Halloween decorations

[Ela1972]

Hi, I’m researching an “almost definite” trip to DIsneyland next August.
We are thinking of end of August beginning of September and hoping to see the Halloween decorations up.
Due to flight costs we need to book the flights at 11 months out or they just get more expensive!
Do the Halloween decorations/haunted mansion overlay open on the same date/day each year or does it vary?
We could stay until 8th or 9th September if we were able to see the Halloween decorations!

Thanks
Ela

 

[figment_jii]

The start of HalloweenTime does vary, but as far as I recall, it hasn't been before Labor Day. While no one knows for sure, the most likely date at this point is September 11, 2020 (Friday after Labor Day). The official start of HalloweenTime is when Haunted Mansion Holiday will open (and any of the other attractions with Halloween overlays).

If you go in late August, you might see the Halloween merchandise in the parks and some of signs of Halloween, but probably not much in the way of decor and not the attraction overlays. You'd probably need to shift your trip to mid-September or so if you wanted to experience HalloweenTime.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

At the end of August/beginning of September, HM will most likely still be down for the NBC overlay. Space may go down post-Labor Day for a day or two to get the GG overlay (it won't this year, though). Both those rides will come back up the first day of Halloween Time. DCA is getting more and more Halloween decor each year, but I don't think any rides actually go down because of it (yet). Agree with the pp that mid to later September is much safer for a full on Halloween Time experience, especially if you might want to throw in a party.

 

[Ela1972]

The start of HalloweenTime does vary, but as far as I recall, it hasn't been before Labor Day. While no one knows for sure, the most likely date at this point is September 11, 2020 (Friday after Labor Day). The official start of HalloweenTime is when Haunted Mansion Holiday will open (and any of the other attractions with Halloween overlays).

If you go in late August, you might see the Halloween merchandise in the parks and some of signs of Halloween, but probably not much in the way of decor and not the attraction overlays. You'd probably need to shift your trip to mid-September or so if you wanted to experience HalloweenTime.

At the end of August/beginning of September, HM will most likely still be down for the NBC overlay. Space may go down post-Labor Day for a day or two to get the GG overlay (it won't this year, though). Both those rides will come back up the first day of Halloween Time. DCA is getting more and more Halloween decor each year, but I don't think any rides actually go down because of it (yet). Agree with the pp that mid to later September is much safer for a full on Halloween Time experience, especially if you might want to throw in a party.

Thank you both DD is back at school on 10th September so think we will have to give the Halloween decorations a miss as Haunted mansion is DH’s favourite ride and he won’t want to miss it.
Thanks for the advice/info very much appreciated!

 

[figment_jii]

If Haunted Mansion is your DH's favorite ride, you'll want to aim for early-to-mid August. HM goes down between about two to three weeks before the start of HalloweenTime (this year it goes down on August 26, but last year it went down on August 20). Normally it's closed for about 18-days before the start of HalloweenTime, but year, it's only down for 11 days. I don't know if that's going to be the new "normal" or if this year is an exception.