Halloween at DL

[Flitterific]

That's great, though - at least the news is getting better! One or two more calls and hopefully the answers will be consistent!!! I wasn't sure if DLR would be able to handle the discounted tickets in the same way - viewing them "as money," as was told to me about my OD/OP tickets - but it sounds like (from what Raelene told you) that it may be okay!! I would think that, as long as it's a situation where DLR is not losing any money, and basically you are just exchanging two tickets for another type of ticket (the AP) and paying the difference after that, it shouldn't harm them to do it. But it is a slippery slope. Some of those CMs simply don't want to do it, even if it's allowed - and based on the grouchy CM who had been there for 35 years, it seems some of them don't even want to check to see if they can do it.

I understand the grouchy CM had been there for 35 years - and that says a lot. I'm sure she's a great employee and has lots of knowledge and knows a lot of inside scoop. But she's also been at DLR long enough to know that some CMs are totally unaware of some of the things they can do or can not do. It seems like it would have been the right thing for her to do to just humor you and say, "Let me ask another CM here if it's allowed," or "Okay, I'll check with the Bank just to confirm."

Anyway, keep us posted on the next call to DLR! Of course, I am especially interested because I have done this swap thing twice before and I may need to do it again at some point. So I need to keep up to date on whether they are still allowing it or not.

Sherry - I totally agree with you. That grouchy lady could have at least pretended to do it and I'd feel better. She was so not Disney-like I'm glad that the other CMs I spoke with were more helpful though

Anyway, I called again today and spoke with Naeemah. She told me that as long as the tickets are unused and have a cash value to them, I can use them to swap for an AP. I think I will call one more time to ask which value of the ticket gets applied to the AP (i.e. the full value or only the discounted value). Hopefully it's the full value so I can save some money. Otherwise, I'm not going to even bother with it since it'll only create more problems than not. I'll keep you guys posted

 

[PHXscuba]

Super Tuesday bump!!

Just for you, Sherry


PHXscuba,
... waiting out the AZ heat for a one-day DL visit in a month!

 

[Sherry E]

Sherry - I totally agree with you. That grouchy lady could have at least pretended to do it and I'd feel better. She was so not Disney-like I'm glad that the other CMs I spoke with were more helpful though

Anyway, I called again today and spoke with Naeemah. She told me that as long as the tickets are unused and have a cash value to them, I can use them to swap for an AP. I think I will call one more time to ask which value of the ticket gets applied to the AP (i.e. the full value or only the discounted value). Hopefully it's the full value so I can save some money. Otherwise, I'm not going to even bother with it since it'll only create more problems than not. I'll keep you guys posted

Good idea to keep calling with different variations of the question to make sure you get the same answers! And just be prepared to have to repeat the whole song and dance again when you get to the ticket booth to actually do the swap - because those ticket booth seem to be tough nuts to crack!!

Super Tuesday bump!!

Just for you, Sherry


PHXscuba,
... waiting out the AZ heat for a one-day DL visit in a month!

Thanks for the Tuesday bump, PHXscuba! I noticed that this thread was hovering ominously close to the bottom of Page One when I was on here earlier.

We are 12 weeks - 3 months - away from the beginning of the HalloweenTime start date. And in 4 weeks or less, we will have the full HalloweenTime schedule/agenda/list of attractions & highlights, and the MHP tickets will go on sale to the public. We're getting closer, everybody!!

So I imagine this means that this thread - if all goes well - should be hoppin' with DLR HalloweenTime visitors until September (assuming people still have questions and need info). Then, as soon as HalloweenTime begins, we will start to get new photo contributions to this thread, which will be exciting.

Now...I have to start really figuring out what I'm going to do for HalloweenTime - September or October? MHP or no MHP? Hotel stay or one-day trip?

PHXscuba - you and I are both in desert states, but, of course, Arizona is much hotter on a regular basis than California, I would guess. Does Arizona start to see really high, intense heat in June, when summer begins, or is it more like California where we often times get what I call a 'delayed summer,' and the temperatures don't start to get really crazy hot until August, September and even October sometimes?

 

[Sherry E]

Time for a bump!

 

[PHXscuba]

Sherry, anything from mid-May on is hot and hotter. No "June gloomies" for us! We got lucky that it was late hitting 100 this year -- it waited all the way until May 21 this year but can happen as early as the end of March!

Here's the forecast for the next five days: 108, 111, 109, 105, 105.

The heat tapers off a little bit when the monsoon weather begins and we get some humidity, but it will still be over 100 until the end of September. My birthday is the last week of September and it's been over 100 most of the 12 years we've lived here. We often go out of town in mid-October and it's still hot when we leave!

I suppose you understand why much of Arizona is in California in June and July ... Fall is now my favorite season and what I am surviving for!

PHXscuba

 

[joeysmommy]

I can't wait to call and book the WOC picnic for Sat Oct 2! I'm assuming they won't be showing WOC during the week at the end of Sept.

We're going to the Oct 1 Mickey's Halloween party Friday night, Saturday WOC picnic and maybe Sunday the Halloween Tour.
I thought Saturday morning the tour would be too much since we'll be up late Friday night.

So excited!

 

[Sherry E]

I can't wait to call and book the WOC picnic for Sat Oct 2! I'm assuming they won't be showing WOC during the week at the end of Sept.

We're going to the Oct 1 Mickey's Halloween party Friday night, Saturday WOC picnic and maybe Sunday the Halloween Tour.
I thought Saturday morning the tour would be too much since we'll be up late Friday night.

So excited!

Wow! You're going to have an action-packed weekend! That'll be so much fun!

I wonder what the WoC schedule will be in the Fall. I'm very curious. I know they (Disney) don't want people to lose interest in it or forget about it, so they will probably run it as often as they can. You never know - last year the Halloween fireworks ran every night in DL - including weeknights in September - so WoC very well may be showing every night for a while. If DLR can get away with it, I'm sure they will try to do it. Otherwise, weekends, I suppose.

 

[joeysmommy]

That would be great if WOC shows during the week. We'll be there 9/28 Tues- 10/4 Monday. I'd prefer to see WOC on a weeknight as it would be less crowded and not so hectic.
Since we'll be at the Halloween Party Friday night that leaves Sat or Sun night if week nights aren't an option.

 

[mom4princesses]

Noticed it was on the 2nd page so I thought I would give it a bump.

 

[Sherry E]

Yes, this most definitely needed a bump. Mom4princesses! Thank you!

We are getting much closer to the official HalloweenTime agenda being released. I can't wait to see what's listed - I think I am most curious about whether there will be any traces of HalloweenTime in DCA at all. The schedule of Halloween attractions and activites should say whether or not there will be Candy Corn Acres again this year. But I wonder if they are going to totally abandon any trace of Halloween to focus on WoC. I hope they do something Halloween-esque in DCA.

Oh, by the way, for those of you who have just recently received your Disney Visa Debit Cards....I was excited to notice in my Rewards section of my online Chase account that I have already earned a whopping 39 cents in Disney rewards!! Woo hoo! Thirty-nine cents!! I have no clue where that 39 cents came from and why it's not a dollar, but at least I am starting to earn Rewards!! I think I have met my 5-purchase requirement to receive my bonus 25 Reward points, but I have no clue how long those will take to show up. So I am pleased that, at the very least, I will have $25.39 to put towards Disney trips!!

PHXscuba - from what you have described about AZ, I can not only see why most of AZ heads here to California but I also see why I am not visiting the friends I have in AZ. It's way too hot for me! It's even too hot for me out here in SoCal. As a matter of fact, I was born in AZ - there's some irony for you, given my bad sensitivity to heat - but I only stayed there about a week or less after I was born and then we came to SoCal immediately, where I have been ever since. I think that set a precedent for me. As you can see, even in my infancy, less than a week old, I knew I wanted to get the heck out of AZ as quick as possible and head to a cooler climate!

 

[PHXscuba]

Sherry,
I actually grew up in Huntington Beach. I love, love, love Orange County (and DLR, of course). But I married an Arizonan, and if we wanted to live in CA we'd have to move waaaay away from the beach to afford a home half as nice as we have here. And if I have to live all the way in Indio, I might as well live in a metropolitan area like Phoenix (no offense intended to Indio).

I'm glad my parents still live in OC so I can visit as often and as cheaply as we do. Some people come to CA and complain if it's not super sunny the whole time. Me, I'll be glad if it's overcast for a couple days! My kids like being able to play outside and go to the park; I like smelling the ocean and the breeze. And going to DLR!

Every time we go to CA, it's gorgeous, and I have the hardest time pointing the car back across the burning desert to go back to AZ. I guess I'll always be a California girl at heart.

PHXscuba

 

[mvf-m11c]

I am so excited to go to DL in October and go attend the MHP on the first day on October 1st. This will be my first time to go back to DL in October since over 15 years ago when I was a little kid. This will be really exciting to see the Halloween decorations around the resort, SM Ghost Galaxy and I am looking forward to Halloween Screams the most.

I have ordered my MHP tickets on the DL website for October 1st and I was a little bit surprised that it is only available to AP, DVC, Visa, etc. and not available to the general public until 7/16.

I have been looking forward to go to DL in October since last year when one of my friend who worked at DL said this is a must thing to do if you are going to DL. I took her words and was about to do a trip this year with my DA, until DL announced that DLR is doing a WDW MVMCP type of event. I didn't want to pay another ticket to go to DL since I have a DL AP. I was hoping to see Halloween Screams on Friday or the weekends since they showed it during those times last year. But my friend and a nice person that I have talked with during my trip this month during the WoC debut when we were waiting in the viewing area, he said that I must do MHP to see Halloween Screams and get to experience MToTP style event at DL. So my DA and I have decided to go to DL this October on the first day of MHP.

I'm hoping the weather during that time will be good and good to enjoy a nice experience at MHP. I want to stay at the GCH during my visit this month, but it was all booked and hoping that this time when we go back in October, GCH will have a nice AP discount. But as of right now, DLR doesn't have the discount on the GCH yet ($342), but DL Hotel ($179) and PPH ($164} are at discount price right now. Should I just wait or don't even bother with it? If my DA get to stay at the GCH, this will be our first time staying at the hotel since it opened in 2001. That is a long time and I am hoping to get to stay at the hotel and be in the viewing area to see DCA.

I am looking forward to seeing Halloween Screams and I am also looking forward to see WoC again during a less crowded day. I am possibly going to do the WoC picnic since I have done the FP machine the first day and the dining package the 2nd day.

I'm hoping this will be a great trip to DL during the Halloween season.

 

[AmyPond]

Yes, this most definitely needed a bump. Mom4princesses! Thank you!

We are getting much closer to the official HalloweenTime agenda being released. I can't wait to see what's listed - I think I am most curious about whether there will be any traces of HalloweenTime in DCA at all. The schedule of Halloween attractions and activites should say whether or not there will be Candy Corn Acres again this year. But I wonder if they are going to totally abandon any trace of Halloween to focus on WoC. I hope they do something Halloween-esque in DCA.

Oh, by the way, for those of you who have just recently received your Disney Visa Debit Cards....I was excited to notice in my Rewards section of my online Chase account that I have already earned a whopping 39 cents in Disney rewards!! Woo hoo! Thirty-nine cents!! I have no clue where that 39 cents came from and why it's not a dollar, but at least I am starting to earn Rewards!! I think I have met my 5-purchase requirement to receive my bonus 25 Reward points, but I have no clue how long those will take to show up. So I am pleased that, at the very least, I will have $25.39 to put towards Disney trips!!

PHXscuba - from what you have described about AZ, I can not only see why most of AZ heads here to California but I also see why I am not visiting the friends I have in AZ. It's way too hot for me! It's even too hot for me out here in SoCal. As a matter of fact, I was born in AZ - there's some irony for you, given my bad sensitivity to heat - but I only stayed there about a week or less after I was born and then we came to SoCal immediately, where I have been ever since. I think that set a precedent for me. As you can see, even in my infancy, less than a week old, I knew I wanted to get the heck out of AZ as quick as possible and head to a cooler climate!

"Cooler climate" doesn't belong in a paragraph about Southern California!

Well, I guess it's cooler than Arizona. But still...LOL!

 

[srauchbauer]

Hurray I am in such a good mood just got off the phone with DH and have decided that we would be going Oct 17 -22 didn't want to be there during the weekend if possible. Now the had part not telling the kids until everything is booked. Can't wait until Oct. Watch out Disney we are coming back.

 

[Sherry E]

Sherry,
I actually grew up in Huntington Beach. I love, love, love Orange County (and DLR, of course). But I married an Arizonan, and if we wanted to live in CA we'd have to move waaaay away from the beach to afford a home half as nice as we have here. And if I have to live all the way in Indio, I might as well live in a metropolitan area like Phoenix (no offense intended to Indio).

I'm glad my parents still live in OC so I can visit as often and as cheaply as we do. Some people come to CA and complain if it's not super sunny the whole time. Me, I'll be glad if it's overcast for a couple days! My kids like being able to play outside and go to the park; I like smelling the ocean and the breeze. And going to DLR!

Every time we go to CA, it's gorgeous, and I have the hardest time pointing the car back across the burning desert to go back to AZ. I guess I'll always be a California girl at heart.

PHXscuba

It is gorgeous out here in California. That's so true. It's getting a little too hot for me each year. I think I'd be better off if I lived in NorCal, where it's cooler! But I don't want to be far away from DLR or from Catalina Island - those are two enormous reasons why I love SoCal, in addition to many others. However, many friends have moved out of California and to neighboring states, including AZ. They never move far enough away where they can't get back here easily, though!!

I am so excited to go to DL in October and go attend the MHP on the first day on October 1st. This will be my first time to go back to DL in October since over 15 years ago when I was a little kid. This will be really exciting to see the Halloween decorations around the resort, SM Ghost Galaxy and I am looking forward to Halloween Screams the most.

I have ordered my MHP tickets on the DL website for October 1st and I was a little bit surprised that it is only available to AP, DVC, Visa, etc. and not available to the general public until 7/16.

I have been looking forward to go to DL in October since last year when one of my friend who worked at DL said this is a must thing to do if you are going to DL. I took her words and was about to do a trip this year with my DA, until DL announced that DLR is doing a WDW MVMCP type of event. I didn't want to pay another ticket to go to DL since I have a DL AP. I was hoping to see Halloween Screams on Friday or the weekends since they showed it during those times last year. But my friend and a nice person that I have talked with during my trip this month during the WoC debut when we were waiting in the viewing area, he said that I must do MHP to see Halloween Screams and get to experience MToTP style event at DL. So my DA and I have decided to go to DL this October on the first day of MHP.

I'm hoping the weather during that time will be good and good to enjoy a nice experience at MHP. I want to stay at the GCH during my visit this month, but it was all booked and hoping that this time when we go back in October, GCH will have a nice AP discount. But as of right now, DLR doesn't have the discount on the GCH yet ($342), but DL Hotel ($179) and PPH ($164} are at discount price right now. Should I just wait or don't even bother with it? If my DA get to stay at the GCH, this will be our first time staying at the hotel since it opened in 2001. That is a long time and I am hoping to get to stay at the hotel and be in the viewing area to see DCA.

I am looking forward to seeing Halloween Screams and I am also looking forward to see WoC again during a less crowded day. I am possibly going to do the WoC picnic since I have done the FP machine the first day and the dining package the 2nd day.

I'm hoping this will be a great trip to DL during the Halloween season.

How exciting! If you haven't been to DLR for an October trip in 15 years, you're in for some big Halloween changes! I don't think DLR was doing too much of anything for HalloweenTime 15 years ago, were they?

The MHP should be a lot of fun. I think opening night will be especially exciting.

Those rates you mentioned for PPH and DLH - are those rates for October? Its odd if the AP rates for PPH and DLH are already showing for October. Last year the real AP October rates (in other words, not the 10% discount on the rack rate) were not released until September. But I'm thinking that, perhaps, the GCH rates will drop for October in the next couple of months. If you want to get a hotel room, you could always just book it and then when the AP rates come out, quickly call Central Reservations and have them switch to the AP rate.

I think the weather for October out here in SoCal is very unpredictable. It's a very odd month - it could go either way. It could be rainy and blustery or it could be hotter than any summer month. It is usually quite dry and warm, though - hence, the yearly wildfires.

"Cooler climate" doesn't belong in a paragraph about Southern California!

Well, I guess it's cooler than Arizona. But still...LOL!

Yes, SoCal is not a 'cool' state - and I'm one who gets sick in 75-degree weather. It doesn't even have to get in the 90's for me to be ill! But it's cooler here than in AZ. This week, our temps have mostly been in the upper 70's to low, low 80's. In AZ, as PHXscuba said, it's already well over 100 degrees. Yay for the California June Gloom!! Woo hoo!

Hurray I am in such a good mood just got off the phone with DH and have decided that we would be going Oct 17 -22 didn't want to be there during the weekend if possible. Know the had part not telling the kids until everything is booked. Can't wait until Oct. Watch out Disney we are coming back.

Woo hoo!! It will be hard to keep it a surprise from the kids just yet. The weekdays should be great in terms of lesser crowds. The time you are going is pretty much going to be after the school breaks end and other things that would draw extra big crowds to the park come to an end. So I would imagine that you will have a good few days at DLR with pretty manageable crowds.

 

[mvf-m11c]

How exciting! If you haven't been to DLR for an October trip in 15 years, you're in for some big Halloween changes! I don't think DLR was doing too much of anything for HalloweenTime 15 years ago, were they?

The MHP should be a lot of fun. I think opening night will be especially exciting.

Those rates you mentioned for PPH and DLH - are those rates for October? Its odd if the AP rates for PPH and DLH are already showing for October. Last year the real AP October rates (in other words, not the 10% discount on the rack rate) were not released until September. But I'm thinking that, perhaps, the GCH rates will drop for October in the next couple of months. If you want to get a hotel room, you could always just book it and then when the AP rates come out, quickly call Central Reservations and have them switch to the AP rate.

I think the weather for October out here in SoCal is very unpredictable. It's a very odd month - it could go either way. It could be rainy and blustery or it could be hotter than any summer month. It is usually quite dry and warm, though - hence, the yearly wildfires.

Thanks Sherry E

I know back than, they haven't had any Halloween decorations back in the days when I was there. It was a quiet time back in the days when my family took me and my brother there for his birthday. I have been looking foward to this trip since last year when my friend told me how great Halloween Screams fireworks were and SM ghost galaxy. She got me all wooed about it last year, that I had to try it out. I was also considering of going in September for the Destination D: Disneyland '55, but I can't go during that week. Also DLR doesn't have a D23 Expo this year, so it would be nice to go back to DL to experience the halloween season at DL.

I was considering to do MHP in the middle of the month instead of the first week especially since it is new. I was planning on hearing the experience from the other DISers, but I decided it wouldn't be so bad since I did WoC on the opening night to the public, so it shouldn't be as bad like WoC.

The dates for October are not up on the website yet. When I went to the DL AP homepage and went to the hotel availability calende, clicked on book online tab and on the date for October 1 to October 2nd, they showed me the rate for all three hotels with the AP rate. I would assume these prices are for the standard view only until DL puts up the rates for October. PPH and DLH were at decent price, but the GCH was so high. I thought the GCH should be a little bit lower. Mostly when it gets closer to the actual date, the price can drop anytime, so I will keep checking back and forward. Thanks for the advice about the reservation, I'm just possibly going to take a chance when it gets closer to the date.

I check back on the rates for October 1st, now it is at $282, so it went down a lot since I have check back, but it can change like always.

I'm hoping that the weather will be good when my DA and I get there. Thats why I picked that date to go to DL because of how nice it was last year when I went to the D23 Expo in middle September. We are prepared for a rainy day. And yes, I read about those yearly wildfires out there last year.

 

[Sherry E]

Thanks Sherry E

I know back than, they haven't had any Halloween decorations back in the days when I was there. It was a quiet time back in the days when my family took me and my brother there for his birthday. I have been looking foward to this trip since last year when my friend told me how great Halloween Screams fireworks were and SM ghost galaxy. She got me all wooed about it last year, that I had to try it out. I was also considering of going in September for the Destination D: Disneyland '55, but I can't go during that week. Also DLR doesn't have a D23 Expo this year, so it would be nice to go back to DL to experience the halloween season at DL.

I was considering to do MHP in the middle of the month instead of the first week especially since it is new. I was planning on hearing the experience from the other DISers, but I decided it wouldn't be so bad since I did WoC on the opening night to the public, so it shouldn't be as bad like WoC.

The dates for October are not up on the website yet. When I went to the DL AP homepage and went to the hotel availability calende, clicked on book online tab and on the date for October 1 to October 2nd, they showed me the rate for all three hotels with the AP rate. I would assume these prices are for the standard view only until DL puts up the rates for October. PPH and DLH were at decent price, but the GCH was so high. I thought the GCH should be a little bit lower. Mostly when it gets closer to the actual date, the price can drop anytime, so I will keep checking back and forward. Thanks for the advice about the reservation, I'm just possibly going to take a chance when it gets closer to the date.

I check back on the rates for October 1st, now it is at $282, so it went down a lot since I have check back, but it can change like always.

I'm hoping that the weather will be good when my DA and I get there. Thats why I picked that date to go to DL because of how nice it was last year when I went to the D23 Expo in middle September. We are prepared for a rainy day. And yes, I read about those yearly wildfires out there last year.

Well, at least the GCH prices are heading in the right direction - down!! I hope you're able to get a good price for the GCH - even if it's sort of close to your October trip when the lowest rates are released. Just keep an eagle eye on that AP hotel calendar.

I think you'll have a really wonderful time at the MHP and you'll love the fireworks! I thought they were especially cool and I'm not a fireworks person, really.

Make sure to post lots of photos here after your HalloweenTime trip is finished!

 

[mvf-m11c]

well, at least the gch prices are heading in the right direction - down!! I hope you're able to get a good price for the gch - even if it's sort of close to your october trip when the lowest rates are released. Just keep an eagle eye on that ap hotel calendar.

I think you'll have a really wonderful time at the mhp and you'll love the fireworks! I thought they were especially cool and i'm not a fireworks person, really.

Thank you for the great advice. I am looking forward to this trip so much and hope every thing goes right. I already have a reservation at BWPPI on Oct 1-3 and I can always cancel the 1st night at BWPPI and reserved a hotel room at the GCH.

Make sure to post lots of photos here after your halloweentime trip is finished!

I will definitely take a lot of pictures during my visit in October and post it on the thread that night if every thing goes right that night.

 

[kiwitinkerbell]

Hi - I just love reading through this thread! We will be at DLR Oct 3-8 at the end of our 4 week trip to USA from New Zealand. I was wondering if anyone had any idea of the park hours I could expect for those dates?

 

[Sherry E]

Hi - I just love reading through this thread! We will be at DLR Oct 3-8 at the end of our 4 week trip to USA from New Zealand. I was wondering if anyone had any idea of the park hours I could expect for those dates?

Kiwitinkerbell - Thank you so much for joining in and taking the time to read through the thread! Hopefully someone will come forth with more HalloweenTime photos soon, so we can get another visual dose of HalloweenTime at DLR!!

I tried to reply to you to yesterday but was having an awful time with technical problems like clicking 'Reply" and nothing happening, or waiting for five minutes before a page finally loaded. It was so frustrating. I finally gave up.

Anyway, as for park hours: well, during your time at DLR this year, Mickey's Halloween Party will be happening in Disneyland on Tuesday, October 5th and on Friday, October 8th. On Tuesday nights, the party is from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., and on Fridays and Halloween Night, the party is from 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 p.m. On the non-party days, I would think it would be a somewhat shortened schedule - but I'm not entirely sure yet. October has gotten to be more popular at DLR than it used to be, so the whole game is changing and the rules of 'off-peak' seasonal hours are changing a bit, too, I think. I'm not sure what DCA will be doing by then as well. I think we don't know yet if WoC will still be attracting people in droves to see it as it is now, and if DCA will still be open later to allow for 2 or 3 shows.