End of season transition to new

[cherrymarzipan]

We are going to the park at the end of this month and will be there for the Halloween season on the 1st October. What I would like to know is, what will the days preceding that be like? Will there be any “practice” Halloween shows or parades? Will the Halloween merchandise be on sale in the shops? Will the park gradually fill with Halloween decorations? I actually hope it won’t be as I like the idea of everything magically transforming overnight but I can’t see how that would be possible.

 

[Carrie_Cat]

It's done overnight afaik - Once the park closes they do loads of stuff, we often see it all lit up when we drive past the back way late at night

 

[Happy Tappy]

As Carrie says, it's done overnight.

We went for a trip early November a couple of years ago and it seemed that they did it over 3 nights. Everyday got a little bit Christmasier! We didn't see any practice shows until the season officially started.

 

[DLPdaft]

In my experience, Halloween isn't done the same way as Christmas. I suspect the Halloween decorations will start to be put up later this week/next week, and a little more added every day until its completed on 1st day of Halloween season proper. I haven't seen any Halloween season shows etc before Halloween season proper begins though.

Our first couple of trips in October were a week before Halloween season began, and there were always Halloween decorations starting to get put up in Frontierland and on Main St.

 

[emanlu]

we were there around the 26 Sept in 2009 and there was loads of halloween stuff already up - and there was stuff in the shops because we bought some bits and pieces.

 

[microsan]

Sorry to be the one bringing bad news but I've just learned that this year there won't be Halloweenland settled. And no pumpkin man and/or women.

But, all the park will be invaded with orange with specific shows and characters (ch... surprise ! ) and even more during special nights (MNSSHP, Halloween Party and Terrorific nights)

Halloween regular shows (daytime) are Disney's Maleficious Halloween Party, Mickey's Halloween Treat in the Street!, Meet and Greet with Disney Villains, surprising show stops during OUADP may happen, and many other surprises.

 

[cherrymarzipan]

Oh no! My DS loves the pumpkin people. Are you also saying that the Main Street area won’t have all those pumpkin men hanging from lampposts etc. and there won’t be the big skull with its changing coloured smoke? And please don’t tell me Frontierland won’t be transformed!!! Most of all, “This is Halloween” has to be the most exciting parade song, NOOOOO don’t take that away!

 

[gbaz44]

We were there as the Xmas season started last year and I'm sure they maybe finish off a few details but prob 99% of changes happen overnight - even It's a small world figures dressed up on first day of season.

 

[DLPdaft]

Most of all, “This is Halloween” has to be the most exciting parade song, NOOOOO don’t take that away!

They took that away for last year too - it was "happy happy happy happy halloween" instead - just not the same.

I loved the pumpkin men and women, but if theres to be a different theme and more surprises around the park for Halloween season, who knows, maybe it will be even better than before ?

 

[microsan]

As far as I know

- the *living* characters "pumpkin" won't be here. But the ones hanging from lampposts, hiding in the paint pots yes, they should. Plus there will be new posters.

Such as :

(photo taken in California but apparently "exported" the sign to DLP)

Source : Inside DL through DCP.

- New villains may be out there

- No special 'tank' (?) in the parade, no alteration of DOUD.

Not 100% sure as it is a rumor, but heard that a particular department responsible for the cohesion of the shows from Disney standards decided that Main Street shouldn't be colored with orange things as it will result in loosing original theme !

Now my personal opinion : the more the years goes by, the less Halloween period is celebrated at DLP. Remember the huge "death spirit" fixed at the heads of Molly Brown boat (2004 or 2005 if I'm right).
For sure there are new characters, new special events, but the regular guests who can't or don't want to pay extra for the special nights will IMHO get disappointed -especially if they came previous years-

But my sincere apologizes to the author of the thread, I digressed.
The question was : what's up between Halloween & Christmas, between 2 periods for example ?

Halloween ends on Oct. 31st. Christmas period starts on Nov 6th. Between the two the regular shows will come back according to the Magic Moments Festival (as now in fact) and Christmas stuff will be progressively settled.

The major thema is done lately, some works are done at nighttime & a few props come between the 2 periods. Parades & shows rehearsals are (except very rare case) done backstage.

 

[poppie123]

I have been reading about it and wonder whether even the pumpkin men hanging from lamposts etc will be there either. It certainly gives the impression that the whole pumpkin men with their orange paint will no longer be a feature.

If they are taking inspiration from California then i have been looking at some photos of that park at Halloween and i have to say it looks fab, very countrybumpkin.

Read about it here.

http://www.dlrpmagic.com/guidebook/halloween/

 

[microsan]

I wish it could be as great as in California but considering that Halloween itself is not any much more celebrated around here, I doubt there will be too much thema compared to the previous years.

In the other hand, there could be also Disney surprises, but I doubt ! Come on Mickey make our Halloween dreams come true

 

[cherrymarzipan]

Quote from microsan: "But my sincere apologizes to the author of the thread, I digressed.
The question was : what's up between Halloween & Christmas, between 2 periods for example ?"

No, don't apologise - the more information the better and your insights are invaluable!

Thank you to everyone for the contributions. We went two years ago but did Christmas last year. I am so glad I have found out now that it will not be the same or I might have been disappointed. I had wrongly assumed last year was the same as when we went and that this year would be much the same again. I will need to prepare my DS nearer the time as he has severe learning difficulties and he will have certain expectations and often refuses new things at first. At Easter he refused to go near the Peter Pan show but then in July he had to watch it at every opportunity. If only we could afford to go back again at the end of th eseason everything would be fine! DH and I will enjoy the new surprises anyway.

My original post actually tried to explore how "Halloween-y" the park would already be when we arrive on the 28th as to my mind what would be most magical would be to have a couple of days in the default period then walk in on the 1st October to a completely different theme - not very practical I grant you.