"Official" 2019 Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party - A Frightfully Festive Celebration

[ash-n-brensmom]

Hello everyone! I have done something very irresponsible this week. I booked a solo WDW trip for Oct! And....just booked the Garden View Dessert Party for 10/21! SO EXCITED!!!
Now, I say irresponsible because I only work part time, go to college full time, and am a single parent of two teenage daughters. (Started a whole new life and went back to college at the ripe age of 46) But, all things considered....I REALLY need this trip! Lol I also am considering it a congratulatory trip to myself for doing so well in my first year. (Highest grade in my program! Yay me!!) So, I'm celebrating.
I have read through this whole thread today, while listening to WDW Halloween music on youtube. I'm really in the MNSSHP mood now!
I will be holding off on purchasing my party ticket until we get closer, but I am happy about getting in on the dessert party. I figure everyone's assumptions of needing a good spot for the new castle projections is right.
This will be my first trip back to WDW since Oct 2016, I skipped the party that year and regretted it. Back when we were still together my ex and I took the girls to Disney every year and sometimes twice, hitting the party a few times over those years. I've always loved it so I'm happy to be returning.
I love going Solo and I'm super excited!!
I'll be checking in here to see any news as the wait slowly creeps along....

 

[sheila14]

Hello everyone! I have done something very irresponsible this week. I booked a solo WDW trip for Oct! And....just booked the Garden View Dessert Party for 10/21! SO EXCITED!!!
Now, I say irresponsible because I only work part time, go to college full time, and am a single parent of two teenage daughters. (Started a whole new life and went back to college at the ripe age of 46) But, all things considered....I REALLY need this trip! Lol I also am considering it a congratulatory trip to myself for doing so well in my first year. (Highest grade in my program! Yay me!!) So, I'm celebrating.
I have read through this whole thread today, while listening to WDW Halloween music on youtube. I'm really in the MNSSHP mood now!
I will be holding off on purchasing my party ticket until we get closer, but I am happy about getting in on the dessert party. I figure everyone's assumptions of needing a good spot for the new castle projections is right.
This will be my first trip back to WDW since Oct 2016, I skipped the party that year and regretted it. Back when we were still together my ex and I took the girls to Disney every year and sometimes twice, hitting the party a few times over those years. I've always loved it so I'm happy to be returning.
I love going Solo and I'm super excited!!
I'll be checking in here to see any news as the wait slowly creeps along....

Good for you for treating yourself. You are never to old to go back to school. I got divorce unexpectedly and went back to school and now I have my MSN in nursing. I did this while working full time, 2 daughters and loosing a parent. I now go to Disney yearly by myself as a treat for all my hard work. Keep it going!!

 

[mara512]

Hello everyone! I have done something very irresponsible this week. I booked a solo WDW trip for Oct! And....just booked the Garden View Dessert Party for 10/21! SO EXCITED!!!
Now, I say irresponsible because I only work part time, go to college full time, and am a single parent of two teenage daughters. (Started a whole new life and went back to college at the ripe age of 46) But, all things considered....I REALLY need this trip! Lol I also am considering it a congratulatory trip to myself for doing so well in my first year. (Highest grade in my program! Yay me!!) So, I'm celebrating.
I have read through this whole thread today, while listening to WDW Halloween music on youtube. I'm really in the MNSSHP mood now!
I will be holding off on purchasing my party ticket until we get closer, but I am happy about getting in on the dessert party. I figure everyone's assumptions of needing a good spot for the new castle projections is right.
This will be my first trip back to WDW since Oct 2016, I skipped the party that year and regretted it. Back when we were still together my ex and I took the girls to Disney every year and sometimes twice, hitting the party a few times over those years. I've always loved it so I'm happy to be returning.
I love going Solo and I'm super excited!!
I'll be checking in here to see any news as the wait slowly creeps along....

Yeah for you!!! I hope you enjoy your trip you deserve it. One suggestion, be careful not to wait too long to book the party. You wouldn’t want it to sell out on your dessert night.

 

[FoxC63]

So we think the grassy area in front of Casey's should be open for Halloween fireworks?

There's no guarantees. I do recall last year someone posting that at their party it was closed off. I do not remember the specifics, maybe @Cluelyss does? I kinda think it was closed off for media night? Sorry buddy.

 

[FoxC63]

Can you purchase turkey legs during the party?

This is where they sell Turkey Legs at MK but it's too soon to tell what the hours will be:

Tortuga Tavern
Prince Eric's Village Market
Liberty Square Market

"There is even a dedicated Turkey Leg Cart in Frontierland!" LINK

You should be able to purchase them until 5pm after that I agree with @dachie

 

[Cluelyss]

There's no guarantees. I do recall last year someone posting that at their party it was closed off. I do not remember the specifics, maybe @Cluelyss does? I kinda think it was closed off for media night? Sorry buddy.

There were some nights it was open, and some nights it wasn't, and unfortunately it was a crap shoot as to how it was going to be on your night. I don't believer there were a lot of nights it was closed (being used for media or other private parties, as best as anyone could tell) but I would definitely recommend having a back up plan if the Casey's garden is your planned viewing area.

 

[Cluelyss]

Perhaps I am misremembering, but I recall being advised that they don’t rope off the parade viewing area until after the fireworks. I was thinking of this same strategy for fireworks/ parade, but it doesn’t work if there is no viewing area set up yet.

Correct. The area is not yet "reserved" during the fireworks (or, at least it wasn't during MVMCP last year), but you could still choose to stand there and then would be one of the first in the area once the CM's rope it off. But I'd agree with the poster above that if the new show is projection-based, it will not be a good spot to watch from.

 

[Cluelyss]

Oh boy! I posted a while ago that I wanted to do the party again this year, but in mid August to AVOID the SWGE crowds. Now, it may be that the only week we can do WDW is August 30- Sept. 6. I'm officially freaking out a little, because that means the only party day we would have available is Monday Sept. 2 Labor Day but it's also the opening week of SWGE and F&W! We're only planning on the MNSSHP and one Epcot day (we were just in WDW last month) and spending most of our time at the resorts.

I know SWGE is a complete wild card and very hard to predict how the crowds will be all over WDW, but I'm very uneasy about it. Is anyone else going that week and planning on the party? Thoughts? I keep telling myself that even a crowded day in Disney is better than no day in Disney!

Same with us. We booked long before SWGE opening was announced and are just going to roll with it. I definitely fear that it will be more crowded that Labor Day weekends of prior years, but I still think it will be a better party to attend than some of the ones in late October. Or at least, that's what I'm telling myself, LOL! I do think that hard-core SW fans that are there for GE will be spending most of their time in Hollywood Studios those first few days, so hopefully it won't drive up party crowds as much as it drives up the overall crowd levels.

 

[disneyygirrl]

I am so excited -- taking my three nieces to Disney in August and staying CL at the Grand Floridian -- figured I may as well add on MNSSHP, so we're going August 27th!

 

[Cluelyss]

I am similarly struggling with which of these events to choose.
And this is probably a dumb question, but the timing makes it impossible to attend both Cruella's and the fireworks party, right? (Can't find that "ducking thrown tomatoes" emoji, but imagine that inserted here, lol!)

Not a dumb question at all and not impossible. We are actually considering it ourselves. My "plan" is to attend the fireworks dessert party, watch the show from the garden, then head to Tony's for Cruella's. We may snack a bit (if we're at all hungry again yet), meet Cruella, and head out to the flagpole around 11:15/11:30. This gives us 45 minutes to an hour to relax at Tony's before the parade, then will likely head back in to Tony's to wait for the crowds to clear out. I know I would NOT be getting my money's worth out of treats at Cruella's by doing it this way, but let's be honest, I'm paying for the view, not the food. And since we got in at the "discounted price" it makes the paying for both events a little easier to swallow. I will also add that once reviews from the first few parties come in (about both the new fireworks show and Cruella's) I may cancel one or both. But I think it's definitely do-able to attend both, from a timing perspective. From a value perspective, that remains to be seen!!! (I will also further add that we have done 7 or 8 parties in the last few years, have met all of the party exclusive characters and are APs so frequent the parks often. So there's not as much pressure for us to meet characters or ride rides, and we are there solely to enjoy the party ambiance and offerings. If it was my first party, I would never attempt this LOL)

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

I'm overthinking things, so someone please set my mind at ease.

If we are not using park admission on a day that we're using a party ticket, we don't have to do anything to make sure that we are scanned in on our party ticket and not a regular ticket day, correct? If we are at the gates of MK at 4pm, the system should take the party ticket and not burn a day of our regular tickets, right?

I know when people have different types of ticket media they often have to go to guest services to prioritize tickets, but that shouldn't apply here, should it? If the reverse were true, I'd think that there would be a LOT of angry guests who had their ticket days accessed incorrectly.

 

[mckennarose]

I'm overthinking things, so someone please set my mind at ease.

If we are not using park admission on a day that we're using a party ticket, we don't have to do anything to make sure that we are scanned in on our party ticket and not a regular ticket day, correct? If we are at the gates of MK at 4pm, the system should take the party ticket and not burn a day of our regular tickets, right?

I know when people have different types of ticket media they often have to go to guest services to prioritize tickets, but that shouldn't apply here, should it? If the reverse were true, I'd think that there would be a LOT of angry guests who had their ticket days accessed incorrectly.

When we did the party last year, they have a designated party line at the gates. Everyone scanning their band in at the party gate automatically uses the party ticket attached to their MDE, not a park day.

 

[mckennarose]

Same with us. We booked long before SWGE opening was announced and are just going to roll with it. I definitely fear that it will be more crowded that Labor Day weekends of prior years, but I still think it will be a better party to attend than some of the ones in late October. Or at least, that's what I'm telling myself, LOL! I do think that hard-core SW fans that are there for GE will be spending most of their time in Hollywood Studios those first few days, so hopefully it won't drive up party crowds as much as it drives up the overall crowd levels.

We did the September 18th party last year and it was pretty crowded. I'm hoping its not worse for Labor Day! We won't know for sure and I am trying to think positively about it. Either way, it's still a fun time and we've done the party before so I'm pretty comfortable playing it by ear. I really want to do 7DMT, but I'll plan on that early, the parade (probably the later one), HP (probably the last one) and the new fireworks show.

 

[FoxC63]

If we are not using park admission on a day that we're using a party ticket, we don't have to do anything to make sure that we are scanned in on our party ticket and not a regular ticket day, correct? If we are at the gates of MK at 4pm, the system should take the party ticket and not burn a day of our regular tickets, right?

I know when people have different types of ticket media they often have to go to guest services to prioritize tickets, but that shouldn't apply here, should it? If the reverse were true, I'd think that there would be a LOT of angry guests who had their ticket days accessed incorrectly.

To my knowledge no one reported Party Ticket and Park Ticket issues in 2018 but that doesn't mean it didn't happen. There were a few in 2017 this here was the worst. I recommend you scan your party ticket to avoid any issues.

I'm not sure how or why the rumor started about the Special Party Entrance only scans for party tickets got started but it's not true. All the entrance tap stiles at all the parks run exactly the same way. It is a computerized system. Other tap stiles will open up as well, this was confirmed by many in 2018, the earliest report can be seen here .

 

[reluctantredhead]

Not a dumb question at all and not impossible. We are actually considering it ourselves. My "plan" is to attend the fireworks dessert party, watch the show from the garden, then head to Tony's for Cruella's. We may snack a bit (if we're at all hungry again yet), meet Cruella, and head out to the flagpole around 11:15/11:30. This gives us 45 minutes to an hour to relax at Tony's before the parade, then will likely head back in to Tony's to wait for the crowds to clear out. I know I would NOT be getting my money's worth out of treats at Cruella's by doing it this way, but let's be honest, I'm paying for the view, not the food. And since we got in at the "discounted price" it makes the paying for both events a little easier to swallow. I will also add that once reviews from the first few parties come in (about both the new fireworks show and Cruella's) I may cancel one or both. But I think it's definitely do-able to attend both, from a timing perspective. From a value perspective, that remains to be seen!!! (I will also further add that we have done 7 or 8 parties in the last few years, have met all of the party exclusive characters and are APs so frequent the parks often. So there's not as much pressure for us to meet characters or ride rides, and we are there solely to enjoy the party ambiance and offerings. If it was my first party, I would never attempt this LOL)

Thank you so much for your response! I'm glad I'm not the only one contemplating this.

We are APs as well and do MNSSHP/MVMCP mostly for the party atmosphere too. And ITA that we aren't really paying for the food either -- in our case, we're paying for the view and somewhere to sit (on the curb hopefully for the parade). We were actually contemplating the Tomorrowland Terrace dessert party in combination with the Cruella party -- do you think the timing of that one would work? I've never done the Garden party, but do I recall correctly that it's at a different time than the Terrace one?

 

[mckennarose]

.....

I'm not sure how or why the rumor started about the Special Party Entrance only scans for party tickets got started but it's not true. .....

Probably because it definitely does appear that this is true, at least from my experience. We were directed with other party people (evidenced by their wearing costumes) to the only tapstile where they were handing out wristbands for the party after you tapped in. Admittedly I didn't go down the row of tapstiles to check and there weren't a ton of guests going in that would warrant many tapstiles open so I assumed there was the designated entrance and I just walked where directed. It could've been early enough (before 4pm when we arrived to the gate) that they hadn't opened other lines to get in. Either way, we didn't have an issue with it taking a ticket away from our normal park days.

 

[mckennarose]

Also,
I'm not contradicting the "no designated line"! I am saying that I didn't realize there WASN'T a designated line because of the experience I had. I'm glad to know now there isn't a designated line.

 

[Best Aunt]

I'm so confused.

Can someone please explain to me the differences between the Halloween Fireworks Dessert Party With Plaza Garden Viewing (adults $69 plus tax) versus the Halloween Fireworks Dessert Party at Tomorrowland Terrace (adults $84 plus tax)?

I have looked at page 1 and also followed the links there to Disney's website, but I still don't get it.

Is it the same food at the same place at the same time?

Where and how do you view the fireworks for each of them?

On the Disney website it says this for the $69 one: "Cast Members will escort you to a prime standing location in the Plaza Garden."

But the Disney website doesn't seem to say anything about where and how you view the fireworks for the $84 one.

Also - if you view the fireworks from different locations, which is better?

 

[LadyRayado]

I'm so confused.

Can someone please explain to me the differences between the Halloween Fireworks Dessert Party With Plaza Garden Viewing (adults $69 plus tax) versus the Halloween Fireworks Dessert Party at Tomorrowland Terrace (adults $84 plus tax)?

I have looked at page 1 and also followed the links there to Disney's website, but I still don't get it.

Is it the same food at the same place at the same time?

Where and how do you view the fireworks for each of them?

On the Disney website it says this for the $69 one: "Cast Members will escort you to a prime standing location in the Plaza Garden."

But the Disney website doesn't seem to say anything about where and how you view the fireworks for the $84 one.

Also - if you view the fireworks from different locations, which is better?

Same party, same food. Plaza Garden viewing is seating on the grass in the Hub, in front of the Plaza. Tomorrowland Terrace is seating at the Tomorrowland Terrace restaurant where the food is served - you sit at tables. I personally think the view from the Garden is better, as it is straight on. The view from the Terrace is off to the right.

 

[DisArmyWife215]

I'm in for October 24th. It's our only Disney day on a Universal trip. Haven't been to a party since 2016, so excited!!!