I'm excited about this but very confused. I've tried reading through several pages of this thread but it's very long so can I ask a few questions please?
ok, I'm a Disneyland Halloween novice and I'm going to the first one
1) What characters usually come out just for the party? Villains and the fab 5 in Halloween costumes, Captain Jack Sparrow, there's a lot more but I'm drawing a blank
2) Where can I find them and how crazy do the lines get? When you get your wristband for the party (after you walk in the gates with your party ticket), you'll be given a map with trick or treat stations and where the character meets are. Captain Sparrow was by the Mark Twain loading dock last year. Lines depend on how rare the character is, it was 20 minutes to see Captain Sparrow but Jack Skellington's line was 60 minutes long throughout most of the party.
3) Apart from the characters, fireworks and parade (and trick or treating) is there anything else specifically for the party that I can't miss, rather than Halloween season? There are a couple dance parties and the projections on Main Street, Sleeping Beauty Castle, and Small World are only during the party.
4) Am I correct in thinking the Space Mountain/Haunted Mansion makeovers are for the whole halloween season not just the parties? ie can I ride these during the day on other days? Yes, you can see these without going to the party, Haunted Mansion's overlay goes till after New Years.
5) Any tips for seeing the fireworks/parades? ie how long beforehand should I find a space and where is best? we showed up 15 minutes before the fireworks near Jolly Holiday and had a good spot and could see all the elements of the fireworks. Can't help with the parade though.
6) Any good hidden trick or treat spots? I know, for example, in WDW there's a stretch near tomorrowland that often gets overlooked and has 3 stands right after each other. I'm not going to be able to answer this one either. Our goal last year was to enjoy all the elements of the party. We did go trick or treating, but we didn't get mountains of candy.
7) Is there usually special merchandise and if so where is it? What sort of things do they do? Last year there were shirts and pins. Your best bet to find them is at the Emporium. Stay glued to this thread after the first party starts, there are a lot of photo bugs here that'll be more than accommodating when posting the whats and wheres of the party.
Thank you. Sorry to be a pain but there are SO many posts on here that I'm finding it hard to find the information
Thanks
I would go see the Columbia and Rivers of America area once the party starts. Assuming it the same this year, the dry ice effect is pretty cool. I think there is also a dance party that has lots of characters.
For the fireworks, I recommend being on Main Street, beyond the last building, but before the hub. The hub has a good view, but that is usually the most busy and you need to get there the earliest. I usually aim to arrive around 30 minutes before the show starts and have had pretty good luck. I do recommend being able to see the Castle and the area immediately to the left.
Almost all of MHP's trick or treat stations are part of a "trail". There are a few stand alone, but not many. The map will show you the locations, so I would use that, and plan on more stations than at MHSSHP. A lot of folks bring a big bag to put the candy in. The bags that they hand out when you arrive for the party and the same sized as the ones at MNSSHP, so they won't hold much candy. People manage to collect pounds of candy...it can get heavy!
Last year it was a t-shirt and pins. The pins were actually available during the day (i.e., I didn't need a party ticket to purchase them, which might have been a mistake); the shirts only showed up in the evening. There will also be a lot of Halloween merchandise (not party specific).
Hoping this is better. In general MHP is more low key than MNSSHP. So, there will be lines for the characters, but it's not really like MNSSHP where they recommend getting in line about 45 minutes to an hour before the party starts for the rarer characters!
!
You are very welcome!
I don't remember being given a character list before--however, that isn't to say there isn't one--we just didn't have one.
The way we found out who would be available, was to wander around a bit and ask the CMs about those we were interested in. We have annual passes, so we were able to be in the park before the party started, which was very helpful.
If you are entering just at the time of the party, I would call and find out if such a list is available, OR if they can tell you over the phone, so you will be prepared going in!
Two years ago, they handed out a list of Restaurants which would be open and also listed the ones offering special entree items/snacks/desserts offered just during the Party--it was so helpful, and we made the rounds to as many as we could
(Not to mention that it also helps to cut down a little bit on the number of other Halloween-related threads that pop up, thus keeping the forum a little cleaner.)
I don't care if it is still Summer and will probably be 90 degrees in another couple of weeks. Any little sign that I can cling to of the coming seasonal change makes me happy!
Six weeks will literally zip by. When you think about it, it was in May that the AP Backstage Pass came out, which revealed the season start date to be 9/13. And now we are already in August! Time flew by at warp speed and we will all be greeting the giant Mickey pumpkin holding court in Town Square before you know it!
seobaina --
I think going back to the hotel to change would be good, unless you wanted to rent a locker to store your costumes and change in one of the bathrooms in the GCH or DTD, then re-enter the park/party.
By the way, I just wanted to say (because you mentioned it in your post with the list of questions yesterday) -- don't ever feel like you're being a pain for asking questions! This whole thread is here to provide a place for people to discuss details and ask/answer questions about Halloween Time in general, as well as the MHP!
I do realize, though, that when the thread's pages move quickly due to a lot of activity, you (and other readers) might lose track of certain bits of info -- even if it is discussed/asked/answered repeatedly. I think that's just the nature of popular threads! They move fast and certain things come up often because information gets buried as the pages turn. But that's okay, though, because we expect it! We know that new people will be tuning in all the time and may only have time to glance at the most recent couple of pages, and this also applies to infrequent visitors who may only have time to pop in once in a blue moon. We are all here to help share information. If one of us can't tackle a question, someone else will step in to tackle it. There are a lot of great people here to help with the info.
Thank you both, that is very helpful! I'm really looking forward to it and I'm glad to hear the character lines aren't as bad (usually). I've only done MNSSHP once and it was columbus day so it was INSANE!
Unfortunately though I'm going to the first MHP this year so I can't wait for more information, hence trying to get info on previous years. So thank you for the advice
hope you have a good time!
I will get my ticket for the 23rd next month. I also got my ticket for 
