"Official" 2018 Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party - A Spooktacular Celebration!

[GADisneyDad14]

UPDATE:

I am incredibly impressed. I just got a call from someone from George's office (I didn't write down her name) who thanked me for my email. She said George read it and he has asked a "team of managers" to get to the bottom of it. She said they were going to come up with a plan how to notify anyone who booked it when it said the parade was included to notify them. Pretty impressive... I felt better just by writing the email, but knowing they acknowledge the annoyance is pretty swell. =)

In hindsight, I should have asked for a fastpass, haha. (I kid, I kid).

 

[MIAMouseketeer]

Fun! I've been taking DS to MNSSHP solo since he was 3 (he's now 7). Last year I took DS and DD3 solo. As a parent, those solo trips are really some of the best memories we've had so far, and one of the reasons we sort of fell in love with the place.

Anyway. Being solo with little ones always has some wrinkles, as I'm sure you know! Last year with DD3, we watched the first parade around Town Square. That's not exactly my favorite place to watch, but it tends to fill in last, so we got a spot on the curb 10-15ish minutes before the parade arrived there - which is pretty good in my book (this was at a party around Columbus Day weekend). The dancers/music that come by before the parade helped pass a few minutes (and I got some great pics of them dancing on Main Street).

Have fun!

Thanks! This is very helpful. I plan on leaving after the parade. We are driving up that afternoon and I don't think either of us will make it to the fireworks.

 

[Rich M]

Thanks! This is very helpful. I plan on leaving after the parade. We are driving up that afternoon and I don't think either of us will make it to the fireworks.

You never know when that Disney adrenaline kicks will come thorough and you don't know when that dreaded wall will stop you. Either way you will have a great time with your little one.

 

[RJstanis]

The parade doesn't go through Tomorrowland unless you're right at the entrance to that area in the hub. We love Frontierland for the parade. I find the overall feel there to be more Halloweenish and it's definitely less congested than the hub and Main St.

Put me down as another who likes Frontierland or even Liberty Square for several reasons. Don't have to get there as early, less traffic to get to rides/characters afterwards, parade finishes with you faster, and anything is better than the chaos the hub/Main st brings. That said I do love the Xmas Parade better on Main St and tolerate the before mentioned for a spot there (Boo to You Parade is still my favorite though).

...and I love the "FREE" garden plaza viewing area for the panoramic view fireworks the Holiday Wishes brings. Strangely, it wasn't packed for at all for Xmas Wishes in Dec and we could spread out, but the previous night for HEA it was a sardine meat market. In the past 2 years it's been like that. Both Halloween x2, and Xmas x 1 Wishes we've gone to have been very breathable (and ppl stay seated)

 

[dachsie]

UPDATE:

I am incredibly impressed. I just got a call from someone from George's office (I didn't write down her name) who thanked me for my email. She said George read it and he has asked a "team of managers" to get to the bottom of it. She said they were going to come up with a plan how to notify anyone who booked it when it said the parade was included to notify them. Pretty impressive... I felt better just by writing the email, but knowing they acknowledge the annoyance is pretty swell. =)

In hindsight, I should have asked for a fastpass, haha. (I kid, I kid).

His office has always been responsive when I have emailed. guest services is mostly useless

 

[Haley R]

So what's the consensus: keep my dessert party or get rid of it? Does anyone think there is any chance of them saying it will include parade viewing?

 

[anomamatt]

So what's the consensus: keep my dessert party or get rid of it? Does anyone think there is any chance of them saying it will include parade viewing?

Keep it for now... At worst, they send an email saying "sorry we changed it". As best (though unlikely) they figure out a way to add the parade. In between, maybe a FP+ (haha).

But just in case they do something for people who already booked, keep it for now... at least the cancellation policy is good and we all have plenty of time to cancel.

 

[Haley R]

Keep it for now... At worst, they send an email saying "sorry we changed it". As best (though unlikely) they figure out a way to add the parade. In between, maybe a FP+ (haha).

They said they will call me back once they decide how to notify people and what their plan is... and of course I will post what they say here. =). But just in case they do something for people who already booked, keep it for now... at least the cancellation policy is good and we all have plenty of time to cancel.

Thanks! I was planning on keeping it for now, but I wanted to hear what others had to say.

 

[GillianP1301]

His office has always been responsive when I have emailed. guest services is mostly useless

Based on my experience in a previous life/job, I was project managing in a customer service division of a telecom company and there was a department called "Office of the President", they were your typical customer service front line staff, just those with a bit more experience and their only job was to respond to all the complaints that got sent to the President of the company and were authorized to communicate on his behalf. Because they had this autonomy and were experienced, it was often a noticeable difference in level of service/response than you would get by just calling the usual call-in number. The President himself never saw the emails, they all got diverted before they reached his personal mailbox, unless it was something really serious (i.e. legally impacting). Of course you never told the customer that, they were all left with the impression that he personally saw it. I suspect the Disney model is probably very similar.

ETA - I went way down a rabbit hole on that one, for this thread. I think I want to get back to talking about costumes and touring plans for party nights!

 

[ShootingStar106]

I made my fast pass selections on Tuesday and was able to book fast passes on the day of the Halloween party (between the hours of 4 and 6) with only a Halloween party ticket. I have 5 day park hoppers plus the Halloween ticket and was able to make 6 days worth of fast passes. Now I'm reading about how something happened last year with people who booked fast passes with their Halloween party ticket. Can someone fill me in on what happened and if you think I should cancel the fast passes I made for that day?

 

[Rich M]

So what's the consensus: keep my dessert party or get rid of it? Does anyone think there is any chance of them saying it will include parade viewing?

I cancelled due to principal. Even if they add it I won't dish out the extra money now since they play a dirty game. My $168 can be spent elsewhere.

 

[scrappinginontario]

I made my fast pass selections on Tuesday and was able to book fast passes on the day of the Halloween party (between the hours of 4 and 6) with only a Halloween party ticket. I have 5 day park hoppers plus the Halloween ticket and was able to make 6 days worth of fast passes. Now I'm reading about how something happened last year with people who booked fast passes with their Halloween party ticket. Can someone fill me in on what happened and if you think I should cancel the fast passes I made for that day?

If they allowed you to make FP reservations for the 6th day (5 day park tickets + party ticket) I would hold onto them for now.

My 60 day window opens next week and the only ticket I have is a party ticket. We are flying in for a brief surprise Disney trip only doing water parks and the Halloween party. I will report here next week if I'm able to book FP's with only the party ticket.

That being said, keep an eye on your FP reservations to make sure you don't lose a day of your normal FPs.

 

[CvilleDiane]

So what's the consensus: keep my dessert party or get rid of it? Does anyone think there is any chance of them saying it will include parade viewing?

I'm keeping mine for now. I emailed guest services a few days ago and haven't heard back yet. I'm holding out hope that they'll still have the parade viewing option I booked! If they confirm it's definitely gone, I'll cancel then.

 

[Cluelyss]

I made my fast pass selections on Tuesday and was able to book fast passes on the day of the Halloween party (between the hours of 4 and 6) with only a Halloween party ticket. I have 5 day park hoppers plus the Halloween ticket and was able to make 6 days worth of fast passes. Now I'm reading about how something happened last year with people who booked fast passes with their Halloween party ticket. Can someone fill me in on what happened and if you think I should cancel the fast passes I made for that day?

Last year folks were having their last day of FPs cancelled (some reported receiving an email prior telling them they had insufficient ticket entitlements for the number of FPs booked and had a day to resolve the issue or they would be cancelled, others reported receiving nothing and simply noticing their last day had fallen off). If you have something valuable on your last day (FOP, TSL) watch your email and MDE carefully in case history repeats itself.

 

[ShootingStar106]

If they allowed you to make FP reservations for the 6th day (5 day park tickets + party ticket) I would hold onto them for now.

My 60 day window opens next week and the only ticket I have is a party ticket. We are flying in for a brief surprise Disney trip only doing water parks and the Halloween party. I will report here next week if I'm able to book FP's with only the party ticket.

That being said, keep an eye on your FP reservations to make sure you don't lose a day of your normal FPs.

Thank you! I'd be interested to see if you're able to book FPs too with your party ticket!

 

[ShootingStar106]

Last year folks were having their last day of FPs cancelled (some reported receiving an email prior telling them they had insufficient ticket entitlements for the number of FPs booked and had a day to resolve the issue or they would be cancelled, others reported receiving nothing and simply noticing their last day had fallen off). If you have something valuable on your last day (FOP, TSL) watch your email and MDE carefully in case history repeats itself.

Thank you! Oh boy. Maybe I should just cancel the party Fast Passes just in case. I have 7 Dwarfs Mine Train, Space Mountain and Splash Mountain booked as my last day of FPs. I definitely don't want to lose them.

 

[AlisaMom]

I cancelled due to principal. Even if they add it I won't dish out the extra money now since they play a dirty game. My $168 can be spent elsewhere.

Me too. Cancelled.

 

[Rich M]

Me too. Cancelled.

Though Disney might get the money back if they offer the Frozen Party lol

 

[bcwife76]

If they allowed you to make FP reservations for the 6th day (5 day park tickets + party ticket) I would hold onto them for now.

My 60 day window opens next week and the only ticket I have is a party ticket. We are flying in for a brief surprise Disney trip only doing water parks and the Halloween party. I will report here next week if I'm able to book FP's with only the party ticket.

That being said, keep an eye on your FP reservations to make sure you don't lose a day of your normal FPs.

Count me in as another one interested to see how your FP selections go. We are only doing the Halloween party, no park days (for now at least), my 60 day window isn't until August.

 

[chuff88]

Okay, I need an opinion. We currently have the plaza garden viewing party booked for our Halloween party night on 10/4, which is ranked 10 on TP's list of busiest nights (so it's the 10th least busy). We have also booked the HEA dessert party on 10/1 (also with garden viewing), and we plan to book the Star Wars dessert party for 9/29. I was also planning to book the FEA Illuminations party on either 9/31 or 10/3, but we recently decided to add Wild Africa Trek to itinerary so I was going to cut out the FEA party for budgetary reasons.

My question is this: would it be better to cancel the Hallowishes dessert party in favor of FEA? I'm can have crowd aversion issues, and the idea of an reserved viewing area for the dessert party is appealing, but is it crowded enough to make a big difference at a party?

I'd love to just do all of these experiences, but Wild Africa is a pricier endeavor and I have to cut something.