A little concerned about the 999 Happy Haunts Ball

[Swamp_Fox]

I've sent in my request for the 999 Happy Haunts Ball and I hope I get in. I've seen the news on the some merchandise that will be available for the event and frankly some things worry me. Some of the items from the event have unrealistic edition sizes, here are some example.

999 HHB logo watch- LE 250
999 HHB logo Leather Jacket Le 100
999 HHB pin set LE 250
Lithograph LE 100
4 different pin sets limited to 25 each

Yes I saw the disclaimer:

"*EDITION SIZES AND OTHER INFORMATION SUBJECT TO CHANGE! PICTURES WILL BE ADDED SOON!"

Listen I'm no math whiz but these numbers don't compute. I'm a big fan of LE items, but I think these LE are too low and I believe quite a few people will get skunked on some of these items.

I certainly hope the numbers change into our favor. I don't mean to sound petty but I'm shelling out $199.99 for this event and I feel that everybody (including my Family and I) should get an even shot of all the goodies.

Larry

 

[wdw4us2]

Gee, I'm glad I'm not the only one who is having these thoughts.

Lisa

 

[izzarelli]

I was very surprised at the edition sizes as well...

 

[lindamg]

This is not the first post of this nature that I have seen on various boards this week. My view point is best expressed as flabbergasted, provided I spelled it right, of course. There are some of us out there who have a whole different view on this. I am going to an "event". I am not going to solely purchase merchandise. I will not spend my time that evening standing in line buying things. I am going for a wonderful Disney experience, shared with a person I love, but see infrequently, eating a meal, being entertained, soaking up the atmosphere and the limited crowd and having a unique experience that very few people will have, and for my favorite holiday, no less. Yes, I want a t-shirt and a logo pin, and I bet I'll get them. And if they put out an RSP form, I'll sign up for something, just for the heck of it. But the rest of ya'll can stand in line that evening, I'm going to have FUN!!! If I looked at it merely as spending money to spend more money, well, I wouldn't be going!

 

[lindamg]

And just in case there is someone else out there who leans towards my point of view, I just found this on the message board at Doombuggies

Hey y'all,

Here's a sneak peek at a draft about the event, promoting some of the activities apart from simply being able to buy stuff. The promoters don't want you to think that there's not going to be a lot of fun activities to keep you entertained...!

-The Chef

> ear Guest,

The Haunted Mansion's 999 Happy Haunts Ball, October 30, 2002, from 8:00 p.m. until the clock strikes midnight, will include (but is not limited to) the following.

The departed party planners have made arrangements for some haunting dining and entertainment. They've brought their friends and neighbors together to put on a ghoulish buffet. Aand they want you to be the first to view the exclusive Limited Editions merchandisethey'veprepared, including a memorialcommemorative gift made just for this occasion!

These sneaky spirits have decided that the dead of night is the perfect time for mischief, so while other rides will screech to a halt, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Diamond Horseshoe, and of course the Haunted Mansions will be open in case you'd like to pay your respects.

We will have an array of storytellers, fortunetellers and some of your ghoulish friends from the Haunted Mansion strolling the dead of night with you. While riding the Haunted Mansion, you may want to keep your eyes open for some surprises throughout the ride that may require some trivia. Keep your eyes open for other surprises and fun throughout the night.

The buffet will be laid out throughout Frontierland and Liberty Square. This buffet will feature a special desert that may get carried away.


Your Event Fun-eral Directors<<

AL EVENTS ABOVE ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

 

[Swamp_Fox]

Don't get me wrong I want to have fun too. I'm a big HM fan as well as a pin collector and Disney fan. I plan on riding the rides, having a nice dinner with my Mom and Sister and we all want to soak up every drop of atmosphere Disney has to offer. With 999 people we'll basically have the park to ourselves which is a rare opportunity in itself. In fact I'll be there again the next night with my family for Mickeys Not So Very Scary Halloween Parade for even more fun.

Now here's the other side I still think adjustments should be made to some of the edition sizes of some of the merchandise so everybody gets a shot without being skunked.

And by the way this is the "Collectors Board" so my focus was on all the goodies that were being offered to us for this event. So I was just stating my opinion on what was being offered.

Larry

 

[ScottakaMickey]

From my experience, going to the merchandise events at DL, these edition sizes are right in line with other events. I personally agree with the edition sizes being offered, but think that the number of haunts going to the event is too high. Remember that this is WDW's first event of this nature, yes NFFC and WDAC and Disneyana, but this is different. The hard part to guess is what type of Disney fan's and collectors will attend the event at WDW. There is a big difference in people that travel to WDW vs DL. WDW is a resort and vacation destination and is one reason Disney has been reluctant to put on one of these events. However at DL. The primary focus is on AP holders and local long time Disney collectors. DL is trying more and more to become a vacation destination, but in the past that hasn't been the case. I know people will disagree with that and I shouldn't generalize, but its just an opinion and observation.

Anyway. I would also say that announcing this information this far in advance does give them opportunity to adjust sizes. However, it is still preferred to keep the items very limited, IMHO.

Can't wait to see everyone there

 

[lindamg]

I understand this is the collectors board, and I read it because, believe it or not, I DO collect pins, snowglobes, and Disney beanies! I guess I just don't understand something that I've seen happening quite frequently recently from a group of collectors (not necessarily putting you in that group Larry, your post just got me started!)

Anytime an event has been announced this year, groups of people are jumping up and criticizing it before even all the information gets out, let alone actually getting there and seeing how it works! I don't understand this mind set. The last event I went to was the Christmas in the City event and I had fun! I realized there was a problem with the way the map pins were handled, but it didn't ruin my day (didn't like them anyway!) and I assumed that Disney wouldn't make that same mistake again. Have they made other mistakes? Yes, but at least they were different ones! They've got a long learning curve here!

I've not gone to the other events because I just had a gut feeling that something like a Villains or HM event was coming up, and I just knew I'd regret it if I didn't save some money. Then came the cool Star Spangled Pins, (going) all those great Figment pins (got 'em) and NOW the HM (going, yes!) Sometimes it pays to listen to your gut. I've read about all the other events and had a friend who went to all of them. I do realize that Disney has some things that need to improve, but it is a learning process. Most of what I've heard back has led me to believe that these all would have been fun events, where I could have had a good time, but I would never have believed that if I had listened to the people who were criticizing based on pre-conceived ideas. Someone on another board said this was sounding like the Animal Kingdom event. All that complaining up front, when on the whole it turned out to be a pretty cool evening.

 

[lindamg]

Hi Scott,
Interesting viewpoint. I understand what you are saying about WDW being more of a vacation resort. If I am understanding you correctly, are you saying that Disney is concerned they don't have the base of local people, as opposed to vacationers, to support an event like this? If I'm reading you right, my personal opinion is that they will be surprised by the Disney-collector-fan-base that they have in Florida. I believe there are plenty of us within driving distance who are just looking for Disney to do things like this. Look how things like MNSSHP and MVMCP and Candlelight Porcessional have grown. Those things are at times of the year when they can't be totally supported by vacationers. Locals are very much present at those events. It was pretty much locals who jammed the parks on weekends after September, also. We're out there, and just waiting to let the good times roll!

 

[ScottakaMickey]

Hi.

Oh I most certainly agree with you, as a semi local, I have wanted for a long time for Disney to do these events. I hope that Disney is realizing that there are local, and remote fans that would love to come to WDW for an event like this and that they WILL buy merchandise. A very recent occurrence of the strength of the local fan base was the Passholder event at AK. In the past, Disney never had more than 5K attend a passholder event, so AK planned for around 8K just to be safe. Well, if the numbers I heard are correct, they had around 15K attend the event. So, I think that with this first merchandise event they will get a feel of the fan base and buying power.

I have listed to conversations and talked with lots of people and did have perception that Disney, WDW, primarily wants to focus on vacation packages and events, obviously things are changing and they are going to give it a try.

I am not really sure about the attendance at the events you mentioned. I know that more locals are going back to these events with the advent of improved merchandise, pins etc, but my guess would be that the percentage problem leans more towards vacationers than locals, or semi locals (LOL).

I know that for me, I will be going to the DL HM event in early October and the WDW HM event at the end of October and I can't wait for both of them!!

 

[lindamg]

Thanks Scott!

Looks like we're pretty much thinking along the same lines. Have fun in DL, and I'll see you in WDW!

A fellow semi-local

 

[doombuggy]

While I have sent in my registration form (the price was $119, not $199), I am a little confused as to where people are coming up with the number of people attending the event - 999. I frankly don't think it will be that many, nor do I think the event is being designed for that many. can you imagine feeding a thousand people in the manner described? (thanks lindamg for that info).

I went to the WDCC conventionin 2000 and I don't think there were that many there. I am going to meet up with some DISers, buy some merch from my favorite ride (not the jacket though) and enjoy the park when it's not so crowed. after doing an E-Ticket night back in Sept. 1997, I am certainly looking forward to this!

 

[ScottakaMickey]

Its not up there now, but some of the original posting from Disney indicated 999 ghouls attending. Plus, it has been my experience that the edition size of the logo pin has been twice the size of the number of participants attending the event. Pirates dangle 2600 with 1300 attendees planned (actually had more), Villains Divas 1000 with 500 tickets sold, NBC's logo pin was 2500 with 1000, so that one is a little off. So, the Logo pin for the WDW HM event is currently listed at 2000, so that would be ~1000 ghouls attending.

I too am concerrned about feeding 1000, however buffets can be done in such a way that you would be surprised how many they can feed. However, I do think that come time for the event, it will sell out.

 

[Dodie]

I am a little confused as to where people are coming up with the number of people attending the event - 999.

The information page when I registered clearly stated:

This evening will include a delightfully ghouish buffet dinner, as well as a chance to meet your favorite characters from the Haunted Mansion. Participants will be limited to a total of 999.

I copied that text for an "announcement" that I made for my DH, since the tickets are an anniversary present from me to him.

That statement is now gone from the page. This confuses me.