Ok folks............can someone help this Aussie out?!
I was at Disneyland last year for Halloween and loved every minute of it. I was also there for Christmas in 2010 and again, loved every minute of it. If I travel anywhere in the world it is always to my beloved park that I first went to way back in 1998! And, we are very lucky to be coming back again in September this year to get some more use from our annual passes!!!
Now, I am going to have my DD with me and what I want to show her is the park in it's original state....................no decorations, just it's beautiful original self, especially the Haunted Mansion. It may even work out that we will be lucky enough to see both as at this stage our dates are September 5th through to September 19th depending on how long it takes to decorate!
So, my question is this.....................I can see now the dates for Halloween start on Friday the 13th. So, how long before that date does the Haunted Mansion close to hve the Nightmare Before Christmas overlay added? ( I do love me my Jack ( him and Minnie are my 2 absolute faves ) and I do love it when he takes over the Mansion, but on this trip I want to come so I can see it in it's original state if at all possible.
I have a general idea how long it's closed for, but thought someone who is a regular at that time of year would be able to give me a more accurate idea!
Thanks so much
Welcome back,
Minnie Sue Oz!
You know, I think that Haunted Mansion will go down for the overlay right before Labor Day (which is on September 2nd this year). It used to be (back when Halloween Time started a wee bit later in September) that Disney would wait until after our Labor Day holiday to close it. However, for at least the last couple of years they have closed Haunted Mansion before Labor Day -- which is actually quite startling, as that's a holiday weekend.
So I would not be at all shocked if Haunted Mansion closes somewhere by or between Friday, August 30th and Sunday, September 1st. It will stay in Haunted Mansion Holiday form from September 13th until early January 2014.
You have some memory Sherry!! Impressive! lol Yea, we had to scrap the Christmas time idea. Unfortunately it just won't work with the hubby's work schedule. I can't wait to get to see it someday! I am very grateful to get to go with the kiddos for Halloween though! They are going to think it is incredible!
Here4mydisneyfix -
I do have a good memory (though it is dimming with age)! Often times I freak people out because I remember things that most people wouldn't remember!
It sticks out in my mind that you were thinking about a holiday trip because I vividly recall that I was giving you a rundown on the holiday season dates and details after your Halloween trip passed. Since I am so firmly involved in tracking both the Halloween Time and Holiday seasons at DLR -- and helping people plan their trips during those times -- I tend to remember when someone says they are considering a trip during one of those periods.
Another Halloween trip for you will be wonderful! It should be exciting to see if Disney decides to add anything Halloween-ish to California Adventure this year. I would assume that the Frankenweenie stuff will not return, but it would be nice to have some traces of Halloween in DCA!
I'm thinking about the 15th or 22nd of September. But now I can't decide between Halloween and Christmas time. We have gone a few times the week after Thanksgiving and it's wonderful, and we haven't seen Carsland decorated for Christmas yet. On the other hand, we've never been there for Halloween time, and that's my favorite holiday. I'm going to have to think about this one LOL.
briggscreek --
It's a tough choice, deciding between seasons!
If Halloween is your favorite holiday I am surprised that you're not that interested in going to the Halloween party! I would think you'd want to go, because the Halloween Screams fireworks are so great.
Because you love Halloween you should definitely experience Halloween Time at least once -- although, keep in mind that Disney tends to "skimp" on Halloween Time in many ways. They don't do as much for it as they do for the holiday season -- not even close. So if you are thinking that you're going to arrive at DLR and see the Halloween equivalent of the holiday season in terms of decor and overall merriment, you won't find it. But you will enjoy what
is there. Main Street and Frontierland are particularly special during Halloween Time and, of course, there are some little Halloween touches around NOS too.
Basically, the bulk of Halloween Time is focused in Disneyland. DCA is sorely lacking in Halloween-ness (unless that changes this year), with the exception of Duffy's photo spot. The hotels don't get into the Halloween spirit at all, except for on Halloween (the actual holiday) when they hand out candy.
Even in Disneyland, the Villains were made less available and less accessible last year so that they could be used as big selling points for the Halloween party. You could "conjure up a Villain" at the Carnival/Round-Up in the daytime, but it was only one Villain at a time. There were lots of Villains out and about at the party. This year, after the Villains dance party thing on 9/13, who knows whether they will be out and about in the daytime or not?
As for the holiday season, it's not just Cars Land but Buena Vista Street too. There are gingerbread "houses" (sculptures) in all of the restaurants in both BVS and CL. The gingerbread Mater in Flo's was one of my favorites, but the gingerbread Cozy Cone model was fantastic! The retro decor, the retro holiday music, the Bell Ringers and the "department store Santa" on BVS are just wonderful! Meanwhile, over in CL you will find more themed holiday music, all kinds of crazy themed Christmas trees and decorations, as well as Snowy the Snow Car and the "Santa Stanley" statue/fountain, which displays Santa Stanley wearing a Santa hat and carrying a sack of goodies.
DCA finally feels more involved in the holiday season.
Sherry I looked at the front page but unless I missed it do we know approx when the tix will go on sale for AP's? I know it is usually in the summer some time and just wanted to get an idea since we are going to go the weekend before Halloween and I know that will be a popular time. And I am assuming that fri or sat before halloween (not sure which days they do the parties as I haven't been since 09) but I am sure that won't be a discounted night right.
kelmac284 --
Hi,
Kelly!
I have not updated the first page with 2013 party info because -- when last I checked -- there was nothing new
yet. All we know (or knew) so far is that the party begins on Monday, 9/30. Maybe something new came in and I haven't seen it yet? It seems that whenever I check various Disney websites for new updates I find nothing -- and then, 2 hours later, someone else will come to this thread saying that they just found new info!
My timing seems to be the worst!
I would think that the tickets for AP holders, Disney Visa card holders and DVC owners would go on sale in June -- but we should have heard or read an announcement of when they would go on sale by now and I don't think we have?
The general public tickets should go on sale in July.
I would also assume that the party will again take place on Friday nights and one early weeknight each week -- like Mondays or Tuesdays -- as well as on Halloween night. There should be 2 parties each week, for a total of at least 10 parties. (Last year there were 11 parties.)
You're right -- whichever party is right before Halloween (whether it's Mon., 10/28 or Tues., 10/29) probably will not be discounted in any way.