Too tired to write a proper review, but just very happy with our evening. We (me and DS9) had two main goals - hit every TOT station and get various merchandise such as pins, the Hitchhiking Ghost vessels, etc. Secondary goals were PhotoPass shots and overlay rides. Plus parade(s) and fireworks. So, not crazy goals, but still.
We did everything we wanted except the rides - although we could have if we had made more of an effort. Lines were either nonexistent to swift moving for TOT stations.
Got the three Hitchhiking Ghost things with minimal effort or waits all in the 8-9pm timeframe. Sort of a pain to carry around the rest of the night, but with no/few people in line, I jumped at the chance early.
Got our pins and a MB at Frontier Trading Post with no wait around 9ish.
Will have to go back and remind myself what PhotoPass shots we did, but we did plenty. Most waits were quite short.
Navigating the park was pretty easy from my perspective. We did a Sept Friday party last year where just getting around was painful - nothing like that tonight in our travels.
Plaza Garden Viewing dessert party delivered the great view as always, but in some ways I’m not so sure I really needed it. The Hub was crowded, but it wasn’t crazy crowded. Seemed like prior MNSSHPs to me just from the looks of things, although hard to really tell when in the garden since you can’t see everything.
The Plaza Garden itself was not crowded at all. We got to the garden around 10 and got a perfect spot on the back left rail (my preferred location). I thought for sure getting to the garden so late would mean no rail, so I was pleasantly surprised.
Only real complaint of the night was the Plaza Garden desserts! I do those things more for the viewing than the food anyway, but they just all seemed blah and uninspired to me. Total sugar bombs.
(Don’t read this next part if you don’t want to hear about fireworks)
The new fireworks show has an interesting soundtrack, but man, there’s some serious pyro in my opinion. No full 180 degree shots but tons of the partial 180 throughout the show. It felt like a “larger” show than HEA, as it should. While I won’t be humming the soundtrack tomorrow, two thumbs up from me. And that’s from someone who passionately loved HalloWishes.
We don’t really mess with the characters, so I can’t speak to that.
Didn’t arrive at MK until just before 8pm due to flight delays (don’t do
MNSSHP your arrival day, kids).
Although of course I knew the risks when I made the plans.
Left MK at 12 and back in room at 12:31, so no complaints there.
Not sure if we just hit a good night or what, but to me this felt just like the early Sept parties we used to do a few years ago before we had to start living with the school calendar.
Sorry for the ramble, brain is mush.
Might not answer quickly but happy to answer any questions.