Originally Posted By Kimrue Well, I just got back from a very very nice family trip to WDW. It really was great and I had very few complaints HOWEVER...I have some "issues" with the MNSSHP. While it was a great idea, I think WDW fell short of hitting the mark with this one. The decorations and lighting, fog machines etc. were a great touch, however it seems like that was pretty much IT. I mean, it was PACKED, I mean PACKED....I hardly felt as though I paid for a "special event" it was more crowded for the party than it was during the day, which would have been ok, if the "party" wasn't for a measely 5-6 hours. The parade was cute, but ran late so instead of being upfront and explaining that the parade was running late, some cast members decided to cause a ruckus by encouraging the already annoyed crowd to start shouting and yelling in response to some nonsense they were saying. Stupid. So then the parade comes and the pirates of the carribean float was outstanding, the cpt. jack was great, made you almost double take at his likeness to Johnny and had all the flamboyant movements down pat, very good. the last float was Goofys candy factory or something like that and the cm passing out candy continually passed over my four year old and two year old, the same kids right in the front got candy from the parade. It wouldn't have bothered me, but children don't understand why they are being left out, so that didn't start the night out well... Before I knew it, the parade came and went and I was like...ummm, where is the rest of the parade???? VEry short parade. but nice. The fireworks scared the daylights out of my 2 year old, moreso for the forboding music rather than the actually BOOMS...he loved illuminations, but I digress....candy stations were a great idea, but should've been more plentiful, you had to "find" them sort of and there weren't that many stops. I also was disappointed at the lack of characters, I was lead to believe there were would be costumed characters strewn throughout the entire park to interact with guests, NOT ONE! I saw jack skeleton from far away, but that was IT...no dressed up Mickey, Donald, Pooh, not one of them. I'm also not sure why this is called a "party." Music was being played, but there was not really a "party" atmosphere in the air. It was really confusing and haphazard. Very unclear as to what is included and what was going on. Supposedly each person is supposed to get a picture with a halloween backdrop, well, the one line we saw wrapped around part of the park and it wasn't worth the wait, we chose riding the rides over the "included" picture. My sister in law left with her family after about 2 hours. I made the best of it and actually had fun. I just think this should be a more exclusive and organized event, that includes a bit more. I think as soon as you buy tickets you should receive a map and a paper that explains exactly what is included at the event. While it's called Mickey's Not so Scary Halloween Party, it may be a little scary for the toddler crowd. Put it this way, if you wouldn't take your child on haunted mansion, then wait another year for the party. It is a slight bit scary for little ones. I think this is a fantastic idea for parents with tween's and early teens, and couples without kids that have the time to figure out what exactly this "party" IS. If you go and actually find the dressed up characters, please post and let me know where you saw them! I couldn't see them and I didn't want to waste the little bit of time we had on a wild goose chase to find characters that may or may not be there. All in all, the party was pretty good, the decorations and piped in music, lighting, and fog were awesome. They actually built up the hype only for a little bit of a let down for the rest of the "party"...I sort of got there with a feeling of, "oh yeah this is going to be great" then was let down. Perhaps I should've done a little more research on the party before attending.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Kimrue I think you "hit the nail" right on the head. Make no mistake MNSSHP is more or less a "themed" extra magic hours with a few "extras" thrown in; ie, parade, photos, trick or treat spots. Basically only the same rides that are open during an Extra Magic Hour at teh MK are open during MNSSHP. Yes it can be a lot of fun. Yes it gets packed. Yes it can be too intense for small children. Yes it can get loud. Yes the park can get very dark during this event. Young adults and adults might find it too young oriented ( since its basically for young children trick or treating in the MK ). But its not going to be a big hit for everyone. I always enjoy this event. But, its not going to be a big hit for everyone.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub Well at least it didn't rain all night! I have gone twice this year and 2001 and both nights it poured! You are right about feeling disoriented and WDW should post all the info on line or at least the map brochure. This year I sat in front of the castle from start to finish and witnessed the cast in the hub being very firm about wristbands/you must exit to guests. But it was the first party of the season and I am sure complaints has stopped them from enforcing wristbands so that might explain some of the crowds.I think the character interaction occured in front of the stage castle after the Villain performances. Also I think Mickey and Minnie were in the Toontown area. Long lines for everthing.I think the most fun was sitting in the hub and watching as children arrived in costume to have their picture taken in front of the castle which still had that big thing on it for the first party.Why would anyone want a photo of that!
Originally Posted By stitchcrazy I went Friday and had a wonderful time. I think maybe I just had good timing. There were signs that said the party was sold out but I was still able to basically walk onto every ride that was open. I had my mom with and she already was having troubles from all the walking so we started at Advetureland just at park closing and snuck onto Jungle Cruise and worked our way around to Pirates, Splash & Big Thunder Mts, Haunted Mansion, Peter Pan, Philharmagic and then it was time for Hallowishes (started late my #1 complaint) and then had time to get over to Buzz Lightyear before walking up to Main Street as the Headless Horseman was running by so we found some last minute seats on the curb by the flag pole and enjoyed the parade before leaving. We got candy from like 6 of the places on the map. The walk over to the big group of stops beteween Mickey's Toontown and Tomorrowland was just too much of a walk for my mom at that point. But as an adult I mostly enjoy the short ride lines, and the special fireworks and parade. I'm sure its quite a different expereince taking little ones and trying to meet up with characters! Oh and a highlight was seeing all the kids and families in costumes! Whole families in themed costumes were especially a treat.
Originally Posted By Kimrue <<Make no mistake MNSSHP is more or less a "themed" extra magic hours with a few "extras" thrown in; ie, parade, photos, trick or treat spots. >> EXACTLY!!! Don't get me wrong, even though I sound like I hated it, I actually really had some fun, it just seemed a bit hyped up...I wouldn't bring little kids, though. I wonder how this is in comparison to the Christmas themed party...I'm sorry I don't know the name of it...
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey ^^^^^The Christmas party is Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party (MVMCP).
Originally Posted By stitchcrazy I've done Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party twice now and the Not So Scary just first Friday. I think they're very comparable in that you get short ride lines, special fireworks and a special parade. Oh and both have free snacks (candy at MNSSHP and cookies & cocoa at MVMCP). Decorations there's way more Christmas decorations than Halloween ones. I think the Christmas party has the edge on creating an overall holiday spirit. People wearing the occasional Mickey Santa hat or comparable isn't nearly as neat as seeing all the Halloween costumes. Overall I'd say they're quite comparable with just the holiday themeing different between them. I don't know that I'll have the opportunity again to be around for MNSSHP but my husband and I enjoy the Christmas Party enough that we're going for our 3rd year in a row this December.
Originally Posted By Kimrue Does the christmas party start earlier? It was dark as anything at the MNSSHP.
Originally Posted By stitchcrazy Same timing, 7-midnight. I think the Halloween lighting doesn't do much to add to the low lighting, I totally know what you mean. Like Main Street for Christmas is very white and bright and there's snow falling the whole night. Main Street with the Halloween lighitng being all oranges and greens seemed so dark. Let alone other areas of the park outside Main Street that seem very dark which I think I noticed for both parties.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 This is the first negative review I've read for MNSSHP, which I think is a great event. I can't imagine it being scary except for toddlers and the highly impressionable. As for it being for pre-teens and teens, I'd say they're much more apt to enjoy Halloween Horror Nights than they are trick or treating with the Disney characters. I've gone 3 of the last 4 years and every year you were handed a brochure when you got your armband, which clearly stated the times for parades, fireworks and shows as well as the locations for candy... I doubt Disney has stopped doing this.
Originally Posted By Kimrue If you read my entire post, you would see that it wasn't ENTIRELY negative. Yes, I did receive a park map at the gate that did give times, locations etc. My point was that when we walked in the gates at 8pm, pretty much in the dark, it was kind of hard to stop the 10 people we were with and try to find a light spot to figure out where and when everything was. I would've liked to browse over things before arriving, not an option. Also, I stated earlier that my 2 year old was a little frightened (2 year old = toddler) The reason why I thought that it would be more for the tween/preteen crowd was because I thought they would enjoy the fact there were virtually NO WAITS on the "big rides" we waited about 20-30 minutes for the fantasyland rides, the kids were getting antsy and wanted to see the characters, which we couldn't find, not even at the trick or treating stations. We found a few of the cards from Alice and Wonderland, but that was pretty much it. Like I said, I didn't hate it, it just seemed unorganized and the over pixiefied commercials and advertisements for the event were misleading. But aren't they always? I think I was just a little under informed about the event. I seriously thought it was going to be like party central with characters EVERYWHERE, cm passing out candy everywhere. Music playing with the kids dancing around, food stands open everywhere, confetti...I mean, a party, not a themed extra magic hours as someone else put it. NOt because of the extra money, but because of the advertisements I saw. I've been to halloween town fairs that had more of a "party" atmosphere. Also, tweens and preteens are from the ages of 9-12, I'm sorry, but if that's too old for the MNSSHP, then this society is going downhill faster than I thought. Halloween horror nights sounds like it's for a bit of an older crowd if you ask me, maybe I'm too overprotective.
Originally Posted By -em I went last Monday to the party and LOVED it. I enjoyed the parade, esp how many different characters were involved that we don't typically see (LOVED the Haunted Mansion and Pirate floats) The fireworks were fun and different than usual- I found the candy stations to be very plentiful in where I still ended up with a full bag and I didnt search out the stations nor hit many twice (Only was the adventurer trail). I saw enough "new" characters that I went and got a new autograph book which soon had, TARZAN (worth the price of admission)Abu, Mr Carpenter and two others Im forgetting. Pooh, Eeyore, Tigger and Piglet were taking turns out by their playground. Mickey/Minnie were in their houses in Toontown (I only waited for Minnie) Chip/Dale were back by Dumbo One thing I noticed with the Characters is most were doing long meet and greets with multiple pictures and lots of interaction. Lines were non existant. I rode Space and Buzz and didnt stop walking till loading. The only thing I wasnt thrilled on was the stage show. Sorry you had a bad time but I loved it and plan to make it an annual thing -em
Originally Posted By Kimrue Oh my gosh....I DIDN'T HAVE A BAD TIME!!! Why is it that just because I had a few complaints about my particular visit, it's translated to a total MNSSHP trashing? I'm so very happy to hear that perhaps I just had an "off" experience and that everyone else loved it. It's making me think of giving it another chance perhaps when my children are a little older. I just felt that for my particular situation, it could have been a little better,that's all. I loved the parade, it was short, but cool, my 4 year old loved the fireworks and the rides and candy stations etc. I just thought it should've/could've been better. I see a few agree with me, so I can't be COMPLETELY off base here.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I for one don't think your off base at all here Kimrue. Yes it can get packed. If I were a parent and paying the amount it costs for tickets and my child couldn't see the parade or was constantly being shoved around, then I would be angry. Perhaps Disney is allowing way too many people to these events, which is a legitimate discussion. It is dark at night in the parks. Look, I have been in the MK during the day when people have lost their child. Can you imagine what happens during those crowds at night.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom We are all on this board to listen to each others opinions. And personally I think ALL opinions are welcome here. When I want to "try" something at WDW. And I ask for opinions. I want to hear the good things and the bad things. I think you hit the "nail right on the head". Sure MNSSHP can be a lot of fun. But that doesn't mean is going to 100% fun ALL the time for everyone present.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 I'm going next week and will post a report when I return, but if a Disney basher like me loves the event (and I am an adult with no kids) and thinks it's well worth the extra price, I'm surprised that others wouldn't. That's all. And, Kimrue, the 9-12 crowd is very well represented at Halloween Horror Nights ... now whether I think that's good or bad is another story.
Originally Posted By CMDad << ... (and I am an adult with no kids)>> I will be at MNSSHP next week (the 10th to be exact) and I too am an adult <G>. I will be there with my daughter ... but of course, she is almost 30. She and I have been going for a few years now ... no non-adult children ... and we certainly enjoy it.
Originally Posted By Chelledun Mom and I are going for the first time this year, and I can't wait! Got my costume ready!
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>Oh my gosh....I DIDN'T HAVE A BAD TIME!!!<< I am so sorry you didn't enjoy the party, but hey... I had a good time myself for what it was.. a free for all candyfest.
Originally Posted By Labuda I had a BLAST at MNSSHP - loved the Villains show (though some of the choreography was odd, to say the least), the headless horseman was cool, the parade was great, and lines for rides were all walk-on on Monday the 1st. Plus managed to do a tad bit of trick-or-treating. My only negative is that the "perimeter" fireworks during Hallowishes were NOT 360º. When I saw Holiday Wishes in '03, the perimeter fireworks went 360º, so why can't they do that now? Grr! But, since that's my only issue with the night, I still give MNSSHP a 9.7 on a scale of 10. "I've gone 3 of the last 4 years and every year you were handed a brochure when you got your armband, which clearly stated the times for parades, fireworks and shows as well as the locations for candy... I doubt Disney has stopped doing this." Yep, I got a brochure that let me know when I needed to grab spots for the parade and the villain show.
