Just wanted direction how best to tour during the MNSSHP evening at MK.
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There is a Touring Plans MNSSHP plans posted on the website under Magic Kingdom touring plans. I believe the times should be updated once the schedule is announced. You can pick what you want to do that night on that plan.
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Went for first time last year. Dates don’t line up for our August trip this year. There are some great resources here, but here are my biggest takeaways:
- It’s overwhelming but not in a bad way. Everyone is different, but I would try to determine what you want to prioritize: rides, character meet and greets, candy, MNSSHP exclusive treats, parade, fireworks, Sanderson Sister show… obviously there is some overlap.
FWIW, we wish we had prioritized a better viewing spot for the parade. We’re not a parade family, but it was out of this world good.
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Make sure you eat before or bring snacks as there is a bit of a lull with many (if not all) restaurants be about 5-7. Others maybe can be more specific about times, but we legit weren’t prepared for this lull.
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It’s it the most economical thing, but I loved having a park ticket and getting into MK around 3:00 so we didn’t have to stand in the party only line. Now, I wish we had slept in and chilled instead of rope dropping Epcot that morning, so we could have stayed longer at MNSSHP.
Good luck and have a blast.
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How far into the season are you going? After the first party there are usually multiple bloggers/vloggers with suggestions.
We went last year for the first time.
This is the help I received last year as I planned for my first party.
And this was our party recap
https://forum.touringplans.com/t/qwertys-mini-not-so-scary-halloween-trip/101050/300
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I’ve been a couple times. It’s great…
You really can’t do everything in one night. You are going to have to prioritize:
Rides
Shows / Parade
Character Meetings
Seasonal Food / Candy
I’m a “rides” person. There really isn’t a wait for anything except for HM, 7DMT, Tron. I was able to ride HM three times,7DMT twice and Tron once. (I could’ve done Tron again, but choose HM at closing)
Character meetings eat up a lot of time. However, if you like those there are a lot of exclusive characters! I would plan to wait 30 minutes per character - more if they are really popular. The characters go away at 10:30pm - 11pm.
If you want to see the parade plan on both shows. This is because if it rains, as it often does, for the first parade you’ll have the second one as a back-up.
The parade is “must see”!
I would recommend seeing it in Frontierland. It starts there and tends to be less crowded. You’ll still want to get a spot 25 - 30 minutes early. I like to see the Cadaver Dan’s show in that area as I wait for the parade. The Country Bears come out too. Plus, there’s a candy spot nearby.
I agree, except for the Hub. That area gets TOO PACKED until after 11pm
I don’t quite understand what this means… Sorry!
USE MOBILE ORDER! You’ll have your food almost instantly. I don’t understand why people wait in lines.
If you want to “Rope Drop” the event you should get there no later than 3:30pm. You don’t need to be there any earlier than 3pm. However, the closer to 4pm it gets the bigger the crowds waiting to get in become.
Finally, if you can stay past 11pm the crowds vanish. The last stage show at 11:55pm often has no one. I stood at the stage.
Here’s one of my Trip Reports as well! Happy reading! Please ask us as many questions as you want…
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I agree with the advice about prioritizing.
Some of my thoughts: Haunted Mansion is a must. The lines are longer, but there are character actors out and they are my favorite part of MNSSHP.
I agree about watching the parade from Frontierland. You can watch it from Main Street with little wait if needed. But it isn’t as atmospheric. The fog coming of the Rivers of America make the parade perfection. Your call to how it fits best in your schedule!
If you have kids, trick or treating is part of the fun. The lines are long at opening and then get much shorter later.
The other thing I didn’t see mentioned were magic shots. There are some cool ones, but the lines do build.
As you plan and know your priorities, we can help you sketch out a TP!
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I do agree that there are some neat stops. I did do the HM ones. However, it can be frustrating as I had multiple large groups in front of me. They would do full group photos, then individual photo shots. A single family could take 8 - 10 minutes! It was so unfair and frustrating!!
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Depends on the kids. When my kids were 7 and 5, after one trick or treating line they asked why we were spending time waiting in line at Disney World for the same candy we can get trick or treating at home on Halloween without a line. The next year at the party they had no interest in trick or treating.
Something to keep in mind. MNSSHP is one of the best examples of “time flies when you are having fun.” There is so much fun stuff going on that it is midnight before you know it.
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Re: Food… I’m almost positive all or most restaurants shut down from like 6-7 and some maybe longer to go from every day menus to party menus. We found ourselves hungry at 5, starving at 6, and on death’s door at 7.
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This is why we definitely look for the spots with no lines!
I see what you did there 
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OK… The TS places do close at 6pm to clear out the park. However, all the QS places are open all day and night. I never had any issues getting food. I did eat A LOT of candy though! 
I do want to reiterate that I always use mobile order.
You get your food immediately when you walk in. I’ve walked past crowds of people just waiting in queue to order while I input my selections on the app. Then I get my food and leave before they get to the counter. It’s nuts!
You pay a premium price to be in the park during that party time. I can’t imagine too many people want to use that time sitting in restaurants. It’s not cost effective for MK to have those places open during party hours.
This is the ultimate theme of the night! If I could I would go at least twice a year, maybe even three times!
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We were able to eat at Pinocchio Village Haus just after 6:00 with out wrist bands last year. Some places were open for party goers last year. I believe this was new in 2024.
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I’m glad you posted this, as I had conflicting information if mobile order was offered during the party. So thank you, this makes my plans so much better!!! Mobile order is the only logical way for me to eat Quick Service at MK. I usually skip over amazing snacks due to long lines… sadly.
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Sorry to ask another question @darkmite2 but I can’t help it… does the sentence above about rope dropping at 3pm apply if I want to meet Jack and Sally at rope drop? I saw some people saying get to the park by 2. I’m not sure I want to sit in late August heat for 2 hours waiting in the entry line… what do you think?
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I got there at 2:45pm… I would get there by 3pm to be at the front of the pack. The biggest “trick” that I was close to the taps, had my ticket ready and “identified” which CM I was going to rush for a party wristband.
You are directed off to the right to get your candy bag. Do NOT go here. Instead continue straight into Main Street.
DO NOT PAUSE and head directly to the character meeting in Town Square. They didn’t let anyone line up before 4pm. So no one already in the park could be waiting.
You can easily get a candy bag at any candy station later
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Thank you! This is exactly what I’ll do 
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