched the first parade from this same vantage point and the second parade from a curb-side spot in Frontierland. We considered the second parade the "real viewing" so did not mind the inferior viewing of the first parade from here. This year we got distracted doing other things and didn't make it to our "real viewing" of the second parade, but that was OK with the flow on this given night.

So... pros are we didn't wait for a space at all. Just walked into the garden not very long before the parade arrived. Cons are inferior viewing behind a deep sidewalk crowd.

Happy to answer any questions.

 

[dachsie]

Argh. I just was typing my party report and the dang iPad said was problem with page and refreshed and I lost it. I will do it Sunday when I get home on my outer. I am not trying that again

 

[IheartRapunzel]

How exciting, what costume?

Rapunzel

 

[IheartRapunzel]

Well, hopefully, it's as Rapunzel!
What date? We are going 10/9


I always look for a pass through. They will close it off and then let people move over and fill it in, usually the one nearest to the shooting gallery area

Absolutely Rapunzel! I got the crown and a pascal too! I’ll be at the party October 5th

 

[dachsie]

THis was my candy haul for the two parties. I got twice as much at the second party as the first as left early.

Candy

2 applesauce

11 peanut m&m

13 plain m&m

2 peanut butter m&m

5 caramel m&m

2 full size caramel m&m

3 malteaser

4 wild berry skittles

3 sour skittles

10 reg skittles

3 fun size milky ways

4 reg mini milky ways

2 dark Milky Way

1 milk chocolate dove square

1 caramel dove square

1 dark chocolate mint dove square

15 dove bars

4 3 musketeer fun size

1 snicker fun size

9 snicker minis

6 snicker crisper

5 peanut butter snickers

7 Twix minis

2 dark Twix fun size

2 white Twix fun size

4 life saver gummies rings

9 life saver gummies

10 starburst

1 Mickey fun pop sucker

When we got out of Philharmagic there was a CM with two pumpkin buckets. You drew out a card on one that either said trick or treat and the other had the suckers. I got trick which said make a scary face so I did. And got the sucker. Lol

 

[Cluelyss]

Went to the party last night and had a great time. Did not have to wait long for many things. Got there around 4:05 and went through the empty AP line because the Halloween lines were full. picked up my wristband in city hall which was empty. Went through the bypass. The rest is the timeline

4:20 FP Space Mountain
4:40Dinner at Skipper Canteen.
5:20 FP BTMRR
walked around for a bit
6:40 lined up for Minnie 3rd in line came out exactly at 7pm done by 7:08
Walked by Vampirina Dance party, cute atmosphere. Kids were enjoying it.
Walk on Dumbo
7:30 Space Mountain 15 min wait
Walk on People mover
Walk on The Little Mermaid
Took photo in front of little mermaid
8:30 Seven Dwarves ride said 35 mins was about just that.
9:15 Seven Dwarves photo 20 minute wait; if that. (I was shocked how empty the tent was. They said 40 minute wait, I figured I try my luck since the first parade was going on. It was two and half hours at 6:40!)
Walked over to Frontierland sat in the rockin chairs for 20 minutes until the start of fireworks. Once they started moved up to the river fence. Empty and amazing views!
10:30 walked on Splash Mountain completely empty and had my own car.
10:50 got a spot across from Pecos Bill Front row on the floor.
11:40 hitchhiking ghosts photo (only two people in line)
11:50 Tea cups walk on
12:10 Headless Horsemen photo at exit. Waited two minutes.

I was solo so I was able to go with the flow. At certain points I felt areas were congested and just went a different direction. I trick or treated later in the evening because I didn’t want to carry candy and it was hot. They were giving out two handfuls; my bag was overflowing. I enjoyed looking at all the costumes and everyone being festive!

Thanks for the great report!! I’m going solo tomorrow and hope I’m half as successful!

Quick question - what was the photo outside LM this year? I can’t recall it being discussed yet.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Thanks for the great report!! I’m going solo tomorrow and hope I’m half as successful!

Quick question - what was the photo outside LM this year? I can’t recall it being discussed yet.

Oh fun! I think I remember you debating the solo trip earlier this year. Glad you stuck to it. Have fun!

 

[AngP]

Thanks for the great report!! I’m going solo tomorrow and hope I’m half as successful!

Quick question - what was the photo outside LM this year? I can’t recall it being discussed yet.

The photo outside Little Mermaid is just a photo in front of the ride. I asked if he had magic shots and he said no.

 

[AngiTN]

Sorry, PIC HEAVY post.

Hey, so... sorry for the delay in responding more fully.

Here's a better explanation. The Plaza Garden East (the reserved area for the Plaza Garden Dessert Party) is the garden with the star below. If we want to believe Google Maps distance accuracy... it is roughly 16-18 feet from the Main Street curb to the closest spot in the Garden. That's what that little yellow line is below - and it approximately where we positioned ourselves in the garden for the parade. The garden has an ever so slight higher elevation than the sidewalk.
Not so good for street level characters and performers. You're only getting glimpses in between people.
View attachment 354325
So... pros are we didn't wait for a space at all. Just walked into the garden not very long before the parade arrived. Cons are inferior viewing behind a deep sidewalk crowd.

Happy to answer any questions.

The biggest issue about missing the street level parade by standing back in the garden (for those who haven't been/seen it) you miss the gravediggers, which are probably the highlight of the Halloween parade, just behind the Headless Horseman. You really should consider them not to be missed so it's worth whatever effort you can muster to see them, be it a better spot for the first parade if that's the only one you'll be there for or stay around for the 2nd parade too. Just to throw that out there

 

[jsmla]

Have you bought tickets through them before? I've never used Travelzoo before, so just checking to make sure it's totally legit. It would save us almost $40 more than the AP discount through Disney. I'll take every bit of savings I can get!

Not for MNSSHP but I've used Travelzoo many times for hotels in NOLA without any problems.

 

[AndreaDM]

Have you bought tickets through them before? I've never used Travelzoo before, so just checking to make sure it's totally legit. It would save us almost $40 more than the AP discount through Disney. I'll take every bit of savings I can get!

I have not bought any Disney related tickets through Travelzoo but have used that site a number of times for other trips without any problems. We are going to Germany in Nov. with a deal I found on Travelzoo.

 

[Mouseketeers4]

Not for MNSSHP but I've used Travelzoo many times for hotels in NOLA without any problems.

I have not bought any Disney related tickets through Travelzoo but have used that site a number of times for other trips without any problems. We are going to Germany in Nov. with a deal I found on Travelzoo.

Thank you!

Update: Went to place the order and the added fees at the end actually make it more expensive than buying through Disney.

 

[Cluelyss]

The photo outside Little Mermaid is just a photo in front of the ride. I asked if he had magic shots and he said no.

Thanks! And super cute costume, btw!!

So are they not doing a photo by the wall to the right of LM this year? Anyone know? In the past they’ve had the skeleton dance and floating HM busts there?

 

[Cluelyss]

Oh fun! I think I remember you debating the solo trip earlier this year. Glad you stuck to it. Have fun!

Than you! I was debating and bit the bullet! I think it was your comment that pushed me over the edge...saying you’d never be happy sitting in the room knowing the party was going on...and you’re right! LOL

 

[AndreaDM]

Thank you!

Update: Went to place the order and the added fees at the end actually make it more expensive than buying through Disney.

I wondered if that wouldn't be the case, didn't think Disney discounted anything!

 

[AngP]

Thanks! And super cute costume, btw!!

So are they not doing a photo by the wall to the right of LM this year? Anyone know? In the past they’ve had the skeleton dance and floating HM busts there?

Thank you! They are doing LM and Eric photo across the way. I did not see the skeleton photo this year. I did it last year. I thought I read in a post waaay back they were not doing it this year, but I could be wrong.

 

[TheNameless]

My wife and I, went to the 09/21 MNSSHP event (Friday night). We got there at 5:30, just in time for our BOG 5:45 reservation. The BOG meal was amazing, and we got to sit in the west wing, by the photo of the beast. My wife loved it. We finished our dinner and met Beast by 7 pm for the official event. We then met Donald and Daisy. We had a 40 minute wait to meet them, but they were great, and it was great getting pics with both of them together.

Then we started to get into a trick-r-treat line, and were told we were cutting into a line. We then saw the line was like another 50 people farther than we thought. We decide to ride the under the sea ride (walkon) and then walk to the dessert party. On the way to the dessert party, we went through trick-r-treat lines in tomorrow land, with little to no waits. The cm's by the monsters inc area were yelling candy all night long to get people to join the line there. It really was amazing seeing the variance in lines for the different trick-r-treat locations.

We then went to the dessert party and really enjoyed all the food but the cheeseburger spring rolls were our favorites.
We had booked the dessert party when it still included the parade viewing spot. So when we were full, we asked cast member to escort us to the flag pole to watch the parade. The parade location was perfect! (attaching photo of parade from our spot)

After the parade, we walked through the shops and then went to reserved garden party spot for fireworks. After the fireworks we explored the parks some and road BTMRR. We also got the light up tangled photo op. And of course we did enough trick-r-treat stops to fill our bags.

The park definitely felt crowded, but we had done the DAH party the night before so rides were not super important, and we just wanted to experience the Halloween stuff (fireworks & parade).

 

[DisFam4]

We also did the 9/21 party, myself DW and DD20 (I will try to be as specific as I can on some times, memory is a little fuzzy on some). We got to the park right around 4:00 and it took less than 5 minutes to scan in and get our bands. We went to get our SOTMK cards and shop in the Emporium for a few minutes ( @FoxC63 we were told that the Stitch pin is sold out from CM's at Emporium, Frontierland and also the Big Top). We then went back to the bypass for our bags and starter candy, did a couple prop photos with very minimal wait (2-3 minutes each) 4:14 and 4:18.

We then hung around in Tomorrowland for awhile and tried the Candy Corn Milkshake because DD and I were hoping against hope that it would taste like candy corn.... It didn't sadly. While it was an OK shake, it was not worth the extra expense for a plain vanilla (orange colored) shake with a little cotton candy and a tasteless marshmallow. We then did SM, PM and then Buzz (5:23) before walking over to the Big Top Tent to look at that merchandise. Walked over to Pecos Bill for Hades Nachos as they were selling them already at 6pm but not the worms and dirt....

6:49-6:54 Hitchhiking ghost photo
6:59 ToT Country Bear Jamboree - very short line
7:01 Cadaver Dans
7:19-7:24 Grave Digger photo (went immediately at last song from Cadaver Dan)
7:35-7:48 POTC, thought the "overlay" was meh... but love that ride anyway!
7:49-8:10? ToT @ Pirates? (not really Pirates, but the tables across the street from Pirates), Splash, Tom Sawyer and Country Bear again.
At this point DW and DD went toward the hub to stake out a spot for Hocus and I waited on line at the popcorn cart in front of LTT for Oogy Boogy. Took less than 5 minutes and they had a bunch there. Then went to watch HP on the street in the hub just on the other side of the Frontierland bridge. Very crowded but we were able to see everything fine. We then made our way back to Frontierland and staked out a spot across from LTT so we could head to HM right after the parade. Let me tell you what.... IT WAS CROWDED! First parade, 20 minutes before start and it was already 4-5 deep for as far as i could see around LTT. We were right next to a bypass that would close for the parade so we ended up with front row, but unless you got there early you were deep in the crowd there. LOVED the parade, HH then Grave Diggers were fantastic!
9:40? ToT CHH - smallish line that went fast
9:48-9:53 - Buggy Magic shot in front of HM - then watched Madame XXX and Butler Broome interact with the crowd
10:00-10:10 ToT - Pinocchio and PhilharMagic then grabbed a seat on a rock behind the castle for the fireworks. Love the view from here, and while it is not perfect with having the Castle framed in front of you with the fireworks going off around it, I will gladly trade the lack of crowding and shoving for the 360 degree view this spot gives you.
10:30 - went straight to Pooh M&G and were told 45 minutes and the line looked about right for that (we passed for now)
10:31 - ToT at Cosmic, Monsters Inc and CoP (Space is still down and has been for awhile)
10:50 - Watched the Tea Cup overlay, probably the best of the bunch....
10:58 - 7D M&G - told ~30ish minutes, but there were not a lot there (looked more like 15-20 mins) so we decided to go. After 1 pic they went on break, 3 mins later a CM came out and said that Dopey had something in his eye and they weren't sure how long Snow White needed to get it out.... We decided that with ~20 lbs of candy, Space still down and nothing left to "must do" we would wait it out, sitting on the carpet of course, lol. The CM's were great, they played Disney trivia giving out pieces of candy to those that answered correctly. Every few minutes some in line would leave, making us ~5 in line when they finally returned at 11:25. Got our pic at 11:31! I am a huge 7D fan and wanted this photo (and Pooh as you will see from below pic) but we all decided that we wouldn't wait more than ~20-30 min for pics, so getting this one made me happy!
11:32 - Look on app to see that SM IS UP!!!!! We beeline over there to see a 10 min wait on the board and DD and I rush in and we are done at 11:46, where it is now a good ~30 min wait it looks like. Before we went on we were both thinking "eh" about the "overlay", but we really LOVED it - pitch black and blasting music made for a real fun ride that I was really surprised at.

We decided earlier at ~10:45 that we had more than enough candy than we could handle so we passed on any more ToT for the evening. Biggest piece of advise for everyone: Wait till later to ToT. The lines were very long from 7pm-~8:30ish, but after 9 or so they were very short and at 10:30 they were complete walk-throughs with no wait at all!

We then headed for the exit via Starbucks for the Not So Poison Apple Cupcake to take back to the room. Others have said was very sweet and of which my DD stated "Holy cow, that is the SWEETEST thing I have ever eaten!" She did manage to finish it the next day though....

We did get the HH Magic Shot at 12:15. A little bit of advise here - there are 3 photographers doing this, the 2 on either end had lines because they were closest to the exits, the one in the middle had no line and ALSO has the best angle of the Train Station being dead on center. Got on the bus back to resort after a short 5 min wait.

All in all we had a lot of fun and did just about everything we wanted to do : HP, Parade, FW, POTC, SM, ToT, Cadaver, Grave Digger & 7D M&G and ate the specials we wanted. The only thing we missed was the Pooh M&G, but I preferred the 7D over that one so I am happy! So while we thoroughly enjoyed the party, unless Disney changes the # of people or the crowding in some way shape or form, this is probably a one and done for us. It really was VERY crowded and unless you had a plan all set before you went, you would not get to do what you hoped to do, imo.

 

[Haley R]

We also did the 9/21 party, myself DW and DD20 (I will try to be as specific as I can on some times, memory is a little fuzzy on some). We got to the park right around 4:00 and it took less than 5 minutes to scan in and get our bands. We went to get our SOTMK cards and shop in the Emporium for a few minutes ( @FoxC63 we were told that the Stitch pin is sold out from CM's at Emporium, Frontierland and also the Big Top). We then went back to the bypass for our bags and starter candy, did a couple prop photos with very minimal wait (2-3 minutes each) 4:14 and 4:18.

We then hung around in Tomorrowland for awhile and tried the Candy Corn Milkshake because DD and I were hoping against hope that it would taste like candy corn.... It didn't sadly. While it was an OK shake, it was not worth the extra expense for a plain vanilla (orange colored) shake with a little cotton candy and a tasteless marshmallow. We then did SM, PM and then Buzz (5;23) before walking over to the Big Top Tent to look at that merchandise. Walked over to Pecos Bill for Hades Nachos as they were selling them already at 6pm but not the worms and dirt....

6:49-6:54 Hitchhiking ghost photo
6:59 ToT Country Bear Jamboree - very short line
7:01 Cadaver Dans
7:19-7:24 Grave Digger photo (went immediately at last song from Cadaver Dan)
7:35-7:48 POTC, thought the "overlay" was meh... but love that ride anyway!
7:49-8:10? ToT @ Pirates? (not really Pirates, but the tables across the street from Pirates), Splash, Tom Sawyer and Country Bear again.
At this point DW and DD went toward the hub to stake out a spot for Hocus and I waited on line at the popcorn cart in front of LTT for Oogy Boogy. Took less than 5 minutes and they had a bunch there. Then went to watch HP on the street in the hub just on the other side of the Frontierland bridge. Very crowded but we were able to see everything fine. We then made our way back to Frontierland and staked out a spot across from LTT so we could head to HM right after the parade. Let me tell you what.... IT WAS CROWDED! First parade, 20 minutes before start and it was already 4-5 deep for as far as i could see around LTT. We were right next to a bypass that would close for the parade so we ended up with front row, but unless you got there early you were deep in the crowd there. LOVED the parade, HH then Grave Diggers were fantastic!
9:40? ToT CHH - smallish line that went fast
9:48-9:53 - Buggy Magic shot in front of HM - then watched Madame XXX and Butler Broome interact with the crowd
10:00-10:10 ToT - Pinocchio and PhilharMagic then grabbed a seat on a rock behind the castle for the fireworks. Love the view from here, and while it is not perfect with having the Castle framed in front of you with the fireworks going off around it, I will gladly trade the lack of crowding and shoving for the 360 degree view this spot gives you.
10:30 - went straight to Pooh M&G and were told 45 minutes and the line looked about right for that (we passed for now)
10:31 - ToT at Cosmic, Monsters Inc and CoP (Space is still down and has been for awhile)
10:50 - Watched the Tea Cup overlay, probably the best of the bunch....
10:58 - 7D M&G - told ~30ish minutes, but there were not a lot there (looked more like 15-20) so we decided to go. After 1 pic they went on break, 3 mins later a CM came out and said that Dopey had something in his eye and they weren't sure how long Snow White needed to get it out.... We decided that with ~20 lbs of candy, Space still down and nothing left to "must do" we would wait it out, sitting on the carpet of course, lol. The CM's were great, they played Disney trivia giving out pieces of candy to those that answered correctly. Every few minutes some in line would leave, making us ~5 in line when they finally returned at 10:25. Got our pic at 11:31! I am a huge 7D fan and wanted this photo (and Pooh as you will see from below pic) but we all decided that we wouldn't wait more than ~20-30 min for pics, so getting this one made me happy!
11:32 - Look to see that SM IS UP!!!!! We beeline over there to see a 10 min wait on the board and DD and I rush in and we are done at 11:46. Before we went on we were both "eh" about the "overlay", but we really LOVED it - pitch black and blasting music made for a real fun ride that I was really surprised at.

We decided at 10:45 that we had more than enough candy than we could handle so we passed on any more ToT for the evening. Biggest piece of advise for everyone: Wait till later to ToT. The lines were very long from 7pm-~8:30ish, but after 9 or so they were very short and at 10:30 they were complete walk-throughs with no wait at all!

We then headed for the exit via Starbucks for the Not So Poison Apple Cupcake to take back to the room. Others have said was very sweet and of which my DD stated "Holy cow, that is the SWEETEST thing I have ever eaten!" She did manage to finish it the next day though....

We did get the HH Magic Shot at 12:15. A little bit of advise here - there are 3 photographers doing this, the 2 on either end had lines because they were closest to the exits, the one in the middle had no line and ALSO has the best angle of the Train Station being dead on center. Got on the bus back to resort after a short 5 min wait.

All in all we had a lot of fun and did just about everything we wanted to do : HP, Parade, FW, POTC, SM, ToT, Cadaver, Grave Digger & 7D M&G and ate the specials we wanted. The only thing we missed was the Pooh M&G, but I preferred the 7D over that one so I am happy! So while we thoroughly enjoyed the party, unless Disney changes the # of people or the crowding in some way shape or form, this is probably a one and done for us. It really was VERY crowded and unless you had a plan all set before you would not get to do what you hoped to do, imo.[/USER]

Great review!

 

[Ceilidhscot]

DD wants to see Pooh & friends so where’s the nearest popcorn stall that would sell the Oogie Boogie bucket AFTER that meet and greet (if aiming to be near the front of the line about 5.30pm or so)?

Thanks