Few thoughts from last weeks visit

[Pamela M]

So I was at Disneyland last week. I had a few magical moments along with some non-magical moments.

I'll start with the non-magical moments.

I don't think I will ever go to Disneyland during that week again. The park hours are ridiculous ( 10am - 9pm) even with Maxpass we missed out on a lot of non-fastpass rides( all of Fantasyland except It's a Small world). And it was PACKED from 10am until Closed.
I did a one day trip a few years ago in August and was able to get on all the fastpass rides (Park hopper),go back and take a 3 hour break from the park, see world of color,and hit most of fantasy land before closing.

The other non-magical moment is that Disneyland were already sold out of the sequin Halloween ears, Haunted Mansion bangles and the rose gold ears. Basically everything that I was looking forward to buy was sold out everywhere. I asked a few different CM's and they all said they didn't plan on getting any more in. I'm like really it's not even October yet! I'm going to try and call the 800 number but was really looking forward to wearing my halloween ears in the park NOTE: the poison apple steins were everywhere.

Now for the Magical moments: Halloween Party
Like everyone else my friends and I headed to California Adventure at 3pm for the Halloween party. We set our sights on just riding a couple of rides, seeing the decorations and then heading over to Disneyland for the party.

We went on Lugi's ride in carsland- I'd never been on it. It was actually fun. When getting on the ride I found someone's wallet and immediately got the attention of a CM who were able to find the person right before they even knew they had dropped it. Then a lady with 5 small kids - I think the oldest couldn't have been more than 11 tried to get her and her kids into 2 cars. She was going to have the 3 oldest ride in one car while she road with the 2 younger(4-5 years old). Well the oldest wasn't old enough to let one of the smaller kids ride so I offered to take one of the kids so they could all enjoy the ride (otherwise they all would of had to get off). The lady took me up on my offer and I got to ride the ride with Branson. After the ride she thanked me again and again. Felt good to help out and spread a little bit of Disney magic

I'd never been on the Little Mermaid ride and really enjoyed it.

Moving over to Disneyland as most people have mentioned ride lines were pretty much walk on while the treat lines were packed. So we hit the treat lines that weren't packed(between Thunder Mountain & Fantasyland), watched the parade and fireworks, then hit as many rides as we could, ending with Haunted Mansion. It broke down a few times. The recording kept saying "are you ready to resume your ride" and everyone kept yelling "YES"

And now for my most magical moment of the trip. We got out of Haunted Mansion about 30 minutes after the party had ended. As we were walking to main street via Frontierland Mickey and Minnie come skipping along holding hands. No handlers, just them, they weren't stopping for photos - I think they were heading to the back of Disneyland. they waved and stayed in Character but it was just such a great surprise. Felt like the perfect way to end a trip to Disneyland.

 

[hlbtimes2]

In my experience, Haunted doesn't break down, as much as it is stopped to load and unload wheel chair and other guests that need assistance.

 

[Linkura]

In my experience, Haunted doesn't break down, as much as it is stopped to load and unload wheel chair and other guests that need assistance.

This is exactly the case. It's an omnimover that won't stop otherwise, so they have to stop the ride for a few seconds to allow people who need assistance some extra time to load/unload. Same thing happens with The Little Mermaid. In the case of The Little Mermaid, I've never be on that ride at either WDW or DCA without it stopping at some point.

 

[GatorChris]

I don't think I will ever go to Disneyland during that week again. The park hours are ridiculous ( 10am - 9pm) even with Maxpass we missed out on a lot of non-fastpass rides( all of Fantasyland except It's a Small world). And it was PACKED from 10am until Closed. I did a one day trip a few years ago in August and was able to get on all the fastpass rides (Park hopper),go back and take a 3 hour break from the park, see world of color,and hit most of fantasy land before closing.

It seems this issue keeps popping up on the boards lately. Disneyland REALLY needs to drop the 10am opening - forever. If there's no slow times, don't have slow hours. The off-season hasn't been the off-season for at least the last two years. The 60th really changed things.

The other non-magical moment is that Disneyland were already sold out of the sequin Halloween ears, Haunted Mansion bangles and the rose gold ears. Basically everything that I was looking forward to buy was sold out everywhere. I asked a few different CM's and they all said they didn't plan on getting any more in. I'm like really it's not even October yet! I'm going to try and call the 800 number but was really looking forward to wearing my halloween ears in the park NOTE: the poison apple steins were everywhere.

I've been in this boat before. You get lucky enough to be there during a certain season and get seasonal items. But then you get there and realize that the locals all got there at 6am on the first day the items were offered. I actually saw this personally 10 days ago on a Saturday. The parking lot was a zoo, and DCA had lines all over trying to get limited edition popcorn buckets and Funko Pop items (whatever those are). People were waiting 4-6 hours in line to get these items.

 

[Malcon10t]

The rose gold ears keep coming in, then selling out. They will be back, usually show up on Thursdays it seems. The orange/black ears might be back. We all know CMs aren't always right. They sold out about 9/22. I would think they will be back, but not soon enough for you. I know people have complained something sold out last year at Christmas, how CMs said it was gone, and it showed up a week later.

 

[Pamela M]

In my experience, Haunted doesn't break down, as much as it is stopped to load and unload wheel chair and other guests that need assistance.

I would agree with you it actually broke down the day before.

Plus how it stopped made me think break down vs loading issue. We stopped once at the clock right before the seance room then again in the seance room. Usually I LOVE when the ride slows (especially in the ballroom) or stops as it gives you time to really take everything in but we were in the seance room so long that I got bored after hearing the 12 days of Christmas recited twice. The way it stopped it felt more like a breakdown than an on/off boarding of someone that needed assistance.

Also the Haunted Mansion broke down during our stay. We had fastpasses when it broke down and it took a few hours to get it back up and running.

This is exactly the case. It's an omnimover that won't stop otherwise, so they have to stop the ride for a few seconds to allow people who need assistance some extra time to load/unload. Same thing happens with The Little Mermaid. In the case of The Little Mermaid, I've never be on that ride at either WDW or DCA without it stopping at some point.

When it first stopped that’s what I thought- they were off boarding someone but we sat there for awhile then we moved about 10 ft then it stopped again this time for atleast 5 minutes. Plus a couple of time it’s like they rebooted the system as all the animatronics went still. Not just quiet like they do when they talk over the loudspeaker. I just wish we had stopped at either the ballroom or the graveyard. There is sooo much to look at.

 

[Pamela M]

It seems this issue keeps popping up on the boards lately. Disneyland REALLY needs to drop the 10am opening - forever. If there's no slow times, don't have slow hours. The off-season hasn't been the off-season for at least the last two years. The 60th really changed things.



I've been in this boat before. You get lucky enough to be there during a certain season and get seasonal items. But then you get there and realize that the locals all got there at 6am on the first day the items were offered. I actually saw this personally 10 days ago on a Saturday. The parking lot was a zoo, and DCA had lines all over trying to get limited edition popcorn buckets and Funko Pop items (whatever those are). People were waiting 4-6 hours in line to get these items.

The bummer thing for me was the 3 things I reaally wanted were all gone. I don’t think I would have been nearly as aggrivated had I been able to get one of the items.

The lines for the Ooggie Boogie popcorn bucket were insane!!! If you want one I heard you can get them at DCA without standing in line. I’m happy with my Dracula Mickey one from last year.

 

[Curlyxz]

With the seasonal items, keep in mind that demand is higher than anticipated. The rose gold ears and Oogie popcorn bucket especially, and it is only the start of the Halloween season. More will be trickling in at a steadier rate as the season progresses.

 

[Pamela M]

With the seasonal items, keep in mind that demand is higher than anticipated. The rose gold ears and Oogie popcorn bucket especially, and it is only the start of the Halloween season. More will be trickling in at a steadier rate as the season progresses.

While that may be true it doesn’t really help people like me that went for a few days and everything was sold out. I went there during Halloween time and wanted to be able to buy Halloween merchandise. Disney needs to do a better job about keeping these things in stock. I’ll live without the things that were sold out it was just a bummer to look for 3 different things and not be able to purchase any of them.

 

[ashley0139]

To be fair the rose gold ears are not Halloween/seasonal. They get a ton in and people go crazy for them and buy them all. Social media will do that.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

...The lines for the Ooggie Boogie popcorn bucket were insane!!! If you want one I heard you can get them at DCA without standing in line. I’m happy with my Dracula Mickey one from last year.

Trouble is that everyone spreads that rumor, heads over to DCA, then my poor DH ends up waiting in an hour+ line. Yes, the line by the Paradise Pier popcorn stand was over an hour long for the Oogie bucket! At least they didn't run out, so everyone DH saw did manage to buy one.

Check the Shop Parks app and the DisneyStore.com to see if any of your merchandise (probably not the infamous rose gold ears) is available there.

 

[OKC Disney Fan]

Funny that the Beauty and the Beast rose cups are everywhere now!