Hello All,

At Thanksgiving this year my Mom surprised us all by announcing that she wants to take us all (my family and my sister's family) to WDW. The initial reaction was a mix of shock, excitement and terror...how was this going to work???

I can not describe in a post, the nuances of my relationship with my sister, nor ours with our Mom. We also have some differences in our parenting style, my kids have grown up on Disney and have been to the parks already (son 3times, daughter twice), her kids have never been and her now 7 year old still cannot watch Rudolph because he is afraid of Abominable. (I am laughing now picturing him on EE....I know it's really not funny but I can't help myself).

Anyway, my Mom wanted to go this spring but it was impossible with all of our schedules and prior commitments. It is looking as though we will go the third week of October. This said, I am aware that the Mickey's Not So Scary Party has become a big deal that time of year. We went that same week in 2003, but that was before they started the Party.

I am almost certain my sister will not want to go to the MNSSP because she will fear it too scary for her kids and because of the price. We are considering going one night. When I looked up last year's info it looked like the party was on every other night during that time. Will that really cut down on our ability to visit MK other than in the am?? Does the Party make the mornings at MK really crowded?? What time do they kick us out of MK if we don't have MNSSP tickets?

The other related question is that I noticed in an older review that they played the slow entrance music to HM....is that throughout the park or just during the parade?? Reason being, my DD is currently petrified of that song and if you even hum it will go into a shrieking panic. If that song is pumped through the park throughout the entire event I am afraid we will have to be no-goers too.

Any and all advice for travel this time of year (and with newbies) is appreciated.
Thanks!

They kick you out at closing time if you don't have wristbands for the party. UNLESS they're doing a fireworks at closing time for the non-party, then you'd get to watch that - and then they'd start sweeping the park.

My nephews are not 'scared' kids, so I wouldn't hesitate to take them - because it IS meant as a fun night for the little ones. If the kids are one step braver than afraid of their own shadows, it might be too much for them. Anything in between, I really can't judge.

I don't recall what music they pipe throughout the park, but it is 'spooky' feeling.

As far as it impacting visiting MK around the party - the only thing I worry about is making sure I have an evening scheduled when there ISN'T a party so I can see the normal fireworks and Spectromagic. As long as you have park hoppers, it's not a big scheduling hassle.

And as far as family dynamic issues - just remember you do NOT have to spend 24/7 glued together. Make sure, for all of your mental healths, that you take some time for your own smaller family unit.

Thanks Cathy!
Do you know what time they normally close on party nights? Maybe it will be fine anyway to give the kids an early night or two.

My kids love Halloween, and both LOVE dressing up, so I think they will have a blast, DD just has that one quirk about the HM song lol. DH is getting excited about building a dragon costume too (Sleeping Beauty).

I honestly think my niece and nephew would love it too, but they are a little sheltered and I want to be very careful about appearing like I am "pushing" an event on my Sister.

I think we are all in total agreement about the time apart througout the trip, that helps. My Mom just told me though that she wants to do the Dining Plan. Yikes. It's very nice of her, and appreciated, but how far do I go with the ADRs? I like to plan all my stuff out and know that my Sister knows nothing about the subject. Once again, murky waters with the whole suggestive planning thing. I think I will have to say something about Royal Table, because my niece loves Cinderella and that one is hard to get into.


I guess I will just have to keep my eyes peeled for the dates for this year, so I can start planning all my ADRs. Do you know what time of year they start selling the tickets? I hope it's before the 180 day mark.

Thanks so much!

The Park closes and the Party starts at 7pm. The party usually runs from 7pm till midnight.
We have been twice and my kids love it. It's fun to see all the charcaters in costume!

Try showing the kids pictures and tell them that they can get dressed up like everyone else in the park. The only really scary thing was during the parade the grave diggers come out with shovels and scrape them on the floor, but the music is so happy that the only thing I can see as being scary is the loud noises from the shovels on the floor. But there is free face painting, tons of candy, and the decorations are so cute. I loved it. I can't wait to go again!

I went last October (07). BE AWARE: They play the haunted mansion music A LOT and it is piped throughout the park. They play it and the "ghost host" will tell you how long until the next parade and such. Under normal circumstances, it is not scary, but if your tyke is sensitive to that particular song, you may be heading for the gates pretty quickly.

I HATE Halloween. It's never been my thing. I don't like to be scared. And yet, I loved MNSSHP. It was a lot of fun. Fun-spooky--not scary-spooky. In fact, in this world, the kids see much scarier things going trick-or-treating in your own neighborhood.

I have some pictures of the grave diggers and "dead" dancers if you would like me to PM them to you. Just let me know.

Thank you so much Tina!! That was just what I needed to know. We are going to try to work on getting her (DD) over her fear, so the pictures would be awesome if you could send them. My Mom has tentatively booked the trip for 10/22-10/28 or 29th, but we are waiting for air to open up (Southwest and Jet Blue). They haven't started selling the MNNSHP tickets yet, so we have some time to decide if she can handle it or not. It is very expensive...did you feel it was worth it?

You know, I think I was 17 before I dared go on HM, and it is the ONLY "haunted" attraction in the world I would go on...you couldn't pay me to go in a carnival haunted house or fun house. I totally understand my DD's fear,....for me it was the howling wolf when you are in the queue. By the time I heard the entrance music I bolted out (as a kid). Thanks in advance for the pics!! :)

Yes, it was expensive. Yes, I thought it was worth it, for a one-time thing. It was our last hurrah of the trip. I had an ap at the time, so I think I paid $38 or so, but I think the regular prices can be as much as $50 for adults. Someone else surely knows. It might even be in the article archives here on MP. If not, it is on allearsnet, I know.

There's a lot of trick or treating around, the lines were generally short. The rides that are open are likely the ones you would want to ride a second (or third!) time. The parade is the highlight, but the fireworks were pretty awesome too. The place really clears out after the 1st parade and fireworks. I didn't stay to the bitter end, but it was a manageable crowd the night I was there (October 22).

I will PM you the photos in a minute or two. PLEASE let me know if you have any other questions from another non-Halloween chickie.