wilbret
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 1, 2018
I went to the MNSSHP on Sept 14 this year. This night, the party was sold out. While I thought it felt busier than the two parties we went to in 2017, I was able to do everything with little to no waiting. I do not doubt anyone who says they found long lines everywhere but I think part of that can be planned around. I don't look down at anyone who doesn't make a plan, but all over the DIS boards, there are reports of what to/not to do and how it can positively impact your experience.
For families with children that can't stay up late, I truly feel sorry for you because the 10pm-1:00am party time is where it's at.
After the 10:15 fireworks, it feels as if 2/3 of the crowd leaves the park. Also, if you find a TOT line that is extremely short (after 10pm, I found most were), just go through it again and again and again! No reason to search all over the park to do 5 TOT lines when you can go through the same line 5x and get the same amount of candy in much less time. I did Buzz Lightyear X3 and was able to stay on without getting off, PP x2 , HM, Splash x2, Peoplemover, Pooh x2, Pirates, Under the Sea and 7DMT (got in line at 11:45). I saw the fireworks in the first row up against the fence in the hub grass with a 20 minute wait and sat for both parades from Frontierland with 15 minute waits. Got more candy than I knew what to do with. Also, if you are able to stay late, don't rush out of the park. There will be transportation available to you and use the 12:30-1:00am time to get great pictures in the hub and Main Street.
I didn't do any of the meet and greets except for the grave diggers which are usually "hidden" away and have a short line.
I say all this because I would like people who are planning on attending MNSSHP to know it's not all gloom and doom. There are people who are having success and a wonderful time at the party.
You are right, it's not all doom and gloom, but do we know if they cap crowds the same level every night? If your night sold out, what was different for others? Weather affects crowds, even if it's sold out. Too hot, and people leave early or come late. Raining? Same thing. I think this forum is full of savvy planners, and we've gone to this party every year on pretty much the same night, every year. (it's school fall break where we live) This year was clearly the worst. I think it's good advice for people on the fence to consider saving the $$. If they know the crowds will be crazy, and they choose to go, that's also cool. There really shouldn't be hour+ long waits after the party starts. I've never seen that before on anything except 7 dwarfs mine train.
We were able to ride everything we wanted to ride by getting there at 4pm, but it's not practical to think than everyone is planning like us or able to move like us.
We did these: Buzz, people mover, space mountain, carousel of progress, little mermaid, monsters inc, 7 dwarfs, thunder mountain, haunted mansion (barely), pirates, partial parade, partial fireworks.
We had to skip parade, fireworks, villians just to catch rides we wanted. We normally do 7 dwarfs at least 2x at the very end of the night, but it seems like everyone else has the same plan.
The kids wanted to do Sorcerer's, so we used that as a filler. We didn't do the Space Mountain HW overlay because the wait was absurd. The line literally stretched to the Astro Orbiter at one point. Pirates overlay made the lines longer, but it was pretty lame and didn't merit the longer wait.
We stopped for a snack, and had a bite to eat. We managed, but people should know this isn't the old days where the crowds are always light and lines are walk-on.
Crowd level during the same day was 2/10. You'd have to decide if you really wanted to see the parade and fireworks more than anything, and not expect the rides to be a focal point.