Halloween at DL

[Disney Dreams]

... Ooooh - and since the TOTP will attract a lot of kids, will this mean that they will keep ToonTown open at night and add some treat stations and characters back there?

If Mickey's TOTP takes place in DL and there are fireworks, ToonTown will not be kept open as it always closes when there are fireworks.

- Dreams

 

[Sherry E]

Ok, WHEN did DL ever have a Halloween parade? Either I'm losing my mind, or it totally slipped by me unnoticed. I did a search and can't find anything related to any old DL Halloween parade, except of course for the Trick or Treat on the Street Calvacade from the ToTP. Sherry, do you have evidence that this parade existed??

It's a very valid question! Of course, I never saw any parade becase I didn't do my first Halloweentime at DLR until 2007, and I didn't think anything parade-like was happening then.

I remember reading a post by someone about it here on the DIS or another board, I think, quite a while back - it was not a whole thread devoted to the subject of Halloween, I don't think, but I seem to remember someone posted some photos of a Pumpkin Queen (and I could be wrong that she was called that but it seems to stick out in my mind, she was wearing white, black and orange-ish colors and holding some kind of cute pumpkin wand thingy in her hand) and said that this was a parade that DLR stopped having. I assumed it was not a huge spectacle of a parade like all the other ones we are familiar with, but I thought maybe it was like a little mini-parade/cavalcade thing. And these were daytime photos, so it was not the TOTP.

But now, of course, I can't find the photos or the thread I orginally saw to share with you, so we can only wonder IF, indeed, there was a little bitty Halloween parade at DLR pre-2007. If there was, it seemed like it came and went in the blink of an eye!!

One day we will get to the bottom of the Halloween parade mystery!! In the meantime, hopefully DLR will eventually do a bigger, better Halloween parade!!

If Mickey's TOTP takes place in DL and there are fireworks, ToonTown will not be kept open as it always closes when there are fireworks.

- Dreams

Drat! I thought about the closing of TT for the fireworks, but I thought maybe they would somehow make an exception for a TOTP because it would be a really cool place to set up treat stations (like trick or treating at Mickey's and Minnie's houses)!! But they are almost certainly going to have the fireworks, so I guess it's a no-go for ToonTown at night.

 

[PHXscuba]

When we were there last October, Jack and Sally were doing regular appearances during the day over by HMH, in the plaza between HMH and Cafe Orleans. I think they were out several times and day for an hour or so. DS13 and I raced over at the very end of one session. They were already leaving and DS got an on-the-move photo and a quick hi from them. I thought Jack's half-mask headgear was very interesting up close, since then he could be a face character and talk.

PHXscuba

 

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

Thanks you guys for working so hard to make such a comprehensive thread about Halloween at DLR. I have read the whole thread for the last hour, no wait I think it's been 2 hours and can't wait for our upcoming trip.

We will be there from 10/23-10/31.

Just a couple of questions-

Are there special Halloween decos at the resorts? We are planning on moving to GCH or DLH for the last 4 nights of our stay after DH's conference ends at the Sheraton.

I've read about the changes of the party location and this has me a little worried. If DL will close early for the party can we expect DCA to have extended hours on those nights? Since this may be our only trip to DL ever, we're from back East, I'm concerned that the shortened park hours at DL will keep us from seeing and doing all we want to there.

I'm joining in with the wait and see what will happen at Halloween at DL.

 

[Sherry E]

Thanks you guys for working so hard to make such a comprehensive thread about Halloween at DLR. I have read the whole thread for the last hour, no wait I think it's been 2 hours and can't wait for our upcoming trip.

We will be there from 10/23-10/31.

Just a couple of questions-

Are there special Halloween decos at the resorts? We are planning on moving to GCH or DLH for the last 4 nights of our stay after DH's conference ends at the Sheraton.

I've read about the changes of the party location and this has me a little worried. If DL will close early for the party can we expect DCA to have extended hours on those nights? Since this may be our only trip to DL ever, we're from back East, I'm concerned that the shortened park hours at DL will keep us from seeing and doing all we want to there.

I'm joining in with the wait and see what will happen at Halloween at DL.

Hi, Smiling Cheshire Cat!! Thanks for joining us here, and I'm so glad you enjoy the thread!

Excellent question about the decor at the hotels. As far as I have seen, there is none!! At least there has not been so far. Whether I have stayed at the PPH or gone to roam around the DLH or GCH, I have seen no traces of Halloweentime at all. That is one of the things that I wish they would change, as it would make it so much more immersive. During the Christmas holiday season, it is highly immersive and there is no question of what season it is wherever you go in DLR, including the hotels. But Halloweentime has not caught up to the DLR hotels yet. Hopefully they will change that eventually.

But...how awesome that you are going to stay at both the DLH and the GCH in your remaining days!! You will get a very well-rounded DLR hotel experience between those two hotels, I think.

Well, the good thing is that it sounds like you will have a good long trip to DLR (8 days, correct?), so even if some of the nights are shortened at DL due to the TOTP, you will still have plenty of time to see everything. The TOTP would be happening on whatever the Tuesday, Friday and Sunday dates are in your time frame, but the other nights should be business as usual at DL. However, if you have no interest in the TOTP and want to wander across the Esplanade to DCA at night, I think the hours will be extended a bit because they are trying to do 3 shows a night for World of Color. Toy Story Midway Mania will be open at night in DCA, but the rest of the Paradise Pier area will be closed so that they can focus that whole area on WoC. Other areas of DCA - like Condor Flats and the Hollywood Backlot area - should be open, but DCA is a much smaller park than DL, so to shut down DL early on even 3 nights a week for the TOTP is cutting off access to many rides for people, and there are not as many alternatives in DCA. Plus, we don't know yet what kinds of crowds DCA or DL will see when WoC opens and gets going. That will be really interesting thing to start getting reports about when they come in.

 

[Sherry E]

HydroGuy posted a thread today with info from MousePlanet about how, as we expected, the TOTP is going to affect park hours in October. Here is the thread:

Mickey's Trick or Treat Party in DL Will Impact October Park Hours:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2463374

And this is the MousePlanet DLR Park Update:

http://www.mouseplanet.com/9250/Disn..._Resort_Update

From MousePlanet - note the parts I bolded and italicized, but actually the whole piece is very interesting:

Mickey's Trick or Treat Party returns to Disneyland

Mickey's Trick or Treat party will be hosted inside Disneyland this year, marking the first time the Halloween event has been offered at Disneyland since 1995. While Disney has not yet released an official schedule, our sources tell us the events will be held every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday night in October, making the likely dates October 1, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, 29 and 31. Pricing has not yet been released, but expect to pay a premium over the DCA version of the event. If Disneyland borrows a page from Walt Disney World, you should also expect to pay more on weekend nights, and for Halloween week events.

As Disney is not yet ready to confirm this report, (it's possible they are holding the official announcement until after the World of Color press event), we have no details about entertainment or attraction offerings. Though many consider Walt Disney World's Halloween event-exclusive "Boo to You" parade alone to be worth the price of admission, it is unlikely that Disneyland will receive its very own Halloween parade for just a year or two. There's a rumor that the Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy overlay and the Halloween Screams fireworks show may only be offered during the Halloween event, but we feel it's highly unlikely the Resort would court a public relations black eye by taking the two most-publicized elements of last year's wildly successful Halloween Time promotion and showing them only to people willing to shell out the extra cash for Trick or Treat Party tickets.

Several readers have asked how the event schedule and associated early park closings will impact performances of Fantasmic. When DCA hosted the Trick or Treat Party, that park closed at 6 or 7 on Party nights to prepare for the event. With sunset between 6 and 6:30 in October, that doesn't allow for pre-closing performances of Fantasmic or fireworks before the day guests are politely ushered out of the Disneyland on event nights. The schedule also effectively adds "blockout nights" for the annual passholders, leaving Monday, Wednesday or Thursday nights the only options for SoCal and SoCal Select passholders who want to see Fantasmic or the Halloween fireworks during October.

We'll update pricing and entertainment details as we have them.

 

[Belle Ella]

The more and more I hear about this the more and more I'm detting a little depressed about October. I'm so, so, so happy I wont actually be there during TOTP days because that would seriously screw my plans over as far as what I want to get done with my time.

I think what would be smart (at least to me) would be to get the Halloweentime stuff going a little earlier this year as a way to somewhat offset the damage that would be done by closing the park early so often. Then Im guaranteed to see my Halloween stuff

 

[Sherry E]

The more and more I hear about this the more and more I'm detting a little depressed about October. I'm so, so, so happy I wont actually be there during TOTP days because that would seriously screw my plans over as far as what I want to get done with my time.

I think what would be smart (at least to me) would be to get the Halloweentime stuff going a little earlier this year as a way to somewhat offset the damage that would be done by closing the park early so often. Then Im guaranteed to see my Halloween stuff

I agree - I also think they should start Halloweentime a little earlier than the 24th to offset some of this madness. In fact, I have always wondered why 2007's Halloweentime started on the next to last Friday of September, while 2008 and 2009's seasons started on the last Friday in September. I can't see them doing something like starting Halloweentime on October 1st - that just seems silly to me - but if they are even considering only making certain events like fireworks or Ghost Galaxy available during the TOTP and not during other times of the season (which would be ridiculous), then who knows what kind of wacky schedule they have planned for Halloweentime? I am still holding out hope for a 9/24 start date - that's what I would place money on if I were a betting woman.

I still maintain that I am alternately intrigued by the idea of the TOTP being held in DL, and annoyed/put off by it. I don't like the idea of shortened DL hours and the fact that people who don't want to do the TOTP will be forced over to the WoC madness in DCA or out into DTD to roam around.

I will play it by ear but I might be inclined to do my Halloweentime DLR visit - whether it be one day or more than that - in the last days of September rather than October, which will likely be more crowded. Part of me wants to do the TOTP, but I have a hunch it will be quite costly. Of course, Disney could justify the much higher price a little better if they made certain attractions or activities only available during the TOTP, so that's what I think is going to happen.

Well, Jazz - if I DO end up at DLR in that last week of September on one day, I will let you know, because it might be when you are there!!

 

[Tablefor5]

Yah!! Our dance really seems to be working...
Well, since my plans can be "altered", I may or may not stay for TOTP. It will all depend on the price...BUT I totally want to see F! this time because we have missed it the last few trips... So, my dates will depend on TOTP tix prices and when they will show F!.

*It would be great if they managed F! for Thurs also. for the non-TOTP people.
*The HalloweenTime fireworks are nightly (as suggested)
*The HalloweenTime parade is daily
Then, if TOTP tix are too much for my family of 5, I could avoid Friday (or check-out the WOC...I guess)
Woohoo...keep on dancing

 

[Belle Ella]

Well, Table for 5 has one thing right: the DLR Halloweentime Information Boogie hasn't quite been a bust. And so I will continue:



OK, so the part about Ghost Galaxy is a little confudling. A possibility that it would only be avaialble for TOTP? Unless the switch over takes a very, very short amount of time that would throw even more wrenches into the plans of regular DLR travellers not interested or not lucky enough to be going to TOTP since it would mean not only would they be forced to leave early, but a popular ride would be down for extra time on top of that. It would be pretty ridiculous.

Here's a quick question - dot hey usually announce when the Haunted Mansion closes in September before, after, or roughly the same time they announce when the Halloween festivities usually start. It's probably a silly question too. I've just never paid attention to it all before and it feels as though it was known by now last year when I was planning my September trip after getting back from my March trip.

Sherry - If you do make it at the end of September and it's while I'm there, we'd better meet up!!

 

[Tablefor5]

Here's a quick question - dot hey usually announce when the Haunted Mansion closes in September before, after, or roughly the same time they announce when the Halloween festivities usually start. It's probably a silly question too. I've just never paid attention to it all before and it feels as though it was known by now last year when I was planning my September trip after getting back from my March trip.

Sherry - If you do make it at the end of September and it's while I'm there, we'd better meet up!!

My experience is they close the HM after Labor Day and re-open for the HalloweenTime opener (last weekend of Sept usually)
I may also be there the same time...maybe we could ALL boogie for reals!!

 

[Belle Ella]

I know it closes the day after Labor day (a little later last year because of the special event they did on 9-9-09) but I was wondering when it's public knowledge so that we'll know when Halloween should be starting this year

 

[srauchbauer]

I am so excited, I was goofing around the other night on the computer looking for airfare and hotel for Oct. DH asked me what I was doing so I told him I was looking for our fall vacation. Thinking he was giong to roll his eyes and say no way not this year. But instead he got on his computer and started to cmpare airfare also. Not sure if this means we are going to DL in October but it's better then a big fat NO. This will be our second time, we loved it last year but am really excited to see what will be new with the ToT being in DL. Time to go hear little ones coming up the stairs don't want them to see the disney stuff yet Not ready for all the questions. Talk soon also after we move the end of this month and I find my 2000 pics from last year I will try and post some.

 

[Tablefor5]

I know it closes the day after Labor day (a little later last year because of the special event they did on 9-9-09) but I was wondering when it's public knowledge so that we'll know when Halloween should be starting this year

Ohh.haha
Public knowledge is totally anyone's guess at this point...I don't have an answer for that one
I am thinking June or July just because WOC needs to be focused on right now. I too wish it were NOW, so we could plan...but we must wait, wait, and oh yeah DANCE

 

[Tablefor5]

I am so excited, I was goofing around the other night on the computer looking for airfare and hotel for Oct. DH asked me what I was doing so I told him I was looking for our fall vacation. Thinking he was giong to roll his eyes and say no way not this year. But instead he got on his computer and started to cmpare airfare also. Not sure if this means we are going to DL in October but it's better then a big fat NO. This will be our second time, we loved it last year but am really excited to see what will be new with the ToT being in DL. Time to go hear little ones coming up the stairs don't want them to see the disney stuff yet Not ready for all the questions. Talk soon also after we move the end of this month and I find my 2000 pics from last year I will try and post some.

So cool...join the club of excited HalloweenTime peeps. You have to know how to dance though
Our trip this year is going to be a surprise to our kids..if DH & I can keep a secret. I hope it doesn't slip-out. That is why it is so good to have forums to release the disney-excitement to those that feel the same!
Can't wait to see your pics!

 

[PeytonSdiz]

I'm a little confused about the Space Mountain thing. If that means SM would be completely closed while we're there, I would be annoyed. It's our favorite DL ride.

I am hoping that info is correct about the party dates though....because that wouldn't really effect us too much since we'll be there September 27th - October 1st. I wanted to make a late night of it on our last night though....so I guess it WOULD effect us there.

 

[PHXscuba]

Not that Disneyland cares about my opinion, but only using the Ghost Galaxy overlay and doing the Halloween fireworks only on TOTP night would be a HUGE step in the wrong direction!

I know part of Disney's plan is to get more dollars out of people after they arrive with special tours, events etc., but DLR is so different than WDW in the demographics. When they close down the Magic Kingdom for their hard-ticket Halloween event, it still leaves at least two other parks open with later hours and nighttime entertainment like Fantasmic or Illuminations.

The TOTP being in DL proper might draw a few more locals/passholders the first year, but I think it will alienate a lot of locals/passholders (of which I am neither) if they do this. If you can only see those special things with a special ticket, is there enough to make you want to attend in October with a regular ticket or pass? Especially if you don't have any nighttime entertainment options with WoC "sold out"?

To me part of the appeal at going in different times of year is being able to pick your experience -- having everything up and available is worth the high season crowds. Or go during low season, where you don't get all the entertainment or every ride running, but fewer people. Seems like this Halloween plan is giving DLR the worst of both.

The price of hard-ticket events puts them above what I'm willing to pay when I have to do it times 6! It can cost as much as adding another full day in the park depending on your ticket.

Hoping for more clarification in time for people to make their plans, whatever they decide.

PHXscuba

 

[PHXscuba]

OK, I read over my last post and I got a little rant-y.

I just imagined myself planning last year's Halloween trip for this year, being told about the cool stuff Disneyland offered before but is now yanking away. Oh yeah, and DL might be closed by dinnertime up to half of the nights you plan to go!

If you plan to go, say, Tuesday through Friday to have one night with weekend entertainment, now there might not be any. Or a long weekend, Friday through Sunday, with DL closing early two of the three days.

If you're already planning to do a TOTP, it could be a sweet deal. For everyone else, not so much.

PHXscuba

 

[Tablefor5]

OK, I read over my last post and I got a little rant-y.

I just imagined myself planning last year's Halloween trip for this year, being told about the cool stuff Disneyland offered before but is now yanking away. Oh yeah, and DL might be closed by dinnertime up to half of the nights you plan to go!

If you plan to go, say, Tuesday through Friday to have one night with weekend entertainment, now there might not be any. Or a long weekend, Friday through Sunday, with DL closing early two of the three days.

If you're already planning to do a TOTP, it could be a sweet deal. For everyone else, not so much.

PHXscuba

I like rant-y, sometimes
Exactly...IF you want and can afford the TOTP (prices remain unknown, just speculating they will be a tad more that DCA TOTP)...then the DL closure could be a benefit if your trip is planned for one of those nights!
IF NOT: then hopefully you can make use of DCA or if lucky enough to switch trip dates to avoid the TOTP days...
For ME: I can go either way...waiting to hear price of tix. and then decide if I should move my trip dates, we have the flexibility since school break is 2 weeks (however Hojo kids suite is not avialable for 2nd week of break and I have one reserved for the first week already)

 

[PeytonSdiz]

Yeah, I'm not going to lie. I will be a little miffed if we can't see some of the usual Halloween stuff. We are two adults with no real desire to spend money on the party junk. But we were looking forward to seeing the overlay for Space Mountain and the fireworks.

We'll be in California Monday September 27th - Friday October 1st. We'll be doing other things while in town but planned two full days in the parks. We thought we'd do Monday or Tueday and then Friday. But now I'm thinking no on Friday the 1st.