Boy do they oversell this Halloween party!!!

[PrincessJo]

We went in October of 2017 and I totally agree with you. DH and I were beyond disappointed. Before the party started the wait for BTMR was over an hour. After the party started the wait was STILL over an hour. The lines for the Halloween treats wrapped around building and we weren't willing to wait in line for an hour for a treat either. The line for Jack and Sally was also over an hour. We gathered candy, people watched and that was pretty much it. Total waste of time. We could have done something else with the money if we had only known.

 

[mousefan73]

We are going to the party tonight as 1st timers with an open mind. Personally I have found that what I see people complain about on social media (ie: noisy rooms at Pop & horrible food at Trex) is fine for my family. I will report back 2mrw!

Do report back and have fun ! Interesting to see how you find it

 

[monorailrabbit]

These stories are giving me anxiety. We went to both WDW and DLR Halloween parties last year and while I remember them being busier than parties from years ago, they weren't crowded to the point of miserable. We are doing MVMCP this year and I remember it was a little crazy during our first party in 2016. If the oversold feeling this year continues, I really worry how this year will feel. We only get one MK day and its the party day, so we won't have any sort of 'makeup' day.

 

[disneyworldsk]

going first night to mvmcp and now quite concerned. are people complaining and asking for a refund? they should demand one. and just leave the party. if people do that maybe theyll listen? guess not.... mvmcp fingers crossed nov. 8th.

 

[LilyWDW]

I think it might be because I go so often, but I did the 10/2 party and wasn’t bothered by crowds at all? Maybe I’m used to it? I was up by the castle for back to back fireworks, HP show, parade, HP show and we had a curb seat and the crowd wasn’t bad at all. We were in starbucks at 10p and there were maybe 5 other guests inside with us. I think it’s absolutely worth it, because I have an AP, go all the time, and like the change of pace. I think you lose the worth if this is your only trip of the year and your time is short.
.

That is the night my friend went (I needed the evening to rest so I did not go) and she LOVED it. Thought it was 100% worth the money and got to do pretty much whatever she wanted. It was her second trip ever (last being 16 years ago) and our time was short but it was still worth it to her. She got to ride some rides, watch the shows and parade (she skipped the fireworks to do a meet and greet and then left before the second show), and met a ton of characters. The crowds were not bad at all in her option.

 

[kaetra]

10/4 party was sold out - wait times were not any lower than an average day, and the crowds were very thick, so much so that it was difficult to walk around. We stayed until after the second parade believing the park would clear out a little bit, but it did not.

There were so many people I couldn’t believe I was at a party event, it felt like a regular, very busy day. I won’t be doing any more hard ticket events, too crowded for me.

 

[Rickat96]

Went on October 5-Ghost town -crowds were really light-was very surprised as it was a Friday with Monday being Columbus day.

 

[mickeymom629]

Sorry for everyone who didn't enjoy their party night, especially since it cost extra money. We only did this many years ago when it was a new thing. It is sad for me to know that this is another thing that Disney oversells at the expense of those who expect less of a crowd.

What makes this even worse is that it also makes it short operating hours for those who have regular tickets and are looking for a good day to go to the MK and get their money's worth. Last year I was down with my kids and grandkids and we avoided the nights with the parties, which made planning tricky.

 

[Happiest.Haunt_999]

OP here. All I can say is that it was a huge disappointment and waste of money and we will never do a party ever again. I can’t believe WDW are milking this by selling so many tickets. I don’t even think it was sold out?!???!

We’ve been to WDW in summer, and over the holidays and yet we all said we have never experienced crowds as bad as last night. It was horrible.

Also, sorry to sound so depressed, but we thought the parade was very disappointing! Maybe it’s because it had been raining so they couldn’t do the same things? I don’t know, it just seemed very cheaply done and there was nothing special or memorable about it.

By the way, the funniest thing is that yesterday a member of our party asked a CM if FP+ is available during the MNSSHP. The CM chuckled and said “ma’am, you won’t be needing fastpass during the party, all the rides will be a walk-on or 5 mins wait maximum. You’re going to have a blast!”. How wrong she was!

It was because it rained. They do a modified parade: The pirates usually don't have their color guard flags, they carry mops (at least they did at an earlier parade this year when it rained), the gravediggers can't make the sparks with the shovels on the wet pavement. The dancers overall and characters don't move around as much etc.

Because honestly, with everything being so miserable with all the people there, the only thing we still loved was the parade and the fireworks.

 

[maxiesmom]

It was a holiday weekend. Many schools are out for Columbus Day.

 

[Disneylover99]

Went on October 5-Ghost town -crowds were really light-was very surprised as it was a Friday with Monday being Columbus day.

It's funny how things go. My first party ever was five years ago on the Friday before Columbus Day. It was sold out, and so far it's been the most packed party I've ever been to. I guess you just never know.

 

[SL6827]

Don't know if I will ever pay for one of these parties. But I admit I would like to see the Christmas parade at one, so I can't ever say never. With the word getting out more and more about the oversell of them, Disney has to hear this.

 

[epcotty]

yeah, this kind of ruins the whole point of the parties. Greed run rampant

 

[disneydentist]

going first night to mvmcp and now quite concerned. are people complaining and asking for a refund? they should demand one. and just leave the party. if people do that maybe theyll listen? guess not.... mvmcp fingers crossed nov. 8th.

\

And why should they demand a refund? Because the park is full of other tourists? I have yet to see where Disney is promising low crowds for the Parties. On the Disney World page there is not a mention that I could find about low wait times or low crowds.

 

[bryanb]

Thanks for sharing your experience with the lines. I guess it has become similar to Universal's Halloween Horror Nights from a crowd perspective? In the old days, walking onto your favorite attractions without much wait was an added bonus.

These days, it seems like the real reason to spend money on these ticketed events is to gain access to exclusive entertainment, treats, and character greetings. Since time is limited during these parties, it could be really disappointing to attend only to be standing in standard attraction queues most of the time. I'll be happy to avoid these parties, but sad for those who enjoy them.

I realize why Disney would be reluctant to cap the attendance at these events, and they're already pretty expensive. Usually their solution would just be to raise the price which I know wouldn't go over well. I know I wouldn't pay.

Don't know if I will ever pay for one of these parties. But I admit I would like to see the Christmas parade at one, so I can't ever say never. With the word getting out more and more about the oversell of them, Disney has to hear this.

I believe the Christmas Fantasy Parade (link) at Disneyland is very similar to what runs at WDW during the parties... or at the very least it contains many of the same scenes and effects, but the good news is that Disneyland doesn't charge a separate entry fee for you to see it. It is worth considering if you want to see a Christmas parade Disney-style without paying more.

 

[SL6827]

Thanks for sharing your experience with the lines. I guess it has become similar to Universal's Halloween Horror Nights from a crowd perspective? In the old days, walking onto your favorite attractions without much wait was an added bonus.

These days, it seems like the real reason to spend money on these ticketed events is to gain access to exclusive entertainment, treats, and character greetings. Since time is limited during these parties, it could be really disappointing to attend only to be standing in standard attraction queues most of the time. I'll be happy to avoid these parties, but sad for those who enjoy them.

I realize why Disney would be reluctant to cap the attendance at these events, and they're already pretty expensive. Usually their solution would just be to raise the price which I know wouldn't go over well. I know I wouldn't pay.



I believe the Christmas Fantasy Parade (link) at Disneyland is very similar to what runs at WDW during the parties... or at the very least it contains many of the same scenes and effects, but the good news is that Disneyland doesn't charge a separate entry fee for you to see it. It is worth considering if you want to see a Christmas parade Disney-style without paying more.

Oh, a trip to California would cost me a whole lot more. LoL.

 

[bryanb]

Oh, a trip to California would cost me a whole lot more. LoL.

Haha fair enough! I didn't think to ask where you lived.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Went on October 5-Ghost town -crowds were really light-was very surprised as it was a Friday with Monday being Columbus day.

We were there Friday 10/5 as well and agree - it was only moderately crowded from my perspective and we had a great time. I had feared the worst but was pleasantly surprised.

Also attended the Friday party two weeks earlier (9/21) and was not happy with crowds on that night. Our night ended up “just OK” but half way through I posted on the MNSSHP thread that the party had passed the “worth it” scale for me....way more people than most of my prior parties (which admittedly had been mostly Sundays and Tuesdays in early Sept). It was crowded all over the park, TOT lines, ride lines, etc. I was bummed as we’ve been going to MNSSHP since 2014 and it has always been one our favorite events.

Really can’t pin point why this past Friday and two weeks ago was all that different. Both Fridays. Both good weather. I’m guessing the $30 price difference (and no discounts) between those two dates may have had an impact.

Always tough to judge crowd comments on the DIS because we all have different perspectives, but compared to the reports from both the Thursday and Monday parties these past few days (Columbus Day weekend), Friday was surprisingly very manageable, from our perspective. We chatted with several folks around the pool over the weekend who had done the Thursday party - all repeat MNSSHP visitors - who said never again.

I do have to wonder how much the variable pricing plays a role. Thurs was a $89 party, Friday $109, Monday $99 (all pre-tax adult numbers). Friday had no AP or DVC discounts.

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

Personally, WDW should have a HALLOWEEN theme with parades and Fireworks and a few "treat nights" for the kids and stay open like they would in JULY AUG SEPT and not charge an extra dime.

Same goes Christmas time- or to make everyone happy WINTER HOLIDAY TIME!

 

[sqpcsqpc]

We were there last night (10/8). Definitely felt crowded but was our first Halloween party so we did not have much to compare to. We have been following the updates so we expected a crowd and possibly because of reduced expectations had a great time. Maybe Disney is counting on people like us who have heard about the party and never been?