Halloween at DL

[Sherry E]

Thanks for the welcome!

I ordered mine Sunday night I think? I actually opened up a checking account with them just to get the Disney debit . I'm hoping it will show up in the mailbox by the end of the week too so I can call and get our MHP tickets with it, I need to initiate it the proper way, right .

JiminetteCrickette -

I wonder if Chase is noticing the sudden surge in people requesting the Disney Visa Debit (it seems like I am hearing more about Debit Card orders than Credit Card orders!)!! You know, it's a good tool to have - especially if you don't have an AP and need discounts at DLR, but even in addition to an AP it's good to have to build up those reward points (which is easy to do if you make all your purchases and pay all your bills with this one debit card) to use towards tickets, towards hotel stays, etc. I should have asked for the card two months ago, when they first switched me over to a Chase debit card to replace my WaMu card.

I apologize if this has been asked and answered, I've tried to keep up but it's a lot of info. Am I understanding correctly that for the actual event itself, the entire park be cleared and guests need to reenter with their MHP tickets for the festivities? Since they're allowing MHP guests in to the park a few hours prior to the event itself, I'm wondering how they're going to work setting up, etc. It seems that they'd have to clear everyone out and the readmit only those with valid MHP tickets, but I just want to be clear. We're AP holders, as of now planning on being there just for MHP at the scheduled event time (6 p.m. on a Tuesday), and not spending the day in the park. Thanks so much! I've been reading and soaking in tons of information from this thread, it is MUCH appreciated.

Barefootmomma -

What's interesting is that there used to be some 'down time' at DCA when the TOTP was held there. DCA would close for 90 minutes or whatever (something like that) and then open up with extra decorations added in for the TOTP - like the giant Mickey ghosts and all the extra things around the entrance to DCA. Now that the TOTP has become the MHP and there is not going to be any down time at DL to set up for the MHP, I wonder if those giant Mickey ghosts or any other extra decorations will be used. Maybe they will skip putting them up entirely, or maybe they will just trot them out at 2 p.m. and start setting them up before guests begin to arrive at 3 p.m. or 4 p.m.

Yay!! Yes I can combine my GAD and the 2 day park hoppers I just won on the radio! Upgrading to an AP!!
The Gad is valued at $72, The PH is $151= $223 so paying the difference of $76 to upgrade.

Joeysmommy -

Congratulations on winning Park Hoppers on the radio! I didn't realize that you could combine contest-won tickets with GAD tickets all for one AP? If I understood that correctly, that's excellent! Did you double check with DLR to make sure they can do that?

I have heard of people winning Disneyland tickets on the radio - it seems to happen to people I know often, but I never hear of these contests somehow! Are you in California?

I'm also waiting on my Disney Visa Debit and hope someone chimes in about this. I sure hope it works because I will be getting my tickets the day the card arrives if I can!

Mom4princesses -

Make sure to let us know. Even if my debit card were to arrive today, I still would not be certain about going to the MHP (I have to discuss it with a couple of friends first). But it would be good to know for sure that I can buy them that way if I choose to, since I have not renewed my AP yet.

 

[barefootmomma]

Barefootmama -

What's interesting is that there used to be some 'down time' at DCA when the TOTP was held there. DCA would close for 90 minutes or whatever (something like that) and then open up with extra decorations added in for the TOTP - like the giant Mickey ghosts and all the extra things around the entrance to DCA. Now that the TOTP has become the MHP and there is not going to be any down time at DL to set up for the MHP, I wonder if those giant Mickey ghosts or any other extra decorations will be used. Maybe they will skip putting them up entirely, or maybe they will just trot them out at 2 p.m. and start setting them up before guests begin to arrive at 3 p.m. or 4 p.m.

That was my thought process too. We have attended the TOTP in the past, and with the big changes going on for the Disneyland version I couldn't quite figure out how they're planning to get it set up. Thanks!

 

[JiminetteCricket]

JiminetteCrickette -

I wonder if Chase is noticing the sudden surge in people requesting the Disney Visa Debit (it seems like I am hearing more about Debit Card orders than Credit Card orders!)!! You know, it's a good tool to have - especially if you don't have an AP and need discounts at DLR, but even in addition to an AP it's good to have to build up those reward points (which is easy to do if you make all your purchases and pay all your bills with this one debit card) to use towards tickets, towards hotel stays, etc. I should have asked for the card two months ago, when they first switched me over to a Chase debit card to replace my WaMu card.

I bet there's a huge surge in them! It pays for itself the first year so why not try it out for at least a year? When I signed up for my account I also had a promo where as long as my initial opening deposit was at least $100 then they deposit $100 back into my checking account after I make five "credit" transactions with my debit card. So $100 + $25 Disney dollars more than makes up for the $25 annual fee. Plus buying MHP tickets, I'll transfer from BofA to Chase to pay our typical monthly bills and earn on that too. I won't have a ton by the time we go to Disney (maybe $40ish?) but that's lunch in the park one day, I'll take it! Now I'm wishing that I hadn't already bought our park hoppers, Sea World tickets, etc so I could earn have some points on those too .

I'll update when I get my card if nobody else has updated yet. I'm definitely going to call ASAP to try to get MHP tickets!

 

[iKristin]

YAY!!! Got my TOTP tix today ) They look the same as last year, just the basic "celebrate" character design tix

 

[joeysmommy]

Joeysmommy -

Congratulations on winning Park Hoppers on the radio! I didn't realize that you could combine contest-won tickets with GAD tickets all for one AP? If I understood that correctly, that's excellent! Did you double check with DLR to make sure they can do that?

I have heard of people winning Disneyland tickets on the radio - it seems to happen to people I know often, but I never hear of these contests somehow! Are you in California?



Yes I'm in California- SF Bay Area.
I won the tix on K101.3, caller 20 when they play a certain song each hour.
I won at 7:30am and got the kids to school 15 minutes late- the school secretary loved my excuse
I have been following all 3 radio stations in the area that regularly have DLR contests for the last year, so I'm super excited to have finally won!

I called the DLR ticket phone number on the website, the woman said the park hoppers would be fine to combine with the GAD voucher.

Now we need to start working on our costumes,,I'm sure it will be Star Wars themed for my two boys. I'll be dusting off my Princess Leia costume for one more time.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I called the DLR ticket phone number on the website, the woman said the park hoppers would be fine to combine with the GAD voucher.

Now we need to start working on our costumes,,I'm sure it will be Star Wars themed for my two boys. I'll be dusting off my Princess Leia costume for one more time.

wow! You won tickets that show a value? Most tickets won are marked "Comp" or don't have a value on them and can't be upgraded. I only mention this because it would stink to get there and find out they can't be upgraded.

 

[Sherry E]

Well, this needs a bump - oh, and still no Disney Visa Debit Card in the mail yet. I checked. It will probably arrive tomorrow...and then I have to call Chase and see if they can cancel the second Debit Card that is apparently comng as well.

I wonder if there is any mention of discounts for the MHP on the Disney Rewards Visa website (which covers both the info for the Credit Card and the Debit Card).

I can't wait to learn what the official HalloweenTime agenda is - we probably have about one month exactly until we get the full schedule of events and attractions for the season, but I am hoping that Heather on the Disney Parks Blog leaks something a bit earlier than that!!

 

[Sherry E]

Woo hoo! We are at 20,000 views!! I remember when we were at only 2,000 views, just a couple of months ago! I think this calls for some HalloweenTime Information Boogie:

 

[Belle Ella]

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[VictoriaAndMatt]

I wanted to post some pictures from the event last year, but I can't seem to find the pictures I took with that camera. I did find some pics I took at the hotel before we headed out to the party. Here are my kids in their costumes. DD was Jack Skellington and DS was Barrel, both are characters from The Nightmare Before Christmas.

 

[Sherry E]

Disney Visa Debit Card x 2 arrived today! Did anyone else get theirs yet? Since Chase sent me two of them mistakenly, I have to figure out which design I like better (they only had four choices, but one of them I asked for and the other one was something they just picked for me). Anyway, I must activate the card and then see what I can find out about MHP tickets and other goodies!!!

 

[mom4princesses]

Disney Visa Debit Card x 2 arrived today! Did anyone else get theirs yet? Since Chase sent me two of them mistakenly, I have to figure out which design I like better (they only had four choices, but one of them I asked for and the other one was something they just picked for me). Anyway, I must activate the card and then see what I can find out about MHP tickets and other goodies!!!

Have not recieved mine yet. So please let me know if you are able to get the MHP tickets. That is one of my main reasons for getting the card, well and all the other goodies you get.

 

[stitch4336]

Disney Visa Debit Card x 2 arrived today! Did anyone else get theirs yet? Since Chase sent me two of them mistakenly, I have to figure out which design I like better (they only had four choices, but one of them I asked for and the other one was something they just picked for me). Anyway, I must activate the card and then see what I can find out about MHP tickets and other goodies!!!

Sherry do you know if you get points for using the Debit Card to pay bills online? We have the Disney Visa from Chase and our checking account thru another bank. Since they came out with the debit card, I've been thinking about switching to get more points (of course!). But I pay all my larger bills online and was wondering if that counts. I'll research it on the Chase website but thought I'd ask here too in case you already know the answer....

Thanks!

 

[mom4princesses]

Sherry do you know if you get points for using the Debit Card to pay bills online? We have the Disney Visa from Chase and our checking account thru another bank. Since they came out with the debit card, I've been thinking about switching to get more points (of course!). But I pay all my larger bills online and was wondering if that counts. I'll research it on the Chase website but thought I'd ask here too in case you already know the answer....

Thanks!

From what I understand as long as you use it as a credit, not debit, you get points. Online where ever. But if you are talking about bill pay, it said as long as it went as a credit you get points but not if they send a check. I knew more about the card than the lady at the bank, from the boards, so it was a little dissapointing as I thought I would have found out more by going into the branch.

 

[BigCheese]

I'm almost positive this was discussed somewhere in this thread, but I can't find it! I know that the Celebration BBQ with Woody, Jessie, and Bullseye no longer happens on a regular basis, but do they still have Woody's Halloween Roundup? And if so, do they allow you to take pictures with the characters (particularly Bullseye!)? DS is big on Bullseye, and we're hoping he's around during Halloweentime.

 

[JiminetteCricket]

I got my Disney Visa debit in the mail today too! I can't activate it right now (activation number says their system is down until Sunday morning?). I'll try to remember to get it activated in the morning then call and see about the MHP tix. Does anyone have the phone number to call handy?

 

[Sherry E]

Have not recieved mine yet. So please let me know if you are able to get the MHP tickets. That is one of my main reasons for getting the card, well and all the other goodies you get.

I don't see anything about MHP on any inserts that came with the debit card, nor do I see anything on the Disney Rewards Visa website (although I did look over all the other "perks"). When I do a general search online, all I see is that people were able to use their Disney Visas for MNSSHP tickets in WDW or for Mickey's Halloween Treat at DCA in 2007. I know some people on the DIS have said that they were able to use their Visas for discounted TOTP tickets more recently than 2007. So, IF we are able to get any kind of discount using this Visa this year, it is very well hidden! I guess we have to actually just call DLR directly and find out if it can be used.

Sherry do you know if you get points for using the Debit Card to pay bills online? We have the Disney Visa from Chase and our checking account thru another bank. Since they came out with the debit card, I've been thinking about switching to get more points (of course!). But I pay all my larger bills online and was wondering if that counts. I'll research it on the Chase website but thought I'd ask here too in case you already know the answer....

Thanks!

Mom4princesses is correct - with the Debit Card you can get points for paying all our bills online or on the phone or for making any kinds of purchases (from gas to groceries to fast food to movie tickets to electronics to clothes - anything) anywhere (online, over the phone or in-person), as long as the card is processed as a credit card. Most places can process the debit card as a credit card because it has the Visa logo on it and it will go through the Visa system. But you know how, every so often, you go somewhere where you swipe your debit card and it asks you to select Credit or Debit or Other? That's when we have to select the "credit" option. And if we pay online bills, same thing - don't refer to the card as a debit card. Select the "Paying with a Credit Card" option. If the "Debit" option is chosen, and we have to enter our PIN number, that's what we don't want. If we have to enter a PIN, that amount won't qualify for/towards rewards points. But if it is logged as a credit transaction, we shouldn't have to enter a PIN and we will get points.

That's one reason why I think rewards points probably build up faster than they seem like they would. Right now, it's like 1 reward point to every $200 of qualifying purchases or bills paid. But those monthly bills and purchases can easily add up to $200.

I'm almost positive this was discussed somewhere in this thread, but I can't find it! I know that the Celebration BBQ with Woody, Jessie, and Bullseye no longer happens on a regular basis, but do they still have Woody's Halloween Roundup? And if so, do they allow you to take pictures with the characters (particularly Bullseye!)? DS is big on Bullseye, and we're hoping he's around during Halloweentime.

Yes, you're right - somewhere in this thread the HalloweenTime Round-Up was mentioned, but who knows where it went?! It's buried somewhere in the thread. Yes, the Halloween Round-Up was in full effect last year - Woody and Jessie were both there, taking photos. All of the other crafts and things were happening as well. I can't recall if they were calling it "Woody's Halloween Round-Up" last year like they did in 2008 and 2007, but it was definitely there and Woody & Jessie were posing for photos. This year, with TS3 coming out, I would imagine that having the Toy Story characters there would be even more popular.

I got my Disney Visa debit in the mail today too! I can't activate it right now (activation number says their system is down until Sunday morning?). I'll try to remember to get it activated in the morning then call and see about the MHP tix. Does anyone have the phone number to call handy?

I think Chase was doing some crazy maintenance on their system. I managed to get mine activated before all that started. BUT, it was a confusing phone call that I had to make to Chase, because I was simultaneously trying to convey that I needed to cancel my existing Chase Debit, activate only ONE of the Disney Visa Debit Cards they sent me and then cancel the second Disney Debit card they sent me. The Customer Service Rep. didn't seem to know why I had two Disney cards (neither did I), and I was afraid she was going to deactivate my existing Chase card prematurely and somehow leave me without the use of a card for a few days. Also, I had been told last week that I would receive a whole new PIN number for my card. I need to use this new card at an ATM in the next day or two, but I don't have a new PIN (it hasn't arrived yet). The Chase person I spoke to yesterday, however, said that I would be using the same PIN I have been using with my other Chase Debit, even though I was told last week that I would be getting a new one. So I have no idea if I can use this card yet or not, or if I will be getting a new PIN. Hopefully the card I am carrying in the wallet is the activated card and not the "other" Disney card they sent me by mistake!!

Was anyone else told they would be receiving an all new PIN number for their new Disney Rewards Visa Debit Card?

I don't have the number handy to call about the MHP tickets. I know it's around here somewhere.

 

[BigCheese]

Yes, you're right - somewhere in this thread the HalloweenTime Round-Up was mentioned, but who knows where it went?! It's buried somewhere in the thread. Yes, the Halloween Round-Up was in full effect last year - Woody and Jessie were both there, taking photos. All of the other crafts and things were happening as well. I can't recall if they were calling it "Woody's Halloween Round-Up" last year like they did in 2008 and 2007, but it was definitely there and Woody & Jessie were posing for photos. This year, with TS3 coming out, I would imagine that having the Toy Story characters there would be even more popular.

Perfect, thanks Sherry! You mentioned Woody and Jessie, but was Bullseye there last year at all? (or anywhere else in the parks for that matter)?

 

[Sherry E]

Perfect, thanks Sherry! You mentioned Woody and Jessie, but was Bullseye there last year at all? (or anywhere else in the parks for that matter)?

I didn't see Bullseye at the time that I popped into the Round-Up - I most definitely would have wanted to get a photo with him since he is a bit more rare in terms of being out and about in the parks. He was either in an area that I didn't see, or he just wasn't there at that moment. But I recall a couple of other DIS-ers saying that Bullseye was hanging around the Round-Up when they were there. I don't think he is there as often as Woody, but apparently he does come out from time to time. I just missed him, I guess.

I would think that, of all years, with this being a big year for Toy Story and the fact that it's been over 10 years between Toy Story movies, they should bring out as many Toy Story characters as possible in the parks, hanging around TSMM in DCA, hanging around BLAB in DL, hanging around the Round-Up, in the Pixar Play Parade, etc. What better time to do it, really? It will be very interesting to see what happens around Halloween, and if they bring out any extra TS characters that would not normally be seen. Maybe they will have some extra ones out for the MHP.

Somewhere on the DIS in the last couple of weeks, I recall reading a post that said Buzz and Woody were the new photo op/meet & greet at the Disney Visa location in DCA (though I can't remember who said it or where I read it on here). I hope that's true! I have not been able to get Buzz in a photo yet! Buzz and Sulley are two characters I really want to get photos of, and we always miss them!

 

[JiminetteCricket]

I just called 714-781-4400 and was able to get MHP tickets for October 1st for $44 w/ my Disney Debit!!