Day before Halloween Time Starts

[Monica40]

Halloween time starts on Friday Sept. 26 this year. We are planning on going on Thursday Sept 25. We can only spend one day and we don't like big crowds. Will it be less crowded on Thursday? Will we miss out on anything great by going before it officially opens? Will they have most of the decorations up by Thursday?

Thanks for your input - I appreciate it!

 

[Sherry E]

Halloween time starts on Friday Sept. 26 this year. We are planning on going on Thursday Sept 25. We can only spend one day and we don't like big crowds. Will it be less crowded on Thursday? Will we miss out on anything great by going before it officially opens? Will they have most of the decorations up by Thursday?

Thanks for your input - I appreciate it!

I would imagine they will have up some stuff the day before Halloween Time, but I am not sure if Haunted Mansion Holiday ride will be running until the 26th. You don't want to miss that! There are pumpkins everywhere, and I assume those will be up the day before, but I have only been there after everything was in full swing, so I cannot say for sure. Yours is only one day difference, so I would think you won't miss out on too much. That is usually a slower time of year anyway, so even on a crowded Friday, Sept. 26, it won't be as bad as a Friday in summer or a Friday around the holidays. I would want to call Guest Services and find out because you definitely should NOT miss the Haunted Mansion Holiday-Nightmare Before Christmas, and if it is not up until the 26th, I hope you can change your day and go then.

 

[silence]

We were there that very week last year.

Some Fall decorations were up as well as picture opportunities in DCA. They really did put a LOT of decorations out Thursday after the park closed until Friday though. Friday was our last day there last year.

 

[Leofoenget]

Halloween time starts on Friday Sept. 26 this year. We are planning on going on Thursday Sept 25. We can only spend one day and we don't like big crowds. Will it be less crowded on Thursday? Will we miss out on anything great by going before it officially opens? Will they have most of the decorations up by Thursday?

Thanks for your input - I appreciate it!

Everything but the Haunted Mansion will be decorated. The HUGE pumpkin will be up. Friday morning it should be open. I went last year this time and that's what i remember

 

[DahliaRW]

According to the schedule you will miss HM.

 

[silence]

One other thing.....I don't think the characters came out in their "costumes" until Friday. I'm pretty sure of it actually at least based on the pictures I have been looking at from our trip that week.

 

[Gisele]

If you are a Haunted Mansion purist really is what that comes down to, you will NOT be missing anything, by not seeing the nbc theming taking over the HM, believe me, now if you really like that theme, then you will most likely be interested in seeing the HM then, I don't personally have a problem with the theming itself, but rather, absolutely, and most positively hate, it being applied upon, and within the HM, nor does it properly belong anywhere upon the premises of NOS! I have a really big problem with that, and I am not alone.

 

[Sherry E]

I am one of the ones who loves the Haunted Mansion - NBC holiday overlay, and I think you should see it once to determine if you like it or not! Since it is only the difference of one day, whether to go Thursday the 25th or Friday the 26th to the park, I think it would be worth it for you to go on the 26th if you can and catch the HM-NBC Holiday ride. I am not really a fan of Nightmare Before Christmas, or an anti-fan. I never really cared one way or the other about the movie. But I LOVE the ride because it is so detailed and they cover every inch of it with the overlay. It is something new to look at. It is really like a whole new ride. I like that it is something different done to Haunted Mansion for just a little over three months, and then it goes back to normal. I think it is cool. A little macabre for Disney, but they are stepping outside the box a little!

But, I might be in the minority. Perhaps most folks are purists and dislike anything being done to the old favorite rides. That is certainly a valid opinion. There are certain rides I would probably not like to see changed.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm looking at my pictures from our Sept 18-22 trip last year. The 21st was when HM Holiday opened, and if that was like it seems this year, that's the official start of the season.

In my DCA pix from the 18th, they have the "candy corn" colors on the CALIFORNIA letters. Candy corns "planted" in Bountiful Farms.

And that's all I see in my pictures until the 21st, when I have a picture of HMH without the "walls" up (when they are doing overlays and construction they cover things up) and with all of it's NBC "glory" (not my opinion, but hubby likes it).

Huh, forgot we went on the 22nd (just changed the date in my first sentence). I took pictures that day of the pumpkins on the entrance gates b/c it was different from the days before (though it might have been up on the day before and I just didn't think to snap a pic).

OK that's all I got for ya.

 

[Gisele]

The only way one could ever get me to visit the HM when it is being taken over by nbc is if they are going to pay my way, otherwise, no way, will I be wasting my money, when I know that is what it will amount to for me, knowing full well, that I do NOT want to see that change to the HM, only purists understand, and obviously, there are many people that are not that, and as a result, accept this horrid little detour. I am sick of people telling me oh you should see something yourself first, why? I have seen all that I care to on line, and in pictures as well, that obviously others have taken, so no thank you, I would rather have a headache, then see that in person.

 

[bumbershoot]

Hmm...Gisele, I thought you *had* seen it and been on it at HMH! Knowing that you haven't...well, honestly, as a person who really disliked the overlay and was over the moon when I at last got to ride HM "proper" as an adult...I'm sorry but I have to go along with the people who say you have to experience it for yourself before you really know that you don't like it.


But FWIW, I didn't read that reply as being directed towards you, like YOU needed to ride it, but that other people shouldn't take a couple people disliking it to mean that THEY will dislike it.

 

[Gisele]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I do not need to take a ride to hell, to know that it is going to be hot, one can feel free to interject any similar type of analogy. I am not going to waste my money and time, on what as I see as being trash. It is that pure and simple to me, and yes I did take that pp comment as being towards me, but that is besides the point, I am tired of getting into stupid arguments with people over this garbage, I am not going to say I like something that I hate, why on earth would I want to do that? that garbage ruins DL for me, period. Can't wait to go to WDW for Halloween, or the fall otherwise, for they do not have to suffer with that nbc business.

 

[Sherry E]

Hmm...Gisele, I thought you *had* seen it and been on it at HMH! Knowing that you haven't...well, honestly, as a person who really disliked the overlay and was over the moon when I at last got to ride HM "proper" as an adult...I'm sorry but I have to go along with the people who say you have to experience it for yourself before you really know that you don't like it.


But FWIW, I didn't read that reply as being directed towards you, like YOU needed to ride it, but that other people shouldn't take a couple people disliking it to mean that THEY will dislike it.

Exactly. Thanks, Bumbershoot, for clearing that up. What I meant was that I thought the OP should see HMH for herself, if going on the 26th would be easy, to determine whether or not she liked it. There are certainly people in both camps - the ones who don't like it and the ones who do - but you never know unless you actually go on it to see for yourself! I wouldn't expect anyone to agree or disagree with me without ever having been on it. They would have to see it on their own!