Halloween at DL

[rmass82]

I am enjoying the photos but I need more info on Halloween stuff in October. The Trick or Treat party....it is when the park is normally closed at DCA? How mcuh is it usually? What is dofferent then a normal day in October there? The Halloween bash happens on Halloween night? Thanks and sorry if these questions were answered already I just find it hard to go thru all the posts we have already.

 

[pdxJolene]

I'm really glad I found this thread too! My birthday is on halloween and I really want to go this year... Both to see all the fabulous halloween stuff and to celebrate my 21st birthday! I am considering planning a trip with my DBF either from the 30th of October to the 7th of November. We'd probably get 5 day tickets and then spend a few days in hollywood & LA and/or the beach. Is that week probably the worst of the halloween season to go? We could always do a mid-week to mid-week trip, but I work M-F and would like to use as little vacation as possible of course. I'm actually more excited for this trip 6 months away than the trip I have in... 20 days. Well... Maybe not MORE excited but equally excited!

 

[PHXscuba]

A couple of PPers have asked about going mid-week.

Mid-week is almost always a better time to go to DLR because so many locals come on weekends! The great thing last year was that the special Halloween fireworks went off EVERY night, so going in the middle of the week you didn't miss out. You might want to find one weekend night to see Fantasmic if it is showing then (unknown).

As for which weeks are busier, jury seems to be out on that one. The first half of the month has fall breaks for many AZ, UT, Nor CA schools, but some DISers have reported more people coming later for special Halloween trips. I think what days of the week you go will likely have more of an effect on crowds that which week.

PHXscuba

 

[Sherry E]

We are planning a trip sometime in Oct and wondering if it gets more crowded the closer to Halloween? We would go mid-week - probably a T-Th - and are flexible as to what week....

Thanks!

You know, it seems like things are unpredictable now as far as when it will be more crowded. In the last 2 years, the crowds for Halloweentime have really picked up, with last year being the worst, I think. I was there on 10/24 last year and the crowds were quite thick all day long, and they were picking up at night. But the year before, 2008, I was there in the first couple of days of October and that was pretty busy too (especially at night), but not as busy as 2009. In 2007, we were at DLR on the first couple of days of Halloweentime in late September, and it was only not crowded because it was raining for part of the time - and then it got crowded when the rain dried up! I think it is a crap shoot now, as to when it will be more or less crowded, because with World of Color coming soon, and the potential Toy Story Midway Mania Halloween overlay (though that may not happen this year) and all the other stuff they have for Halloweentime like Ghost Galaxy, HMH and the Halloween fireworks, I think we can pretty much bank on Halloweentime season being especially crowded.

But...as PHXscuba said, it's always better to go on weekdays mid-week than it is on weekends if you can manage it. So since that was your plan anyway, I think that will be better than if you went on a weekend.

Thanks Sherry! If and when I ever do get to go for Halloween you can bet I'll be spending more of my time exploring that going on any rides. It all looks like so much to take in (but in a good way). Hopefully it'll be my turn sometime soon. I'm pretty resigned to the fact that it wont be this year because of other vacations going on at work in October in my department. But I'm trying to keep the option open for next year with my dad, or maybe even 2012. It seems so far away, but I don't think it'll kill me to wait that long.

Well, you've been to DLR for Christmastime, haven't you? I thought I remembered seeing or reading that in your TR, but maybe I am wrong? Halloweentime, thus far, is definitely not more overwhelming or more to take in than the holiday season at DLR. The holiday season is full-throttle, inch to inch immersion - sensory overload (though I love love love it!). Somehow, maybe just because Halloweentime doesn't hold the same importance to many folks as Christmastime does, DLR has not yet managed to make Halloweentime a fully immersive experience. I think they could do a lot more (like make the Castle a Spooky Castle for the whole season, and then turn it into the Winter Castle in November!). You could feasibly walk for quite a ways in the parks without seeing any sign of it being Halloweentime, whereas at Christmastime, you know what time of year it is wherever you go - it's in all the shops, the restaurants, the hotels, the music, etc. (which is why I love it). So Halloweentiime, as a rule, won't be too much to take in because it is not necessarily in your face, everywhere you go in DLR. However, by the time you get there to see it, Jazz, Halloweentime very well may have become a bigger deal with more to do and see!! Plus, if you go in 2012, the DCA makeover will be close to finished, so there will be even more things to take in. But I know you will get some great, thorough, in-depth photos! If there are little hidden gems to see or little overlooked nuances, you will be the girl to find them with your handy camera!! That's why you are so great - because you really do go in depth and get a lot of things on camera that so many people probably wouldn't pay attention to (signs and things), and that helps show folks a more complete picture of what DLR is like.

I am enjoying the photos but I need more info on Halloween stuff in October. The Trick or Treat party....it is when the park is normally closed at DCA? How mcuh is it usually? What is dofferent then a normal day in October there? The Halloween bash happens on Halloween night? Thanks and sorry if these questions were answered already I just find it hard to go thru all the posts we have already.

Thankfully, this thread is only 7 pages so far, so it's still pretty easy to sort through the pages and find info. Imagine once it gets to 100 pages or so! So I was able to copy and paste info from one of my earlier posts.

DCA closes extra early on the nights of the TOTP (I think maybe at 6 p.m. or so, if I recall correctly), and you have to buy a separate ticket for the TOTP. Generally, the TOTP starts at around 7:30 p.m. or so. They give out candy at lots of different treat stations, there is dancing, special merchandise and treats only sold at the TOTP, there are special character photo stations (and some of the characters are ones you don't see every day, like Jack Sparrow, and others are dressed up in their own Halloween costumes, and the guests can choose to dress in costume or not) and decorations that are only up for the TOTP - it's a general party atmosphere. Also, it's a good chance to ride some of the rides that may have more crowded lines in the daytime.

Since we don't know what the rates and dates will be for this years' TOTP yet, here is a link to what they were last year - this should give you an idea of what to expect as far as approximate cost and the kinds of dates you are looking at for the TOTP:

http://allears.net/dlr/tp/dca/mht.htm

You can see that the TOTP started on the first Friday in October, and then increased to Thursday and Friday, and then increased to Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and then the actual date of Halloween was included too. So I imagine that is how it will go this year.

I know that if Halloweentime season begins at DLR on September 24 (Friday) this year, as I expect it will, then the actual TOTP should begin on Friday, October 1, one week later. As soon as the TOTP prices and dates are announced for 2010, someone will post them here, so we can keep it all in one place.

I'm really glad I found this thread too! My birthday is on halloween and I really want to go this year... Both to see all the fabulous halloween stuff and to celebrate my 21st birthday! I am considering planning a trip with my DBF either from the 30th of October to the 7th of November. We'd probably get 5 day tickets and then spend a few days in hollywood & LA and/or the beach. Is that week probably the worst of the halloween season to go? We could always do a mid-week to mid-week trip, but I work M-F and would like to use as little vacation as possible of course. I'm actually more excited for this trip 6 months away than the trip I have in... 20 days. Well... Maybe not MORE excited but equally excited!

I am almost inclined to think that early October will be more packed with people than late October, but on the actual night of Halloween, I am sure the TOTP will be quite busy. However, never fear - if you get 5-day Hoppers, you will be able to space everything out and see it all. If you said you were only going for one or two days, I might be worried, but with 5 solid DLR days, you will be able to bypass crowds at certain times. It shouldn't be a problem.

Make sure, when you cruise up to L.A., to visit The Grove (popular, beautiful outdoor mall that celebrities frequently can be seen shopping at) and Farmers Market, which is adjacent to The Grove. FM is a historic landmark in L.A. and has lots of fresh fruit and great food/baked goods from local vendors, family businesses and mom & pop type of operations. The Grove/Farmers Market are about 5 minutes from LACMA and the Tar Pits, about 7-10 minutes from Beverly Hills and about 7-10 minutes from Hollywood Blvd., so everything is very close together in this area of L.A. - it would make for a great day trip!!

 

[pdxJolene]

I am almost inclined to think that early October will be more packed with people than late October, but on the actual night of Halloween, I am sure the TOTP will be quite busy. However, never fear - if you get 5-day Hoppers, you will be able to space everything out and see it all. If you said you were only going for one or two days, I might be worried, but with 5 solid DLR days, you will be able to bypass crowds at certain times. It shouldn't be a problem.

Make sure, when you cruise up to L.A., to visit The Grove (popular, beautiful outdoor mall that celebrities frequently can be seen shopping at) and Farmers Market, which is adjacent to The Grove. FM is a historic landmark in L.A. and has lots of fresh fruit and great food/baked goods from local vendors, family businesses and mom & pop type of operations. The Grove/Farmers Market are about 5 minutes from LACMA and the Tar Pits, about 7-10 minutes from Beverly Hills and about 7-10 minutes from Hollywood Blvd., so everything is very close together in this area of L.A. - it would make for a great day trip!!

Ohh thanks for the LA/hollywood info! We may actually get 6 day tickets, it just depends on what we decide we want to do while we're there. I don't think we will do the TOTP, it would be loads of fun for me... But DBF not so much, and while it is a trip over my birthday I want it to be about him too.

 

[Mommy2Aedan]

Thanks for all the great info, everyone! I am enjoying all the pics and tips for our fall trip!

 

[Sherry E]

Ohh thanks for the LA/hollywood info! We may actually get 6 day tickets, it just depends on what we decide we want to do while we're there. I don't think we will do the TOTP, it would be loads of fun for me... But DBF not so much, and while it is a trip over my birthday I want it to be about him too.

I know...don't you hate having to consider other people's feelings on a trip? It's so inconvenient! Just kidding! That's actually very nice of you to be thinking of what your boyfriend would or wouldn't like when it will be your special day, and I am sure he will appreciate it!

Thanks for all the great info, everyone! I am enjoying all the pics and tips for our fall trip!

Cool! I am glad our little Halloween superthread is starting to pick up some steam and that people are noticing it. And thanks to the "panel" (as PHXscuba so appropriatetly labeled it a while back) that continues to share their photos with us and answer questions. Hopefully we will get some more folks posting photos of all things Halloweentime at DLR - there is still lots to be seen in the way of TOTP pictures, food items, other merchandise beyond what I posted photos of a couple of pages back, displays, etc. It seems like when one person posts photos, that inspires other people to post. So everyone keep 'em coming!

I figure it is a good idea to try to keep this thread as active as possible because, chances are, many people will be just starting to plan their Halloweentime/Fall trips around now.

 

[Belle Ella]

So it looks like I may, possibly, be getting a Halloween trip after all, Sherry! It's not definite yet, my dad can't plan things out that far in advance, but he's expressed interest in doing a father/daughter trip this October. I'm thinking it would probably be in our best interest to go (if we do) the last weekend of September, but we'll see. I'm a little nervous because if it was up to him we would plan the week before we go and then I would think we wouldn't have much as far as options in hotels.

I'm going to be paying a close eye to this thread. I love seeing everything!

 

[gethane]

Since we decided to splurge and upgrade to DAPs, we will be making a trip in either late September or October to see the Halloween theming. I am very excited!

 

[rmass82]

Thanks for the info for TOT and the link to what happened last year. So does DCA have a different entrance then DLR? As we are buying a 5 day hopper pass then we could buy TOT tickets for a different day so not to waste one of our 5 days? We are planning this trip around my husbands school schedule so excited to kow there will be some added things happening!! Keep all the other little tidbits of info coming!!

 

[Vala]

Yes, DCA has a separate entrance.

And you don't need a park ticket for the party, so you can use your 5 day ticket and then do TOTP on a sixth night. You won't be having access to DCA before the party will start though, I think this is different than WDW.

 

[haley's mom]

Loving all this info.

I am lookingnfor character information. What characters are dressed up either during the day or at TOT Party? Thanks!!!!!

 

[Sherry E]

Loving all this info.

I am lookingnfor character information. What characters are dressed up either during the day or at TOT Party? Thanks!!!!!

Both Vala and I posted photos earlier in this thread (particularly Pages 1, 2 and 3) with Villains and other characters (both in the parks and at the TOTP), and some of those include Vala's great photos of the characters dressed in their Halloween costumes! Be sure to check them out!

 

[Sherry E]

So it looks like I may, possibly, be getting a Halloween trip after all, Sherry! It's not definite yet, my dad can't plan things out that far in advance, but he's expressed interest in doing a father/daughter trip this October. I'm thinking it would probably be in our best interest to go (if we do) the last weekend of September, but we'll see. I'm a little nervous because if it was up to him we would plan the week before we go and then I would think we wouldn't have much as far as options in hotels.

I'm going to be paying a close eye to this thread. I love seeing everything!

Cool! Yay! I hope it comes through! (Crossing my fingers) Yes, even if you have to miss the TOTP (because that always starts one week after Halloweentime begins), you will see get to see 99% of all the Halloweentime fun on that first weekend. Your dad will just have to realize that he has a very responsible daughter who knows how to coordinate a trip and who needs to make plans somewhat in advance, and if you wait until the last minute you will run out of hotel options! I mean, people do cancel at the last minute - it happens - and so hotel rooms sometimes open up, but you don't want to be stressed in the week leading up to the trip about where you will be staying.

I'll be curious to see if you like Halloweentime as much as the holiday season or any other time of year, or more, less, etc. I think you were at DLR for the holidays before, right? The Christmas/holiday season, I think, will always be my favorite time to be at DLR because it is just so magical all throughout the Resort, but Halloweentime is my second favorite time. It is not magical and as extensive in the same way as Christmastime, but it's really really cool. And this year DLR will probably add even more things to the Halloween festivities...so I hope it works out for you to go!!

 

[Vala]

Both Vala and I posted photos earlier in this thread (particularly Pages 1, 2 and 3) with Villains and other characters (both in the parks and at the TOTP), and some of those include Vala's great photos of the characters dressed in their Halloween costumes! Be sure to check them out!

Yes, my photos should cover pretty much everything about characters in Halloween costumes.

The list of characters in Halloween costumes as we've seen them is as follows:

DLR: Mickey as vampire (or whatever the pinkish tuxedo is supposed to be), Minnie as witch, Pluto as vampire (only sign is a violet dog collar), Goofy as skeleton, Donald as pumpkin (seen only in 2009) and Chip & Dale as cop and robber (seen only in 2008).

DCA (the candy corn farmer attire is something we only saw during Halloween season, so I will count it in too): Chip & Dale, Mickey, Minnie and Goofy - I think I have posted pictures of all.

During the Halloween parties Mickey and Minnie will appear in orange versions of their costumes at their photo stop, and it 2008 we saw Donald dancing in farmer attire on Sunshine Plaza.

 

[iKristin]

Chip & Dale were out last year as Cop & Robber as well

 

[haley's mom]

Yes, my photos should cover pretty much everything about characters in Halloween costumes.

The list of characters in Halloween costumes as we've seen them is as follows:

DLR: Mickey as vampire (or whatever the pinkish tuxedo is supposed to be), Minnie as witch, Pluto as vampire (only sign is a violet dog collar), Goofy as skeleton, Donald as pumpkin (seen only in 2009) and Chip & Dale as cop and robber (seen only in 2008).

DCA (the candy corn farmer attire is something we only saw during Halloween season, so I will count it in too): Chip & Dale, Mickey, Minnie and Goofy - I think I have posted pictures of all.

During the Halloween parties Mickey and Minnie will appear in orange versions of their costumes at their photo stop, and it 2008 we saw Donald dancing in farmer attire on Sunshine Plaza.

Great info - love the years included. What about villains? I noticed that Captian Hook, Cruella, Snow Witch and Queen of Hearts seem to have been out in 2009. Any others?

 

[Sherry E]

Great info - love the years included. What about villains? I noticed that Captian Hook, Cruella, Snow Witch and Queen of Hearts seem to have been out in 2009. Any others?

Maleficent was out briefly at the Villains photo spot in Fantasyland (which is where my 2009 photos with Captain Hook and Queen of Hearts were taken, as you can see). Jafar was also at that spot for a while, and I think the Wicked Queen from Snow White was there for a bit too. I didn't see them in 2009, but I think some of the Villains in my 2008 Halloweentime photos - Don Karnage and Ratcliffe - may have been roaming around at the TOTP. Jack Sparrow was at the TOTP in 2008, and they brought him back in 2009 for the TOTP only. I think I heard that the Evil Stepsisters from Cinderella were out again at the TOTP last year, and they were definitely there in 2008.

I don't think there is a tremendous difference from one year to the next in the characters that appear - I even remember seeing Goofy in his skeleton outfit back in 2007 - but I think maybe they might change after several years. So whoever is there in 2007, for example, may not be exactly who is there in 2013. But from 2008 to 2009 to 2010, it will probably be mostly the same bunch.

 

[Vala]

You are counting Jack Sparrow as a villain, Sherry?

Chip & Dale were out last year as Cop & Robber as well

Great. And I managed to miss it during 5 days. I did hang out in Town Square for hours hoping to catch them again, and they kept appearing without costumes.

Great info - love the years included. What about villains? I noticed that Captian Hook, Cruella, Snow Witch and Queen of Hearts seem to have been out in 2009. Any others?

2008 had the Hyperion Theatre closed, so the villains did hang out in that area in DCA, and some were wandering DLR throughout the day. 2009 they had their own photo stop near It's a Small World and we never saw a villain apart from there and the party.

2008: Brer Bear and Brer Fox near Splash Mountain (I heard that they were still there last year), Cruella and Queen of Hearts all over the place, Hook at Town Square, Snow White's Evil Queen near Animation Academy and at Hyperion Theatre.

Hyperion Theatre also had: Ratcliffe (Pocahontas), Frollo (Hunchback of Notre Dame), Snow White's Old Hag, Queen of Hearts, Don Karnage and Prince John.

The Villains Stop at the party had the Evil Queen switching with Lady Tremaine and the Stepsisters. Cruella and QOH were roaming around the party, I think we saw Bowler Hat Guy from Meet the Robinsons too.

2009: QOH, Cruella, Jafar, Old Hag, Hook and Evil Queen were at the Villains Photo Stop. This was the week before Halloween, and the Photopass Photographer I spoke to said we met everyone who was out this week.

For the party Lady Tremaine and the Stepsisters were switching with Cruella at the Villains Photo stop. The Evil Queen was switching with Snow White at a special photo stop near Animation Academy, but I guess this was a special one for the Snow White Anniversary and I am not sure if this will be back.

During the party we saw Ratcliffe, Queen of Hearts and Bowler Hat Guy roaming Bug's Land. There may have been more villains there, but that place wasn't very well lit and because I was on an ECV I didn't venture too much there.

 

[iKristin]

Yeah I caught them once on the day before I was leaving..the 24th of Oct.