In 2007, the Halloween season officially began at DLR one week earlier than it did in 2008, so we had the benefit of lighter crowds (it was the next to the last week in September when we went). In 2008, the season started in the last week/last few days of September, and we went on October 2-5th and it was very, very crowded! But at least the TOTP had begun, so we got to see that. I am wondering what DLR will do for their Halloween season in 2009. It seems, from all accounts, that the crowds in October 2008 were much higher than even DLR expected, as that is typically the off-peak season. On the one hand I think, well maybe they will go back to starting the Halloweentime season in the next to last week of September again because last year was so popular! On the other hand, a BIG selling point of the Halloween season IS the Haunted Mansion Holiday, love it or hate it, and there is a good possibility that DLR may not do the HMH overlay in 2009, choosing to focus on the Haunted Mansion 40th anniversary instead. We don't have confirmation on that from Disney yet, of course, but it would make sense for them to skip the overlay in 2009 to just focus on the 40th anniversary stuff. The HM is not going to be shut down in early September this year, and that is typically when they would shut it down for the overlay process. In that case, the Halloweentime season may become significantly less promoted/prominent this year if they don't have that HMH overlay, but they wouldn't want to lose all the big crowds they got in 2008 so they will have to pull a few rabbits out of the hat to attract the same crowds! Maybe come up with some new stuff we haven't seen yet?
Anyway, it is just something to ponder. We won't know anything until closer to Fall or until any insiders at DLR want to fill us in!!
