Halloween at DL

[Sherry E]

Let's bump this!

[iKristin]

bump bump bump it up!! lol

[Diznygrl]

Funny you guys should mention the Halloween ears and the Mickey's ToT Party shirts and bag. I just got back from DL yesterday and went to the Character Warehouse in Fullerton. They have both the candy corn and pumpkin ears, buy one pair for $5.00, get a second pair FREE! So I got one of each. That's an amazing deal considering one pair retails for $15.95! It makes me wonder if they have an entirely new Halloween mouse ear design in the works for this year. I also got last year's ToT Party bag for 99 cents. They also have the party t-shirts and hooded sweatshirts (only in X-large) for really cheap, but I can't remember the exact price.

[Sherry E]

Originally Posted by Diznygrl

Funny you guys should mention the Halloween ears and the Mickey's ToT Party shirts and bag. I just got back from DL yesterday and went to the Character Warehouse in Fullerton. They have both the candy corn and pumpkin ears, buy one pair for $5.00, get a second pair FREE! So I got one of each. That's an amazing deal considering one pair retails for $15.95! It makes me wonder if they have an entirely new Halloween mouse ear design in the works for this year. I also got last year's ToT Party bag for 99 cents. They also have the party t-shirts and hooded sweatshirts (only in X-large) for really cheap, but I can't remember the exact price.

Drat! It figures that I live nowhere near a Character Warehouse! I would have definitely snapped up that bag and the TOTP shirts, and probably some of the ears too (that is a great price, even though I don't like the look of the pumpkin ears at all)!!

[iKristin]

I wonder how much a cab would be to get to the character warehouse?? Anyone know??

[Belle Ella]

So Sherry asked me to come post a couple of my photos -- so of course I am happy to oblige! Mind you, I've never actually been for Halloween (or I would have thousands of photos to share ) but I was there in September '09 as some Halloween themed items kept popping up everywhere!

First up? FOOD PORN!

Well, it's not much, but it's a start. Everything else are a few decorations inside the shops on Main Street and merchandise:

Not bad considering it wasn't even the middle of September yet! One day I'll get the chance to go for Halloween.

[Sherry E]

Thanks, Jazz! I didn't even realize you had posted these photos until this morning (I didn't get the email alert/notification thingy)! I really love these pictures you took, because it is definitely showing us another aspect of Halloweentime at DLR that we haven't seen much of so far. Those window displays and in-store displays are so cool and festive! I think we really needed to see them in this thread! I love those little figures and ornaments and things in the windows, and those Halloween treats look delightful (even though I am usually not a candy/caramel apple kind of girl)!! My favorite is that cute little tree thingy that is jutting out of Mickey's head, with the little ornaments on it! I want one!!!

And Jazz, I know that if you ever do get to DLR for Halloweentime, you will probably find all kinds of hidden or out of the way Halloween photo-worthy things, and capture a very thorough representation of Halloweentime with your camera! Hopefully next year you can do a Halloweentime trip?

[Sherry E]

Daily bump!

[amamax2]

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!

[Belle Ella]

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.

[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]

Originally Posted by amamax2

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.

Originally Posted by Belle Ella

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.

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

Originally Posted by 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!

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]

Originally Posted by Sherry E

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.