HalloweenTime at DLR Info and Photo Superthread #3

[GrandBob]

We ate before going to the party last year (to make sure not to pig out on too much candy!). So I wasn't paying notice to which restaurants were open. I do recall, though, that Village Haus was being used as a TOT station (with lots of candy stations!), so it wasn't open for real food.

-Bob

 

[gbp02]

Is the fastpass at Haunted Mansion Holiday open every day during the Halloween season? I plan to be there from Sept 21-24 and would like to FP this ride.

 

[rowan1813]

So, do the restaurants in DL stay open during the parties? After the non-party guests leave? Like, for example, Carnation Cafe, Blue Bayou, Cafe Orleans, etc.? Sorry if this is a stupid question

I remember mostly counter-service being open last year. BFF and I ate at the Little Red Wagon and sat in the Plaza Inn outdoor seating area, which I know was also open. When we got in line for the LRW it was right at 7pm when they were starting to get the non-party guests out of the park and we had to show our wristband. They weren't allowing anyone who was non-party to get in line for food; they were being directed over to DCA and DTD. Believe me, there were plenty of people who were upset about that fact.

I believe that Rancho del Zocalo and Tomorrowland Terrace were closed as they turned those areas into dance parties. I can't remember about any of the other places but I hope this somewhat helps. My advice, eat before the party starts. You definitely don't want to be wasting time on dinner when you could be trick-or-treating, watching the fireworks and parades, etc.

 

[Sherry E]

Thank you, Kristin, Bob and rowan1813, for stepping in to take the restaurant question! I definitely remember Village Haus being used as a treat trail when I went as well, just as Bob indicated. Plus, there was a treat trail in the French Market at one point, though maybe not last year. And there was definitely a dance party (with Goofy, I think) at RDZ.

So I really only remembered Coke Corner being open and that doesn't help much!

Is the fastpass at Haunted Mansion Holiday open every day during the Halloween season? I plan to be there from Sept 21-24 and would like to FP this ride.

gbp02 --

Maybe someone else will know more than I do. I have gone on the ride with and without FPs. There have been times when I've noticed that the FP machines were down -- but that may have just been a technical momentary glitch.

It definitely helps to have a FP if you can manage to get one -- especially during the busier hours -- as the ride is extremely popular and the lines can build! However, you'd be surprised to find that there are times -- usually in the daytime -- on less busy days when there isn't much of a line at all, or the line is not bad and you can get on without needing a FP.

If there is even a slight chance of rain (which is very unlikely but not impossible on your dates -- I've been to DLR on rainy September days before), there probably wouldn't be any kind of wait at all. In December it was supposed to rain later on one specific day, and though it had not rained yet it wiped out the lines for HMH. We just walked right up to the door and went in, basically. We didn't even go through the queue.

 

[iKristin]

Yeah Village Haus is always a treat trail A fast one at that, I always go through multiple times haha

 

[dolphingirl47]

I did attend two parties in 2011 and I had dinner at Cafe Orleans during one of the parties and if I remember correctly this was not listed as open on the map.

Corinna

 

[iKristin]

Yeah I ate at River Belle Terrace one of the years I went as well. Since their food is simple (and bland in my opinion) it probably makes it easier to stay open

 

[Sherry E]

Thanks, Corinna and Kristin, for helping to fill in the gaps about which restaurants are open during the MHP!

Does anyone remember if the FP machines were open all the time for Haunted Mansion Holiday, as gbp02 asked above? All I remember is that I noticed one or two times when they were not open in the past, but I assumed that was not a regular thing and they are usually open since HMH is so popular. ???

 

[dolphingirl47]

Again this was in 2011, but I have photos of the Fastpass machines for HMH covered over and not in use. This was still early in the season (end of September) and whenever I did this ride (which was a lot), I never had to wait more than 10 to 15 minutes.

Corinna

 

[iKristin]

No they aren't open during the party. I've just learned to go on rides first and trick or treat second Most people are trick or treating as soon as they get there so the lines for rides are really small!

 

[Sherry E]

Good to know! Thanks, ladies! At least I know I'm not the only one who noticed that a HMH FP machine was closed at one point but, then again, I know I have used a FP for HMH at some point in the past too!

So it sounds like the FP machines may or may not be open for HMH during the season -- maybe they are closed during the slower times of the season and open during the crazy times? I wonder.

 

[Cheshirecatty]

So, do the restaurants in DL stay open during the parties? After the non-party guests leave? Like, for example, Carnation Cafe, Blue Bayou, Cafe Orleans, etc.? Sorry if this is a stupid question

Hi DisneyFan,

I just wanted to add that when we attended the Halloween Party in 2011, when we were handed the Party schedule, we also were given a list of restaurants which were open during the party AND the special Halloween Themed foods/treats they were offering. We were so excited, that we went around trying to eat as many as we could!

When we attended in 2012, we went hungry/salivating-- expecting to be given that list again, and there was no list--at least not that we could hunt down!

We asked when we entered and got our trick-or-treat bags, asked at City Hall, and we asked numerous CMs to no avail! It was pretty disappointing going blind, not knowing if something special was being offered or even if it was open.

I REALLY hope that they will have the intelligence come up with a list for this year, as it just seems it would help them sell more food/treats!

 

[Sherry E]

Hi DisneyFan,

I just wanted to add that when we attended the Halloween Party in 2011, when we were handed the Party schedule, we also were given a list of restaurants which were open during the party AND the special Halloween Themed foods/treats they were offering. We were so excited, that we went around trying to eat as many as we could!

When we attended in 2012, we went hungry/salivating-- expecting to be given that list again, and there was no list--at least not that we could hunt down!

We asked when we entered and got our trick-or-treat bags, asked at City Hall, and we asked numerous CMs to no avail! It was pretty disappointing going blind, not knowing if something special was being offered or even if it was open.

I REALLY hope that they will have the intelligence come up with a list for this year, as it just seems it would help them sell more food/treats!

Cheshirecatty -

Great info, and...

Whoever put together the Halloween Time maps and such last year did a fairly shoddy job. Wasn't last year's map the one that had the horrible typo in it on the list of character meet & greet/photo spots -- "Strom Troppers" instead of Storm Troopers?

It's no wonder that whoever let that hideous typo slip by didn't think to include a comprehensive list of open restaurants and Halloween-themed food!

(Let me also take this moment to mention that last year's Holidays at Disneyland Resort page let a hideous typo go by in the text describing the ice rink in Downtown Disney and its connection to Tinker Bell's movie. Instead of calling her Tinker Bell -- or even Tinkerbell, which is a common mistake made by all of us at some point -- they called her Tinkle Bell.

No joke! I saw the error and showed some other folks, just so I knew I was not losing my mind...and the typo stayed up there for a good while! Finally someone took it down, but not right away! Who in the heck is in charge of proofreading the seasonal info for the DLR website and for the MHP maps? Yikes!)

I understand typos -- I leave assorted typos in my posts too, unintentionally, but something MAJOR like Strom Troppers and Tinkle Bell should be caught before going to press!

 

[DisneyFan3113]

Hi DisneyFan,

I just wanted to add that when we attended the Halloween Party in 2011, when we were handed the Party schedule, we also were given a list of restaurants which were open during the party AND the special Halloween Themed foods/treats they were offering. We were so excited, that we went around trying to eat as many as we could!

When we attended in 2012, we went hungry/salivating-- expecting to be given that list again, and there was no list--at least not that we could hunt down!

We asked when we entered and got our trick-or-treat bags, asked at City Hall, and we asked numerous CMs to no avail! It was pretty disappointing going blind, not knowing if something special was being offered or even if it was open.

I REALLY hope that they will have the intelligence come up with a list for this year, as it just seems it would help them sell more food/treats!

Yeah, that would be perfect for us! I hope they bring back that feature also. *crosses fingers* I adore the seasonal offerings at DL, so that would be incredibly awesome for me (as well as my kids, who are somewhat "gourmet" eaters, lol). Thanks for your help!

 

[PHXscuba]

Cheshirecatty -

Great info, and...

Whoever put together the Halloween Time maps and such last year did a fairly shoddy job. Wasn't last year's map the one that had the horrible typo in it on the list of character meet & greet/photo spots -- "Strom Troppers" instead of Storm Troopers?

It's no wonder that whoever let that hideous typo slip by didn't think to include a comprehensive list of open restaurants and Halloween-themed food!

(Let me also take this moment to mention that last year's Holidays at Disneyland Resort page let a hideous typo go by in the text describing the ice rink in Downtown Disney and its connection to Tinker Bell's movie. Instead of calling her Tinker Bell -- or even Tinkerbell, which is a common mistake made by all of us at some point -- they called her Tinkle Bell.

No joke! I saw the error and showed some other folks, just so I knew I was not losing my mind...and the typo stayed up there for a good while! Finally someone took it down, but not right away! Who in the heck is in charge of proofreading the seasonal info for the DLR website and for the MHP maps? Yikes!)

I understand typos -- I leave assorted typos in my posts too, unintentionally, but something MAJOR like Strom Troppers and Tinkle Bell should be caught before going to press!

OK, that job Disney should hire ME for!!

I totally understand and excuse errors in personal writing, blogs, texting (my phone typing looks like Klingon), but if you are a multi-bajillion-dollar corporation charging a premium for a magical experience, spend 20 minutes letting someone else read the copy one more time!! I recall Bumbershoot having the same complaint about the badly edited menus -- the big pretty ones outside the restaurants.

Rant over!

PHXscuba

 

[Sherry E]

OK, that job Disney should hire ME for!!

I totally understand and excuse errors in personal writing, blogs, texting (my phone typing looks like Klingon), but if you are a multi-bajillion-dollar corporation charging a premium for a magical experience, spend 20 minutes letting someone else read the copy one more time!! I recall Bumbershoot having the same complaint about the badly edited menus -- the big pretty ones outside the restaurants.

Rant over!

PHXscuba

I know what you mean, PHX!

Isn't it awful that they let those things slip through the cracks? They need to hire both of us. I would not be going for a job answering questions on the phone. I would be aiming for what I have already done and know that I'm good at -- which is writing and proofreading, and generally being detail-oriented! People used to pay me decent $$ to proofread their work and clean it up for them (light copy editing). That's why I cringed in horror when I saw the Strom Tropper and Tinkle Bell typos last year. Inexcusable! Disney needs my help, and I need a job!!

Creative writing is a different animal, of course. People choose to express their messages and points in different ways, some of which are reflective of a more conversational style. Typos can occur when typing in haste.

A huge behemoth of a company like Disney (that is putting out basic information in certain areas of its websites or in its printed material) should be exceptionally detail-oriented and comb over everything to be sure that nothing embarrassing is going out to the masses!

 

[tksbaskets]

Is the fastpass at Haunted Mansion Holiday open every day during the Halloween season? I plan to be there from Sept 21-24 and would like to FP this ride.

I went back to look at my solo Halloween trip report and figured out I never tried to fetch a FP for the HM. I did see that I went right when Adventureland opened and got right on. Hope that helps.

TK

 

[DisneyFan3113]

Does the DL train run during MHP? Or is it an "all on-foot" deal? Couldn't resist asking. Also, does the Happiest Haunts tour (is that the name?) change at all if you do it as part of the Ultimate Experience? Like, do you get any bonus rides you wouldn't get normally, or is it just the same but with MHP afterwards?

 

[Sherry E]

Does the DL train run during MHP? Or is it an "all on-foot" deal? Couldn't resist asking. Also, does the Happiest Haunts tour (is that the name?) change at all if you do it as part of the Ultimate Experience? Like, do you get any bonus rides you wouldn't get normally, or is it just the same but with MHP afterwards?

DisneyFan3113 --

I was waiting to see if any of the folks who did the Ultimate Experience party-tour combo last year were going to answer you.

I found mommaU4's Ultimate Experience recaps from last year (the second one is more detailed), so hopefully this info will give a better idea of what exactly was included, and if it is any different from the tour alone:

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=46319597&postcount=828

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=46322670&postcount=842



And here is a post from kim3339, also from last year, with a mention about the UE:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=45977533&postcount=332

​

You know, I don't recall if the train was running during my MHP or not. That's a good question! I was not paying any attention because I was literally roaming all over Disneyland, hitting all the treat trails and then waiting for the fireworks.

​

I checked some info from last year and I think it was on or around June 25th when the Disney Parks Blog did their official blog on Halloween Time and Mickey's Halloween Party, but I think we knew the dates before that (if I recall correctly) from seeing them on the AP section of the website.

So I would guess that June 24th (Monday) of this year -- or close to it -- could be a date when we could likely get something official from the Parks Blog. I keep thinking that we will hear something before that date, though. We usually hear things before the Parks Blog gets around to releasing info.

 

[DisneyFan3113]

DisneyFan3113 --

I was waiting to see if any of the folks who did the Ultimate Experience party-tour combo last year were going to answer you.

I found mommaU4's Ultimate Experience recaps from last year (the second one is more detailed), so hopefully this info will give a better idea of what exactly was included, and if it is any different from the tour alone:

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=46319597&postcount=828

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=46322670&postcount=842



And here is a post from kim3339, also from last year, with a mention about the UE:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=45977533&postcount=332

​

You know, I don't recall if the train was running during my MHP or not. That's a good question! I was not paying any attention because I was literally roaming all over Disneyland, hitting all the treat trails and then waiting for the fireworks.

​

I checked some info from last year and I think it was on or around June 25th when the Disney Parks Blog did their official blog on Halloween Time and Mickey's Halloween Party, but I think we knew the dates before that (if I recall correctly) from seeing them on the AP section of the website.

So I would guess that June 24th (Monday) of this year -- or close to it -- could be a date when we could likely get something official from the Parks Blog. I keep thinking that we will hear something before that date, though. We usually hear things before the Parks Blog gets around to releasing info.

Thank you for the links!! I'll be sure to check those out later. I doubt we'll even use the train since there's so much going on, but the kids tend to get tired towards the end of the night so it would a nice option. Not a huge deal, though. Anyway, if the Parks Blog about Halloweentime comes out on the 24th or 25th, I'll be good. (But I must admit I'm getting a little antsy about the MHP dates... argh, I hate waiting! Hopefully we'll hear something soon.)