Date Haunted Mansion Closes for Overlay?

[BrianL]

When does the HM usually close for the overlay to be installed? I am looking at a trip in late August, but I'd really like to see the HM before the overlay (I have only ever seen HMH at DL). I am having trouble finding the usual dates of this. I can find the January closures to have the overlay removed, but it seems like the installation dates are nebulous.

Thanks.

 

[Angrose]

I don't know the exact date, but I do know that I rode it last year on Friday, Aug 21st. I think it closed on Monday, the 24th because I'm not seeing wait times for it on that day on Touring Plans. Good luck!

 

[BrianL]

I don't know the exact date, but I do know that I rode it last year on Friday, Aug 21st. I think it closed on Monday, the 24th because I'm not seeing wait times for it on that day on Touring Plans. Good luck!

Thanks. Seems like that last week of August might be the time.

 

[BrianL]

As an addendum, when do teh crowds taper off because school starts. Do LA area schools start in mid-August or is it later? Thanks.

 

[figment_jii]

The Haunted Mansion typically closes on a Monday, about 2.5 weeks before the start of HalloweenTime. As Angrose said, it closed on Monday, 8/24 last year because HalloweenTime started on 9/11. They have not announced when HalloweenTime will start this year, but the guessing is somewhere between 9/9 and 9/16. LAUSD starts back up on August 16th, but other school districts don't start up until later in August. There might be a modest decrease in weekday crowds at that point, but the SoCal and SoCal Select AP summer block ends on Monday, August 22 (first day back into the parks), so there is often a surge in crowds at that point as previously-blocked out AP holders return to the parks for the first time since summer.

 

[BrianL]

The Haunted Mansion typically closes on a Monday, about 2.5 weeks before the start of HalloweenTime. As Angrose said, it closed on Monday, 8/24 last year because HalloweenTime started on 9/11. They have not announced when HalloweenTime will start this year, but the guessing is somewhere between 9/9 and 9/16. LAUSD starts back up on August 16th, but other school districts don't start up until later in August. There might be a modest decrease in weekday crowds at that point, but the SoCal and SoCal Select AP summer block ends on Monday, August 22 (first day back into the parks), so there is often a surge in crowds at that point as previously-blocked out AP holders return to the parks for the first time since summer.

Ah. So that explains the surge in "Yup, It's Packed" that week, then it goes back down. So it seems like I either go the week of Monday the 15th or wait until the 29th, but the 29th may be when Haunted Mansion goes down. I have the worst luck with that!

Would the week of the 15th be really bad, or manageable? I wish DL had real crowd calendars that are as in-depth as WDW ones.

 

[figment_jii]

DLR does have crowd calendars, but none of them seem to be terribly reliable (especially since the start of the 60th Anniversary Celebration). If seeing Haunted Mansion is high on your list of things to do, I would go the week of the 15th. Given the popularity of HalloweenTime, I would pretty surprised if they were going to wait until mid-September to start the "season", so my feeling is the earlier start (i.e., closer to the start of September) is more likely.

In terms of crowd levels, it really depends on what you consider "manageable". Given how things have been this last year, I think you have to expect crowds whenever you go to the parks. So, as long as you go expecting a lot of other guests, I think you can still have a good time at DLR.

 

[BrianL]

In terms of crowd levels, it really depends on what you consider "manageable". Given how things have been this last year, I think you have to expect crowds whenever you go to the parks. So, as long as you go expecting a lot of other guests, I think you can still have a good time at DLR.

Well, I can certainly handle crowds, but I also know DL can get ridiculous. I last went November of 2014 on the Sunday and Monday before Thanksgiving. Sunday was great. Busy, but not crazy. Tuesday was extremely packed, where the line for POTC went all the way down to the Haunted Mansion. That's the kind of day I would rather avoid.

Are weekdays in summer still better than a typical weekend? Like checking out a wait times app today shows 20 to 30 minutes for most things, 65 for Space. Is that about what I can expect? I consider that manageable.

 

[disneyxica20]

it usually closes the last monday of august.

 

[OneThree]

I'll miss being able to go on HM during our trip, particularly seeing it without the overlay. Though we have not made a trip to DL in years the last three times we went were all during the overlay time.

 

[BrianL]

I'll miss being able to go on HM during our trip, particularly seeing it without the overlay. Though we have not made a trip to DL in years the last three times we went were all during the overlay time.

That's how I am. I have only ever seen the overlay in DL. I of course have been on the WDW one many times, but I love to compare and contrast the rides of the same name, you know, just to satisfy my nerdliness. I feel like I could never give a fair comparison because of the overly (which I do like a lot).

 

[Lys]

Thanks. Seems like that last week of August might be the time.

Our family prefers going in off season, and the weekend after Labor Day is AWESOME. I would suggest going September, because almost everything will be open, but you can walk onto most rides during the week, and weekends are light. With all the Star Wars work closing down so much already, there is not likely to be any closures that aren't necessary. We are heading there September 10th.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Rumor is that Halloween time at the resort will start on September 9 this year. If so, I would expect HM to be closed for the install of the overlay starting on August 22. There is no official word yet though.

 

[BrianL]

Well, I ended up pulling the trigger. I'll be going on the 22nd and 23rd of August. I know it might be more crowded, but I can deal with it. I could also go for a half day on the 21st if I feel like it. The week of the 15th didn't work out as the plane tickets got more expensive and I'll probably have to do a work trip that week anyway. I figure I can handle whatever comes crowd wise. I'm solo, so single rider lines will be my friend. At least I'll finally get to see the 60th stuff!

 

[WonkaKid]

Coincidentally, I was in front of HM yesterday and asked the attending CM this exact question (since my brother will be here in early Oct). She told me the layover happens sometime in September. If you'll be there in August, you should be OK.

 

[figment_jii]

The overlay has historically taken 18-days to install and they usually they re-open the Haunted Mansion (with the overlay) when HalloweenTime starts. So the CM might have meant that the Haunted Mansion will re-open with the overlay sometime in September, not that entire process will happen in September. If she did mean that the entire process will happen in September, then either they've really figured out how to speed up the installation or the HMH is going to be late this year.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

As noted by another poster on a a similar thread to this, Haunted Mansion now shows as closed on August 22 on the calendar on the official Disneyland website.

 

[BrianL]

As noted by another poster on a a similar thread to this, Haunted Mansion now shows as closed on August 22 on the calendar on the official Disneyland website.

Looks like that half day on the 21st may just be in order! I assume it would operate normally on that day, yes?

 

[KrisRose821]

Looks like that half day on the 21st may just be in order! I assume it would operate normally on that day, yes?

I specifically planned my trip around HM this year and yeah the 21st it should definitely be open and operating! (also my birthday! Cant wait to ride my fav ride on my birthday! lol)

 

[BrianL]

I specifically planned my trip around HM this year and yeah the 21st it should definitely be open and operating! (also my birthday! Cant wait to ride my fav ride on my birthday! lol)

Cool! My birthday is the 15th and I was going to go that week, but work threw a wrench in it. Of course, now that meeting will be the week before the 15th...but whatever. It's all booked now!