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Hello everyone,
In part one of my trip report I talked about our adventures at Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom. In this second and final part I want to share with you our experience at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP).
It had been a couple of years since we had been to MNSSHP because of all the other traveling we do, and the parties never change much anyway, however, this year there was enough that was new that warranted us wanting to experience it again.
At just before 4pm on the day of the party we went to Tomorrowland to collect our wristbands. We were first in line, and I immediately ran to Fantasyland to get in line for Jack Skellington and Sally Stitches, who started greeting for party guests at 5pm - two hours before the party officially began. We waited the hour, and we were first in line to meet them when they came out. Jack and Sally are always fun to meet, but with the crazy lines they get during the party we had to get there early or it wouldn't be worth meeting them at all. We would much rather "waste" a hour waiting before the party than several hours during it.
Following meeting Jack and Sally, I ran ahead to get in line for the Seven Dwarfs - another set of characters who command ridiculous lines every night they are out. They were due out at 6.45pm, and it was about 5.15pm when I arrived at the castle wall area of New Fantasyland. There were already some other people waiting, and after some confusion about where we should all stand, the collective group of fans all decided that we should wait in this one particular place. So we waited the hour and a half - again before the official party start as not to waste party time - and we were third in line for them when they came out. The biggest problem with meeting the Dwarfs is that you basically get pushed through, with barely any interaction at all. The cast members insist on taking your camera, and you get one photo and you're out of there. We had met them all before of course, so I declined getting my photo with them, and instead held onto my camera to take my one shot of them for the website instead (ok, so maybe I snagged two!). I don't really feel like this is a greeting; more a quick photo op. Honestly, the Dwarfs have been at every Halloween and Christmas party for so long now, that they really need to just send them back to the Enchanted Forest, and bring out seven new characters that don't get such crazy lines all night long. Why not have seven different ones around the park in various locations, instead?
It was just before 7pm when we were done with the Dwarfs, and of course the party started at 7pm. So, we had met nine characters and the party hadn't started yet. We were on a roll! From the Dwarfs we went to the Winnie the Pooh and friends greeting. We got in a line that was about fifteen minutes long, and were informed that the characters would be out at 7.15pm. I have to wonder why, at a ticketed event, the characters start later than the party time. Well, they weren't on time, and in fact didn't get to the greeting area until nearly 7.25pm. About twenty minutes later we had met them all, and were on our way to find a parade spot. While I love the Pooh characters, and I do think their outfits are adorable, they have been in the same costumes at the parties for years now, and, again, it would be nice to see something different.
Due to time constraints, we decided to wait for Mickey's Boo To You Halloween Parade in Frontierland, which meant we would be at the start of the parade route. This ended up being a really bad decision. I understand that Disney try to provide a little atmosphere, but is there a reason that the entire route through Frontierland needs to be in complete darkness and smothered in fake fog during the parade itself? Needless to say it was too late to find anywhere else to watch from by the time we had realised our mistake, and I ended up taking some of the worst photos I've ever taken!
I know this sound like I have nothing but complaints about MNSSHP so far, but I really do think the parade needs a big refresh. Again, it's been running for years and years now, with little change (a few characters have been swapped out here and there, but basically it's been the same for at least nine years now).
As soon as the parade ended we followed along behind it to Central Plaza to try to watch the next showing of the new Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular, which was our main reason for wanting to come to MNSSHP this year. Of course, Central Plaza was completely mobbed, but by some stroke of luck I managed to weave my way up front and we got front places for the show, about twenty minutes before it was due to start.
The show was really very cool. It was great to see the Sanderson Sisters for the first time, and combined with the other villains, the effects and music, it all comes together to make a really great performance. This is the kind of quality entertainment we need back in the parks, and in abundance - not just at the parties, but on a daily basis, too.
After the show we went to Tomorrowland to meet Lotso.
We hung around after giving Lotso some hugs, to see which monsters would come out at the Monstrous Scream-O-Ween Ball. As much as we like Mike and Sulley, we were hoping for the other characters - Boo, Needleman and George Sanderson. Sadly we only got Mike and Sulley, and the character host didn't know when the rest would be out that night. We didn't want to waste time, so we headed to our next character, The Witch.
There was a short line for The Witch, but it went quick enough. After meeting her we went to wait for the second parade, this time in Town Square.
I had slightly better luck with photos in Town Square than I had in Frontierland earlier in the evening, but I decided to change lenses, and of course, it went downhill again from there! It was not my night for parade photos! After the Headless Horseman had passed by, and before the parade started, the Creepa Crew, featuring Phineas and Ferb made its way through Town Square.
By the time the parade had passed through Town Square the party was over. Overall we accomplished what we came to do at the party, but it is frustrating that they are clearly packed to capacity, and there is so little time to do anything. We didn't get to see the other Monsters Inc characters at the dance party, we didn't get to see the special HalloWishes fireworks, and we didn't meet Minnie, Donald, Daisy or Mickey in their Halloween costumes. We ran from place to place with no break in between, and still ran out of time.
We had fun meeting the characters we did meet, and the show was really great, but overall MNSSHP is no longer worth $80 per person, and if they are going to oversell the event, and charge extortionate amounts, there needs to be more than just one new stage show.
If you missed part one of my Walt Disney World trip report, you can find it here.
You can also read about our adventures at Disneyland for they Halloween Time celebrations by following the links below.
Disneyland Trip Report, Part One
Disneyland Trip Report, Part Two - Mickey's Halloween Party
Have a great week everyone,
Dan. |