Halloween party.. Is 1 night enough??

[mooshka1]

Hi there! Is one night enough to enjoy the Halloween party? I'm debating buying tickets for 2 nights. The fireworks and parade are musts. Would also like to get in lots of trick-or-treating, but rides are not a priority. Oct. 2 is our party date, should we purchase an additional night?? Thanks!

 

[Stitch35]

I've always debated the same thing. We've gone every year. Last year we did a Tuesday party. It was busy, but not packed. We got to see some of the characters and villains (long lines for these!) the parade and fireworks. We did get some trick or treating in as it's hard to avoid the treat areas. We have never had time to do the rides or dance parties. Last year I wish I had bought tickets for Friday night as well. CA was a crowded nightmare! My 3 year old got trampled it was horrible! If we had gone to the party, it would have been busy but not no room to move and get trampled busy. We may have been able to do the dances and see more characters. This year we are going after Halloween season ends, but if I were going I'd buy tickets for all the party nights we were there for.

 

[Sherry E]

It probably depends on the individual or on each group, but last year I came to the conclusion that I would need to go to 2 parties to accomplish all that I wanted to do.

Last year we hit all the treat trails and stations (minus one) and collected candy. We also watched the Halloween Screams fireworks, stopped to take a few photos of some of the spooky lighting in Frontierland, sat down with a Coke during the Cavalcade...and then it was time to leave. There was no time to get in lines for photos with characters, check out the dance parties or shop for merchandise, let alone try to get on any rides.

 

[AnneUCSB]

We attended a party last year with our then 4 and 6 year olds. We had a blast but felt one night was plenty.

 

[dolphingirl8o8]

DH and I went to one of the parties last year. I thought that 1 night was sufficient for us (but then again, we're adults). I was under the impression that the evening wasn't going to be too crowded, but there were TONS of people. DH loved the fact we didn't have to wait in line for any of the rides.

 

[Kilala]

To me I think two nights are great to get everything in. The lines were kinda long for the treat stations but, the lines went fast. I don't think I will wait in line for the characters on one of the 3 nights I'm going this year. I'm going with one of my friends twice and once with other friend of mine.

 

[Sherry E]

DH and I went to one of the parties last year. I thought that 1 night was sufficient for us (but then again, we're adults). I was under the impression that the evening wasn't going to be too crowded, but there were TONS of people. DH loved the fact we didn't have to wait in line for any of the rides.

I thought it was quite crowded too - our night was a Monday, and it was the second party of the season. Looking around the park, it appeared crowded enough that it could have been a regular weekend night. I saw no shortage of people anywhere. The treat lines do move quite fast - and some of the treat trails are out of the way and less traveled by other guests. But the crowds certainly congregated for the fireworks, the characters and for the Cavalcade!

 

[dolphingirl8o8]

I thought it was quite crowded too - our night was a Monday, and it was the second party of the season. Looking around the park, it appeared crowded enough that it could have been a regular weekend night. I saw no shortage of people anywhere. The treat lines do move quite fast - and some of the treat trails are out of the way and less traveled by other guests. But the crowds certainly congregated for the fireworks, the characters and for the Cavalcade!

You know, I think we went on a Monday night as well and all I could think was, "Why are there so many people out on a weeknight?" I do agree about the treat lines though. We had no problem filling our bags.

 

[DisneyBiskit]

Hi there! Is one night enough to enjoy the Halloween party? I'm debating buying tickets for 2 nights. The fireworks and parade are musts. Would also like to get in lots of trick-or-treating, but rides are not a priority. Oct. 2 is our party date, should we purchase an additional night?? Thanks!

I'm going two nights this year. Once on Sept. 28 and again on Oct. 26th. The first date we are going to have the MIL with us (its her first trip to DL, so we're excited to share this with her) so we will be focusing more on the atmosphere. But when me and my partner go back in October, we plan on trick or treating and hitting the rides! (Being a 40 old and going trick or treating....How cool is that!!)

I say do it!!! Also, consider taking the Happiest Haunts Tour! We did that last year and really enjoyed it. Its good cheesy fun and you get priority on the HM and SMGG!

Also, the fireworks for Halloween are some of the best. Thats worth seeing twice right there!!

Have fun!

 

[chrissiecutie]

We are doing the party only on Oct 2nd & then have the 3rd & 4th regular park days. My plan was to get in as soon as we are allowed, so 3pm.

For those of you who needed more then 1 party night, we're you entering ASAP or at official party time? I would think this would make a difference so I'm curious...

 

[KateDrake]

I've only ever done once a year, and it was plenty for us. But I think it depends on what you want to accomplish. Do you want to see every single character? If so, you might need two parties. But if you just want to see fireworks, the parade, and maybe do some trick-or-treating, one night should be plenty. The trick-or-treating is fun, but it's kind of one of those things where if you've done a few treat trails, you've kind of seen it all.

I would probably do one party and enter early (we've always entered somewhere between 4 and 5) so that you can get a head start. Then I'd use the money you would save on tickets to do a special meal or experience. I've heard the Happiest Haunts tour is awesome!

 

[mooshka1]

Thanks for all your advice! Can't wait to go!! I've heard many good things about the Haunts tour. But the only problem is my DD will not ride SMGG, etc. I've also read you get special bench seating for the fireworks. Is this true??

 

[PatMcDuck]

Last time I did Halloweentime at DL, it was in California Adventure, so this year will be very different for me.

I don't completely understand the long sometimes very long lines for candy, I mean, buy a mixed bag at Walgreens,and you have the same thing; unless you have very young kids who are just too excited not to get some...... What I was somewhat baffled by was all the adult only groups waiting and waiting for candy? Funny too, some CMs give a large handful, others just one little piece.

I guess my interest is parade, fireworks and the characters wearing costumes, dancing around, etc. Maybe a couple of rides, but we will be there all week, so not a huge concern to get on the rides.

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

We have the same view. We do two or three candy lines at most (in the back of the park), then fill up our bags as we leave the park. There are always CM's stationed at the exit gates more than willing to fill up your bags. Parade, fireworks, and rides are our priorities.

My son and I will be attending the party on the 12th, and will stay for the weekend. One day is never enough for us.

 

[Sherry E]

We are doing the party only on Oct 2nd & then have the 3rd & 4th regular park days. My plan was to get in as soon as we are allowed, so 3pm.

For those of you who needed more then 1 party night, we're you entering ASAP or at official party time? I would think this would make a difference so I'm curious...

chrissiecutie -

I don't know if I actually will do more than one party this year but, as I mentioned earlier, I felt like I needed a second one to get everything in that I, personally, wanted to see/do.

We were there before the party began on our day last year - we were already in DL earlier in the day and just walked over to the front of DL to show our tickets and get our wristbands when it was time to do that. We had to leave one hour before the party officially ended to make a stop on the way home, so if we had stayed until the party ended we could have gotten some character photos in or done a few extra things. But there still wouldn't have been enough time for me to do/see all that I wanted to. That's just me, though - I may like to see/do certain things that other people don't care about!

Last time I did Halloweentime at DL, it was in California Adventure, so this year will be very different for me.

I don't completely understand the long sometimes very long lines for candy, I mean, buy a mixed bag at Walgreens,and you have the same thing; unless you have very young kids who are just too excited not to get some...... What I was somewhat baffled by was all the adult only groups waiting and waiting for candy? Funny too, some CMs give a large handful, others just one little piece.

I guess my interest is parade, fireworks and the characters wearing costumes, dancing around, etc. Maybe a couple of rides, but we will be there all week, so not a huge concern to get on the rides.

PatMcDuck -

It's not fun to just buy a bag of candy at Walgreens. What is fun is to be able to trick or treat, in Disneyland, as an adult. I don't go out trick-or-treating - nor do I even go to costume parties - for Halloween in my 'real life.' In fact, I live in a security building so we don't get trick-or-treaters (because the kids can't walk up to each door and knock when they can't get in the building). Meanwhile, I love Halloween and would like to celebrate it somehow.

In Disneyland, everyone is a kid. I am part of those "adult only groups" of which you speak - and we stand in the lines and get candy. We paid for the tickets and that's what we wanted to do. The treat lines move fast - no matter how long they seem at a glance.

Also, my goal last year was to walk all around DL and make it to every treat trail because I wanted to see where and how they were set up, and if there were any interesting little decorations or effects that had been set up which were not up during the daytime. Some of the locations were quite interesting - in Pixie Hollow, at the Ranch area in Frontierland, in the POTC queue, etc. The Golden Horseshoe had Halloween decorations inside the building that I wouldn't have known about if I had not gotten in the line for treats.

After one of the parties I attended in the past, my friend used the majority of her candy haul to give to trick-or-treaters who showed up at her house on Halloween. Last year, I kept some of what I got and ended up giving the rest away to someone in my building who had a grandchild visiting.

 

[figment_jii]

I've only ever done once a year, and it was plenty for us. But I think it depends on what you want to accomplish. Do you want to see every single character? If so, you might need two parties. But if you just want to see fireworks, the parade, and maybe do some trick-or-treating, one night should be plenty. The trick-or-treating is fun, but it's kind of one of those things where if you've done a few treat trails, you've kind of seen it all.

I agree with this. I went last year (first party of the year) and we saw the fireworks, watched the cavalcade both times, and did lots of trick-or-treating (saved that for the end). However, we didn't do many rides or character meet and greets. Given my family's schedule, if we had wanted to do the character meet and greets, we would have needed a second party.

If possible, I would do the rides you want to do before the party official starts. The two with the Halloween theme (HM and SM) are open during normal hours and there isn't anything different about them during the party. So you can ride these before the party and then concentrate on party specific activities once the party starts!