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

[coolingjupiter]

This same roughly "first weekend in Sept after Labor Day weekend" is the time I've historically targeted to go to MNSSHP over the last few years. I love that time of year and think it's a great window to go to WDW.

I'm personally fond of that Sunday date. These days I'm not too keen on taking DS out of school, otherwise I'd be all over that date again this year.

One maybe small difference this year is that Rosh Hashana is a bit earlier - 9/9-9/11 (vs 9/20-9/22 last year). It's not necessarily a massive crowd-creating holiday, but there are some schools that are off. For example, I think NYC public schools are off 9/10 & 9/11, if I'm not mistaken (someone correct me if I'm wrong here).

But hard to go wrong either way.

I’m a teacher from NJ and that’s why I’m able to go during that weekend this year. We have 9/10 and 9/11 off. Not all schools in NJ have off, but I do and I’m taking advantage of it! We were originally going to go during Teachers’ Convention in early November but apparently the entire state of NJ goes at that time and both the crowd estimates and flight prices were insane...so September it is!

 

[ArielSRL]

I see that there is no current info about what QS will be open for the party...but in previous years, was Friar Nook's? I'd love some of those tots! How about Sleepy Hollow?

Oh and I am currently trying to purchase my tickets but Disney IT is so wonderful that after I clicked on purchase, the site has been asking me to "Please wait while we complete your request" with the spinning circle for about 20 minutes now. It also states not to refresh or hit the back button. Thanks Disney IT.

 

[lvcourtneyy]

We have tickets for August 17th. What can we expect as it’s the first MNNSHP? Will things be different to advertised? Crowds be big or small? Will it feel more like a dress rehearsal than an actual proper MNSSHP night? Really excited to go as we’ve never been before but don’t want to over-expect. Oh, and we’re dressing up but will we look silly and out of place as it’s the first night and in the middle of August?

There will be a lot of media and bloggers at the first party. You will not feel out of place dressing up at all! It is hard to be going to the first party because a lot of the info we get about locations of things such as characters comes from the first party but many things stay the same as last year.

 

[lvcourtneyy]

I see that there is no current info about what QS will be open for the party...but in previous years, was Friar Nook's? I'd love some of those tots! How about Sleepy Hollow?

Oh and I am currently trying to purchase my tickets but Disney IT is so wonderful that after I clicked on purchase, the site has been asking me to "Please wait while we complete your request" with the spinning circle for about 20 minutes now. It also states not to refresh or hit the back button. Thanks Disney IT.

Sleepy Hollow and Friar’s nook were both open last year as well as Casey’s corner and Cosmic Rays.

 

[sheila14]

Sleepy Hollow and Friar’s nook were both open last year as well as Casey’s corner and Cosmic Rays.

PVH was closed due to it being a treat stop.

 

[MusicalAstronaut]

Hey, so I remember everyone talking about whether or not they could make fastpasses for the day of the party - I cannot. Is there a way around this? Should I call them? It says my husband has reached his limit for the days he could book fastpasses for.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Hey, so I remember everyone talking about whether or not they could make fastpasses for the day of the party - I cannot. Is there a way around this? Should I call them? It says my husband has reached his limit for the days he could book fastpasses for.

It appears people are having the most success when they book all of their regular park day FPs first and then attempt to go back and add their MNSSHP FPs afterwards.

Also, confirming that you are not going to a park the day of your party? You cannot book 3 regular FPs plus 3 MNSSHP FPs on the same day.

 

[MusicalAstronaut]

It appears people are having the most success when they book all of their regular park day FPs first and then attempt to go back and add their MNSSHP FPs afterwards.

Also, confirming that you are not going to a park the day of your party? You cannot book 3 regular FPs plus 3 MNSSHP FPs on the same day.

Correct, we are taking a resort day that day. It kind of kills me as an AP but DH will like it! Haha. I'll cancel them & go back and try again.

 

[Cluelyss]

Correct, we are taking a resort day that day. It kind of kills me as an AP but DH will like it! Haha. I'll cancel them & go back and try again.

If you have APs there should be no issue booking on your party day, if you are not going to another park during the day.

 

[Nornster]

Sorry if this has been asked upthread (I'm not great with the search feature on Disboards) - do most folks wear their costume at 4 pm when they show up at the Magic Kingdom for the party, or bring them along in a backpack? Will it look crazy when the party hasn't even started yet? And how common is the knowledge that party guests can come at 4 - I think I read about here, I can't remember if it was super-obvious when we bought our tickets, maybe it was in the fine print?

We're going to the 8/28 party, our costumes are really coming together, now just need to convince my husband to shave his mustache off so that he only has a goatee for his Flynn Rider look!

 

[scrappinginontario]

Sorry if this has been asked upthread (I'm not great with the search feature on Disboards) - do most folks wear their costume at 4 pm when they show up at the Magic Kingdom for the party, or bring them along in a backpack? Will it look crazy when the party hasn't even started yet? And how common is the knowledge that party guests can come at 4 - I think I read about here, I can't remember if it was super-obvious when we bought our tickets, maybe it was in the fine print?

We're going to the 8/28 party, our costumes are really coming together, now just need to convince my husband to shave his mustache off so that he only has a goatee for his Flynn Rider look!

The majority of people arriving at 4:00 for the party are wearing their costumes. We've never attended the party but would often make our way to Main Street to watch the costumed guests arriving as we were leaving the park as day guests.

I honestly don't know how 'well known' it is that party guests can arrive as early as 4:00 but I do know that A LOT of them do so many costumed guests begin appearing at 4:00.

 

[MusicalAstronaut]

If you have APs there should be no issue booking on your party day, if you are not going to another park during the day.

My husband isn't an AP though so that's where I was getting an error. Am I correct that I should be trying for 3:30/4:30/5:30?

 

[amw]

We have tickets for August 17th. What can we expect as it’s the first MNNSHP? Will things be different to advertised? Crowds be big or small? Will it feel more like a dress rehearsal than an actual proper MNSSHP night? Really excited to go as we’ve never been before but don’t want to over-expect. Oh, and we’re dressing up but will we look silly and out of place as it’s the first night and in the middle of August?

Last year we went in August on the second date. The first MNSSHP date was the same week. We knew ahead of that week what special food treats were going to be sold, and what special pins/shirts were going to be sold (not all were available at these early parties). But unfortunately, we didn’t know the characters, popcorn buckets, etc. We did learn about them reading those blogs the night of the first party while at WDW.

And yes, there was a majority of people in costumes. Maybe not as elaborate as October — it is stinking hot! — but people were serious about it.

We will also be going on the 17th this year because my DD requested a return. I’m just going to go with the flow. No chance to overplan.

 

[Lovinallthingsdisney]

Trying to decide between 2 dates...Friday 9/14 or Sunday 9/16. Had planned on Sunday, but the crowd predictions show Sunday significantly higher than Friday...which seems odd to me. Anyone have any thoughts on this? Both rankings are still low in the big picture, I know, but logically, I would expect Friday to be busier.

 

[FoxC63]

My husband isn't an AP though so that's where I was getting an error. Am I correct that I should be trying for 3:30/4:30/5:30?

Yes. Any of the following should work.

FP+ 3:15-4:15, 4:15-5:15, and 5:15-6:00

FP+ 3:20-4:20, 4:20-5:20, 5:20-6pm

FP+ 3:25-4:25, 4:25-5:25 and 5:30-6:00

FP+ 3:30-4:30; 4:30-5:30; 5:30-6:00

 

[Nornster]

Thanks, that's good to know! Oh, another crazy question - what do people do with their candy when they're riding roller coasters, etc.? I'm guessing just putting it in a zip-up backpack and stuffing it by their feet? Do you get a trick-or-treat bag with admission to the party? I know people say don't "waste time" with trick-or-treating, when you can buy candy at home, but I think we'll get a lot of push back from our eight-year-old if we try to skip it - I know she's more interested in that than the meet and greets.

 

[Ashley Marie]

The only thing to consider about 9/9 is that Rosh Hashanah starts at sunset - so if a school is closed because of it (NYC public schools are out that Monday and Tuesday - which makes for a nice long weekend - it's why I'm there then) or if people take advantage of the Religious Holiday excused absence thing it could be more crowded as people might not have to miss school or work on Monday to attend a late party on Sunday.

This same roughly "first weekend in Sept after Labor Day weekend" is the time I've historically targeted to go to MNSSHP over the last few years. I love that time of year and think it's a great window to go to WDW.

I'm personally fond of that Sunday date. These days I'm not too keen on taking DS out of school, otherwise I'd be all over that date again this year.

One maybe small difference this year is that Rosh Hashana is a bit earlier - 9/9-9/11 (vs 9/20-9/22 last year). It's not necessarily a massive crowd-creating holiday, but there are some schools that are off. For example, I think NYC public schools are off 9/10 & 9/11, if I'm not mistaken (someone correct me if I'm wrong here).

But hard to go wrong either way.

Yes, we live right outside of NYC and school is closed those days here. First day of school is actually Sept. 5, so there's school for three days before being off for the weekend and Rosh Hashana. My daughter's only going into 1st grade, but I cleared being out of town with her principal just in case. So our family is taking advantage of an awesome deal (DVC rental) I stumbled upon.

This is actually our first September trip. I've heard good things about the week after Labor Day (putting aside the heat/humidity) so I'm interested to give it a try. Glad to hear that you love going that week. Based on your posts, I trust your opinion!

Anyway, I'm still torn! I think I want to do DHS on a Sunday or Monday to give us a chance to rope drop Slinky Dog since the AP mornings happen every other day in Sept. But our arrival and departure both fall on Mondays, so that probably leaves Sunday, 9/9 as the best choice for DHS. The Friday, 9/7 party is the date the "Ultimate Fall" package people have tickets for, but I doubt that will make too much of a dent. I do wonder if Disney picked that date for that package due to low crowd estimates, even though it's a Friday.

 

[Rich M]

How bad is the line to get in at 4? I was able to get a dining reservation at 4 and wonder if I will be too late to make it there. Thanks

 

[Cluelyss]

How bad is the line to get in at 4? I was able to get a dining reservation at 4 and wonder if I will be too late to make it there. Thanks

It will be long. Arrive by 3:15/3:30 to be among the first in line - they usually start letting guests in at 3:45. You’ll be fine, just may need to run to that ADR and go back for pictures/bypass later!

 

[Cluelyss]

Thanks, that's good to know! Oh, another crazy question - what do people do with their candy when they're riding roller coasters, etc.? I'm guessing just putting it in a zip-up backpack and stuffing it by their feet? Do you get a trick-or-treat bag with admission to the party? I know people say don't "waste time" with trick-or-treating, when you can buy candy at home, but I think we'll get a lot of push back from our eight-year-old if we try to skip it - I know she's more interested in that than the meet and greets.

The do provide bags, but they’re small. We usually dump the bags into our backpack after every stop.