HalloweenTime at DLR Superthread #4

[figment_jii]

As Kilala said, they do not show Fantasmic during MHP. They use the Columbia as a backdrop for the Peter Pan/Jack Sparrow meet and greet and the Cadaver Dans used one do the rafts to do their show from (last year was the first time). So if there are parties on all of the Friday nights in October, then Fantasmic will only showing on Sat and Sun nights.

 

[Sherry E]

I'm in! Thanks Sherry for this cool thread!

Welcome, TK!

I'm so glad you joined in!

Following!!! It's still a ways down the line, but we are planning a Halloween visit in 2016. We started our fund last week and the kids are so excited (But not nearly as much as this Halloween loving mama!!!!)

whoopsiedoodle --

Welcome! It's never too early (or too late) to join in and enjoy the Halloween Time info, photos and discussion!

​

Good morning, everyone!

(By the way, I should probably point out that the reason I will randomly throw this guy - - into posts is because he was dubbed the Halloween Superthread mascot way back in Superthread #2, I think it was, and he has held that title ever since. Let's face it -- he is a creepy, weird emoticon, with terrible dance moves. So, fittingly, he was given the name Creepy Dancing Guy, but there were those who also referred to him as Gus. Either way, I am certain that I would run, screaming, into the night if ever I were to encounter him on the street somewhere, but in the Superthread I can keep a safe distance!)


Yesterday I was busily locating, compiling and assembling more info that is to be inserted into the various posts on page 1...much more info that I had planned to deal with, quite frankly, but that's what ends up happening. I start out looking for one thing -- one little website or one little link -- and by the end of the day I have saved a 20-page Word document with all sorts of sites and links (and that is not including the info that I have already saved in totally separate Word documents, which is going to end up somewhere on page 1 as well!). The scary thing is that there is still more info that I need to find!

And then...I am never satisfied with where/how I have placed the information in certain posts, so I am constantly rearranging things, or re-formatting things. Anyway, I think it's better to have all of the information there than to not have it. It will help some people, I'm quite certain.


Okay, down to business...

It seems to me that there are many folks out there (some lurking, some participating, some posting outside of this thread) who are visiting DLR for their very first Halloween Time experiences this year (whether or not they realized that Halloween Time would be happening when they first set their dates). Those Halloween Time trips may or may not include Mickey's Halloween Party.

I want to go over just a few basic things for the Halloween Time first-timers, and for those who have no idea what to expect:



You can enjoy Halloween Time without attending Mickey's Halloween Party!

I think there is a common belief that the whole season revolves around the MHP, and that if you don't buy an MHP ticket you won't be able to enjoy the decorations and Halloween offerings. This is not true. While there are certain things at the MHP that will not be available during regular park hours, there is enough to see during the daytime if you know where to look.


These are the Mickey's Halloween Party Exclusives:

• Halloween Screams fireworks (with "Master of Scaremonies," Jack Skellington; This is a lively, fun fireworks show with great effects);

• Mickey's Costume Party Cavalcade (a simple mini-parade, with a few small floats and characters in costume);

• Trick or treating (for all ages!) along various treat trails and at treat stations in the park (you will collect a lot of candy and healthy treats, so bring an extra bag!);

• Being able to wear costumes in the park (which is not allowed during regular park hours);

• More access to the Villains, as they will be more available at the MHP than they are during regular operating hours;

• Character photo spots and characters that may not be out in the daytime;

• The "Cadaver Dans," illuminated by an eerie glow, performing special themed songs;

• Shorter lines for certain rides, but not for others;

• At least 2 different "dance parties" (dance stations/floors), with DJs, located in the park; and

• Extra decorations and spooky, theme-appropriate lighting effects.

This is what you can see and enjoy any day of the Halloween Time season, during regular non-party hours (and some of it will be open during party hours too):

• Haunted Mansion Holiday;

• Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy;

• Jack Skellington and Sally greeting guests in New Orleans Square;

• The Halloween Carnival/Roundup/Big Thunder Ranch, which includes:
  
  1. The Conjure a Villain tent;
  2. The Pirates League station;
  3. Characters in Halloween attire;
  4. Wonderfully intricate carved pumpkins;
  5. Halloween-themed games;
  6. Halloween-themed treats, such as candy corn-colored cotton candy;
  7. Halloween-themed crafts;
  8. Music (not sure who will be entertaining the guests this year, as Billy Hill and the Haunted Hillbillies are gone);
  9. All sorts of pumpkin figures and general Autumn-inspired decor;
  10. A petting zoo with cute goats in Halloween scarves; and
  11. The Scare-Dy Crow Shack, which is really a little cabin that serves no purpose other than to be a place to house cool retro Halloween decorations;

• The Ray Bradbury Halloween Tree (which was discussed here a couple of days ago);

• The "Pumpkin Festival" on Main Street, which showcases more than 300 pumpkins sitting in window sills, and on balconies, awnings and rooftops;

• The Dapper Dans performing themed songs (such as "Grim Grinning Ghosts") on Main Street;

• Duffy's Pumpkin Patch photo spot in California Adventure;

• The colorful, unique Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) display in Frontierland;

• Boudin Bakery pumpkin-shaped bread in California Adventure;

• All Hallows Eve T (the Mad T Party with a Halloween twist) in Hollywood Land;

• Free samples of Ghirardelli's pumpkin spice caramel chocolates, as well as Halloween treats in all of the bake shops and sweet shops around DLR!; and

• Whatever else Disney decides to do in California Adventure (last year they had a special showing of Nightmare Before Christmas, and in 2012 they had a Frankenweenie exhibit);

And there is probably more that I have forgotten, but you get the picture. You can have a great Halloween Time visit even without paying for MHP tickets. You have to decide if the extras included in the MHP ticket price are worth it to you and your group!



Remember that Main Street and Frontierland are where most of the Halloween Time (season) activities and decorations can be found every day!

As mentioned above, Main Street has the Pumpkin Festival, as well as many cute window displays and the Dapper Dans.

Frontierland has the Halloween Carnival/Roundup/Ranch, the Ray Bradbury Halloween Tree and the Dia de los Muertos display, as well as some seasonal decorations sprinkled around the land here and there.

Haunted Mansion Holiday (and the Jack/Sally meet & greet) is located in New Orleans Square and, of course, there will be some Nightmare Before Christmas-themed touches here and there, but they are not as prominent outside of the specific HMH location. Also, those details are not specific to Halloween Time, as they stay up through the holiday season as well.

Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy is the only trace of Halloween in Tomorrowland at all, not counting any kind of merchandise that may be in the shops.



California Adventure has very little in the way of Halloween decor or details, unless something changes this year. Other than Duffy's Pumpkin Patch photo spot, All Hallows Eve T and whichever Tim Burton creation happens to be featured this year (another screening of NBC, perhaps?), you will not find too much Halloween fun in DCA. This was not always the case, as Candy Corn Acres was once a prominent part of Halloween Time and of the DCA landscape.




Halloween Time and Mickey's Halloween Party are family-friendly and suitable for all ages!

Unlike certain Halloween activities at a few other SoCal locations (some of which I have outlined in the "Other Haunted Happenings and Spooky Sights to See" post on page 1), at Disneyland Resort you will not encounter any menacing, blood-drenched creatures or chainsaw-wielding maniacs chasing you down or popping out at you from behind bushes. The scariest elements of the MHP will probably be the fog over Rivers of America and in Frontierland. And if the Villains scare you, well they will be there too. You will probably already know going in if Haunted Mansion Holiday, Ghost Galaxy and Halloween Screams are things your children would be interested in, but there are no "surprise" scary elements beyond that.

In fact, this is one of the friendliest, most whimsical/non-menacing Halloween celebrations I've ever experienced!



If you have experienced the Christmas/Holiday season at Disneyland Resort in the past, but this is your first Halloween Time visit...

...You will find that, while tremendously fun, Disneyland doesn't make quite as big a deal of Halloween Time as they do the holiday season. If you have experienced the holidays you know what I mean -- you can find decorations and holiday details almost everywhere you go, including the hotels and Downtown Disney.

While you will certainly get a good dose of Halloween fun at DLR (there is no escaping the bright bursts of orange at the entrance to DL and along Main Street), the overall level of themed decor, music and celebration is just not as thorough and all-encompassing as it is during the holiday season. That's a fact.

Now this may be a relief to those of you who are not big fans of Halloween and/or of the holiday season decorations in general, and/or who like things to be scaled down a bit more. (Personally, I would like to see a bigger, better Halloween Time [though not at the expense of the holiday season offerings, however], with more decorations in both parks and at the hotels. I want more pumpkins everywhere; more Halloween details in more areas; new Halloween-themed events, etc.)

I wanted to prepare you, however, in case you were thinking you were going to be walking into the Halloween equivalent of the holiday season. I feel that the Disneyland Resort holiday season is more extensive and involving. It is a feast for the senses, everywhere you go. It also tugs a bit at the heartstrings and hits that perfect "warm and fuzzy" note inside all of us.

Halloween Time, on the other hand, is a really exciting, enjoyable, colorful way to see/experience Disneyland. It's a lot of fun, while maybe not hitting the same emotional notes that the holiday season hits.

​

 

[atksn]

Subbing here!! We will be there 10/19-25

 

[valiamo]

Joining in on the fun. Going the first week of Oct, first time for a holiday themed visit. Taking the DW, DS and DDIL... Their extra wedding present, and her first time crossing the border, and to DLR. We are 4 grown adults that are hitting the parks for fun! Just hope I do not embarrass them too much.... Last time I skipped across the plaza, I got double face palms from the family.. Looovvvveee Disney!

 

[SusanMatt]

On behalf of the lurkers, thank you for all the thorough information.

** Slinks back to LurkVille **

 

[Camela]

Thank you for putting all the hard work into these super-threads. I subscribed for the 2013 Christmas thread, and am now planning a Halloween trip. I am excited to get my daily dose of "obsessive planning" in one spot!!

 

[Kilala]

Here are pictures of two of the characters I will be dressing up as at MHP.
Cheetara from the Thundercats


Yoruichi from the Anime Bleach



I will be starting the Cheetara costume this month. I will post pictures of the two cat costumes I will be working on for MHP later on this week.

 

[Torchness]

Lurker here, popping out of the shadows to wave hello. We are going to Disneyland from Oct. 30-Nov. 1, my DH, myself, and my 28 year old brother with Down Syndrome (probably the best Disney companion ever. He thinks the characters are real, but he has the stamina for 14 hour days at Disneyland!). We will probably do MHP on Oct. 31. I am a little sad to realize that Disneyland will close early on Oct. 30, but hopefully CA will stay open a little bit later so we can just hop over there.

Just wanted to say thanks for any and all info! It is appreciated.

 

[valiamo]

On behalf of the lurkers, thank you for all the thorough information.

** Slinks back to LurkVille **

Once you come out of lurker villle, you have stay out!. The more the merrier!

 

[Cheshirecatty]

On behalf of the lurkers, thank you for all the thorough information.

** Slinks back to LurkVille **

Love this!!! Totally made me chuckle!

Lots of us have lurked for years, before we joined in the fun!

Don't hide too long---opinions and experiences of all are welcome!

 

[Sherry E]

You've seen photos of the Ray Bradbury Halloween Tree in Frontierland.

Also in Frontierland is the colorful, detailed Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) display, which can be enjoyed through the entire Halloween Time season, starting in September. I think it comes down a few days after Halloween, if I am not mistaken.

Here is a glimpse of Dia de los Muertos (and Bret/mvf-m11c posted a fantastic photo of the display in this thread the other day) -- look for the hidden Mickeys!:

​

Kilala --

I think you have embraced the Halloween spirit and the overall fun of the holiday better than anyone I know! I love the pictures and costume ideas!

Subbing here!! We will be there 10/19-25

Welcome, atksn!

Is this your first Halloween Time visit?

Joining in on the fun. Going the first week of Oct, first time for a holiday themed visit. Taking the DW, DS and DDIL... Their extra wedding present, and her first time crossing the border, and to DLR. We are 4 grown adults that are hitting the parks for fun! Just hope I do not embarrass them too much.... Last time I skipped across the plaza, I got double face palms from the family.. Looovvvveee Disney!

Welcome, valiamo!

I'm so glad you joined us here. You're in good company. If you like Halloween and you like Disneyland, the Halloween Time season should be a lot of fun for you. What a wonderful trip it will be for your group!

I had to laugh at the thought of your family's embarrassment as you skipped across the plaza! Well, it may be hard to resist doing a bit of skipping when you see the bright orange pumpkin characters sitting atop the Disneyland turnstiles in person. Those pumpkin characters do tend to prompt people to break out into random acts of skipping! I've been known to skip here and there.

I can totally relate. I am a grown adult -- no kids! -- who goes to the parks for fun, and have probably embarrassed my adult friends on more than one occasion as I insisted that we all pose for silly PhotoPass pictures! I just enjoy being there, and as I have aged my enjoyment of certain details and aspects of Disneyland has changed and evolved. I take totally different trips now than I did in the old days. Of course I love the rides (which is all I would have been interested in as a child), but now I pay attention to so many of the small things -- hidden gems and overlooked details -- that I never would have looked at twice in my younger years.

If you happen to take the tram into Downtown Disney from the Mickey and Friends lot for any reason, sit on the right-hand side and look for the Halloween displays along the tram path (there is a display with Mickey, Minnie, Donald, etc., and another display with ghosts). If you take the tram from Downtown Disney to Mickey & Friends, sit on the left side. It is hard to get a decent photo because the tram moves quickly enough to where the displays just fly by, but have your camera poised and ready when/if you get on the tram so you can snap a picture quickly!

On behalf of the lurkers, thank you for all the thorough information.

** Slinks back to LurkVille **

Welcome, SusanMatt!

Thank you, and you're welcome! I think it's good to have the thorough information available in case it is needed. The problem I ran into in the past was underestimating how much info would be needed and then, once the thread was well underway, it was not possible or worthwhile to go back and add a bunch of things onto page 1. So I had to start anew in order to provide a lot of info.

You did post once or twice in the last Superthread, so you're not a total lurker! In fact, you're going to DLR but not to the Halloween Party, correct? Or am I totally getting that wrong and mistaking you with someone else (which is entirely possible)? I thought it was you who posted in the last Halloween thread about possibly not doing the MHP because it wouldn't be worth it in the long run. I've done Halloween trips that included the party and trips that did not include it, and honestly -- for me -- the party is fun to do every couple of years or so, but it is not necessary. I can enjoy Halloween Time without the party if need be. The tickets are expensive, after all.

I understand why many people lurk. I suspect that those who have not yet posted anything on this forum want to be sure that everyone is friendly and reasonably well-versed in whatever subjects they are discussing, before jumping into a discussion. And those who have already posted on the board in the past may not always have time to actually post a lot. They may want to get caught up at their leisure and just kind of randomly pop in here and there to say something. I think we all do that with some threads.

Thank you for putting all the hard work into these super-threads. I subscribed for the 2013 Christmas thread, and am now planning a Halloween trip. I am excited to get my daily dose of "obsessive planning" in one spot!!

Welcome, Camela!

Did you go to DLR for the holiday season in 2013? If so, how was the trip? I think that most people visit for the holidays first and then try a Halloween Time trip later.

Thank you for the kind words. I really appreciate it! These threads are a lot of work, but they are also great fun -- and, as the years pass, I think they are turning into very useful tools because there is no shortage of people heading to DLR for both Halloween Time and the Holidays, and those people need to know what to expect!

If I didn't have such a love of Halloween and the holidays myself, I wouldn't do the threads. But, as it turns out, I love Halloween and the holiday season at DLR; I take a lot of pictures; and I am extremely detail-oriented -- so that all kind of lends itself to these sorts of information-packed and photo-filled threads. Often times I see responses given to Halloween or holiday-related questions (on various boards, not just here), and the answers are not quite complete, or they don't paint a full picture. Sometimes the answers are not even correct. I try to paint the full picture if and when I can!

In fact, just the other day I popped over to Disneyland's Halloween Time page on Facebook (it's a few years old) and saw some incorrect information being given out. I was so tempted to sign in and give the correct info, but I didn't. I would have liked to direct them to this thread, but I wasn't sure if I would be allowed to post a link to this thread on that page. In any case, someone responded to a fairly recent post by telling the OP that Disneyland doesn't really decorate for Halloween; that the decor is more for fall; and that they just decorate for Mickey's Halloween Party!

Not true! That person on Facebook was wrong! While the Halloween Time season decorations are not nearly as extensive as the holiday season decorations, they are most certainly for Halloween, and not just for the Halloween Party. Sure, some Halloween decorations take on a more "harvest-y" sort of look, and there are a few extra things that go up for the party, but most things are obvious Halloween decorations. Not to mention that the season is called "Halloween Time"...and there are references to Halloween in many places! At the Halloween Carnival, there is a Roundup/petting zoo area with a cabin full of Halloween decorations and retro-looking artwork that says "Happy Hallowe'en"! The person who replied on Facebook must not have been to DLR for Halloween Time in the last 8+ years!

Lurker here, popping out of the shadows to wave hello. We are going to Disneyland from Oct. 30-Nov. 1, my DH, myself, and my 28 year old brother with Down Syndrome (probably the best Disney companion ever. He thinks the characters are real, but he has the stamina for 14 hour days at Disneyland!). We will probably do MHP on Oct. 31. I am a little sad to realize that Disneyland will close early on Oct. 30, but hopefully CA will stay open a little bit later so we can just hop over there.

Just wanted to say thanks for any and all info! It is appreciated.

Welcome, Torchness!

I'm so happy you joined us. It looks like this was your first post? If so, I am honored you chose this thread to emerge from the shadows and say hello.

It sounds as though your trip will be amazing! I think your brother will love it. Does he love Halloween in general?

Were you, by any chance, looking at last year's October calendar to see that Disneyland closed early on October 30th? Here is the link to last year's hours: http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/park-hours.cfm?month=10&year=2013.

This year, unless there is a Halloween Party or a special private event on Thursday, 10/30 that I am unaware of, I would assume that Disneyland will stay open until 8 p.m. on 10/30? Now there may be an MHP on that Thursday night as well, which would prompt an early closure -- we can't be sure -- but right now I don't think we have any knowledge of a 6 p.m. closure for Disneyland...unless there is something I have not heard or been told (which is always possible).

It's kind of funny to think that, by Disney's standards, October is really considered the off-peak season, whereas summer and the holidays are peak season. However, October is certainly not slow, by any means. Halloween Time only gets more and more popular with each passing year! It may not bring in the level of crowds that one would find between Christmas and New Year's, but it hardly seems off-peak!

Once you come out of lurker villle, you have stay out!. The more the merrier!

Ditto!

Love this!!! Totally made me chuckle!

Lots of us have lurked for years, before we joined in the fun!

Don't hide too long---opinions and experiences of all are welcome!

Double ditto!

 

[mmlover74]

We are going to be in DL in OCT., but not for the halloween party. i have twin girls who will turn 1 while we are there. so excited about them turning 1, but bittersweet as well.

 

[SusanMatt]

Love this!!! Totally made me chuckle!

Lots of us have lurked for years, before we joined in the fun!

Don't hide too long---opinions and experiences of all are welcome!

Thanks. I appreciate the friendly replies of everyone involved. You don't always get that on forums. I have plenty of opinions, but just don't always share them.

Welcome, SusanMatt!

Thank you, and you're welcome! ... You did post once or twice in the last Superthread, so you're not a total lurker! In fact, you're going to DLR but not to the Halloween Party, correct?

You are correct, and you have an excellent memory.

I thought it was you who posted in the last Halloween thread about possibly not doing the MHP because it wouldn't be worth it in the long run. I've done Halloween trips that included the party and trips that did not include it, and honestly -- for me -- the party is fun to do every couple of years or so, but it is not necessary. I can enjoy Halloween Time without the party if need be. The tickets are expensive, after all.

Yes, between the crowds and the expense, we're going to skip it. If there's one thing we won't need, that's more candy. Since we are spending extra on staying on-property at the Disneyland Hotel, we'll just take those days when the parks close earlier to enjoy the hotel.

I understand why many people lurk. I suspect that those who have not yet posted anything on this forum want to be sure that everyone is friendly and reasonably well-versed in whatever subjects they are discussing, before jumping into a discussion. And those who have already posted on the board in the past may not always have time to actually post a lot. They may want to get caught up at their leisure and just kind of randomly pop in here and there to say something. I think we all do that with some threads.

I'm a lurker on these things because, often, what others are already saying is enough and does not need repeating by me. However, thanking someone is always needed. -- especially with the great amount of work you seem to be doing.

We will be there 9/28 - 10/4. If we get some good, unique pictures, I will add them. I was mulling doing a trip report later. My husband and I are also considering doing a book of essays and photos about Disneyland in the near future. And, I will certainly post questions, if I have any.

One question I posted in a thread at some point that did not get answered (that I saw) was to ask if the Animation Academy is ever posted anywhere besides outside the building? I would love to plan around those sessions on some of our days. The Animation Academy was a highlight of our last trip for me.

If you find any of the information you need help collating or posting, just let me know. I will volunteer to help where I can.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Here are some pictures of Dia de los Muertos.

 

[zanzibar138]

I'm in Will be at DLR from the 9th to the 16th of September.

I'm a bit sad that I will just catch the very beginning of Halloween time and will miss out on the party and the Happy Haunts tour. Looking forward to HM and SM overlays though and meeting Jack and Sally

 

[tksbaskets]

Great pictures Bret. I'm wishing we could sneak in a Halloween trip too. I'm going to depend on this thread to get my Halloween fix.

 

[theworldneedscolor]

I was hoping to plan a quick trip over to DL on my Fall Break for the Halloween party, but it looks like that might not be possible. I was looking at the schedule from last year, and they didn't start doing Monday nights till the end of the month, and they also didn't have any on weekends. My break is a Saturday-Tuesday, but I couldn't go Tuesday night because I would need to fly back to Phoenix.

 

[Torchness]

It sounds as though your trip will be amazing! I think your brother will love it. Does he love Halloween in general?

This year, unless there is a Halloween Party or a special private event on Thursday, 10/30 that I am unaware of, I would assume that Disneyland will stay open until 8 p.m. on 10/30? Now there may be an MHP on that Thursday night as well, which would prompt an early closure -- we can't be sure -- but right now I don't think we have any knowledge of a 6 p.m. closure for Disneyland...unless there is something I have not heard or been told (which is always possible).

My little brother does love Halloween, but he loves Disneyland more. I took him for his birthday just the two of us a few years ago (during the Celebrate! period) and he thought the entire time that everything was in honor of his birthday--the parades, light shows, everything. It was great. DH has never been to Disneyland before, and is very excited. We thought we'd just go for Halloween for fun. Little Bro is very scared of bats, so am unsure how he'll like the Haunted Mansion, but my DH is great with him and will tell him to "man up" and I'm sure he'll get over it. And, knowing Disney, nothing will be TOO scary.

I'm only really in this forum for the limited purpose of getting info on Halloween time at DLR-- so I wanted to pop in and say thanks for all the hard work! I did want to request at some point any info on what's going on at CA during this time period too. I think we'll be getting park hopper passes.

As for the 10/30 closing time, I was just assuming that, since it's a Thursday, DLR would have MHP on 10/30 AND 10/31, as I noted they did that last year (and I also saw that they charge more for those dates, boo). Oh well. I was wondering though-- we are flying in on 10/30, and I think our plane lands at LAX at around 9 am or so. While usually I'm all about Super Shuttle, I kind of want to get to DLR ASAP that morning, since it's one of our 3 days and we won't be doing MHP that day. We're staying at a good neighbor hotel. Does anyone have any recommendations as to what mode of transportation would be quickest and less expensive? There is the Greyline shuttle, but it doesn't actually go to our hotel, the Candy Cane Inn. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Thanks! Am loving all the photos and info, etc.

 

[Cheshirecatty]

I was hoping to plan a quick trip over to DL on my Fall Break for the Halloween party, but it looks like that might not be possible. I was looking at the schedule from last year, and they didn't start doing Monday nights till the end of the month, and they also didn't have any on weekends. My break is a Saturday-Tuesday, but I couldn't go Tuesday night because I would need to fly back to Phoenix.

Your best bet is to cross your fingers, and hope a Party date will be among the days when you are at the Resort(hard to do, I know), but there's always a possibility that it might happen---until those dates are released, you never know---from year to year, there are a few days/dates which change!

 

[eileenkeeney]

I don't think the dates for the DL party are known yet, for sure.

The WDW dates are published.

I thought I had seen a DL calendar, showing it closing at 7pm on October 14th, which lead me to believe there was a Halloween party that night.
But I can no longer find that calendar.

The WDW version is NOT having a party on the 14th, but is on the 13th instead (Columbus day).

With the need to make the hotel reservation at 7 months out (for DVC), it is frustrating to not have any confirmation on the party dates.