Can't miss things for Halloween

I'll take a look back through my pics from when we were there at that time in 2009 and see what else I remember - but I think MNSSHP was THEE biggie. Magic Kingdom is pretty deck out and a ton of fun. The parade featuring the headless horseman was pretty amazing - and the trick or treating can't be beat!

I seem to remember the Haunted Mansion has some special feature at that time as well.

The park hours work as follows: You have to buy the special MNSSHP tickets and present them in order to get a special wristband. I think they started taking the special event tickets and passing out the wristbands around 4:00 or 5:00 or so.

You have the wear your wristband in order to stay in the park after 7:00. Around 6:30 or so, you'll see cast members starting ot advise guests that the park will be closing at 7:00 unless you have the special event tickets and the wristband. By 7:00, everyone without a wristband is kindly kicked out of the park!

So, only people with the special tickets and wristbands are allowed in the park after 7:00.

Hope that helps!

During that time, at Epcot Food & Wine Festival is going on, so while everyone is doing the Halloween thing at the MK, over at Epcot it's all about eating and drinking your way around the world. On one hand that's great because in the evening the ride lines are usually short, however if you didn't expect it, it can hinder your World Showcase experience while it's crowded. Downtown Disney also has Halloween stuff that they do, but not a lot.

Oh thanks, that was a question I had wanted to ask too! We were really hoping to take the kids to MNNSHP this year. None of us has been. But we were unable to swing it, so maybe NEXT year! Truly love the season. I bet the park is beautiful for Halloween!

Even if you can't get into the park for the MNSSHP celebration, you could always go to watch Hallow-Wishes, the MNSSHP specially themed version of Wishes. You can get a great view of the fireworks from the beaches of the resorts around the 7 Seas Lagoon so I'm told!

They actually do a closing sweep of the parks at 7pm. Rows of cast members line up at the back of the parks making a human chain across the walk way. As they slowly walk toward the main gate anyone who doesn't have a wrist band is told that they have to turn around and leave, that the park is now closed for a special event. If you have a wristband on, you are allowed to go past/behind them. It's really sort of a cool thing to watch especially when you realize that they're doing the same thing on every walkway in the park.

I suppose that it's possible stragglers could get past the sweep if they were in the bathroom or something. I have had both experiences getting on rides, sometimes I've been asked to show my wristband, sometimes I haven't. 7PM though it's out of the park if you're not banded.

I'd be torn between the MNSSHP and checking out the celebrations over at Universal ( Sorry Disney). They have some pretty cool halloween attractions there this year that I'd like to see. Of course if I had enough time, and cash,.. I'd check them both out. Why limit myself ( well,.. other than the fact that I need to know my limits...lol)

I am a chicken when it comes to Halloween so I would have to stick with Disney. I don't like people jumping out at me and since Universal is the home of Dracula, Frankenstein, etc. I need the calmer party.